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

| cOnlpanylnB the lnceSSant rattle OF the
panes, could hardly hear the shrieks
Of the locomotives whistle as the train
plunged through the dense darkness. 1t
was hard night to travel, and l 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, 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 had felt
lonely from the very beginning Of the
forlorn trip on the midnight express
Then, too he was such q 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 u thumb worn
| piece of paper, and no wonder, for
across the top / read in big black type,
"To go into effect on April /, 1884"
It seemed strange that man should
consult train schedule II years old.
My curiosity was aroused, and / drew
my own time table from my pocket and
held 1t toward him.
Pardon me, sir, but perhaps this
will be of more use to you. Where are
you goingp"
THANK you, he replied sadly. but
you cannot help me. / would that you
could, though, You see, am bound for
rutherford, but 1t seems that i will
never get there.
"Tutherfordl" exclaimed. "Why,
you are on the wrong trainp'
! knew this place well as one OF the
prettiest little suburban villages on the
| line Of the New York, Laclsahudson and
| Western, but also was aware that this
train never stopped there and that we
had long since passed it.
"That il just the devil of it. 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 u companion,
| but his every look belied such an idea.
Every detail Of his clothing denoted ex-
treme neatness and self respect. He was
Il small, slender man, with 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 in
brown paper, which | had no reason to
believe contained meat.
"a thousand pardons. =" said, rising
80 that he could rescue his steak from
destruction II am afraid that | have
ruined it. was not aware that l was
sitting on anything.
Little wonder" he replied quietly.
"No human being could feel that steak.
And AZ for injuring 1t, / purchased II
IL years ago and have been trying TO
get 1t home to rutherford ever since.
To make things plain, that Is phan-
tom beefsteak. T"
/ broke out into hearty laugh and
exclaimed, "You are either considerable
Of q 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 II.
G. Jones, sir, for many years leading
citizen Of rutherford.
1.-THE late II. q. Jones OF luther.
fordp' retorted, and then made q
motion to give him u 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. ! drew back In amazement.
/ will not attempt to depict my SEN
sations. Wonder gave way to utter as
constituent, establishment to horror,
horror to fright. But this last emotion
passed, for / knew that there was no
escape could not leave the car, and
then the very appearance Of the ghost
was 30 peaceable and respectable that q
sense Of security came to me. Reason
prevailed, and soon found myself tray
cling on the best of terms with my
strange companion.
II see you travel on pass, Mr..
Dockboy," said the late II. q. Jones
after our relationship had assumed a
state Of mutual confidence. THAT ID
why / made myself known to you. !
suppose you have pull on this road. "
my fourth cousin Ia the wife Of the
president Of the New York, Lackahud-
son and Western, replied proudly,
for was not little vain about this
relationship.
THAT IL good news for me" began
the late II. &. 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. I"
"Whatr' cried.
Eyes, stopped at rutherford" he
continued. II do not wonder at your
surprise, but then you will not be much
astonished when you know my reasons.
have told you my late name, and per
haps 1t will interest you TO hear that foi
many years Twas an alderman IN Tuth
erford---a place Of no mean Importance
My business was In New York. Every
morning for ten years left my hous'
promptly at s 22, reached the station q
8 80 and took the s:Bi for town At
Just :18 O'Clock in the evening / reach
ed the Jersey City station and boarded
the train for home. 1t 80 happened that
for the last Ave years Of my life al
ways got ON the third car from the en-
CINE and took the third seat from the
rear. 1t became habit with me. was
known and respected ON the road. and
there was q tacit understanding among
the other commuters that that place
should always be reserved for me. Thu
IL the same car, No. 885. and the yer,
, same seat
"And you are haunting itf'' ! asked