The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1878-01-31
THE GHOST ROBBER.

VII a iIhC CNtiliilS III ltlt SJIillS vi
1880, a 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.
I'll stop here, anyhow, and see what |
can learn"
He thereupon dismounted and entered
the parlor of the inn, where he sat down
beside small table.
How can | serve you, meinheerw
said the landlord.
"See TO my horse outside" replied the
guest carelessly, but at the same time
cycling the landlord from head to foot;
" and let me have some wine-Rhine
will do"
The landlord was turning to withdraw
from the strangers presence, when he
stopped and said:
Which way, meinheer, do you
travel?"
TO Nanstadt," replied the guest.
You will rest here tonight, | sup
pose?" continued the landlord.
81 will stay here for two or three
hours, but | must then be off, so as to
reach my destination there in the morn
ing. | am going to purchase lumber for
the market"
And you have considerable money
with you, no doubt" asked the landlord,
innocently.
Yes, considerable" said the guest,
slipping at his wine, disinterestedly
Then if you'll take my advice" said
the landlord, you'll stay here till morn
ing"
Why" replied the stranger, looking
up curiously.
Because" whispered the landlord,
looking around As il he were disclosing a
great secret, and was afraid of being
heard by somebody else, every man that
has passed over the road between this
and Nanstadt at midnight for the last
ten years has been robbed or murdered
under very singular circumstances"
What were the circumstances?
asked the stranger, putting down his
glass empty, and preparing to fill it again.
Why, you see" the landlord went
on, while he approached his guests table
and took seat, 81 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 CHASTITY, and that frightened their
horses so that they either ran away or
threw their riders; they felt a choking
sensation and a 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 in
tent upon counting them than he was
interested in the landlords story.
The innkeeper looked at him in as
constituent. Such perfect GOODNESS he
had not witnessed for long time.
You will remain, them" suggested
the landlord, after waiting some time tor
his guest to speak.
i? cried the stranger, starting from
his iii of abstraction, AS though he 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
guide, called Wilhelm, were out on the
road, going at a pretty round pace
toward Nanstadt.
During a flash of lightning the stran-
ger observed that his guide looked very
uneasy about something, and was slarken-
ing his horses pace as though he intend
ed 10 drop behind
Lead on, cried the stranger " don
be afraid.
I'm afraid | cannot, replied the per
son addressed, continuing TO hold his
horse until he was now at least length
behind his companion. my horse is
cowardly and unmanageablei in Z thunder
storm. If YOU will 90 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 something. The guide
saw the movement and stopped also.
"Guides should lead, not follow"
said the stranger, quietly, but with a
firmness which seemed to be exceedingly
unpleasant to the person addressed.
But" faltered the guide, my horse
won't 60.
Won't he" queried the stranger,
with hooking simplicity.
The guide heard sharp click, and saw
something CLEAN in his companions right
hand. He seemed to understand per
fectly, for he Immediately drove his
mn IL, h,r.,'- L
ahead of his companion without another
word.
he no sooner reached his old position
however, than the stranger gave him
sharp turn to the right and then disap-
peared, rs though he had vanished
through the foliage of the trees that
skirted the road.
He heard the chatter of his horse as ne
galloped of. Without waiting another
instant, he touched the horse lightly with
the reins, gave him prick with the
rowels, and off the noble animal trotted
in the wake of the flying guide.
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 a
ICaNs hai!u HiIitli Was lalu upon MS
bride, stopping him.
He turned in his seat, beheld the
strangers face, dark and frowning. and
trembled violently as he fell the smooth,
cold barrel of pistol pressed against his
cheek.
This cursed beast almost ran away
with me" cried the guide, composing
himself as well as possible under the
circumstances.
eyes, | know" said his COMPANION
drily : but mark my word, young msn.
if your horse plays suck tricks again he'll .
be the means of seriously inIuring his /
masters health"
They both turned and cantered back
10 the road. When they reached il
again, and turned the heads of their ami
mails in the right direction, the stranger
said to his guide in tone which must
have convinced his hearer as to his
" Now, friend Wilhelm, / hope We
each other for the rest of the !