The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-12-10
pit, and so completely filled in wits
trees that should take it to be achosen'

place for assassins and robbers"
"It is the shortest route, meinheer," re-
sponded the guide, following the move
ment Of the stranger by refining in his
steed.
"Umphr' calculated the stranger, with
just a touch of suspicicion in the excla-
nation; proceed then!'
On they again started, while now and
! then the forked tongues of the lightning
would penetrate the gloom which hung
around them, disclosing lonely and un.
frequented-looking road. During one of
those flashes the stranger observed that
his guide looked very uneasy about some
thing, and was klaekening his horses
pace, as though he intended to drop be-
hind.
4Iead on" cried the stranger; .sdoa't
be afraid. If anything happens, Tn
close to your heels, and we'll armed"
'Tm afraid l can not" replied the
guide, continuing to hold back his horse
until he now was at least a length be-
hind his companion. "My horse is COW
ardly, and becomes unmanageable in a
| thunderstorm. Ii you 60 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 firmly.
"But," faltered the guide, ''my horse
won't CO."
won't hep queried the stranger, with
mock simplicity in his tone.
The guide heard sharp click, and saw
sumetliAg gleam in his companion's right
hand. He seemed to understand what i,
meant perfectly, for he immediately
drove his spurs into his horses hanks and
disappeared as though he had vanished
through the thick foliage Of the trees
skirting the road. The stranger dashed
up to the spot and saw that his guide had
turned down narrow lane leading into
the heart of the wood. ~ f.~
The Strangers horse being much supe
rior, he soon checked the guide by q
heavy hand laid upon his bride, stopping
him instantly. 800,
He turned in his seat, beheld the
strangers face, dark and frowning. anr
trembled violently as he felt the smooth
cold barrel Of pistol pressed against biz
check.
"This cursed beast almost ran away
with me- cried the guide.
eyes, I know" said his companion
dryly, "but mark my words, young man:
il your horse plays such tricks again, he a
be the means of seriously injuring his
masters health"
They both turned and cantered back to
the road. When they reached it again,
and turned the heads Of their animals in
the right direction, the stranger said tc
his guide, in atone which must have con
vinced his hearer as to his eanestness:
"Now, friend Wilhelm, I hope we un,
4 derstand each other for the rest of thi.
4 Journey. You are to continue on aheat
of me, in the right road, without swerv
ing either to the right or to the left: i.
/ see you do anything suspicious, wiE
\ drive brace of bullets through YOU
without another word of notice; now
push on"
The guide started on as directed, but
evidently alarmed at something else be-
4 sides the action OF his follower.
For about n mile the two llorsemen
rode en in silence, the guide keeping fuF
his directions to the letter. while his fol.
lower watched his every movement as q
cat would watch neuse.. .
4 Suddenly the guide stopped and looked
behind. Again he heard the click of the
strangers pistol, and saw his uplifted
arm ... . tt
"Have mercy, meinheer," he greaned
/ "l dare mot go on"
\ "I give you three seconds to 90 on >
replied the stranger, ster,lly. Gone
"1n heavens name, spare," implored
the guide, almost overpowered with fear
\ "look before me in the road and you will
not blame me-"
1 The stranger looked. AT first he saw
something white standing motienless in
the center of the road, but presently 9
flash Of lightning lit lip the scene, and he
saw tllat the white figure was, ,indeed
ghastly and frightful-lOoking enough to
chill the blood in the veins of even the
bravest man. The next instant he sci
histeeth hard, while he whispered be
tween them, just loud enough to behearc
by his terror-stricken glide:
"Be it man or demon, ride 1T down
I'll follow, twop
With cry Of despair upon his lips
the guide urged his horse forward at thu
topof his speed, quickly followed by TIN
stranger, who held his pistol ready in hi
hand. 'ees''s.r
In another second the guide woult
have swept by the dreaded spot, but a
that instant the report Of a pistol rang
through the forest, and the strange
heard a horse gaflop off through the wool
riderless. ..f......,+ e.
| Finding himself alone, the strange
raised his pistsl, took deliberate aim d
the ghostly murderer, and pressed hi
finger upon the trigger.
The apparition approached quickly
but i'm no hostile attitude. The strange
staved his hand Az lpupth the phls