The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1878-02-05

threw their riders they felt choking
sensation and sort of smothering, and
finally died, as they thought, but awoke
in an hour or so to find themselves lying
by the roadside, robbed Of everything"
"1ndeed," calculated the stranger,
looking abstractedly at the rafters In the
ceiling as though he was more intent
upon counting them than he was inter
ested in the landlords story.
The innkeeper looked at him in aston
ishment Such perfect GOODNESS he had
not witnessed for long time.
"You will remain then p'' suggested
the landlord, after waiting some time
for his guest to speak.
"I2" cried the stranger starting from
his fit of abstraction, as though he was
not sure that he was the person address
ed. " oh, most certainly not; Pm
going straight ahead, ghost or no ghost,
tonight"
Half an hour later, the stranger and a
guide, called Wilhelm, were out on the
road, going at a pretty round pace
toward Nanstadt.
During flash of lightning the stran-
ger observed that his guide looked very
uneasy about something and was slack
ening his horses pace as though he in
tended to drop behind.
Lead on" cried the stranger, " don't
be afraid"
I'm afraid i cannot" replied the
person addressed, continuing to hold his
horse in until he was now at least u
length behind his companion. MY
horse is cowardly and unmanageable in
thunder storm. If you will go on,
though, think | can make him follow
close enough to 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 stopped also.
Guides should lead, not follow
said the stranger, quietly, but with a
firmness which seemed to be exceeding
ingly unpleasant to the person ad-
dressed.
I" But" faltered the guide, "my horse
won't CO."
won't he ?" quered the stranger,
with mock simplicity.
The guide heard the sharp click, and
saw something gleam in his compan-
ions right hand. He seemed to under.
stand perfectly for he Immediately drove
his spurs into his horses flanks, and
shot 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 ther
disappear, as though he had vanished
through the foliage of the trees tha
skrted the road.
He heard the clatter of his horse as h,
galloped off. Without waiting another
instant, he touched his horse lightly
with the reins, gave him "a quick pricl
with the rowels, and off the noble ami
NAL started like the wind in the wake o
the flying guide.
The strangers horse being much su
perior to the others the race was
short one, and terminated by the guild
being thrown nearly from his saddle b,
a heavy hand which was laid upon hi
bride, stopping him.
He turned i'm his seat, beheld tn
strangers face, dark and frowing, an,
trembled violently as he felt the smooth
cold barrel of u pistol pressed agains
his cheek.
This cursed beast almost ran ava,
with me-" cried the guide, composin,
himself as well as he conld under tn
circumstances.
"Yes, know" said his companion
dIyly, "but mark my word, younI
man, if your horse plays such tricl
again, he'll he the means of seriousl,
injuring his masters health"
They both turned and cantered bacl
to the road When they reached i
again, and turned the heads of thei
animals in the right direction, the stran
ger said to his guide, in tone whicl
must have convinced his hearer as t.
his earnestness:
"Now, friend Wilhelm, / hope w
understand each other for the rest O
the journey. You are to continue ol
ahead of me, in the right road, withou