The Waco daily examiner. [volume] (Waco, Tex.) 187?-1888, 1885-07-23

BiiIy the Night Driver. visatsr-.
The Ghost Rides Regularly.

Prom the Philadelphia Times.
Billy, the driver of one of the two
night cars that run on Chestnut aud
Walnut streets after midnight, pro.
tests that he is not superstitious, but
declares that he is beginning to have
a sincere belief in the existence OF
ghosts. Several nights ago he de.
clared that man had boarded his car
whom he knew to have been dead for
the past five years. At first he suppos.
ed 1T to be case OF close resemblance,
but when he approached the supposed
passenger the latter smiled blandly
and nodded TO the driver just Us he
had done in his life.
81 felt rather squcamish,n continued
the driver in telling his story, "but 1
never took any stock in ghosts kept
on walking toward him aud never
took nay eyes from his face. He was
leaning against the back dasher and
there was no one else Oh the platform.
When | got within three or four feet
of him his face began 10 fade away,
| stopped for minute and then made
q spring for him.
"lnstead ofgrabbing man got a
handful of air aud came near going
, over the dasher, head foremost.
This was on the 8 o'clock trip and we
were just climbing the eastern slope
of Chestnut-street bridge. looked
up and down the bridge. There wasn't
q soul in sight. went back to the
front platform feeling pretty queer,
but. didn't say anything TO the two
or three passengers on board. This
occurred on Monday morning and |
haveseen nothing of the appara-
ton since.
The ghost story was related by Bill
ly TO a regular. passenger Oh Wednes-
day night, and Billy assured him thar
he was convinced that the appa-
rition would appear again. 81 don't
want to stand good for ghost story
on my own testimony" he said, "and /
would like to have this thing sifted
down, and if you will ride around
with me a couple of trips every night,
| know we " i'll strike him again"
In consideration of the fact that Billy
is one ofthe oldest drivers in the city
and is considered II Thoroughly trust
worthy man by his employers and
hundreds of West Philadclphians, the
passenger consented. The passenger
last night, in the presence of Billy,
told the story i'll these words. "Wed-
nesday and Thursday nights nothing
in the shape of aspOok boarded the
car, and had about reach d the con-
clusion that had been 'guyed,' and
concluded to abandon my investiga-
tions. On Friday night, however,
WAS detained down town and was
s.s.N ..alI ra. In.
the 8 o'clock car, was chatting with
the driver on the front platform when
the car passed Twenty-third street.
when the car had gone half way
up the bridge hill the driver grasped
me by the arm aud said iu hoarse
whisper; "For Gods sake there tits
Turning around saw man of orni-
nary appearance, with a full, blonde
beard, standing on the back platform.
Billy wrapped the lines around
the brake aud with determined look
started for the back platform. In the
meantime i kept my eyes on the man
on the rear platform When thedrivcr
approached him he seemed to smile
aud nod, but As Billy sprang forward
the form on the platform melted
away. Billy shouted to Inc to stop the
car, and then made thorough search
of the bridge and car, but no trace OF
the man was found. The driver said
lie felt clammy as he took the reius
agaiu.
"The car was bowling
down the western slope
of the bridge when Billy looked
over his shoulder, aud then turn'lg a
blanched face towards me
gasped: For the Lords
sake, he's in the car looked
in and saw the same passenger snug,
ly seated in corner of the car. Billy
dropped the lines aud made dash fol
the end of the car, but when he reach
ed there the seat was empty.
"That man rode with me for years.
interrupted Billy, in solemn tones
and we were always friends. Why h
wants to haunt me can't see. al
ways used him right and can't un
derstand why he should have ii in TO
| Inc'r