The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1867-10-31
THE GHOST RoBBER.
A STORY OF THE BLACK
FOREST.

OVeT tue btlOW-W WnlLc limcrlOHC iOuh
leading through the Black Forest
just as the sun was going TO
rest for tho day, when gloomy shGd
ows were beginning TO stalk, he drew
rein, as he said:
This must be near the spot, sure.
Iy. Ill stop here for awhile any
how, and sec what / can learn"
He thereupon dismounted and
entered the parlor of the in, where
he sat down before small'table.
chow can l serve you, meinheer?'
said the landlord.
"See to my horse outside" repli-
ed the guest, carelessly, but at the
same time cycling the landlord from
head to foot; "and let me have
some wine-Rhine will do"
The landlord was turning to
withdraw from the strangers pres
ence, when he stopped and said
(which way mcinheer, do you
travel?"
"To Naustadt," replied the guest
"You will rest here tonight. |
suppose p continued the landlord.
II must be hero two or three
hours, and then be off, so as to
reach my destination in the morn
ing: l am going there TO purchase
lumber for the market
Sand you have considerable mon
ey with you, no doubt?... asked the
landlord innoccntly.
"Yes, considerable" replied the
guest, slipping his wine disinterest-
edly. .t .-.
"Then, If you'll take my advice, y
said the landlord, you'll stay here
till morning"
"Why?' quericd the stranger,
looking up curiously.
Because, whispered the land
lord, looking around as if he were
disclosing great secret and was
afraid of being heard by somebon|
else, "every man who has passed
over the road between this and
Naustadt at night, for the last ten
years, has been robbed or murder
cd under very singular circum-
stances
"What were the singular circum-
stances?" asked the stranger, put
ting down his glass empty, and
preparing to fill it again.
"Why, you see," the landlord
went on, whilo he approached his
guests table and took seat, 81
have spoken with several who have
been robbed, and all that l could
learn from them is that they re-
member meeting in the lonesomes
part of the wood a eomcthing that
looked white and ghostly, ant
frightened their horses SO that they
either ran away or threw tbeirriders
after that. all was confusion will
them; tboy felt choking sensation
and u sort of smothering, and fl
nally died, as they thought, but q
woke in an hour or so to find them
selves robbed of everything"
"Indced p CALCULATED the stran
ger, looking abstractedly at thu
raiters in tho ceiling, as though h'
were more intent upon countin!
them than he was interested in th,
landlords story. ..a a..
The innkeeper looked at him il
amazement. Such perfect coolnes
he had not witnessed in lcnt
time. ..H s-... .-.s
r "You will remain them sug
; gested tho landlord, after waiting
some time for his guest to speak.
| "I?' cried the stranger, starting
' from his fit of abstraction as thong
he We're not sure he was the pei
. son addressed 10 most certain
t y not; l am going straight ahead
D ghost or no ghost, tonight"
y Halt an hour later the strange
+. and a guido, called Wilhelm, wer
o out on tho road, going at a prctt
rapid pace toward Naustadt.
During a flash Of lightning th
stranger observed that his guild
looked very uneasy about some
thing, and was slackening hi
horses pace as though hc intende
to drop behind.
"Lead on" cried tho strange
:, don't be afraid" aoIi
"I'm afraid l cannot" replie
:. the person addressed, continuin
= to hold back his horse, until he wi
:. at least q length behind his con
. -panion, "My horse is coward.
= and becomes unmanageable in
- ! thunder storm. If you will go G
:, y though, / think l will follow cloi
" enough to point out tho road r
y u The stranger pulled up ihstan
- y ly. A strange light cleaned
= his eyes, whilo his hand sougl
=, :, his breast pocket, from which
w !" drew something. The guide So
" the movement and stopped also.
70 "Guides should lead, not follow
~ ~ said the stranger, quietly, but wi
a firmness which seemed TO DO C
n ceedingly unpleasant to the pers'
- addressed. ..,5,
IN But" faltcred the guido, ''n
" ~ horse won't 60"
10 won't hep queried the stra
~, " ger, with mock simplicity in b
= tone. .s .g.a
ny Tho guide heard sharp clio
70 and saw something gleam in
companions right hand. J
seemed to understand what
,e- meant perfectly, for he immedia'
, q ly drove his spurs into his hors
ke fanks and shot ahead of his CO.
ng panion without another word.
ich. lie no sooner reached his
las position, however, than the stri
he ger saw him give sharp turn
Al I;aonna