Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1899-11-25
THE PHANTOM TRAIN.
BY WALTER EDGAR M'cANN.

And Martin Fen~ick's wife would
often say: II am never troubled
about the tunnel as long as know
that Ben's in his box But one
night Ben was too late and there
was an accident. and Martin Fen
wick wss killed. And neveTmore,
from that time, was Ben The same
man. Van
: This Miss Fenwick told me at
much greater length, and she added:
~ ncle B,n has. taken care of me
since my mother died, and he loves
me as the dearest thing on earth;
but he changes every day. and some
times feel the strsngess dread of
him-presentiment of horror ming
led with another feeling that i cam
not understand or describe. ] know
his delrs.on with respect to the
phantom train; but how is it to be
curedi Immediately after the &C.
eident, so long ago, it took poses.
sion OF him in bis illness, but when
he recovered it disappeared to re-
turn at intervals; and now, of late,
it, it"-.her voice afaltered--."it
never goes away from him at alp
When | left her that day, won
dered il Uncle Ben's cure was, i'm
possible. To consult q physician
would be to reveal his secret, and
he would lose his position. / re-
solved to try.
That very evening / sought him
in his little house, and found all
things nearly as before. ] came d.
rectly TO the roint with regard to
brandy drinking, saying that it
would injure his mind as well as
body il lie did not cease, and gave
him several good reasons for this
opinion.
But be answered he was so lonely
and melancholy, and it was to late
to relinguish his habit now. We
argued very calmly, and so the time
rolled on to nearly halt past eight.
Exactl ss before he became fidgety,
and kept his eyes fixed upcn the
clock.
"Shell be here in five minutes" ]
heard him mutter.
The proper way to deal with
monomaniac, had Away s read, was
to practically exhibit the absurdity
OF his fancy, while p retending at
the same time to hold it with him
self, and / knew that some of the
most outrageous lunitics still poe-
sessed a strorg sense of the ridicu-
lous. So / said:
Who'll be there?'
He looked embarrassed and un-
comfortable, but I repeated more
emphatically the qestion.
us 'The train at eight thirty. You
know well enough"
$50 much for your brandy, I'm
Gle Ben," l.. rejolned, assuming
smile. "You see impalpable trains,
but we sober fellow, have keener
faculty yet. We are made ,of such
ethereal matter that we can allow
your trains to run over us without
harm.''
BE picked up the lantern, and his
tace-grew dark.
s.The whistlel / MIST show the
light. She gees by on the north
track" and he FASTENED to the
door.
l followed after, and ran cut up
the track.
He glared at me, the picture of
fright and dismsy.
"Get off the track or you are
LOST" he shouted. "She is coming
now, and will cut you down. For
the sake of heaven clear the way!"
| watched him as with outstretch-
ed arms and wide eyes he followed
the progress of the spectral cars
and they came, and was past, and
were gonc-and OF course I still re.
manned standing on the track un.
hurt. / walked over 10 him, pre-
tending to laugh heartily.
For q minute or two he seemed
bewildered, and then suddenly burst
out laughing too:
"You are right" he said. "And
iii swear thought I saw it. Well :.
it must have teen the brandy, and
SO no more for me. / swear i'll"
Next da Iy took the opportunity
at the moment it pre- sentt d itself of
having anttber conversation with
Miss Fen ;ck. There was another
person With her-a young man Of
the Eame Of Warden. who was evil
IDENTIFY her lover.
They told me very frankly thei
little history of their love, which f
course being true, had not by any
means run ss smoothly as could be
wished. To fact, Unc'e Ben did not
like this Mr. Warden - oil and onlv