New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-06-14

AS hospital nurse OF many yeare' standing. I
have been through some strange ex ,eriences. but
perhaps none quit, 50 thrilling as t1e one I am
about 70 relate.
I was nursing a private case in fl.s vicinity OF
bloomsbury Square, and on this ptsucular Occa-
sion was on night duty. Ny patsct. who has
nothing TO do with the story. was is-eep and
stepped into the adjoining intending to write
some letters The room was not lighted. and
feeling at once disiucIned TO write. / drew chair
up 10 the window and looked out IstO the night.
The window faced Of the side -crsets of the
square, and tonight the place seemed quite de-
serted + terribly clustering. ard the street
shone wet in the yellow light OF the lamps. Ii
not particularly cheerful outlook. and was
tne point OF drawing the curtains waan my attsn-
Ton was attracted by the solitary figure OF
hat. The collar OF his coat was turned uu high
SO could only catch glimpse Of MS face as he
more about him however b.J he Tor r.1ss1 e,I.I-
denly in his walk and looked suspicious,y up and
down the street Apparently satisfied that he
alone he crossed The road and let himself into the
ceedeG to draw of his boots. Then the door closed
I wondered why l should feel so interested in the
1uCh slahceS up the street there was nothing very
unusual IN his movements aud yet 1 could not
throw Off an qncomfortable feeling had in con-
So strong was my curiosity in the house across
patient was still asleep, I again took up my posi-
served nae nae %tIoT JaKnS car rot 70 2e Oh
one Of the rooms lit up suddenly. I saw the man
chair He was not long alone The door of the roor
opened. and / saw a woman. much beieweued and
a mass d yeliowish hair She was evidentiy as
tated for she frequently raised her hands either in
be her husband. seemed entirely 10 ignore her.
1eoNed IKE spirits OF some kind which he swa-
lowed at a gulp- Then he pulled the blind down
/ was on the point Of rising to leave the room
when something happened which held me rtveted
=h7f NJ thu yxOr nan
were clearly cut against the blind and what I saw
sent 4. cold shudder through ms they were both
standing now. erect and stiff, and he with an
arm raised rs il 70 strike Would the blow fall
for the woman FOOL did he but know that his
r1 9e r6 t4T 5 6 6G { T 10 1 an cage
have been heavy, for the woman staggered under
which fell with horrible precision thought heard
faint scream above The sound OF the wind and rain.
Should call for the police? Then reflected that
after all II would be wiser not TO mix myself up
ows seersed to indicate. But seei they are there
asain-the Is her feet; he SEXES her by
the wrists and presses her slowly backward into
Presently the lights are extinguished and silence
reigns Cold and sick with what had seen. I was
the house door open and the step out into the
self Ny blood was fairly hot with Indignation
against the man for his Cowardly and brutal as
S voic. You S ne bT P1Sss me "i"do" said III clear
He started as If had Aired Of a pistol and in the
il for moment IN nv direction. but only for a
second for as II pursued by a band OF hunters he
turned and ran in the opposite direction How he
ram He simply tore down the street Ike the wind
which followed. He darted down a side alley and
lost 10 sight With a sigh at the wickednesS
OF some 7 returned TO my patient. But all through
that night and early morning hours my mind still
dwelt on the shadow picture on the blind.
The following day the papers gave an account OF
a murder. 1t had taken place in the house across
the road. With feeling OF horror I realized that
I had witnessed the perpetuatiOn OF the crime by
the shadow the blind, and the murderer had
escaped I had him pass and made effort
TO bring him Justice but then did not know the
truth. The police seemingly helpless there
Clew the assasstn's Identity, FOR no one
but myself had seen him enter or leave the house.
Though I realized my peculiar position / was re-
luctant TO forward a witness 1 felt uncer-
tain as 70 my ability recognize the man again;
all events I could not feel sufficiently sure 10
procure his condemnation. From the feetirg glance
: caught OF his features they differed IN no way
from a hundred OF his fellow creatures; all had
been able a LaIo LlOUstache and dark
eyes in a white face The man was OF medium
height and slight of build, but otherwise ne was
but type OF the society set-1 unit cut in
the pattern his fellows.
There was n popularity in face, figure, or walk
which would enable TO Identify him
SO after due deliberatlor I decided TO leave the
matter in the hands OF the police The woman.