Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-12-27

panlon. My horse is cOwardlV,
and unmanageable in thunder
storm. If you will 90 on though, l
think | can make him follow close
enough to point out the road"
"The stranger pulled up instant
ly. A strange light cleaned in his
eyes, while his hand sought his
breast-pocket, from which he drew
something. The guide saw the
movement and stopped also.
"Guides should lead, not follow"
said the stranger, quietly, but with
a frmness which seemed to be ex-
ceedingly unpleasant to the person
addressed.
But" faltered the guide, "my
horse won't CO."
Wont he" queried the strang-
er, with mock simplicity in his
tone.
The guide heard a sharp click,
ana saw something gleam in his
companions hand. He seemed
to understand perfectly, for be i'm
mediately drove his spurs into his
horses flanks, aud shot ahead of his
companion without another word.
He no sooner reached his old DO
sition, however, than the stranger
saw him give a 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 wait.
ing another inst&nt, he touched his
horse lightly with the reins, gave
him a 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 thrown nearly from hi
saddle by heavy hand which wal
laid upon his bride, stopping him
lie turned in his seat, beheld the
strangers face, dark and frowning
and trembled violently as he fell
the smooth, cold barrel of pisto1
pressed against his cheek.
"This cursed beast almost raj
away with me-" cried the guide
composing himself as we'll as h,
could under the circumstances.
" Yes, l know" said his com
panion dryly, "but mark my words
young man, if your horse plays vol
such tricks again, he will be tn,
means of seriously injuring hi
masters health"
They both turned and cantere(
back to the road. When the,
reached it again, and turned thl
heads of their animals in the righ
direction, the stranger said to hi
guide, in a tone which convinced
his hearer as to his earnestness
snow, friend Wilhelm, / hop,
We understand each other fo
the rest of the journey. You are
to continue on ahead of me, in tn,
right road, without swerving to tht
right or left. If | see you do any
thing suspicious, | will drive {
brace of bullets through you with
out a word of notice. Now push
on
The guide had started as direct
ed, but it was evident from his
mutterings that he was alarmed al
something besides the action of his
follower.
In the meantime the thunder in.
creased its violence, and the flashes
of lightning had become more fre-
quent and more binding.
For a while the two horSemen
rode on in silence; the guide keep
ing up his directions to the letter,
while his follower watched his
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 uplifted arm.
Have mercy meinheer," he
groaned. 81 dare not 90 on"
II give you three seconds to 90
on" replied the stranger steadily.
"0ne!"
ain heavens name, spare" i'm
plorcd the guide, almost over
powered with fear; "look before
me in the road and you will not
blame me-"
The stranger looked. At first he
saw something white standing mo-
tionless in the center of the road.
but presently a flash of lightning
lit up the scene, and he saw that
the white figure was indeed ghastly
and frightful enough looking to
chill the blood in the veins of even
the bravest man. II his blood
chilled for moment, therefore, it
was not through any fear that he
felt for his ghostly interceptor, for
! the next instant he set his teeth
hard, while he whispered between
them just loud enough to be heard
by his terror-stricken guide;
"Bc it man or deVili-ride IL