The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1902-07-22
A CODE OF
SIGNALS
IOriginal


People tell me that because I am
thirty-eight. unmarried and wear spec
tacles l should not be interested In
young lovers. Nevertheless l am inter
ested in them and always expect to be-
We live on n short block fianked by
two long ones. From my bedroom win
dow. in the rear. | can look out ON the
rear Of two rows OF houses opposite
one another. This morning ! saw a
young man stand at a window Of the
seventh house to the left watching
window Of the third house to the right.
Presently beautiful girl appeared and
waved her handkerchief to him.
l am not curious at all. My brother
Bob says | am inordinately SO. but I'm
not. Nevertheless, 1t being plain that
the wave OF the handkerchief was a
signal. sign. u message or something
Of the kind. naturally wondered what
IL could be. I wished that II had ap-
peared later In the day. for I was
obliged to keep watch at the window
all the afternoon and evening for fear
Of missing the next message. Nothing
appeared till after dark. when a can
die was left burning on the sill Of the
young lady's window shall call this
No. 3 and the other house No. for
half an hour. II went out suddenly.
and I went TO bed
The first signal had passed about 9
O'Clock. Therefore the next morning
I began my watch few minutes be-
fore 8. As the clock struck the hour
the gentleman and the lady appeared
at their respective windows. She looked
troubled and held up a piece of paste
boapd on which was written in large
letters:
Tark at II y. m
This was surely the time and place
Of an elopement. The man as soon as
he saw the message looked serious. but
an elopement Is serious matter, and
was not surprised that this young
couple appreciated the Importance of
the step they were about to take. /
did not expect any more messages. but
| for fear Of missing one kept my place
at my window all day. After dark
was about to give 1t up when a red
light was put In the girls window.
That means that something has hap
pened to prevent the elopement tonight
Red is q danger signal l shall look
| anxiously for another cipher message
in the morning.
lay awake half the night wondering
what had happened l wished that
could help them. 1t might be they
needed a confidant to make arrange
ments they could not make themselves.
I resolved that II they did not carry
out their plans the next day l would go
l into No. 3, call for the girl and offer
my services. In the morning she held
up a sign:
Tark 6. Haze o.
They're going to try 1t again They
will meet at some place at this even
ing designated by the word '.Tark."
But what does Haze o. mean? Why,
that the danger which threatened them
before has been eliminated How stu
pid of me not to see 1t at once! Tonight
will tell I'm sure the window will
show a light
was not mistaken. The window did
show a light-not one. but two. and
they were both red.
II
message anxiously. 1t came later than
usual, and the poor girl looked dread
fully worried when she gave it On the
pasteboard were the words:
| Tark 10.
The man, too. looked worried, but
made a motion for the girl to wait
Then, disappearing from the window
he returned presently and held up q
placard:
o. K this end: tonight sure.
could stand this no longer. Putting
ON my hat and wraps l went aroun(
the corner and rang the bell at No
I3. The girl who had been displaying
cipher messages came to the door.
MAY l speak with you a moment?
asked.
Certainly. Come in"
We went into drawing room. ant
mustered courage to open the deli
cate subject
Pardon me IL l seem officious,"
said, "but have reason to believe tina
you love a gentleman who lives u
one Of the houses whose rear face
yours"
She didn't blush at all. You ar
right" she said. Her sensible way Q
coming right out helped me.
.sYou need a friend l am tina
| friend. | have observed your signals
your appointments and your disaI
pointments."
Excuse me-" she interrupted "Hay
you had the measles:
THE measles? Why. no. What ha
that to do with the mattter?
"Only that my two children ar
, down with IL. and If you should tax
| it It might 20 hard with you. 1t a
, ways does with elderly people"
And the signalsf" l gasped.
"They were TO keep my HUSBAND
| who remained ut home with our othe
children, informed We took thi
house that we might separate the sic
, | from the well"
Then she explained the signals. tn
smile and the handkerchief merel
. | meant encouragement; ''Tark at /
p. m" that thsir boy Harrington, wh
had eot surely Shown the disease. ha
| | broken out at ii p. m. The white an
r red lights We're the only signals ths
I | could be given ut night to say "be
, ter" or/"worse'' .'Tark 6. Haze o,
, meant that. according to the seal
agreed upon. Harrington was doin
n well. Hazel recovered; two red light
: Harrington worse. 20. K this enc
tonight sure" meant that the childre
p at home We're well and grandmothe
1 who had been delayed, would arrive.
1 retired disappointed
|, Later.-I have come down with
severe case Of measles.