Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1889-01-13

-" neii toV, balu the fireman,
moaning; II saw her, and I'm sure nv
Mary is deadn
Saw iddlestieks" muttered. the con-
ductOr, as he clambered into the cab. jap
Ward, Pm ashamed of you. Ghosts on the
track! Humph! What's the matter with
you tonight"
But Jasper and Jack stuck to their story
that they had seen on the track, right at
the mouth of Buck Hill tunnel, the ghostly
form of woman, with her hair waving in
the wind ard with hand upliftei warn
irgly. The condu etor laughed at the story
and ndieuled Jasper and Jack until they
consented to put Oa the steam and 90
ahead. The wheels had made but few
revolutions when the conductor cried out.
as the others had done before HIN, Great
heavens, what is thai?" But, being q brave
fellow, as il is easy 70: man to be who has
never had his nerves weakened by riding at
night in the cab of a locomotive be
leaped to the ground and declared that he
would solve the mystery. Lantern il
hand he pushed ahead toward the mouth
of the tunnel. In moment he called out
for help, and when Jaspe. and his son ran
to his assistance they found him standing
on the pilot of the locomotive with some
thing white in his arms.
Here's your ghostly woman" he cried.
Help me to get her down. She's either
dead or sleeping."
1t was indeed woman, and she was
alive but unconscious Jack flashed his
Lantern before her face, and drew back
with cry. 1t was Mary Clifford.
She reused but slowly, being chilled to
the marrow. Recovering Consciousness At
last, she surprised her rescGers by fsiiirg
to scream. Instead she smiled in q queer
sort of way at Jsck, and pulled closer
round Ter threat the big coat which he
had placed upon her shivering form.
May" said Jack, unable longer to re-
strain the esgerress of his curiosity, chow
in the world did you happen to get HEREOF
way, Jack," shs replied, didn't you
krOg l was troublei with sleep walking ?
I guess l must have Leen dreaming of you
tonight. o. yes, remember; last nigh;
mother and | were talking of the day
took the ride with you on the c3Wcatcher,
and that must be now l happened TO come
here. Are you sorry, Jsck?'
For answer Jack looked to see that his
father and the conductor we're out of sight,
arguing with esch other down by the big
driving wheels, and then he took the chilly
ghost in his arms and kissed her lips until
they at least were warm.
Pm right and know I'm right" ex-
claimed the conductor, who was q materi-
alist, with no u-e for ghosts and spectres
with long hair waving in the wind. 'rn
prove it to you. I'll climb upon the pilot,
and afteT you've backed up little I'll
wave my arms as you start forward eglin,
and you'll see what yol'll see."
TIE conductor climbed upon the pilot,
while Jasper resumed his seat in the cah
and backed up the length Of the tram.
Then he sc. his lever forward again, and
slowly turned on the stem. The wheels
had made but q few revolutions when
Jasper, Jack and Mary cav before them,
seemingly right in the tunnels mouth, a
sha1owy, indistircs form, moving what
appeared to be it's arms, aud which all
knew to be the thidow of the conductor
on the pilot
81 told you so,n was the conductor
first remark as he came down from the
pilot. 81 saw it all at a glance. The
thin ice on the banks in the cut here Is
Just liks looking glass. At one partic
ulaT spot the rays from the electric head
light are reflected back end forth in such
manner that the shadow Of anything on
the pilot is taken up and in6istincsly
thrown upon the blackness ahead.
60 dOnt understand it." said Jasper.
"Let me show you" the conductor
went On, taking out pencil and psper,
while Jasper held his lantern. ''In the
frat place; y06 must Ts1rsmH6er tnst IN N
rocky walls OF the cut are rough and IN
even, presenting great variety O.
su faces, and a good many OF ZEN
Just like mirrors. Now, we'll cal
a the tunnsl arch. BIB are the walls
of the cut. @ is the electric headlight
over the pilot. The electric IayP, striking
some of the rock surfaces at d, are thrown
back 20 E, ard at L are reflected RICH
across the pilot to f, of course making {
shadow on the VIZ at that point Of what
ever image was in the way. If Jack hsC
been looking out tire cab window at tn
wsll Of the cut he would have seen tn
ghcst at that point, and probably thu
shadow of the font OF thu engine, and thel
maybe he wouldn't have b en- SO badly
scared. Bat he was lock NJ ahead az yoJ
were, and you both saw the iudis,inct ont
lines of the young lady's shadow a
thrown from + upon the darkness In TN
cut beyond the range CT the electric rays
You might travel thousand miles with
out ComIng OF another SPOT where such
result wonld appear. Now, hurry up anC
let's get away"
How do you account for the upliftet
arm?" Inquired Jasper.
That is easily explained. When
found the young lady she was sitting vita
her right arm holding ID the bracs rod
that runs from the heldlsmp to the front
of the pilot, just as she might have done
had she been awake. Betides, your mag
ination helped the illusion made by com
bi5ation of Jack FrOst's locking glasses,
the electric headlight and fleep-walkinR
young lady. Qaeareet thing l ever heard
Of"
"Oaeer? I should say it was" echoed
old Jasper, as he turrei en- the stem and
plunged into tie tunnel as II he meant to
make up the fifteen minutes of lost time
Il should say it was queer. But for
heavens sake, don't tell the boys, or
they'll laugh me OFF the road"
The conductor promised to keep the
matter a fecret, and was as good as his
word. The story was told by old jasper
himself one day last week, as his contri-
button to the tales of the rail beirg re-
lated by party of striking engineers.
Jasper is now grandfather, but has re-
tired from the fco. board, while engine
451. storn Of it's brilliant font light and
again carrying the modest oil lamp,
brought ro,hing but good luck to old
Jasper, to jack aud Mary since The night
it was stopped for the woman IN white
"rO MY MIsTREss's BOOTS