Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1899-11-18
THE PHANTOM TRAIN.
BY WALTER EDGAR M'cANN.

came by she said, turning over the
letters.
81 only nodded good evening
bat mean to have chat as ! GO
back; ii it's not t, dark"
She laughed gayly.
"Why, you're not afraid to go
home after dark, are you? We don't
have highwaymen hereabouts
"No, but / don't like to walk down
the track unless [ can see a very
great distance ahead: Alter you de-
socnd the cut. it's quarter Of mile
to uncle Ben's little house, you know
and how should | get out OF the way
If a train came by!'
She looked up at the big round
faced clock.
'The freight passes down at eight
which will be 10 five minuets, and
then the track is clear till nine, when
the express comes"
/ shook my head obviously.
well, Miss Bessie, that msy be
very true; but | have very well
defined dread OF railroad tracks 10
the night-and you know there
might be special, or something,
aud, in fact, it's much safer to avoid
all possible LANCER"
She had found my letter by this
time, and now handed it over, and
made ready to leave.
THIS Miss Bessie, l should ex-
+ plain, was Miss Fenwick, who kept
the post.office, ticket-office, store,
and what not, at the Glenrose Cut;
as it. was called, and was certainly
very charming young lady.
I had been 10 the country about a
month, keeping bachelors hall 10 the
woods, and having a pleasant time
altogether. But | have never yet
missed my walk oEce or twice a
day to the station for my mail. and
in this way Miss Fenwick and / had
become excellent friends.
Uncle, Ben of whom she had spok-
en-, was the tunnel clerk, wfo passed
nearly all his time 50 the mouth OF
Glenrose tunnel, which began ex-
actly where the open cut ended
She called him "uncle," but she was
no relation to him whatever-only
the daughter Of an old friend, Mar.
tin Fen wick, who had been killed
years before in the tunnel-and
about this people sometimes whis-
pered very melancholy story.
went toward the door and just
reached it, when Miss Fenwick call
ed me back.
"Mr. Bruce, please say word or
two to uncle Ben as you pass him.
You can't imagine how lonely he is
sometimes, and he likes you SO very
much, and he will appreciate it SO
much it you stop and chat with him
a minute"
There was peculiar earnestness
in her pleading that impressed lie
strongly. 1 felt that she was quite
right, Tor the old man must be very
lonely there, indeed, and it would be
ungenerous of me, with SO much
idle time on my hands, to neglect
her request, and l at once consent.
ed.
Certainly, Miss Bessie. You
are quite sure there will be no train
till nine, after the freight passes2"
"Hark!" she cried, listening, as a
whistle short distance away shrek.
ed twice. Here is the freight now.''
And then, almost iD tt e same min
ute, with ponderous rumble and
roar, the train flashed by. "No other
train now, till the nine express she
continued. There used to be an
eight thirty great while ago, but it
was abolished, Poor papa, I've
heard, was killed on that train" she
added, smiling sadly. land Pm glad
it doesn't exist any longer-for when.
ever it came by, should always be
thinking Of him You will stop and
speak to uncle Ben, then! / am Sc
glad, Mr. Bruce, for lately he has
been in such low spirits, and has
been acting tran g e, and-and
sometimes l afraid he will drink
little brandy to cheer himself up
and >you know brandy never does
any body any real good. does it?"
"Rarely, l afraid; but don't be
disturbed, Miss Bessie mean to
have quite chat with uncle Ben
and SO good night, and don't worry
about anything"
took the side Of the cut, going
through cornfelds and orchards. til
/ reached the declivi,y which led tc
the tunnel, and defending this
brought me upon the track. It was
quite dark, and / naturally exper
fenced my usual nervous feeling, al
I walked along between the rails
sort of cold chill 10 the back, rs If ,
train were coming behind me.
There was light 10 the littl'
house where uncle Ben passed BIZ
time, and the windows were up, ant
/ could just see the top OF bis graz
head.
For second, after stealing eau