Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1896-12-04

ways review bis past life at such a
moment; often he wastes time
thinking upon mere trlhe.
The dryer of the special engine
bad a boy, aud this boy had climb
ell up on picket fence to kiss bis
father goodbye that morning at
their home in Salt Lake, but he
slipped, fell and hung there with
a fence picket through the seat Of
his first pair ol trousers; and it was
all 50 funny that now as the en-.
gineer recalled the circumstance
he threw back his head ana laugh.
ed as heartily as lie had ever
laughed in his lite. TIe fireman,
casting farewell glance at his
companion, saw hin laughing and
concluded in his last moment that
the driver had suddenly become
Insane. but as he glanced ahead
where death was awaiting he was
was not sure that he was sane
himself.
The driver having finished his
laugh and still feeling no shock.
looked ahead. The track was clear!
He unlatched the reverse lever and
threw the engine in the forward
motion and the speed of the train,
, which had been but little check
ed, carried them away down
among the sand hills. The drivor
looked over to the fireman aud
asked: .Did you see anythingP
No. SAID the fireman. Did your
Aud the driver said no, tried his
water and opened the throttle and
the engine wblrled away, while the
fireman returned to his place at
the furnace door.
TDe two men scarcely glanced
at each other again until they
stopped for water at Green river,
but each in bis own mind was
recalling all the wild tales Of
ghost trains he had ever heard.
Each was firm IN the belief that be
had seen, ghost bat he would
never tell it-LOt for his job.
The officials in the special train
felt the resistance of the engine
when the engineer shnt off and re
versed, and the general manager.
turning to the superintendent,
asked with a show of surprise:
when did YOU pat in that
sidingY
"What, back therei Thaps
Coyote spur, and it has been sthere
for six MONTHS was the reply.
know very well,' said the man
ager, 'wheIe Coyote spur Is, for we
switched th9re fifteen inmates for
No. Eight going down the
otLer day, but We jast passed
siding on the morrill,
The superintendent was Inclined
to be funny, bnt the colonel, strok'
ing his long gray whiskers, Ie-
marked that he had seen lOcOmO
tive standing at the point men
toned, and 'as trains ere not in
the habit of meeting aud passing
between stations. 1 take it that
thers must be siding there
There was just twinkle OF
mIrth in the cOlouel's eyes, which,
despite the anger marks left about
them by the touch OF time, arc stlll
bright with the sparkle OF youth,
but the superintendent was utterly
unable TO understand the general
manager.
There was silence for a little
while, bat the general manager
was by no means satisfied. lie
pressed the baton and When tue
porter came in he asked: 'Did
you see an engine On a siding
back aways, GeorgeP
no, sab, L haven't saw no en-
gIne. 'D'Aintno sldin' 'cept Oi-ote
spur, an dat wus clear
Send the conductor to me- said
the official, and when the conduc'
tor came in the manager asked 10
be allowed to look at the running
orders.
Run a special to Grand Junct
ion. avoid all regular trains. Extra
engine 81 has until 5,8S to make
Coyote spur against yOn.'
What time dld you pass the
spurP demanded the colonel.
Precisely at 0,55,' sad the con
ductOr, now somewhat alarmed at
the managers air.
is there siding between here
and CoyotrP asked the colonel,
aud the superintendent being at a
loss to make out what the manag-
er was driving at, started to leave
the car, but his superior office cal
led him back.
There is not was the cOnduc-