Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1896-05-15

Temporarily and accidentally, p" re-
piled the late II. c. Jones. when
can get this train stopped at rutherford,
l will get Off and go back to my old
home Don't you remember seeing i'll
the papers about ton years ago how II.
| G.. Jones, prominent citizen of Tuth-
erford, succumbed to an attack Of heart
failure brought on by overexertion
while trying to catch the 1872"
"Oh, yes, l recall that well. A very
sad case, indeed" or course didn't,
but that didn't matter.
Tho late II. G.. Jones looked grateful.
"That was when became ghost.
he said "A few days later received
my orders to proceed to rutherford and
haunt my old home. There have always
been strange and confused ideas exist
ing about ghosts. These impressions,
that we do everything in higglety
pigglety way are all erroneous--decid-
eddy erroneous couldn't 60 sailing
back home in any way but an orderly
one--by train. just as / did when was
not late And, moreover, custom re-
quired that should travel on car No
UOb, tlhu Httt liOlli iNthi, tAb htth
done day in and day out for years. So
went to the station with my phantom
umbrella, bundles and beefsteak.
Promptly ut SAB / got off the ferry,
stopped at the newsstand which il run
for the phantom commuters and pur-
chased sporting extra Of phantom
evening paper repaired to the train
shed and got on this chr, No. 1886, and
took this very seat. But the train did
not start ~ usual. 1t was midnight be-
fore we left the station, and then, to
my horror, we whirled through luther
ford and never made stop until we
reached tho junction go miles west l
will not dwell on my sorrow when |
realized my predicament. Car 3B6 had
been shifted to the midnight express,
and until 1t could BIO stopped Mt luther
ford was doomed to haunt this uncom
Portable seat instead Of my own pretty
suburban home. .,
Years have passed since then, and
every night have got ON the same car
and sat In this same seat, oftentimes
crowded between two men, who could
not see me, always doomed to go whirl-
ing by the familiar little station with
out Gpeck Of chance Of getting OH.
Did you ever travel in the same car seat
with two fat women with babies and
bundles2"
NO" replied. "But can conceive
more pleasant positions.
'Yet such has many time been my
fate" continued the late II, q, Jones,
In spectral mournfulness. II have trav-
eled with noisy drummers. with chat
tering Italians, opium smelling Chinese.
with every possible kind Of man that IL
Ia unpleasant for sensitive man like
was to sit in the same seat with. Once,
in desperation, made myself visible to
the conductor and pleaded with him to
stop the train ut rutherford. He refused
absolutely, and not only that, he de-
manded my ticket. got out my com
mutation card, seven years out of date,
and handed 1t to him. He asked me IL |
thought he was fool and used very
violent and personal language. When /
told him could not pay, he declared
that he would put me Off the train
Please leave me Off at rutherford, /
said foolishly. / have regretted those
words greatly, for the man saw that
nothing would suit me bettor than TO
get Off the train, and he carried me to
the end Of tho line. Since then have
In vain watched II chance to speak to
some one who has II pull ON the road.
They have been wearisome years to me-
and when tonight the longed for oppor-
tunity came I seized it. saw you had
pass -
H. I R,,, 4
was deeply affected by the story Of my
companion, who, with his eyes filled
with clondlike tenrs, was now leaning
eagerly toward me, awaiting my reply,
lyon have my sympathy have heard
much Of ghosts, but you are the first |
ever met Your story IL u sud one, and
/ will do what can to alleviate your
sufferings zee what you want. You
wish to have this car stopped Mt luther
ford so that you can get of the train
like an ordinary phantom and obey
your Instructions to haunt your own
house. -
A look Of Joy and expectancy came
over the phantom face.
you have my word that will use
my influence with my cousin, the presi-
dent Of the New York, Lacknhudson
and Western, to have this train stopped
Just once at rutherford. will take
such steps as soon as / get back to
town.
1T Is almost daylight, and we are
approaching the junction. where al
ways get off, said the late II. q.
Jones. His voice was husky, but
CLEAN Of hope and happiness trausfnsed
his face. II must leave you now. 1t il
probable that will never be able to re-
pay your Kindness Mr.. Dockboy, but
you will have the consciousness Of hay
ing done noble deed In freeing phan-
tom commuter from an awful thrall. "
Then he gathered up his phantom
bundles and walked down the aisle, but
before he reached the door he had pass.
ed from my sight.
kept my word TO him. Many were
the subterfuges | used to have the mid
night express stopped at rutherford,
but ! succeeded, thanks 10 my cousin.
the president If the road, and the knowl-
edge that the respectable and late X. q.
Jones has at last got off that train at
his late place Of residence after / / long
gears Of travel has been to me "a source
II continued satisfaction. New York
sun
Wilson and the Expert.
u. n