The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1878-01-10
THE, GHOST ROBBER.

On line evening in the spring Of
1880, a stranger, mounted on noble.
looking horse, passed slowly over the
snow-white limestone road leading
Black Forest. 90 = :
= Just a the sun was going to rest fol
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 Sc s4ss
He thereupon dismounted and en-
tered the parlor of tho inn, where he
i sat, down beside q small table,
9 4 AHow can I serve you. meinheerP''
said the landlord. s
"See to my horse outside" replied
tie guests oarelessly, but at, the same
tine cycling the landlord from head to
foot; " and let me have some wine
Rhine will do"
.egThe Landlord was turning to with
draw. from, the strangers presence,
when he stopped and said: ---ss..---.s-.
Which way, meinheer, do you
trayelPY - r s 3
, = ITO Nanstadt,n replied the guest.
: :. You will rest here, tonight, I sup
Z poser 'scontinued the landlord.
Twill stay here for two or three
hours but ] must then be of. so as to
reach my destination there in the morn
ing. am going to purchase lumber
for the market. . & s1@
b s.And you have considerable money
with you. no doubtg'' asked the land
lord, innocently.
, ~ Yes, considerable, replied the
guest, slipping at his wine, disinterest-
eddy. .lis
.'Then, if you'll take my ADVICE
said the landlord, you'll stay here till
morning. - sllt3 ess
..S ..Why?' replied the stranger, look
ing up curiOusly. SD
!" Because, , whispered the landlord,
looking around as if he were disclosing
great secret, and was afraid of being
heard by 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
---s' What were the circumstancesp''
asked the stranger, putting down his
.glass empty and preparing to fill 1t
again.
:. Why, you see,n the landlord went
on. while he approached bis 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 sort of smoth-
ering, and finally died, as they thought,
but awoke in an hour or SO, to find
themselves lying by the roadside,
robbed Of everything" I u
Indeede'' calculated the stranger.
looking abstractedly at the rafters in
the ceiling, as though he was more IN
tent upoa eopntinx fhem than he was
i6ierested in the landlord ) story. -
The innkeeper looked at him in as
constituent. Such perfect GOODNESS he
had not witnessed for long time.
"You will remain, thenpn suggested
the landlord. after waiting some time
for his guest to speak.
"Ip'T cried the stranger, starting
from his ft.of abstraction, as though
he was not sure that he was. the person
addressed. "Oh, most certainly not;
I'm goine Taight ahead. ghost or no
ghost, tcstieht.
Halt an hour later, the stranger and
. guide, called Wilhelm, were out on
the rond. going at 3 pretty round pace
toward Naustadt 81
During = flash Of lightning the
stranger observed that his guide looked
very uneasy about something, and was
slackening his horses pace as though
heintended 10 drop hshind, -
T. k;4esl orr &isd she stxaagS,
9ldlN . afra5a1 I @ 81
TIM afraid cannot" replied the
person addressed continuing to hold
his horse in until he was now at least y
length behind his companion. my
horse is cowurdly and unn1 anageable in
. thunderstorm. If you will 90 on
though, think can make him follow
close enough to point out the road"
The stranger pulled up jnstantly. 4
strange li9ht RleameG 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. y
said the stranger, quietly, but with q
firmness which seemed to be exceed
inRly unpleasant to the person adj
s's ::sas'' altssd IL guide. .,ns
horso won't IS. 2 :
sWon't her, queried the stranger.
with mock simplicity.
The guide heard . sharp click, and
saw something eleam IN his compan-
ions right hand. He seemed to under
stand perfectly, for he Immediately
drove bis spurs into his h0rsess flan1sf
and 80 ah6adspf lii companion wIthz
out another word.
He NO sooner reached his old posi-
tion, however, than the stranger saw
him eive . sharp turn 70 the right and
than disappear, Is though he had van
ished through the foliage Of the trees
that Ghirted the road.
He heard the eletter Of his h0Re g ~
xallupG1 n Wi1hout W3fipk e19ther
r. - ~ touched bis hor5e lightly
With the reins, gave him prick with
IL rowsIs, and on The noble animal
stsetsd NE ~ wind II the wal1e u she
nyfng euide.
II ot1nnger's horse being much 81
- 49, <.<Ela~Ssr kls1. - $500 =