Weekly Trinity journal., 1878-02-16
THE GHOST ROBBER.

I
horse, passed slowly over the snow white
limestone road leading through tho Black
Forest.
Just as the man 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
III -top here, anyhow, for awhile, and
see what can learn"
He thercupon dismounted and entered
the psrlor of the inn, where he sat down
be.idc small table.
"How can I serve you, peinheer ?"
said the landlord.
See to my horse outside" replied the
guest careessly, but at the same time eye
ing the landlord from head to foot land
let me have some wine-Rhine will do"
The landlord turned to withdraw from
the strangers preserce, when he stopped
and said
Which way, meinheer do you trav-
el ?"
"To Nanstadt," replid 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 in the morning. am going
to purchase lumber for the market"
"And vou have considerable money
with yon, no doubt ?" asked the land
lord, nnocently.
Yes, considerable" '" replied the guest,
slipping n his wine di.in,ere,tcdly.
Then if you'il take my advice" said
the landlord, "you'll stay here till morn
mg."
Why 2" replied the stranger, looking
up curously.
Because" whispered the landlord
looking around as il hs were disclosing II
great secret, and was afraid of being
heard by somebody else, "every man
that passes over the road between this
and Nanstadt ut midnight for the last
ten years, has been robbed or murdered
under similar circumstances.
What were the crcum>t stances ?" ask
ed The stranger, putting down his glass
empty, and preparing 10 GIL it again.
hy You see" the band ord went on
/ While b" approached his guests table and
trpS u eat " have ,pokcn with sever
y who have neen roi bed ali | could
.uo IN them i, hat they remembr
re-. fing. III the lonesome Inrt of the
wood, ,aupthiug ,hnl iooked white and
ghA4i :. and frightened their horses 50
that they either ran away or threw the'r
rider; they felt n choking sensation and
n sort of >mothering, and finally died, Il,
they thought, but awoke in an hour or SC
to find themselves lying by the roadside
robbed of everything"
"Indeed !" CALCULATED the stranger
looking abstrnctly at the Mtters in tn
ceiling, ms though he was more intent up
on counting them thnn he was intereste
in the landlords story.
The inn keeper looked Mt him with ms
tonishmrnt. Such perfect coolness he I'M
, not witnessed for long time.
"You will remain then ?" suggeste
the landlord, after waiting sometime fC
his guest to speak.
81 ?" cried the stranger, starting fror
his fit of abstraction, rs though he WI
not sure that he was the person addressed
"Oh, most certainly not; I'm goin
straight ahead, ghost or no ghost t.
night"
Half nm hour later, the stranger and
guide, called Wilhelm, were out on Lh
road, going at u pretty round pace 10
ward Nans!adt.
During ilAsh ot lightning, the slrang
ei observed that his guide looked ver.
uneasy about something, and WAS sIacl;
ening his horses pace ns though he in
tended to drop behind.
Lead on" cried the stranger don
be air"id.'
"I'm afraid | cannot" replied tn
person addressed, continuing to hold hi
horse in unit! he was nova least lengtl
behind his companion. My horse i
cowardly, and unmapageablc in thun
der storm. If you will 60 on though,
think can make him follow close enough
to point out the road"
The stranger pulled up instantly. 4
strange light CLEANED IN his eyes, while
his hand sought his bresst-pocket iron
which he dew something. The guido
saw the movement and stopped also.
Guide. should lead, not follow" saiC
tho stranger. quietly, Dut with trmnesi
which seemed To be exceedingly unpless
ant to tho person addressed.
But" fAiteied ths guide, my hors
won't CO."
Won't he ?" queered the stranger
with mock simplicity IN his tono.
The guide heard II sharp cick, and saw
something gIeam in his companion
right hand. He seemed to understand
perfectly, Ior he immediately drove hi
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
sha p turn to the right hand aud dis
appear, MS though he had vanished
through the foiiuge OF the trees that skirt
ed the road.
He heard the catter of his horse as h'
galloped off. Without waiting another
instant, he touched his horse lightly witt
the relus, gave him prick with his row
els. md Of the n";lr animui started lil<,
-nr waN+o 30" lying guide
t. rnrl .ut Jting much -tttle