The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1906-08-30
WHEN BUD DID
Do HIS WORK


In his breast and Bud was always
shirkin' little odd chores, which was
continually gettin' him in trouble
One night when Charley's fast
freight was runnin' ahead of No. II
they had TO stop up on the curve by
JOYS woods to cool Some hotboxes.
Accordin' 10 the rules m ethics of the
railroad game 1t was up to Bud to take
ms red lanterns, walk back 81 tele-
graph poles N protect his train.
guess Bud thought they would
&c. Soin again in minute. At any
rate, he didn't take the trouble to go
back. n with rush m roar No.
IL came flynn along N made a noise
like bad accident against the rear
end OF Corey's train
When they got things Strengthened
out bit they found Bud Summons
layin' In heap under the platform
OF the caboose, dead His Indifference
to little bit of work had cost him
his life.
"a few nights after that was
comm east with No. l2, maxim the
fast time for which am noted. when
on the track ahead of me. up by Joys
woods. saw n little yellow circle of
light. N In the center of this cir.
Gle man was wavin' his arms over
his head. all possessed Rememberin'
the accident to No. IL, Immediately
gave two answerin' toots on the wills
tie. shut OFF steam m slowed up pre-
paratory to stoppin'.
declare to man, when we got
down near to the circle IL faded N
disappeared. I couldn't see any trace
or the man who was signalin' me TO
stop. felt as foolish as n hen when
she finds out she's been settin' on
white doorknobs
When l got 'cm goin' again. Muir
ply stepped over to my elbow n
said, in an nwed voice:
Did you see it?'
"'Sure. | says. What was it?'
Why. he says, that's Bud Sam,
mons sperrit as sure rs / ever put
scoopful of coal on fire. | sup.
pose Buds sperrit got to worryIn' over
the accident caused by his careless.
ness m just can't Keep away from
the railroad track
"A brace of poohs for yours says
|. Who ever heard tell of such
thing?'
The thing appeared to more than
one crew, nevertheless, m little knots
OF the boys whenever they got togcth
er in the bunkrooms m roundhouscs
would get to discussin It. One OF 'em
would say:
Sure enough l saw 1t with my
two eyes m just passed the color
blind examination, too.
an the word was passed aroun'
that strange noises could he heard
emanatin' from Joys woods by any.
one who had sand enough to stop m
listen.
We'll. sir. the boys were gettin' all
wrought up m Il was sure up to
somebody to get adjacent to what was
goin' on there in the vicinity of Joys
woods.
On my next trip comm through on
NO. IL ! was just hittin' up there
for all l was worth by Joys woods.
but Just as we came aroun' the curve
there was Buds shadow on the joh
goin' through his calisthenics. /
looked at my watch to see IL my no
sition as to the time card would ad.
init of me stoppin' for spiritua,
scance N settle the thing then m
there.
With a sigh. perhaps of regret, or
suppose some knockers would cali
1t sigh OF relief. l saw that we
were ten minutes late m couldn't
stand any tamperin' with shades.
had just made this decision, put on
more steam, not to hurry by the
haunted spot. oh. no. just merely to
make uo time, when Zip. the air
brakes were set from some cause m
we came to stop in circle of such,
bright light that it blinded me.
When | got so l could see I burst
right out laughin'. The mystery OF
Bud Sammon' ghost was solved.
What saw in front of me through
an openin' in the trees was a negro
camp meetin' with the leader stand.
In up on a platform in front of a big
row of bright lights, the colored
brethren In the congregation a-groan.
In n goin' on accordin' to the ex.
tent they were moved by the spirit.
When the wind was in the right dtrec.
ton 1t would blow the limbs of the
trees apart n the bright lights be.
hind the leader of the camp meetfnr
threw his shadow out over the track.
"Of course as he warmed ND In the
workout he threw his arms I'D m
down over his head, maxim manv
fancy shadows out on the railroad
track. When the wind died down M
the limbs stopped movin' the shadow
would be shut out Altogether it haG
a will-o'-the-wisp effect
IAN air brake hose had burst. cana.
In our train to stop, but we soon got
things Strengthened out m were away
from the camp meetin' grounds. The
ghost was settled however, ~, t,1.-