Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1890-05-03


and one freight, both empty, for we ex-
pected TO get one load when we met the
north bound express at Sharp's juno
tion.
When swung myself into the cab ]
was startled by the expression OF
Shelly's face. 1t was deadly pale and
set remember noticing that he had
bitten his lower lip and that there was
blood upon it.
"why, Shelly. old man, what has
happened?" exclaimed. "Are you
sick?"
He smiled and his features relaxed
slowly into their usual sad expression,
as he answered.:
mo, Tom, nothing has happened,
only headache. Don't mind me-"
just then we received the signal to
start and soon left the station behind
US in the gloom. / had my hands full
keeping a head of steam on for the first
few miles, but as busted myself about
the furnace, could not help glancing
at Shelly now and then, as he sat peer
ing out into the dusk before us, with
that strange set look upon his face, and
thinking: "a heart-ache, poor fellow,
instead Of q headache is what you
mean"
There were twenty miles OF straight
driving before we made the first stop.
We had got over about half the distance
and was just settling down to steady
work, having my furnaces well loaded
and seen that my water gauges were
we'll up, when was startled by sharp
exclamation from Shelly. Looking up
quickly, was shocked ut his appear
ance. He was leaning forward, gazing
out of the cab window, which was open,
his eyes starting from his head and his
whole air expressive OF the most in
tense terror and expectancy. Above the
clanlking of the machinery and the whizz
OF the escaping steam, could hear his
loud. quick breathing.
shelly" cried, what Is it?"
He did not heed me until / had re-
peated my question in louder tone.
He put out his hand as II to silence
me without turning. ''Hush.' he said.
in q strange, choked voice; ''hush, Tom!
She is there"
"She! who?'' / asked. in alarm.
There is no one there. You are i'll,
Shelly
mo, no." he answered, in the same
husky tone. "She is there, tell you. !"
"You are mad, Shelly" cried, nerv-
ously, hardly knowing what l was say
ing what woman would be out on
such night as this?"
He slowly turned his face toward me
and by the faint light of the gauge lamp
could see how locked and rigid his
features were.
mo Icing woman" he said in slow,
penetrating whisper. every syllable OF
which was audible above the noise Of
the engine. "A dead woman, Tom"
am not naturallya nervous man, and
at times. at least, in the prime Of my
youth and strength, feared neither
man nor ghost. but confess was thor
oughly shaken. There was something
so uncanny about the whole thing. The
unnatural expression of the mans face,
the blood-curdling accents OF his voice,
his evident belief in his own i'm
pressions, all contributed to send an icy
chill down my skin and bring the per-
SEPARATION out upon my forehead.
shelly cried, shelly, don't look
out there. Shut the window and sit
down. Ill run her to Sharp's and
give you time TO get over this"
For reply he beckoned me to his side
and against my will l crossed to where
he stood.
Look there!' he muttered in my ear,
while his fingers closed upon my arm
with a vise-like grip. There just
ahead of the pilot in the glare OF the
head-light--and tell me what you see."
In the lane of light flung far ahead
upon the tracks, making brilliant
wedge in the darkness, the steam,