The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1904-01-15
STREET 80: GHOST

/ was driver OF Il bODtal car. There
were two passengers in the Il at the
time-a sanity looking sistero OF charity
and a man who looked a tramp in the
last stage.
There was only one nickel in the bon.
and after knocking repeatedly on the
door l stopped the car and went inside.
The tramp protested that he had paid
his fare, and I turned to the nun. By
q gesture she signified that l should
hand to the man a paper that was lying
on the seat. did so. and when l turn
ed again the nun was gone. The tramp
declared that be had not seen her-that
he had been alone.
Utterly mystifed. l went backs and
started the car. A little later the
tramp got my name and address and
left the car. That night l went to my
doctor and told him my story.
Nov. DOCTOR" l said. IF am Iuny.
out with it,"
mo, nc. Jim said he; very sane
men have optical illusions now and
then"
II don't want any more of 'em." said
I. "Collecting fares of optical illusions
doesn't pay"
II should say not" said the doctor.
"But my opinion is that you turned
your back a minute and that the wom-
an got off without paying her fare.
Probably she was not Il 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?"
1 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 bothersome than eve 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 a 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 a
gentleman. about as fine a looking one
as l ever knew, and he (the gentleman
walked up to me.
TITS your dinner time. isn't it, said
he. ~
eyes. sir" said L. -I've got u few
minutes left
"Come along. them" said he. He
| walked me into a restaurant close 10y
the stables and said. Call for what
YOU want and l named it. Then said
he. You don't remember me, Jim
Brown"
mo. sir" said /.
"You gave me a paper about slS
months ago" said he-"a newspaper.
asked your name."
"Oh. OH" said l. mo. sir. ! d.dn''
know Won. l begin to SEE the likeness
hut you-you'-
II know said he. Il was prett!
well down on my luck then See mere.
He unbuttoned his coat. a sealsk'n
bless you and took out of the breas
pocket IL newspaper. Read that" ~
said. pointing to where it was folded.
l read it. This is what it said:
.If Ferdinand Melrose will return
home all will he forgiven by his dyin'
father" and after that where Lee wa
to inquire for further particulars.
"Npll. i am Ferdinand Melrosn." say
the gentleman. 1.-The black sheep OF LII
family. Long ago NY stepmother mad
mischief between my father anu M.
self. He forbade me his house. AND
} rather went to the bad. No matter I.
| my story. Besides the fare you lntiul
ed about | bad only a bottle OF la,nl;
mum in my pocket. l was going To tel
trail park to take it. Should has
!, slept myself out of life intn etcFhl'
and the city would have seen to II
y funeral if you had net given ne IN!
paper. went to the place i:pntions
and found, as ! expected. that nscii'
e had been left in Il lawyers hands
q take me home. When | got there.
, found that my %step.nother had he
!. dead three years and that my faith
= had been attacked by Il disease til
must be fatal. We were reconciled. a
Wle0 he Cleu l lOtilu tAS "'i u -
le man. l had kept Jim Browns addre'
h and l feel that l owe him something.
W "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 !. a
IL then l told him my story.
e. sit is strange" says he. II col
re swear that l was the only passen:
rs at the time. l felt so miserable and
shabby that l purposely waited for
;, empty car. And another thing
strange. Jim Brown said he. :"
VI had a ghost in our family. A nun
be said to appear now and then. always
IT. do good. And my father declared Z
while he was i'll she appeared to
ng three times. always pointing to my
ID. trait. which hung in his BEDROOM. I
:. always conveying to him in some y
that it was his duty to search for
- 49, ovN nF M s1sNf