The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1906-10-09
"A ID eadbeat


tOrlgin3l
4 One summer night, Or rather morn.
Ing, cabman nodding on his box drove
slowly lip Broadway, New York. Pass
ing old Trinity church the chimes in
the tower above rang out followed by
the stroke Of 2.
"Ielloe' cried voice.
The cabman, ever mindful OF fare,
reused himself and, turning, saw a
man standing In the iron gateway be.
fore the church There was little Of his
face Or figure visible, for the former
was shaded by the brim OF singular
three cornered hat, the latter wrapped
In long cloak. The cabman drew up
ait the curb. The stranger opened the
cab door and stepped hastily In, giving
hurried order TO drive northward
along the river bank. On reaching
point opposite Weehawken the
stranger called upon the eabman to
stop, alighted and walked toward the
river.
1t was now early dawn. on com
ing TO the waters edge he looked
about him MS though expecting some
one, then up and down the river,
glancing impatiently NJ his watch.
The cablnan continued 70 eve him
wonderingiy, though he was tired and
sleepy, Was 1t drowsiness that made
the queer figure seem to futter In the
windg A boat touched the shore pulled
by two men in the same garb as the
stranger lie stepped III and was
rowed away straight across the river.
Then 1t seemed to the eabman that he
had lost consciousness for second and
the men pulling away ID a boat had
been dream. He looked about for
the stranger, but he had indeed disap-
peared
Suddenly the stiffness was broken by
a distant crack, or, rather. 1t was two
cracks SO near together as to be scarce
ly distinguished Just then the leaves
Of the trees were stirred by 4 light
breeze, and 1t seemed to the cabman
that something uncanny was IN the
wind Indeed. though ii was warm
July morning, he shiyered as II he had
been struck by cold draft from a
tomb.
The next thing the cabman knew
the two men who had taken the stran-
ger away were pulling rapidly down
the river The stranger himself was
nowhere to be seen, but the men seem
ed to be regarding anxionsIy something
Ia the bottom OF the boat nvisiblei from
the shore The cabman. bent on hold
ing 10 those mysteriousiy linked with
the man who owed him fare, whipped
mp bis horse and followed them down
salong the shore II was a hard chase.
ibut be managed 10 keep them IN sight.
and finally they turned toward the
shore When they landed. cabby was
there 70 meet them. Tho stranger was
stretched Ia the bottom 81 the boat.
Taking him up, his companions carried
him ashore and placed him inside the
cab The cabman. all In iiutter.
mounted the box and was abent to
drive away when he remembered that
III bis excitement be uad not asked
Tor instructions. Looking back TO do
SO. not d ghost OF amnn who had been
there was to be seen. As soon as he
could sufficiently recover from his as
tonlshment he bent over to ask the
question Of the man inside. The face
was ashen and had taken on a ghastly
glare.
Drive moancd the sufferer.
"WhercFr
ITO the churehyard"
The cahmau dashed his horse, his cab
swaying from curb 10 eurb, It's driver
swnying as wen on the box, the people
rushing to get out Of the way. Now
and again policeman dashed into the
street 10 stop him. bur lie was driving
too fast for themand left them pill be-
hind. AtAsA
"Fastertv called the passenger In q
dying voice 'T'lI be caughtfin the
inaelsTom.y
Tho cab at hast drew up att the gate.
way % old Trinity The cabman was
about to get down and help the man
out when he saw him filt rather than
walk or run in through the gateway.
pass right through an iron fence and
into the churchyard Down jumped
the cabman and dashed after him. CALI
Ing FOR hts fare Passing around an
end Of the fence, making his way
through the headstones. he managed to
keep the man, or, rather. ghost for by
this time il resembleq a dissoIving bun
cloud -in sight.
There Is a monument On the southern
side OF the churchyard partaking nei-
ther Of the style of the seventeenth nor
Of the nineteenth century, but a pc
riod betwixt the two. To this monu-
ment the fading object floated. ana
thither the cahman staggered. But on
reaching II not n sign Of a living being
was TO be seen. Dazed, he tried to
steady himself against the tomb, but
the gravestones, the high buildings
surrounding the chnrchyard, the spire.
all began TO rock as II they were tow
ers on some gigantic vessel. and---well,
that's all the cabman knew. Indeed,
he sank down on the grave with his
head resting against the monument.
There he was seen by policeman
standing on the narrow street border.
ing the churchyard
The next sign OF consciousness that
came to the cabman was feeling grip
on his arm. Opening his eyes, he saw
the policeman bending over him.
my fare" gasped the cabman.
"Your fare DO you expect TO get
$500. <..,t X, "Reminiscences ~