The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-02-09
CUSTAVE ECKSTEIN g. CO

the boys call the ghost train says Hank.
What trains thatT says /.
Why, it's the ghost OF the train that
went off the bridge on the Muskahoot
river. The boys do say that every once
IN while there Is a train made up OF a
locomotive, baggage car and a Pull
man sleeper, that comes down the road a
hustlin', and goes off the Muskahoot
bridge into the river. / never saw no
such train myself but there's lots of folks
living along this road that have seen
1t, and you'd have hard work to convince
EN- that ii isn't the ghost Of the wrecked
train. Come TO think Of II that there
train was wrecked just a year ago last
night, and it's probable that her ghost was
out for an airing, as you might say
Well, when L came to think the thing
over, came to the conclusion that Hank
was right, and that the Pullman with the
wet bed clothes and the rotten bell cord
was nothing more nor less than the ghost
OF car. However, / didn't say much
more to Hank about II at the time, for
the less a man talks about seeing ghosts
the better II rs for him If he wants to be
considered a reliable man. But as soon
as got back to Jericho l went to see the
division superintendent and told him the
whole story.
''see here" he said. when I had got
through, Il suppose ought to report you,
but considering that you were not on duty
last night, and that you're not drinking
man as general thing l shan't say any
thing about 1t. But II you'll take my ad-
vice you'll not tell that ridiculous story
to anybody else"
!" Then you think I was drunk and
dreamed the whole thing, do your /
asked.
81 don't think So says he Tn sure
of IL. I've just been over the division re-
ports and no such train as you describe
has been seen at any station. Besides, /
Know where every Pullman car in the
company's service is just at this Identical
time, and It's impossible that a Pullman
should have been on the Manilus branch
last night. No train of any kind went
oyer that branch between O'Clock last
nfnlnnL
" Then ! wish you'd explain how trav-
eled from Manlius station to East Fabus-
vile last night between and II. / can
prove by the conductor of the up train
that he let me off at Manlius after s
O'Clock last night, and can prove by the
landlord Of the Fabiusville tavern that
put up at his house just before IL clock.
A man, whether he is drunk or sober, can't
travel seventy miles In three hours, I'M
less he does 1t on railroad train.
THE superintendent was a mighty
smart man, but this conundrum Of mine
was more than he could answer. SO he
only smiled In an aggravating sort of
vice and keep quiet. You know how down
the directors are on any man that drinks
too much, whisky. II you go about talking
of this adventure of yours the chances are
you'll lose your place
Just then i happened to think of the
piece Of bell-cord that 1 had taken from
the car. put my hand in my pocket
and there It was, sure enough. / held
Il up and said TO the superintendent:
There's piece Of the rotten bell-cord
that told you about. Perhaps you'll saw
/ dreamed six feet Of cord into my pock-
et.'
1.-THE superintendent took 1t, and I could
see that he was considerably staggered
You say you got this out of the Pullman
sleeper that you dreamed about?' he
'"Thats just exactly and precisely the
Identical place where l got that cord
aforesaid says l. as solemn as If 1 was
on my oath.
well, says he, L take back what
said about you're having been drunk.
That there cord hasn't been in use in
any car on this road for more than a
year. The last car that had a cord like
that was the one that went into the Mus
sahoot river That's a cotton cord and
we don't use anything but hempt nova
days
Then you think that 1 was on a ghost
train after ALL says /.
I think says he, that the less you
say about IL the better-that, is IL YOU
care to follow my advice II you keep
on talking about II you'll have half the
trainmen on the division watching for
ghosts and neglecting their regular du-
ties
"Of course, I promised to do as the
superintendent said, and never mention
ed the ghost train until this particular
superintendent had skipped to Canada
with over 100000. He was a most anaz-
ing smart man, and If had gone against
his wishes ! wouldn't have stayed in
the company's service very long,