Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1900-09-13

FOrty-SiX might not be far off, unless
it had accidentally plunged into the
Mississippi, or strayed to Kansas City
by means of misplaced switch.
Dimkins of Dalabeke had accepted
the explanation that the train could
not have left ST. Louis, and that
Tompkins and others must have been
mistaken. On the second night after
the train was lost, Dimkins was quiet
ly playing his usual game of checkers
in the depot with Il friend. Dimkins
was in terrible position where one
wrong move would lose him the game.
and he was intently studying the abb
sOrbing problem, when his friend
said
whats that?''
Dimkins paused on the brink of de-
structiOn and looked up aghast. He
put his hand to his ear and-there
was no doubt about it-he heard the
slow putting of an engine coming to-
ward Dalabeke. D.mkins says lie
shall never forget the sensation.
ITS Forty-Six's schedule" said
Dimkins, deliberately. but it amt
FortySix." Therefore, speaking very
slowly. therefore, it must be Forty
SKIS Ghost.'
Even as he spoke, the putting of the
engine grew nearer and nearer, and
slower and slower, until at last it
ceased entirely.
"She's gomez whispered Dimkins In
horror-stricken tones.
Then the sound of yell came from
somewhere.
Dlmkins got up and crept carefully
along to the window. while his friend
watched intently. as though he expect
ed the ghost of fast freight Number
FortySiX to jump suddenly through
the window at any moment. Then
"Hallo" said Dimkins. Come here,
Tom
"What fur?" demanded Tom, very
dOubtfully.
It's Forty Six said Dimkins.
"Her lights a-burnin'"'
''Oh. her lights a-burnln'!" repeats
Tom. dogged and immovable.
But out flew Dimkins, racing at top
speed down the track toward the
train. When he reached it there was
no engineer. stoker. brakesman. nor
any kind of living soul to be seen. But
there was Il fearful racket going on
in the third box ear.
What's the matter there?" shouted
Dimkns. from what he considered a
safe distance.
Break open the car and let us out"'
responded n number of voices. Get
rail and knock the-lock off,
"It's u.s. shouted another voice.
which Dimkins recognized at once as
the voice of Rodney Graham. stoker.
So Dimkins followed directions, got
rail. broke the box car. and found
the entire train crew laying on the
floor of the car. bound hand and foot.
Whether it was sheer bewilderment
that caused it. or whether the subtle
and pervasive odor of the box car was
responsible, Dimkins says he doesn't
know. but he says that altogether he
felt so dazed that he hadn't the slight
est recollection the next morning of
the explanations that We're hurled ut
him by the imprisoned men as to the
cause of their extraordinary condi-
tion.
Fast freight Number FortySix
puffed out of Dalabeke station en-
route to Chicago shortly afterwards.
and was respectfully signalled, and
notified. and switched. and q. KID
through by operators. The train dis
patcher. thinking he must have made
II mistake. altered his schedule and
said nothing.
The next morning the Federal EX-
press company received their $4,000.
and they said nothing.
But day or two afterwards the
general manager of the Il. II. X &. s.
X. X. fished II memorandum out of
some forsaken pigeon-holc and said
by the way, what has become of
this freight Number Forty -Six?"
The clerk looked up the records
and found that II was at st. Louis.
"Where ought 1t to be?" demanded
the general manager.
The clerk looked up more recordsand
reported that st. Louis was where
freight Number Forty-Six ought to
be. So the general manager tore up
his memorandum.
Critical persons may talk about the
trains way bill and other railroad
red tape that Is supposed tn keep track
of trains present or missing. In re-
gard to this we have nothing To sug-
gcst. except that II one studies the
records of some politicians there will
appear many Il hiatus irregularly
filled In. We look askance. Ike good
Samarltans, and pass by on the other
side.
Dlmkins sat In the depot, playing
checkers with his friend. one night
when fast freight Numb Forty Six
came laundering by.
Said Dimkins-
"That's no ghost
Said Tom
"Queer go. that