Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-01-27
The Ghost RObber,

stranger, amounted on anoble~looklng horse
passed slowly over the snow-white lime
stone 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, for while, and
see what can learn"
He thereupon dismounted and entered
the parlor Of the inn, where he sat down
beside small table.
allow can 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 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, member do you travel?"
''To Nanstadt," replied the guest.
"You will rest here tonight, l 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 morning. I am
going to purchase lumber for the market
And you have considerable money
with you, no doubt?" asked the landlord,
innocently.
eyes, considerable" replied the guest,
slipping at his wine disinterestedly.
"Then, if you'll take my advice said
the landlord, "you'll stay here till morn
ing"
"Whys" replied the stranger, looking
up curiously.
because" whispered the landlord,
looking around, as if he were disclosing
a great secret, and was afraid Of being
heard by somebody else, 'severy 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 it again.
"Why, you see," the landlord went on,
while he approached his guests table and
took seat, II 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 some
thing 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 sort Of
smothering, and finally died, as they
thought, but awoke in an hour or so tc
find themselves lying by the roadside
robbed Of everything"
Indeed" CALCULATED the stranger, look
ing abstractcdly at the rafters in the cell
ing, as though he was more intent upon
counting them than he was interested il
landlords story.
The innkeeper looked at him in aston.
ishment. 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.
'sI?'' cried the stranger, starting from
his fit Of abstraction, as though he was
not sure that he was the person ad
dressed ooh, most certainly not; I'm
going straight ahead, ghost, OF no ghost
tonight"
Half an hour later, the stranger and 6
guide, called Wilhelm, were out on the
road going alta pretty round pace toward
Nanstadt.
During flash of lightning the stranger
observed that his guide looked very un.
easy about something, and was stacking
his horses pace as though he intended te
drop behind.
lead on" cried the stranger, ''don't be
afraid"
s'I'm afraid I cannot" replied the per-
son addressed, continuing to hold his horse
in, until he was now at least length be-
hind his companion. "My horse is COW
ardly and unmanageable in a thunder.
storm. If you will go on, though, I think
I can make him follow close enough tc
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 stop.
ped ALSO
"Guides should lead, and not fol.
low" said the stranger, quietly, but
with frmness which seemed to be
exceedingly unpleasant to the person
"But," faltcred the guide, "my horse
won't CO."
won't he2" queried the stranger, with
mock simplicity.
The guide heard sharp click, ano
saw something CLEAN in his compan
ions right hand. He seemed to Nnder.
stand perfectly, for he Immediately drove
spurs into his horses TANKS, and sho
ahead Of his companion without another
word.
He no sooner reached his old position
however, than the stranger saw him give
sharp turn to the right, and then dis
appear, as though he had vanished
through the foliage of the trees that skirt
ed the road.
He heard the clatter of his horse as h
galloped off. Without waiting anothe
instant he touched his horse lightly witt
the reins, gave him a prick with tn
rowels and off the noble animal starte.
like the wind in the wake Of the flyin,
guide.
The strangers horse being much su
perior to the others the race was shor
one and terminated by the guide bein
thrown nearly from his saddle by heav
hand which was laid upon his bridle,stoE