Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1878-02-20
The Ghost RObber.

The Ghost RObber.
On fine evening in the spring of
$50. 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:
s'This must be near the spot, surely.
I'll stop here, anyhow, for a while, and
see what | can learn"
He thereupon dismounted and entered
the parlor of the inn, where he sat
down beside small table.
"How can l serve you, meinheer?"
said the landlOru.
'See to my horse outside,7 replied
the guest carelessly, but at the same
time eyeing the landlord from head to
foot; land let 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 will rest here tonight, l sup
pose" continued the landlord.
al Will stay here for two or three
hours. but | must then be off, so as to
reach my destination there in the MORN
ing. l am gong TO purchase lumber
for the market"
"And you have considerable money
with you. no doubt - asked the land
lord innocently.
"Yes, considerable" replied the
guest, slipping at his wine, disinterest-
edly.
"Then, if you'll take my advice, "
said the landlord, you'll stay here till
morning.
.Why?" replied the stranger, look
ing mp curiously.
Because? 90 whispered the landlord
looking around as if he were disclosing
a great secret. and was afraid of being
heard bv somebody else, every man
that 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 II
again.
"Why you see," the landlord went
on, while he approached his guest
table and took a seat, 81 have spoken
with several who have been robbed
all could learn from them is that they
remember meeting in the lonesome part
of the wood, something that looked
white and ghastly, and that frightened
their horses so that they either rar
awav or threw their riders; they felt
choking sensation and 4 sort of smoth'
ering, and finally died, as they thought
but awoke in an hour or so to find them
selves living by the roadside, robbed oi
everything.
s'Indeed," calculated the stranger
looking abstractedly at the rafters in
the ceiling, as though he was more in
tent upon counting them than he wa'
interested in the landlords story.
The innkeeper looked at him in aston
ishment. Such perfect GOODNESS he hac
not witnessed for long time.
''You will remain then?" suggested
the landlord, after waiting some time
for his guest TO speak.
'T?" cried the stranger, starting
from his fit of abstraction, as though
he was not sure that he was the person
addressed. "Oh, most certainly not
I'm going straight ahead, ghost or nc
ghost, tonight
Half an hour later. the stranger ano
a guide, called Wilhelm, were out OF
the road, going at pretty round pace
toward Nanstadt.
During flash of lightning thu
stranger observed that his guide looked
very uneasy about something, and wa
slackening his horses pace as though
he intended to drop behind.
LEAD on" cried the stranger, 'don'
be afraid.''
"I'm afraid / cannot" replied th'
person addressed, continuing to holt
his horse in until he was now at least ;
length behind his companion. M,
horse is cowardly and unmanageabie IL
a thunderstorm. If you will go oil
though, think can make him follow
close enough to point out the road"
The stranger pulled up instantly.
strange light cleaned in his eyes, Will
his hand sought his breast pocket, iron
which he drew something. The guild
saw the movement and stopped also.
'-Guides shoul lead, not follow" salt
the stranger, quietly, but with a firm
ness which seemed to be exceedingl,
unpleasant to the person addressed.
But" faltered the guide, "my hors
won't 60"
"won't hep" queried the stranger
with mock simplicity.
The guide heard a sharp click, an
saw something CLEAN in his compan
ions right hand. He seemed to under