Sistersville daily oil review. [volume] (Sistersville, W. Va.) 1902-1905, 1904-01-25
A STREET CAR GHOST

and after knocking repeatedly on the
door stopped the car and went inside.
The tramp protested that he had paid
his fare, and l turned to the nun. By
a gesture she signified that | should
hand to the man paper that was lying
on the seat did so, and when turn
ed again the nun was gone. The tramp
declared that he had not seen her-that
he had been alone.
Utterly mystifed. | went back and
started the car. \ little later the
tramp got my name and address and
left the car. That night went to my
doctoraHd told him my story.
Now, DOCTOR" said, eff am luny.
out with it,
"No, no, Jim," said he; Every sane
men have optical illusions now and
then"
81 don't want any more of 'em," said
I. collecting fares of optical illusions
doesn't pay"
81 should say not" said the doctor
But my opinion is that you turned
your back a minute and that the WON.
an got off without paying her fare.
Probably she was not real sister Of
charity The city is full Of frauds.
She made you take the paper to the
man to give herself a chance. See.
now"
thanked him kindly and went away,
and it didn't happen again. Weeks
went along, and it was winter and as
cold as Greenland, and passengers
more bcthersome than | ever knew
'em. when one day, standing in the sta
bles, talking to Mike Gallagher, the old
fellow that watered the horses and al
ways had joke for everybody, heard
my name called.
you're wanted, Jim," said some one,
and l went out into the street, and the
man that had called me pointed to
gentleman, about as fine looking one
as ever knew, and he the gentleman
walked up to me.
"It's your dinner time. isn't it," said
he.
Eyes, SIR" said l. I've got a few
minutes left"
Come along, then" said he. He
walked me into q restaurant close by
the stables and said Call for what
you want" and | named it. Then said
he, "You don't remember me, Jim
Brown"
mo, sir" said l.
"You gave me a paper about six
months ago." said he-"a newspaper. l
asked your name"
"Oh, OH said l. "No, sir, didn't
know you. begin to see the likeness,
but you-you"-
81 know" said he. 81 was pretty
we'll down on my luck then. See here"
He unbuttoned his coat, a sealskin,
bless you, and took out Of the breast
pocket a newspaper. "Read that" he
said. pointing TO where it was folded.
| read it, This is what it said:
.If Ferdinand Melrose will return
home all will be forgiven by his dying
father" and after that where he was
to inquire for further particulars"
"Well, | am Ferdinand Melrose," says
the gentleman, 1.-The black sheep OF my
family. Long ago my stepmother made
mischief between my father and my
self. He forbade me his house, and l
rather went to the bad. No matter for
nv story. Besides the fare you inquir- |
ed about | had only bottle Of lauda-
mum in my pocket. l was going to Cen !
trail park to take it. l should have
slept myself out Of life into eternity
and the city would have seen to my
funeral if you had not given me that
paper. l went to the place mentioned
and found, as | expected, that money
had been left in a lawyers hands to
take me home. When | got there, l
found that my stepmother had been
dead three years and that my father
had been attacked by disease that
must be fatal. We were reconciled, and
when he died l found myself rich
man. had kept Jim Browns address.
and feel that owe him something"
Nothing at ALL" says l. THE lady
the sister-told me to give it to you"
"What Lady," said he.
I'D like to know myself" said l, and !
then told him my story.
at is strange" says he. Il could |
swear that l was the only passenger |
at the time. I felt so miserable and so
shabby that I purposely waited for an
empty car. And another thing is
strange, Jim Brown" said he. I'VE
had a ghost in our family. A nun is
said to appear now and then, always to
do good And my father declared that
while he was Ill she appeared to him !,
three times, always pointing to my por-
trait, which hung in his bedroom. and
always conveying to him In some way
that it was his duty to search for me.
In fact, she was the cause Of our recon-
Citation"
l couldn't say anything. Neither OF
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