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!"

Alex called the chief. "Mr. Allen, that 'ghost,' or whatever it is--"

Once more the instruments broke out in an almost inarticulate whirr, and
with difficulty together they picked out the words: "... sounds in the
next room ... yelling and groaning just other side partition ...
whispering at me through a knot-hole ... an eye looking at me ... stand
it any longer ... right now! G. B. (Good-by)!"

Grasping the key, the chief sent quickly, "Look here! Wait a moment! You
there?"

There was no response. Again he called, and gave it up. "No use. He's off
like the rest of them. Well, I'm not sure I blame him. There must be
something wrong. But it beats me!"

As he was about to move away the chief turned back and handed Alex a
letter. "I overlooked giving it to you