Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-04-12

mentioned. ans, 'as trains ~ noS "a
the habit OF meeting and passing De.
tween stations. I take II that there must
be q siding there" There was Just .
twinkle OF mirth In the Coionsfs eyes,
which. despite the flnger-marks LETT eoeut
them by the touch Of time. are Sun
bright with the sparkle OF youth. put
the superintendent was utterly unable 20
understand the general manager
There was a silence for little while.
but the general manager was by no
means satisfied. He pressed the button,
and when the black porter came In he
asked: Did you see an engine on q
siding back Always. Gsorger
mo, sab. I haven't saw no engine;
d'ain't no sidin'. 'cept Ci-ote spur. an
dat was clear"
Send the conductor to me-" said the
official, and when the conductor came In
the manager asked him to look at the
running orders.
Run special to Grand Junction. avoid
ing all regular trains. Extra Engine 81
has until 5:s5 to make Coyote spur against
you
what time did you pass tho spurr
demanded the Colonel.
Precisely at $685." said the conductor.
now somewhat alarmed at the managers
air.
rs there siding between here and
Coyote?" asked the Colonel, and the
superintendent, being at loss to make
out what the manager was driving at
started to leave the car, but was called
back.
There "a not" was the conductors
reply.
Perhaps" said the Colonel. there was
not when we went down, but there Is
now. for l saw a locomotive standing
there"
The conductor laughed. as the superins
tendent had done, but the Colonel offered
TO risk a case OF champagne that he HAD
seen no ghost train. and the superin-
tendent took the bet as the easiest way
OF settling an argument, which was about
to become embarrassing.
When the special reached Green River
the party went into the eating-house.
where supper had been ordered, and. as
was his habit. the Colonel sat at the same
table with the train and engine crew.
ALL HAD EN-.
What did you shut off for Just :his
side of Coyote spur. Sam? asked the
Colonel, looking the engineer In the eye.
and instantly the eyes OF the whole party
were upon the drivers dusky face. The
engineer was speeches.. Not that the
circumstances had escaped his mind, for.
"a a matter of fact, he had thought or
little else, but he knew not how TO an
swer.
did you think that engine was on the
main line?" asked the general manager,
noticing the embarrassment OF the engine
crew.
"What engineer asked tho engineer.
trying to look and speak naturally.
II ~ a.
sides your own" was the ColoneFs re-
Spouse. "WiiI you be good enough TO
answer my question:
well" thought the driver. I've got
'em. the c. MS got EN-" and he an
syered: Il did think she was on the main
stem"
what did you think. Harry asked
the superintendent Of the fireman, VINO
was staring at the engineer. Tho fireman
only closed his e!<ss and shook MS ntad
slowly. as II he considered them all crazy.
and his long lashes, dark with coal-dust'
lay upon his newly washed face Ike the
lashes OF a chorus girl
"Dld you see anything on your sideF
asked the Colonel. who was determined 70
unlock the lips OF the fireman.
ono. n IN ng." said Harry. Il don't be-
lieve in ghosts"
'lL VIII MOI Qc utNcEcoa- AZ
,aka mt &c ian accident reporO, but L
wish YOU would tell me what you saw
and how II affected you, said the general
manager to the engineer.
"May I ask you first II you saw any
thing. Colonel?" said the driver.
81 saw locomotive standing on
.pur or siding just east Of Coyote"
"When 1 saw her first" said Sam.
taking courage from the ColonePs con-
In nf M
| coming out of cut like ball out OF
| a cannon. I saw II was all up with US.
| but 7 naturally shut of--meohanically.
So 10 speak. I think / hooked her over,
hut I didn't whistle. open the sand save,
| or set the air-they wasn't no use-no
| time-but Just then / thought OF little
Sammie as / saw him last. hangin on
the fence by the seat OF his pants, an
IL seemed to me that ! never see any
thing quite so funny, ana iausheo
that hard that the tears came IN my
ewes and blinded me. Then the thought
| came to me that we were a long time
| coming together, 30 I looked ahead, an
| there wasn't thing in sight. / asked
Harry II he see anything, an he LEO an
asked IL I see anything, an lied. too,
an opened UP the throttle again That's
| all know about 1t"
There was q noticeable increase In
tho attention Of the company. and Tim
! Flarity. the hagman. leaning low toward
the table. crossed himself and ventured
the prediction that they would have
head-eud collision before they reached
| the junction II never see ghost train
show up yet that didn't mean something,
| he added, but the burst OF laughter that
followed closed his circuit. and he said
no more.
Now the agent came IN with q number
of messages for the superintendent, ana
as the official began reading the hrst OF
the lot he began to smile
Read IL out" said the Colonel Per
haps II will tell US something about the
| ghost" The superintendent read:
Engine 81 Is of the track and nearly
of the right Of way 1000 yards east Oh
| Coyote spur, but still on her feet"
That explained the ghost engine. AZ
the instant when the engineer shut on
the Sewing machine Just then rounding
sharp curve, Jumped the track, lit
square on her wheels. and went ploushins
| out over the hard abode OF the desert.
| She rolled and rocked for few SECONDS,
and then same to q stop with the en-
| CINE men still standing In the cab. The
engine had been working hard, and II
the throttle had remained open. she might
have made the curve all right but the
sudden relaxation OF all her tension
caused Jar that threw her of her feet,
but 1t was lucky Jar for her crew.
| Since that time. however. old sam mas
been In hard luck. He has already lost
three legs. The last one. being caught
| under an engine. was chopped OF by the
| conductor with an ordinary axe TO pre-
vent the engineer being roasted alive.
| Those who witnessed the operation say
that Sam rested on one elbow and smoked