The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1900-11-24

Forty-Six." Therefore, speaking very |
slowly, therefore, it must be Forty
Skis Ghostw
Even as he spoke, the putting OF the
engine grew nearer and nearer, anu
slower and slower, until at last IL
ceased entirely.
"She's gone!' whispered Dimkins in
horror stricken tones.
The station clock clicked most I'M
cannily loud, and the messages from
but Dalabeke Chartered
furiously through the telegraph keys
and sped away.
Then the sound of yell came from
somewhere.
Dimkins 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
Forty-Six to Jump suddenly through
the window at any moment. Then
"Hallor' said Dimklns. "Come here,
Tom -.
"What fur?" demanded Tom, very
doubtfully.
"Its Forty-Six! said Dimkins.
'Her lights Albumin
ooh! her lights a-burnin'!' repeats
Tom, logged 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 a fearful racket going on
in the third box car.
whats the matter there?" shouted
Dimkins, from what he considered
safe distance.
Break open the car and let us out"
responded a number of voices. Get
a rail and knock the-lock off,
'Its usv' shouted another voice.
which Dimkins recognized at once as
the voice of Rodney Graham. stoker.
So Dimkins followed directions, got
a 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 were hurled at
him by the imprisoned men as to the
cause Of their extraordinary condi-
ton.
Fast freight Number Forty-Six
puffed out of Dalabeke station en-
route to Chicago shortly afterwards,
and was respectfully signalled, and
notified, and switched, and o. KID
through by operators. The train dis
hatcher, thinking he must have made
a mistake, altered his schedule and
said nothing.
The next morning the Federal Elk
press company received their $4,000
and they said nothing.
But a day or two afterwards the
general manager Of the B. K. q q. 5
r. R. fished a memorandum out Of
some forsaken pigeon-hole and said
bY the way, w mas cSNOS VI
this freight Number Forty-Six?"
The clerk looked up the records
and found that it was at St Louis
"Where ought it to be-" demanded
| the general manager.
The clerk looked up more records ant
reported that ST. Louis was wher
freight Number Forty-Six ought t
be. So the general manager tore u
his memorandum.
Critical persons may talk about tn
trains way bill and other RAILROAD
red tape that is supposed to keep tracl
of trains present or missing. In re
gard to this we have nothing to sus
gest, except that IL one studies tn
records of some politicians there wi
appear many a hiatus Irregular
filled in. We look askance, like goo
Samaritans, and pass by on the othe
side.
Dimkins sat in the depot, playin
checkers with his friend, one nigh
when fast freight Number FOrty-Si
came laundering by.
Said Dimkins-
That's no ghost!'
Said Tom
"Queer go. that"
"You may say that" responde
Dimkins.
"Ive heard of ghosts walks in m
time" continued Tom. 'but, you knoy
that was the first time I ever sa
one."
"Ahv' murmured Dimkins. restir
his finger on a checker.
Fright over behind the pond in E
iah Bakers wood" said Tom, "we
: of the tracks, old Walker keeps
shooting box. and there's a lot
rails there and a switch"
Dimkins nodded inquiringly.
1.-THE mark of them rails is on t
grass yitw concluded Tom. "Oh, i
rank"
= $50 it isr' assented Dimkins.
:. seen 'em myself" -Waverley Mag
:. zine.
"Bobs" and His Family.