The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1868-01-10

THE GHOST ROBBER.
On a fine evening in the spring of
1880, stranger, mounted on a noble
looking horse, passed slowly over the
snow-white limestone road leading
through the Black Forest.
Just as the sun was going to rest for
the day, when the gloomy shadows were
beginning to stalk, he drew rein, as he
said
'This must be near the spot, surely:
Fl stop here, anyhow, for awhile, ana
see what can learn
He thereupon dismounted and entered
the parlor of an inn, where he sat down
beside small table.
"How can / 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-Rhlne Will
do"
The landlord was turning to with
draw from the strangers presence, when
he stopped and said
(which way, meinheer, do you
travel
"To Fadstadt," replied the guest.
"You will rest here tonight, l sup
pose," continued the landlord.
81 will stay here for two or three
hours, but must then be off, to reach
my destination. there in the morning.
l am ggoingito purchase lumber TOR the
market"
''And you have considerable money
with you, no doubts" asked the land
lord innocently.
ayes, considerable" replied the guest,
slipping at his wine disinterestedly:
"Then, if you'll take my advice" said
the landlord, "yeu'll stay here till morn
ing . ,,;
up curiously.
because" whispered the landlord,
looking around as if he were disclosing
a great secret, and was afraid of being
heard by somebody else, "every man
that passes over the road between this
and Fadstadt for the last ten years has
been robbed or murdered under very
singular circumstances"
"What were the circumstances Y ask
ed the stranger, putting down his glass
empty, and preparing to fill 1T again.
"Why, you see," the landlord went
on, while he approached his guests Ia
BILE and took seat, have spoken
with several who have been robbed, all
| could learn from them is that they re-
member meeting in the lonesome part
of the wood, something that looked
white and ghastly, and that frightened
their horses so that they either ran
away or threw their rider; they felt q
choking sensation and q smOthering,
and finally died, as they thought, but
awoke in all hour or so to find them
selves lying by the roadside, robbed OF
everything"
Indeed" calculated the stranger,
| looking abstTactly at the rafters in tho
ceiling, as though he was more intent
upon counting them than he was inter
estcd in the landlords story.
The innkeeper locked at him in as
constituent. Such perfect GOODNESS he
had not witnessed for long time.
"You will remain then 7" suggested
the landlord. after waiting some time
for his guest to speak.
"Ir cried the stranger, starting from
his fit of abstraction, as though hc was
not sure that he was the person ad
dressed. "Oh, most certainly not; I'm
going straight ahead, ghost or no ghost,
tonight"
Half an hour later, the stranger and
a guide, called Wilhelm, were out on
the road, going at pretty round pace
toward Fadstadt.
During n flash of lightning the stran-
ger observed that his guide looked very
uneasy about something, and was slack
ening his horses pace as though be in
tended to drop behind.
"Lead on cried the stranger, don't
be afraid"
'1'm afraid cannot" )" replied the per-
son addressed, continuing to hold his
horse In until he was now at least a
length behind his companion. "My
horse is cowardly and unmanageable in
a thunder storm. If 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
lis hand sought his breast pocket from
which he drew something. The guide
saw the movement and stopped.
"Guides should lead, not follow said
the stranger, quietly, but with firm
ness which seemed to be exceedingly
unpleasant to the person addressed.
"But," faltered the guide, my horse
won't CO."
Wont hei" queried the stranger,
with mock simplicity in his tone.
The guide heard sharp click, and
saw something gleam in his cempan-
ions right hand. He seemed to under
stand perfectly, for he Immediately
drove his spurs into his horses 6anks,
and shot ahead of his companion with
out another word.
He no sooner reached his old position,
however, than the stranger saw him
give sharp turn to the right and then
disappear, as though he had vanished
through the foliage of the trees that
skirted the road.
He heard the clatter Of his horse as he
galloped off. Without waiting another
instant, he touched his horse lightly
with the reins, gave him q 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 su-
perisr 20 the others, the race was d
short one, and terminated by the guide
being thrown nearly from his saddle
by a heavy hand which was laid upon
his bridle, 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 4 pistol press
ed against his cheek.
This cursed beast almost ran away
with me, cried the guide, composing
himself as we'll as he could under the
circumstances.
"Yes, know" said my companion,
dryly, "but mark my words, young
man, if your horse plays such tricks
again, he'll be the means OF seriously |
iniuriDg his masters health
They both turned and cantered back
to the road. When they reached it /
again, and turned the heads Of their an !
imals in the right direction, the stranger
said to his guide, in tone which must
have convinced his heareT as to his
earnestneSs-
'.Now, friend Wilhelm, / hope we
understand each other for the rest of the I