Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1888-05-11

upon but exceedingly Troublesome TO
the eyes of the veteran engineer.
An hour later a red light at Ailler's
station caused Jasper to put on the
brakes and come to stop.
"There's the train order" said the
telegraph operator, appearing at the
cab window, and there's a private mes
sage for Jack.
my God, fatherI" cried Jack, read
/ ing his message before Jasper had de
/ ciphered the first words of the train
/ dispatcher's order on the yellow mani
fold paper, read that! What shall I
do?"
Jasper took the dispatch and read:
MARY Clifford has disappeared.
Search parties are out. Come home.
Jack was frantic and wanted to jump
off the engine and start back on foot.
But old Jasper had better idea.
Wait till we get to SmithVille, ne
said, "and there you may ask the fire.
man of No. to take your place while
you take his and return home. That is
all that can be done, my boy"
They were two very sad men who rode
away in the cab of engine 451. They
had not a word to say to each other.
Each was busy with his own thoughts.
Jasper was thinking that his fOrebOd-
ings were beginning to bear fruit, and
that the engine and electric lamp had
brought bad luck at last. Jack was
trying to think what in the world had
become of Mary Clifford.
The train was rapidly approaching
Buck Hill tunnel, the fierce rays from
the new lamp filing the frosty rock out
with dazzling array Of crystals, when
both father and son suddenly uttered
an exclamation of horror, and turned
their faces toward each other. At that
instant the locomotive plunged into
the tunnel with a roaring and a CULVER
ing of the earth, but by the light
afforded by the single guage lamp,
Jasper read in Jacks face that which
he was dreading to see there, and Jack
saw in the blanched cheeks and dilated
eyes Of his father that his worst fears
were realized. His hand trembling
more violently than the engine itself, the
old engineer threw his weight against
the throttle and shut off all steam, and
at the same moment applied the air. AS
soon as the train had come to q stand
still he reversed, opened the throttle
once more, whistled for rear lights, and
/ slowly backed the train out Of the
! tunnel. As the wheels laZily revOlved,
the old man turned to his son and in a
voice which was more a whisper than
} anything else, gasped out:
Did you see it ?"
) eyes" Jack whispered in reply; I'll
S was Mary. I saw it as plainly as could
be. 1t was Mary standing there in the
t middle of the track, clad in angels
robe. Oh, L know it is Mary's spirit
70 and she is dead"
ct was a woman's form, and she
Y held her right hand aloft in warning,
+ said Jasper, his eyes as large as oyster
{ shells and his frame trembled like 10
p connective in toll. at was a warning, /
, ever there was one, and not for all the
s world would L run through that TUNE
o tonight. She stood right in the middle
T. of the track and-heavensl there she Ii
e again! See, there!"
Jack saw it, too, and covered hii
i face with hi grimy arms and wept.
e What's the matter here!" inquired
the conductor, who had come running
. forward as the train stopped. Whats
d up?"
e Look" the old engineer replied
e pointing ahead with one hand and Will
It the other covering his eyes.
S 81 see nothing except the mouth o
Q Buck Hill tunnel, the conductor said
o She is there-she is there 1 saw
d her twice!" Jasper cried.
s there. Wake up, man-yOu are dream
IS ing. Where's Jack 2"
,, 81 saw her, too" said the fireman
s moaning; Il saw her, and L am sur
q my Mary is dead.
q "Saw fiddlesticks!" muttered tn
y conductor, as he clambered into tn
:. cab. Jap Ward, I'm ashamed of you
d Ghosts on the track Humphl What
g the matter with you tonight ?"
y But Jasper and Jack stuck to thei
it story that they had seen on the trac
e right at the mouth of Buck Hill tunne
s the ghOstly form of woman, with he
q hair waving in the wind and with ham
o uplifted Warningly. The cOnduetO
z. laughed at the story and ridiculed Jas
d per and Jack until they consented
tt put on the steam and go ahead. Tn
n wheels had made but few revolution
d when the conductor cried out as tn
e others had done before him, Gres
heavens, what is that ?" But, being
d brave fellow, as it is easy for man
X be who has never had his nerves veal
}. ened by much riding in the cab Of
D. locomotive, he leaped to the grOun
1t and declared that he would solve til
1t mystery. Lantern In hand, he pushe
b. ahead toward the mouth of the TUNE
he In a moment he called out for help, an
a when Jasper and his son ran to his a
ar sistance, they found him standing G
IN the pilot Of the locomotive with SOM
IN thing white In his arms.
re Here's your ghOstly woman" /
Id cried. Help me get her down. She
Id either dead or sleeping"
it 1t was indeed a woman, and she va
n, alive but unconscious. Jack fashe