Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1867-10-24
THE GHOST ROBBER.
A Story of the Black Forest

On nne evening IN the spring o.
1880, a stranger, mounted on q noble
looking horse, passed slowly over
the snow white limestone road lead
ing through the Black Forest.
just as the sun was going to rest
for the day, when gloomy shadows
were beginning to stalk, he drew
rein, as he said:
This must be near the spot, sure
II. III stop here for. awhile, any
how. and see what I can learn
He thereupon dismounted and en-
tered the parlor of the inn, where he
sat down before small table.
"HoV--can l serve you meinheer?'
said the landlord.
"See to my horse outside" replied
the guest, carelessly, but at the same
time eyeing the landlord from head
to foot; "and LET me have some wine
Rhine will do"
The landlord was turning to with
dfaw' from the strangers presence,
when he stopped and said
(Which way, meinheer, do you
travel?''
ITO Naustadt." replied the guest.
"You will rest here tonight, sup
pose?" continued the landlord.
II must be here two or three hours,
and then be off, so as to reach my
destination in the morning. l am GO
ing there to purchase lumber for the
market"
Sand you have considerable money
with you, no doubt?" asked the land
lord innocently.
"Yes, considerable" replied the
guest, slipping at his wine disinterest-
edly.
'Then, if you'll take my advice"
said the landlord, you'll stay here
till morning"
''Why?" querled the stranger, look
ing up curiously.
Because" whispered the landlord,
looking around as if he were dis
closing a great secret and was afraid
OF being heard by somebody else,
''every man who has passed over the
road between this and Naustadt at
night, for the last ten years, has
been robbed or murdered under very
singular circumstances.
"What were the singular circum-
stances" asked the stronger, putting
down his glass empty, and preparing
to fill it again.
"Why, you see," the landlord went
on, while he approached his guests
table and took seat, 81 have spoken
with several who have been robbed,
and all 1 could learn from them is
that they remember meeting in the
lonesomest part of the wood some
thing that looked white and ghostly,
and frightened their horses so that
they either ran away or threw their
riders; after that all was confusion
with them; they felt choking sensa-
ton and a sort of smothering, and
finally died, as they thought, but
awoke in an hour or so to find them
selves lying by the roadside robbed
of everything"
Indeed" calculated the stranger,
looking abstractedly at the rafters
in the ceiling, as though he were
more intent upon counting them than
he was interested in the landlords
story.
The innkeeper looked at him in
Such perfect GOODNESS
he had not Witnessed in 9 long time.
"You will remain them" suggest
ed the landlord, after waiting some
time for his guest to speak.
ZIP" cried the stranger, starting
from his fit of abstraction as though
ne were not sure he was the person
addressed. 80, most certainly not;
am going straight ahead, ghost or
no ghost, to night"
Half an hour later the stranger
and a guide, called Wilhelm, were
out on the road, going at pretty |
rapid pace toward Naustadt.
During fash of lightning the
stranger observed that his guide
ooked very uneasy about something, |
md was slackening his horses pace
IS though he intended to drop be.
lind.
LEAD on" cried the stranger;
don't be afraid
Sim afraid / cannot" replied the
person addressed, continuing to hold
pack his horse, until he was now at |
east. a length behind his companion.
MY horse is cowardly, and becomes
in q thunder Storm