True to the division superintendent's promise, a month following the
incident of the runaway ore train, Alex was transferred to the
despatching office at Exeter. It was the superintendent himself who on
the evening of his arrival presented him for duty to the chief night
despatcher; and a few minutes later, having been initiated into the
mysteries of directing and recording the movements of trains, Alex was
shown to his wire.
"It is a short line--only as far as the Midway freight junction," the
chief explained; "but if you make good here, you will soon be given
something bigger.
"And, by the way, take your time in sending to the operator at the
Junction," he added. "He's a rather poor receiver, but was the only man
we could get to go there, on account of that so-called 'haunting'
business."
"Oh, has the 'ghost' appeared there again?" inquired Alex with interest.
For the "haunting" of the Midway Junction station had been a subject of
much discussion on the main-line wire a few weeks back.
"Yes, two nights ago. And like the four men there before him, the night
man left next morning. It is a strange affair. But I think the man there
now will stick."
At midnight Alex called Midway Junction, and sent the order starting
north the last freight for the night. Fifteen minutes later the operator
at MJ suddenly called, and clicked, "That 'Thing' is here again. It's
walking up and down the platform just outside.
"There it is now!" he sent excitedly. "And twice I've jumped out, and the
moment I opened the door it was gone!
"There it is again!
"Now it's on the roof!" he announced a few moments after. "Rolling
something down--just like the other chaps said! Gee, I'm no coward, but
this thing is getting my nerve."
Though himself now considerably excited, Alex sought to reassure the MJ
man. "But you know there must be some simple explanation to it," he sent.
"No one really believes in ghosts these days. Just don't allow yourself
to be frightened."
"Yes, I know," ticked the sounder. "That's what I told myself before I
came. It seems vastly different, though, right here on the spot, and all
by yourself, and it dark as pitch outside. If there was only someone
else--"
The wire abruptly closed, a moment remained so, then suddenly opened, and
in signals so excitedly made that Alex could only guess at some of them,
he read: "Did you hear that? Did you get that?"
"Hear what? The wire was closed to me."
"Clooossclosd! Goed 6eavns! Whiiieeeeee Whyyy--" By an effort the
frightened operator at the other end of the wire pulled himself together,
and sent more plainly:
"When I stopped that time someone broke in here and said: 'Ha ha! Hi hi!
Look behind! Look beh--'"
Again the wire closed, again opened.
"Theeeereit waaawas again!"