Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1896-05-27
A GHOST COMMUTER.

A GHOST COMMUTER.
The wind drove the hail and sleet
violently against the car windows, and
what with its melancholy bowling, ac-
companying the incessant rattle of the
panes, I could hardly hear the shrieks
Of the locomotives whistle as the train
plunged through the dense darkness. 1t
was hard night to travel, and I did
not wonder that the car was empty save
for the man who had just seated himself
beside me. Such being the case, how
ever, I could not but feel surprised that
this single other passenger should have
crowded into my seat when he might
have had whole one to himself. can
not say that was indignant, for though
he forced me to move toward the drafty
window he was company, and l had felt
lonely from the very beginning of the
forlorn trip Oh the midnight express.
Then, too, he was such mild, harm
less looking fellow.
glanced toward him, intending to
open the conversation, when my eye fell
upon the time table in which he was
deeply engrossed. 1t was thumb worn
piece Of paper, and no wonder, for
across the top I read in big black type,
"To go into effect on April 1, 1884"
It seemed strange that man should
consult train schedule II years old.
My curiosity was aroused, and l drew
my own time table from my pocket and
held it toward him.
Pardon me, sir, but perhaps this
will be of more use to you. Where are
you going?"
"Thank you," he replied sadly, ''but
you cannot help me- I would that you
could, though. You see, I am bound for
rutherford, but it seems that I will
never get there
"Tutherford'' I exclaimed. "Why,
you are on the wrong train!"
knew this place well as one Of the
prettiest little suburban villages on the
line of the New York, Lackahudson and
Western, but also was aware that this
train never stopped there and that we
had long since passed it.
''That is just the devil Of it, 5" replied
my companion vigorously. A melan-
choly smile passed over his pale face,
and then he added "I've been getting
on the wrong train for II years. But
excuse me, sir, you are sitting on my
beefsteak.
Curiosity now gave place to astonish-
ment. My first impulse was to believe
that had mailman for companion,
but his every look belied such an idea.
Every detail Of his clothing denoted ex-
treme neatness and self respect. He was
a small, slender man, with a slightly
bald head and clean shaven face. At
his feet were two large, neatly done up
bundles; at his side and partly under
me was third parcel, wrapped i'll
brown paper, which I had no reason to
believe contained meat.
"a thousand pardons, ! said, rising
so that he could rescue his steak from
destruction. II am afraid that I have
ruined it. was not aware that I was
sitting on anything"
Little wonder" he replied quietly.
"No human being could feel that steak
And as for injuring it, I purchased it
II years ago and have been trying to
get it home to rutherford ever since
To make things plain, that is phan-
tom beefsteak.
I broke out into a hearty laugh and
exclaimed, "You are either considerable
Of wag, sir, or else an idiot.
Ny fellow traveller drew himself up
and cried hotly: "Do you know whom
you are addressing? am the late R.
G. Jones, sir, for many years a leading
citizen Of rutherford. y
"The late r. G. Jones Of luther
ford!" I retorted, and then I made a
motion to give him little jovial dig in
the ribs, but to my horror my hand
went right through him and struck the
arm Of the seat on his other side. He
smiled. I drew back in amazement.
Twill not attempt to depict my SEN
Stations. Wonder gave way to utter as
constituent, establishment to horror,
horror to fright. But this last emotion
passed, for I knew that there was no
escape. could not leave the car, and
then the very appearance of the ghost
was SO peaceable and respectable that a
sense Of security came to me. Reason
prevailed, and I soon found myself trav-
cling on the best Of terms with my
strange companion.
II see you travel on pass, Mr..
Dockboy," said the late r. G.. Jones
after our relationship had assumed
state of mutual confidence. "That is
why I made myself known to you.
suppose you have pull on this road. -
my fourth couiin is the wife Of the
president Of the New York, Lackahud-
son and Western" I replied proudly,
for was not little vain about this
relationship.
"That is good news for me-" began
the late r. G.. Jones. "You see, Mr..
Dockboy, have long needed friend
with some influence on the road, for
want to have this train stopped at Tuth-
erford just once. "
"What!" cried.
eyes, stopped at rutherford" he
continued. II do not wonder at your
surprise, but then you will not be much
when you know my reasons
! have told you my late name, and per-
haps it will interest you to hear that for
many years was an alderman in Tuth-
erford-a place Of no mean Importance.
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