The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1868-01-16

The strangers horse being much supe-
rior to the others, the race was short
one, and terminated by the guide being
thrown nearly from his saddle by heavy
hand which was fzidsupoD his bride, stop
ping him.
Ye turned in his seat, beheld the stran-
gers face, dark and frowning, and trem-
bled violently az he felt the smoothe, cold
barrel of pistol pressed against his
cheek.
'SThis cursed beast almost ran away
with me-" cried the guide. composing
himself as well ak he could under the cir
cumstanccs.
'sYes, | know" said the stranger drylv,
s'but mark my words, young man, if your
horse plays such tricks again he'll be the
means Of seriously injuring his masters
health
They both turned and cantercd back TO
the road. When they reached il again,
ard turned the heads of the animals in
TIC right direction, the stranger said to
his guide, in tone which must have con-
vineed his hearer as to his earne5tness. =
''Now, friend Wilhelm, hope we un-
derstand each other for the rest of the
journey, Tou are to continue on ahead
of me, IN the right road, without swerving
either TO The right or left. IF I see you
do anything suspicious, I viii drive
brace Of bullets through you without
word of notice. Now push on"
The guide had started as directed, bat
il was evident fron bis muttering that he
was alarmed at something besides the ac-
ton Of his follower
In the meantime the thunder had in
creased Its violence, and the flashes Of
lightning had become more frequent and
more binding.
For while the two horsemen rode on
ia silence; The guide keeping up his di-
rections to the letter, while his follower
watched every movement, as a cat would
watch a mouse.
Suddenly the guide stopped and looked
behind him. Again he heard the click
of the strangers pistol and saw his up
lifted arm.
ss9aye mercy, paeinheer," he groaned,
81 dare not go on
81 give you three seconds to go on, .
replied the stranger sternly,-"One !"
sin Heavens name, spare me-" i'm
plorcd the guide, almost overpowered with
fear, 'look before rae in the road and you
will not blame me-
The stranger looked. At first he saw
something white standing motionless in
the centre of the road, but presently
fash of lightning lit up the scene, and he
saw that the white figure was indeed
ghastiy and frightful enough looking to
chill the blood in the veins of even the
bravest man, If his blood chilled for a
moment, therefore, it was not through
any fear that he felt for his ghostly inter
cepter, for the next instant he set his
teetl: hard while he whispered them just
loud enough to be heard by his terror
stricken guido
''Be it man or devil ride it DOWN
I'll follow. Twoi''
With a cry of despair upon his lips the
guide urged his horse forward al the top
of his speed, quickly followed by the
stranger who held his pistol ready in his
hand.
In another instant the guide would
have swept past the fatal spot, but at that
instant The report Of pistol rang through
a
horse gallop off through the woods rider
less
Finding himself alone, the stranger
raised his pistol took deliberate aim at
the ghostly murderer, and pressed his fne
ger upon the trigger.
The apparition approached quickly, but
in no hostile attitude. The stranger stay
cd his hand. at length the ghost ad-
dressed him iE voice that was anything
but sepulchral.
"IIere Wilhelm, ye move out Of your
perch this minute and give me n helping
hand, I've hit the game while on the
wing, haven't ?''
The stranger was nonplussed for mo-
ulent, but recovering himself, he grunbled
something unintelIigible and leaped to the
ground. One word to his horse and the
brave animal stood perfectly still. BY the
snow-white trappings on the wonld-be
ghost ne was next enabled to grope his
way In the dark toward that individual,
whom he found bending over black
mass about the size of man on the road.
AS the tiger pounces upon his prey, tho
stranger leaped upon the STOPPING figure
before him, and bore It to the ground
81 arrest you IN the Kings name, f."
cried the stranger, grasping his prisoner
by the throat and holding him fight. ''Stir
hand or foot until L have you properly Sc
cured, and I'll send your soul TO eternity"
This was such an unexpected turn ef
affairs that the wouldsbe ghost could
hardly believe his own senses, and was
hand-cuf1ed and stripped of his dagger
and pistol before ne found time to speak.
''Are you not my Wilhelm 2'' he
gasped.
"No landlord" replied the individual
addressed, s'I am not. But am an Off
Ger Of the King, at your service, on spe-
nial duty 10 do what have To ninht ac-