The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1868-02-15

this and Nanstadt at midnight, has been robbed
or murdered under very singular circumstances.
"What were the circumstances Z" asked tbs
stranger, putting down his glass empty, ana pre-
| pairing to fill it again.
"Why. YOU see." the landlord went on, while
he approached his guests table and took seat,
| Il have spoken with several who have been
| robbed, and all 1 could learn from them is that
| they remember meeting, in the lonesome part of
the wood, something that looked white and
CHASTITY, and frightened their horses SO that they
either ran away or threw their riders: they felt
a choking sensation and sort OF smothering,
| and finally died, as they thought, but awoke in
! an hour to find themselves lying by the
| roadside robbed of everything"
"Indeed~ calculated the stranger, looking alb
stractedly at the rafters in the ceiling, though
he was more intent upon counting them than he
was interested in the landlords story.
The innkeeper looked at him in amazement
Such perfect GOODNESS he had not witnessed for a
long time.
"You will remain, then Z" suggested the land
lord after waiting some time for his guest to
speak.
81 7" cried the stranger, starting from his fit
of abstraction as though he were not sure that
he was the person addressed. 80, most certain
ly not; I'm going straight ahead, ghost or no
| ghost, tonight
| Half an hour later the stranger and a guide,
named Wilhelm, were out on the road, going at
! Il pretty round pace towards Nanstadt
| During fash of lightning the stranger OBJ
| served that his guide looked very uneasy about
| something and was slaekening his horses pace
| as though he intended to drop behind.
LEAD on cried the stranger, "do not be
| afraid
"rm afraid cannot" replied the person adj
dressed, continuing to hold his horse in until he
was now at least length behind his companion.
my horse is cowardly and unmanaSeable in a
thunder Storm Ii YOU will go ON, though, |
think can make him follow close enough to
point out the road"
The stranger pulled up instantly A strange
light CLEANED in his eyes, while his hand sought
his breast pocket, from which he drew some
thing. The guide saw the movement and stop
ped also
Guides should lead, not follow" said the
stranger, quietly, but with frmness which
seemed to be exceedingly unpleasant to the per-
son addressed.
But faltered the guide ''my horse won't
go'
won't he r queried the stranger, with mock
simplicity in his tone.
The guide heard sharp click, and saw some
thing CLEAN in his companions right hand. He
seemed to understand perfectly, for he imme-
diately drove spurs into his horses TANKS and
shot ahead of his companion without another
word.
He no sooner reached his old position, howev.
err, than the stranger saw him give sharp turn
to the right and then disappear, as though he
had vanished through the thick foliage OF the
trees that skirted the wood.
He heard the clatter of his horse as he gallOp-
ed Off Without waiting another instant, he
touched his horse lightly with the reins, gave
him a prick with the spur, and off the noble ami
NAL started like the wind in the wake of the fly
ing guide.
The strangers horse being much superior to
the others, the race was short one, and tcrmi-
mated by the guide being thrown nearly from
his saddle by a heavy hand which was laid upon
his bride, stopping him.
He turned in his seat, beheld the strangers
f"oo, a".k "ud frowning, and trembled violently
% he felt the smooth barrel of 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.
EYES, know" said his companion, dryly
"but mark my words, young man, if your horse
plays such tricks again, he'll be the means of Sc
riOusly in uring his masters health"
They both turned and cantered back to the road.
When they reached it again, and turned the
heads of their animals in the right direction, the
stranger said to his guide, in a tone which must
have convinced his nearer as to his earnestness-
"Now, 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,
without swerving to the right or the left If
see you do anything suspicious, will drive a
brace of bullets through you without another
word of notice. Now push on"
The guide had started directed, but it was
evident from his mutterings that he was alarmed
at something besides the action of his follower.
In the meantime the thunder had increased in
its violence and the flashes of lightning had be.
come more frequent and more binding.
For about mile the two horsemen rode on
in silence; the guide keeping up to his direc.
his every movement as cat would watch
mouse.
Suddenly the guide stopped and looked behind
him. Again he heard the click of the strangers
pistol. and saw his uplifted arm.
"Have mercy, meinheer," lie groaned; dare
not 60 on"
Il give you three seconds to go on" replied
the stranger, sternly. "One!"
In heavens name, spare !" implorcd the guide,
almost overpowered with fear "loOk before me
in the road, and you will not blame me-
The stranger looked. At first he saw some.
thing white standing motionless in the centre of
the road but presently flash of lightning
lit up the scene, and he saw the white figure
indeed ghastly and frightful enough looking to
chill the blood III the veins OF even the bravest
man. If his blood chilled for a moment, there
fore, it not through any fear that he felt for
his ghostly lrterccpter, for the next instant nc
set his teeth hard, while he whispered between
them just loud enough to be heard by his terror
stricken guide
"Bc it man or dcvil-rde it town-I'll follow
Two"
With cry of despair upon his lips, the guide
urged his horse forward at the ton of his speed.