Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1896-04-30

10 L ~. L , L - 1l0DA
back home in any way bur an orderly
one-by train, just as l did when was
nor late. And, moreover custom re-
auired that | should travel on car No.
835. third seat from the rear, as had
done day in and day out for years So
went 70 the station with my phantom
umbrella, bundles and beefsteak
Promptly at 5:12 l got off the ferry,
stopped at the newsstand which is run
for the pheotom commuters and pur-
chased a sporting extra Of phantom
evening paper, repaired to the train
shed and got on this car, No. 3S5, and
took this very seat. But the train did
not start as usual. 1twas midnight h.
fore we left the station, and then, to
my horror, we whirled through luther
ford and never made stop until we
reached the dnction 60 miles west
will not dwell On my sorrow when |
realized my predicament Car $50 had
been shifted TO the midnight express,
and until it could be stopped at Tuther-
ford was doomed to haunt this uncOm-
IOIIdDlt
suburban home.
Years have passed since then, and
every night have got ON the same car
and sat in this same seat, oftentlmes
crowded between two men, who could
not see me, always doomed to go whirl-
ing by the familiar little station with
out speck of a chance Of getting off.
Did YOU ever travel in the same car seat
with two fat women with babies and
bundles!'
"No, l replied. But can conceive
more pleasant positions. -
"Yet such has many a time been my
fate, 4" continued the late r. G.. Jones,
in spectral mournfulness II have tray-
eled with noisy drummers, with chat
teriDg Italians, opium smelling Chinese,
with every possible kind Of man that it
is unpleasant for a 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 at 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mutation card, seven years out of date,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 it to him. He asked me If
thought he was a fool and used very
violent and personal language. When.
told him l 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 better than to
get off the train, and he carried me to
the end of the line. Since then | have
in vain watched chance to speak TO
some one who has pull ON the road
They have been wearisome years to me,
and when tonight the longed for oppor-
tunity came l seized it l saw you had
pass. +"
my dear Mr. Jones'" said, for l
was deeply affected by the story Of my
companion, who, with his eyes filed
with cloudlike tears, was now leaning
eagerly toward me, awaiting my reply,
"you have my sympathy. have heard
much Of ghJsts, but you are the first
ever met. Your story is IA sad one, and
/ will do what can to alleviate your
sufferings l see what you want. You
wish to have this car stopped at luther
ford so that you can get off 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 c'usin, the presi-
dent Of the New York, Lackahudson
and Western, to have this train stopped
Just Cnce at rutherford. will take
such steps Us soon as | get back to
town. "
1T is almost daylight, and we are
approaching the junction, where l al
ways get off, " said the lnte r. G..
Jones. His voice was husky, but a
gleam Of hope and happiness transfused
his face Il must leave you now. 1t Is
pay your kindness, Mr.. Dockboy, but
you will ha the consciousness Of hav-
ing done a 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
cd from my sight
/ kept my word to him Many We're
the subterfuges used to have the mid
night express stopped at rutherford,
but l succeeded. thanks to my cousin,
the president Of the road, and the knowl
edge that the respectable and late R. G..
Jones has ut last got off that train at
his late place Of residence after 1 long
years Of travel has been to me u source
Of continued satisfaction.-New York
Sun