Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1878-01-09
THE GHOST RoHHER.


Just as the sun was going to rest
for the day, when the gloomy shad.
ows were beginning to stalk, he drew
rein, - he said:
"This must be near the spot, surely
I'll stop here, anyhow, for q while
and see what can learn
He thereupon dismounted and en-.
tered the parlor of the inn, where he
sat down beside q small table.
"How can I 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 lot me have some wine
Rhine 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 Nanstadt," replied the guest.
"You willrest here tonight, sup
pose," continued the landlord.
Il will stay here for two or three
hours, but / must then be of, SO as to
reach my destination there in the
morning. am going to purchase
lumber for the market"
"And you have considerable money
with you, no doubt 2" asked the land
lord innocently.
ayes, considerable" replied the
guest, slipping at his wine disinterest-
edly.
"Then, if you'll take my advice p
said the landlord, "you'll stay here
till morning"
"Why," replied the stranger look
ing up curiously.
"Because ?" whispered the landlord,
looking around as if he were disclos-
ing q great secret, and was afraid of
being heard by somebody else, "ev-
cry man that passed over the road be-
tween this and Nanstadt at midnight,
for the last ten years, has been robbed
or murdered under very singular cir
cumstances."
"What were the circumstances ~
asked the stranger, putting down his
glass empty, and preparing to fill ii
again.
"Why you see," the landlord went
on, while he approached his guests
table and took seat, ~ have spoken
with several who have been robbed ;
all I could learn from them is that
they remember meeting in the lone
some part Of the wood, something
that looked white and CHASTITY, and
that frightened their horses so that
they either ran away or threw their
riders they felt choking sensation
and q sort of smothering, and finally
died, as they thought, but awoke in an
hour or so to find themselves lying
by the roadside, robbed of every
thing"
"Indeed," calculated the stranger,
looking abstractedly at the rafters In
the ceiling, as though he was more
intent upon counting them than he
was interested in the landlords
story.
The innkeeper looked at him in as
tonishment. Such perfect GOODNESS
he had not witnessed for long time.
"You will remain then ?" suggested
the landlord, after waiting some time
for his guest to speak.
"I2" cried the stranger, starting
from his fit of abstraction, as though
he was not sure that he was the per-
son addressed. "Oh, most certainly
not; I'm going straight ahead, ghost
or no ghost, tonight"
Half an hour later, the stranger and
guide, called Wilhelm. were out on
the road, going at pretty round pace
toward Nanstadt.
During a fash of lightning the
stranger observed that his guide look
ed very uneasy about something, and
was slackening his horses pace az
though he intended to drop behind.
"Lead on" cried the stranger "don't
be afraid"
"Pm afraid ! cannot" replied the
person addressed, continuing to hold
his horse In until he was now at least
length behind his companion. my
horse is cowardly and unmanageable
in thunderstorm. If you will 60 on
though, think l can make him fol-
low 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 stopped also.
"Guides should lead, not follow"
said the stranger, quietly, but with q
firmness which seemed 10 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.
The guide heard sharp click, and
saw something CLEAN in his compan-
ions right hand. He seemed to un-
derstand perfectly, for he immediate
| ly drove his spurs into his horses
fanks, and shot ahead of his c0mpan-
ion without another word.
He no sooner reached his old posi-
ton, however, than the stranger saw
him give sharp turn to the right and
then disappear, as though he had van
ished through the foliage Of the trees
that skirted the road.
He heard the clatter of his horse ae
be galloped of. Without waiting an.
other instant, he touched his horse
lightly with the reins, gave him q
prick with the rowels, and off the no.
Bile animal started like the wind in the
wake of the flying guide.
The strangers horse being much su.
perior to the others, the race was q
short one, and terminated by the
guide being thrown nearly from hil
saddle by q heavy hand which wal
laid upon his bride, stopping him.
He turned In his seat, beheld the
strangers face, dark and frowning
and trcmbled violently as he felt tht
smooth, cold barrel of q pistol press
ed against his cheek.
"This cursed beast almost ran away
with me" cried the guide, composing
himself 40 well as he could under thu
circumstances.
eyes, I know" said his companion
dryly, "but mark my word, young
man, IL your horse plsys such trick
again, he'll be the means of seriously
injuring his masters health"
| They both turned and canterei
back to the road. When they reach
N