Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1902-04-10


rode down into the Hamilton bottoms
one night with the Geyser, says the
Chicago Record I'll erald. The Geyser
was one of the most tangible and I'M
ghostly machines on the A., B., G. road.
1t was so tangible that it's leak could
be traced from one end of the division
% the other. That was why it was call
ed the Geyser. McFadden inwardly
moaned when he knew he was to have
it for this particular nights run.
He moaned more when the old tub,
gushing at every joint and connection,
came to a dead halt on the edge of
Hamilton bottoms and announced in
engine way that it would not move ON
until some of it's flow was checked.
Signal lights were properly placed
ahead and in the rear, and McFadden
and Forbes set to patching wherever
they could.
Forbes applied himself to the coal
heaving, McFadden gave the throttle
an ugly twitch, and the Geyser, with a
fearful protest, caught the rail and
started Perhaps the watery thing had
gone a trains length when in the dark
ness Just beyond the limit of the head
lights throw there came out in bold re-
lief the figure Of man. He appeared
to be standing in the center Of the
track, a SLOUGH hat on his head, rough,
farmerlike features in plain view, his
clothes mussed and wrinkled like those
of any countryman.
When McFadden first caught sight Of
him, he was looking straight into the
headlight, but as it drew nearer to him
he moved ahead, turning his face from
the engine and stepping off at what
seemed to the engineer to be very
good pace He looked back just as Nc
Fadden applied the air and jerked
great blasts of warning out of the Gey-
ser's whistle. Forbes noting the whis-
tie, jumped to the gangway and looked
ahead, and he, too, saw the man. He.
too, saw that as the train came to
dead stop the man disappeared.
McFadden gave his eyes quick rub
and then laughed uneasiiy.
You saw him, JohnnyY
straight in the center of the track"
answered Forbes. He swung out Of
the cab and ran ahead of the engine
some little distance, but no man was to
be found. McFadden gave the Geyser
steam again, and the train was once
moro under way. Then ahead appeared
the man once more. this time walking
with his head down. his back to the
train. Forbes saw him as well as Nc
Fadden. The latter called out:
Guess we're both spooky tonight,
Johnny"
"Give him a run for his money" was
the fl emans half angry rejoinder. He
was no ghost believer.
The old Geyser began to behave her
self of sudden. She perked up made
steam, threw off her lethargy and ap
peared to take a personal mechanical
interest in the chase The naturally
dreary Hamilton bottoms never looked
drearier. The black of cloudy night
was on them. the ooZe of the wet lands
was about the ties and rails, and thin
mist hung over everything. The Geyser
ran like mOgul.
But the man ahead kept just little
ahead of her increasing his pace as her
wheels spun faster. AT the Lutheran
crossing he looked back, and again at
Hayrick marsh. He went over Sales
creek bridge taking five ties at single
step. AT Duck river he seemed to span
the bridge with one stride. McFadden
and Forbes were nightly interested in
Oyertaking him or in some way solving
the mystery. They gave the Geyser all
the power she would stand and Whirled