Connecticut western news., 1878-01-10
VOL. VII.

perfectly, for he. immediately drove his spurs into his h0tss's Hanks, and shot ahead of his companion without anothe1 word.
 He no sooner reached his old position however, than the stranger saw him give a sharp turn to the right and then dis. appeaf; as thoHgh he had vanished through the foliage of thg tfees that skirted the road.
 He heard the chatter of his horse as he galloped off. Without waiting another instant, he touched his horse lightly with the teihs, gave him 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- perior to the others, the race was a short one, and terminated by the guide being thfowvh hear1y ffoth his saddle by 8 heavy hand which was laid upoh his bridle, stopping him.
 He turned in his seat, beheld the strangers face, dark and frowning, and trembisa violently as he felt the smooth, cold barrel of 8 pistol pressed 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, 1 ka0w," Said his sotnpanion, dryly, "but mark my words, voting man, if your horse plays such tricks again, he'll be the means of seriously injuring his masters health.'
 They both turned and canterea back to thg roed; When they reached it again, and turned the heads of their animals in the right direction, the stran- ger said to his guide, in tone which must have convinced his nearer as to h1s earnestness
 "Now, friend Wilhelm, I hope we understand each other for the rest of the journey: You are to sontint1e ahead of me in the right road, without swerving either to the right or left. If I see you do anything suspicious, I will drive a brace of bullets through you without a word of notice. Now push on."
 The guide had started as directed, but it was evident fF6fH his tAutterings that he was alarmed at something be- sides the action of his follower.
 In the meantime the thunder had in- creased it's violence, and the flashes of lightning had become more frequent and more binding;
 For whi1e the tw6 hotseinen rode on in silence, the guide keeping up his directions to the letter, while his fol- lower watched his every movement, as a cat would watch mouse.
 Suddenly the guide stopped and look ed behind him. Aga1n he heard the click of the sttanser's pistol and saw his uplifted arm.
 "Have mercy, meinheer," he groaned, "I dare not go on."
 "I give you three seconds to go on, ,'' replied the stranger, sternly. cone p
 "In Heavens name, spare, implored the guide, almost overpowered with fear, "1ook before me iii the road and you will not blame me-"
 The stranger looked. At first he saw something white standing motionless in the center of the road, but presently a fash of lightning lit up the scene, and he saw that the whlte figure was indeed ghastly and frightfu1 enough looking tc chill the blood in the veins of even the bravest man. If his blood chilled for 6 moment, therefore, it was not through any fear that he felt for his ghostly in tercepter, 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: "Be it man or devil !-ride it down I'll follow. Two!'
 With cry of despair upon his lipl the guide urged his horse forward at tho top of his speed, quickly followed by thu stranger, who held his pistol ready il | his hand.
 In another instant the guide would have swept past the dreadful spot, bu at that instant the report of pistol ran, through the dark forest, and the stran l gel heard horse gallop off through tn woods riderless.
 l Finding himself alone, the strange raised his pistol, took deliberate aim a the ghostly murderer, and pressed hi finger upon the trigger.
 The apparition approached quickly but in no hostile attitude. The stra1 ger stayed his hand. At length tn ghost addressed him in voice that wa anything but sepulchral
 "Here Wilhelm, ye move out of you perch this minute and give me helpin hand. I've hit the game while on th wing, haven't IF"
 The stranger was nonplussed for a m' ment, but recovering himself, he grun bled something unlntelligible and leape l to the ground. One word to his horl
 and the brave animal stood perfect still. By the snow-white trappings ( 7 the would-be ghost he was next enable : to groupe his way in the dark towa - that individual, whom he found bendi1
 over black mass, about the size of t man, on the road.
 As the tiger pounces upon his pre- g the stranger leaped upon the stoopil s figure before him, and bore it to u B ground.
 y "I arrest you in the Kings name n cried the stranger, grasping his prison a by the throat and holding him tigl | EkC fo o+ 1ox1