The Tupelo journal., 1915-09-10
A Phantom
Tram?
By WILLIAM

R1
fishing n summer afternoon In a
punt on the river. He was anchored
about a mile below an old railroad
bridge that years before had given
way under a train, precipitating both
engine and cars into the stream. After
the accident the bridge had been re-
paired, but the crossing Of the river
had been changed to a point further
upstream, and the lower bridge had
not been since used.
This accident was the one great
event in the history Of the region In
which it occurred. At the time Of its
occurrence every one had been greatly
shocked. Since then whenever persons
living near the bridge found CONVERSE
ton tagging they Invariably fall back
upon the great catastrophe for a topic.
Johnny had heard 1t reported that
a phantom train had at different times
been seen to enter upon the bridge and
tumble in the water. He had never
met any one who had seen M of these
ghostly performances, but SO many per-
SONS believed In them that Johnny had
come to believe in them himself.
Johnny was sitting quietly in his
punt, waiting for a bite and thinking
about the railroad accident, the phan-
tom train and all that, when he heard
the choo choo Of a starting train
so distance back from the river. He
was surprised, for since the accident
not only the crossing. but that part of
the road leading to and from it had
been abandoned. The puffs came near
er and nearer together, and presently
Johnny realized that a train was near
ing the brink Of the river.
Then suddenly Johnny's blood ran
cold. A locomotive emerged from be-
hind a clump Of trees and started
across the bridge. The boy knew that
the bridge had not been completely
repaired and had heard that no train
could cross it without breaking it
down. The locomotive with two cars
reached the center, then to Johnny's
horror careened. and with a crash went
down into the water, dragging the cars
with it.
The sight was a terrible shock to the
young fishermen. He expected to hear
shrieks and cries for help, but after
the noise caused by the fall all
was still. John believed that he was
near enough to zeal cries and Won
dered. Then it occurred to him that
he had seen the phantom train. And
yet so real was it that he could not
bring himself to believe in this ex-
PLANTATION. He had heard the puffs,
had G the train emerge from behind
t{4a4rees and had seen and heard the
crash. He could not realize anything
ghostly about It. And yet. what else
could it be than the ghost train of
which he had heard?
Johnny as Dol as he had recovered
something of his equaminity pulled up
stream. To do this he was obliged to
turn his back to the wreck. He had
made about three-Quarters of the dis
lance when a board passed him to
which a girl chung. She did not seem
lItSDttuCus Dut WhCh Oouhhy PuAOo up
beside her and helped her into his boat
she was evidently quite satisfied with
the transfer.
"See here!' said John excitedly.
WAS that train a real train or a ghost
trainy"
Instead of replying she looked at
Johnny and laughed.
"Great scott!' exclaimed the boy.
.how can you laugh at such a terrible
thing. Did you go down with that
train without getting hurt?"
An idea seemed to strike the girl and
knitting her brows and assuming a
serious expression she said. affecting a
spiritual tone:
II am the spirit of M who years
ago went down with the train that
crashed into the river from that
bridge"
John dropped his oars and ~shuddered.
Take up your oars. Carry me to
yonder bank that from there / may
60 back to my resting place in the
cemetery"
II ever there was a puzzled youth 1t
was John Philips. This girl, who. by
the by, was very pretty. was the ghost
nearest like flesh and blood he had
ever dreamed of. Her clothes were sat
urated with water, and though the day
was not cold, the air on her wet gar
ments chilled her. She began to shiver.
Ghosts are not usually affected by
earthly conditions. and Johnny won
dered. He took off his Goa and handed
It to her. She wrapped it about her
and gave the donor a smile Of thanks.
See here!' cried Johnny. Either
there's somepin queer about ell this or
heads gone wrong. I'm sure I'm
sSok dronnninn Gouno foil fnno whok II