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

The wind drove the hail and sleet
violently against the car windows, and
| what with its melancholy bowling, ac-
companying the incessant rattle Of the
panes, I could hardly hear the shrieks
| of the locomotives 8 whistle as the train
plunged through the dense darkness. 1t
was hard night to travel, and / 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, I 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 saw 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 a mild, harm.
| less looking fellow.
| glanced toward him, intending to
open the conversation, when my eye fell
upon the time table Ill which he was
| deeply engrcssed. 1t was thumb worn
piece cf paper, and no wonder, for
across the top I read in big black type,
''To go into effect on April l, 1884. "
1t seemed strange that man should
consult tran schedule II years old.
Ny curiosity was aroused, and / drew
my own time table from my pocket and
held it tow&l / him.
Pardon me, sir, but perhaps this
!. - fn NJ hnrn
you gCing?"
Thank you, (" he replied sadly, ''but
you cannot Eelp me. l rould that you
could, though. You see, | am bound for
rutherford, but it seems that | will
never get there.
'Tutherford!" l exclaimed. why,
you are on the wrong trainp'
knew this place well az cne of the
prettiest little suburban villages ON the
line Of the New York, Lackahudson and
Western, but / also was aware that this
train never stopped there and that we
had long since passed 1t.
THAT is Just the devil Of it, " replied
my companion vigorously. A melan-
choly smile passed over his pale face,
and then he added: 1--WE been getting
on the wrong train for IL years. Bt .
excuse me, sir, you are sitting on my
beefsteak.
Curiosity now gave place to astonish-
ment My first impulse was to believe
that | had a mailman for companion,
but his every look belied such an idea.
Every detail Of his clothing denoted ex-
trelne neatness and self respect. He was
a small, slender man, with a slightly
bald head and clean shaven face. At
his feet We're 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
so that he could rescue his steak from
destruction. Il am afraid that | have
ruined it, / was not aware that was
sitting ON anything.
Little wonder, " he replied quietly.
"No human being could feel that steak.
And Us for injuring ii, purchased 1t
IL years ago and have been trying to
get it home to rutherford ever since.
To make things plain, that is phan-
tom beefsteak f"
/ broke out into a hearty laugh and
exclaimed, "You are either considerable
Of wag, sir, or else an idiot. "
My fellow traveller drew himself up
and cried hotly: "Do you know whom
you are addressing? l am the late II.
g. Jones' sir, for many years leading
citizen Of rutherford. -
"The late r. G.. Jones Of luther
fordr' retorted, and then | made d
motion to give him 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
tonishment, astonishment 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 50 peaceable and respectable that II
sense Of security came to me Reason
prevailed, and soon found myself trav-
cling on the best Of terms with my
strange companion
Dockboy," said the late r. G.. Jones
after our relationship had assumed a
state Of mutual confidence THAT is
why | made myself known to you. /
suppose you have pull on this road "
"My fourth cousin is the wife Of the
president Of the New York, Lackahud-
son and Western replied proudly,
for was not little vain about this
relationship.
THAT Is good news for mo, began
the late r.. O. Jones. you see, Mr..
Dockboy, have long needed friend
with some influence on the road for l
want to have this train stopped at Tuth-
erford just once. "
"Whatp' / cried.
Eyes, stopped at TCtherford " he
continued Il do not wonder at your
surprise, but then you win not be much
astonished when you know my reasons,
/ have told you my late name and per
haps it viii interest you to hear that for
many years was an alderman in Tuth-
erford-a place Of no mean Importance.
Ny business was in New York. Every
morning for ten years l left my house
promptly III Q .SEb Ictt'liSd iil' btdIAOA 1O
s 80 and took the 8:31 for town. AT
Just B :13 o'clock In the evening reach
ed the Jersey City station and boarded
the train for home. 1t SO happened that
for the last five years Of my life | al-
ways got on the third car from the en-
gine and took the third scat from tho
rear 1t became habit with me. ! was
known and respected on the road, and
there was tacit understanding among
tho other commuters that that place
Should always be reserved for me. This
is the same car, No. 1895, and the very
same seat.
"And you are haunting it?" ! asked,
sor the light was bcginrang to break.
Temporarily and accidentally " re-
piled the late II. G.. jones. when l
can get this train stepped at rutherford,
/ viii get off and go back to my old
home Don't you remember seeing in
the papers about ten years ago how II.
@. Jones, prominent citizen Of Tuth-
l. G l.. ..N