Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1867-10-24

I ~~-1 <-~AA SOasAe lilo VI cos
| pocket, from which be drew some
thing. The guide saw the move
ment and stopped also.
"Guides should lead, not follow, y
said the stranger, quietly, but with
firmness which seemed to be exceed
ingly unpleasant to the person ad.
dressed.
"But," faltered the guide, "my
horse won't CO."
won't he?" queried the stranger,
with mock simplicity in his tone.
The guide heard q sharp click, and
saw something gleam in his compan-
ions right hand. He seemed to un-
derstand what it meant perfectly, for
he immediately drove his spurs into
his horses TANKS and shot ahead
of his companion without another
word. ~ ~
He no sooner reached his old DO.
sition. however, than the stranger
saw him give sharp turn to the
right, and then disappear, as though
be had vanished through the thick
foliage of the trees skirting the
road.
THE stranger dashed up to the
spot, and saw that his guide had
turned down a narrow lane leading
from the road into the heart of the
wood.
He heard the clatter of his horse
as he galloped off. Without waiting
another instant, he touched his rein,
gave him prick with the rowels,
and off the noble animal started like
the wind in the wake Of the flying
guide.
The strangers horse being much
superior to the others, the race was
a short one, and terminated by the
guide being nearly thrown from his
saddle by heavy hand which was
laid upon his bride, stopping him.
He turned in his seat, beheld the
strangers face, dark and frowning,
and trembled violently as he felt the
smooth cold barrel of a pistol pressed
against his cheek.
"This cursed beast almost ran
away with me- cried the guide,
composing himself as well as he
could under the circumstances.
"Yes. know" said his compan-
ion, dryly; "but mark my words,
young man; if your horse plays such
tricks as that again, he'll be the
means of seriously injuring his mas
ter's health"
They both turned and cantered
back to the road. When they reach
ed it again, and turned the heads of
their animals in the right direction,
the stranger said to his guide, in
tone-which must have convinced his
hearer as to his earnestness-
snow, friend Wilhelm, / hope we
understand each other for the rest of
the journey. You are to continue on
ahead Of me, in the right road, with
out swerving either to the right or to
the left. If see you do anything
/ will drive a brace of
bullets through you without another
word of notice. Now push on"
The guide started on as directed,
but it was evident from his move
ments and his mutterings that he
was alarmed at something else be-
side the action of his follower.
In the meantime the thunder had
increased in its violence, and the
flashes of the lightning had become
more frequent and more binding.
For about a mile the two horse
men rode in silence; the guide keep
ing up to his directions while his fol
lower watched his every movement,
rs a cat would watch mouse.
Suddenly the guide stopped and
oeked behind. Again he heard the
click of the strangers pistol and
saw his uplifted arm.
"Have mercy, meinheer," he
yroaned; 81 dare not go on"
81 give you three seconds to go
'n," replied the stranger, sternly-
'One."
''In Heavens name, spare me-"
mplored the guide, almost overpow-
,red with fear; "look before me in
he road and you will not blame
me-"
The stranger looked. At first he
Jaw something white standing mo-
ionless in the center of the road,
,ut presently flash of lightning lit
Up the scene, and he saw that the
white figure was indeed ghostly and
rightful enough looking to chill the
blood in the veins of even the bravest
nan. If his blood chilled for a mo-
rent, therefore, it was not through
my fear that he felt for his ghostly
ntercepter, fer the next instant he
et his teeth hard while he whispered
between them, just loud enough to
'e heard by his stricken
,uide-
''Be it man or devil-ride it down
III follow. Twol'
With a cry of despair upon his
ips, the guide urged his horse for B
Yard at the top Of his speed. quickly T
ollowed by the stranger, who held
is pistol ready in bis hand. ~
In another moment the guide would
ave swept by the dreaded spot, but |
t that instant the report of pistol |
ang through the forest, and the .
tranger heard a horse gallop of {
hrough the wood riderless. ,
Finding himself alone, the stranger
aised his pistol, took deliberate aim
t the ghostly murderer, and pressed
is finger upon the trigger.
The apparition approached quick
:, but in no hostile attitude. The
tranger stayed his hand. Atlength
ne ghost addressed him in q voice
nat was anything but sepulchral-
"Here, Wilhelm, We NOPE out Of
our perch this minute and give a
elping hand. I've hit the game
lille on the wing, haven't II"
Tho etra,,oor uaa non ,,lu.aod rort