Louisiana capitolian., 1880-03-27
THE GHOST RoBBER.

looking horse, passed slowly over the
snow-white limestone road leading tC
the black forest.
Just US 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 l can learn"
He thereupon dismounted and entered
the parlor of the inn, where he sat
down beside small table.
o "How can l serve you, meinheerr'
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, meinheer do you travelF'
ITO Nanstadt," replied the guest.
"You will rest here tonight, l sup
pose r' continued the landlord.
~ will stay for two or three hours,
but must then be off, so as to reach my
destination there in the morning to pur-
chase lumber for the market"
"And you have considerable money
with you no doubt9" asked the land
lord, innocently.
"Yes, considerable" /" replied the guest,
slipping his wine disinterestedly.
"Then, if you'll take my advice" said
the landlord, "you'll stay stay here till
morning.
"Whyr replied tie stranger, looking
up curiously.
Because" whispered the landlord,
looking around as if he were disclosing
n 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
teu years, has been robbed or murdered
under very singular circumstances"
"What were the circumstances 7" ask
cd the stranger, putting down his glass
empty, and preparing to fill it again.
"Why, you see, the landlord went on,
while he approached hisguest's table and
took seat, II have spoken with several
who have been robbed; all that l could
learn from them is that they remember
cd meeting in the lonesome part Of the
wood, something that looked white and
ghastly, and frightened their horses Sc
that they either ran away or threw theil
riders they felt a choking sensation and
a 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"
'Indeed~ calculated the stranger,
looking abstractly 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 inn-keeper looked at him with as.
tonishment. Such perfect coolness he
had not witnessed for long time.
"You will remain, then ~ suggested
the landlord, after waiting some time
for his guest to speak.
oft" cried the stranger, starting from
his fit Of abstraction as though he was
not sure he was the person addressed
"Oh, most certainly not; Pm going
straight ahead, ghost or no ghost, to.
night"
Half an hour later the stranger and
"a guide, called Wilhelm, We're out Oh
the road, going at pretty round pace
toward Nanstadt.
During flash of lightning, the stran.
ger observed that his guide looked yer,
uneasy about something, ard was slack,
'ening his horses pace as though he in
tended to drop behind.
LEAD on" cried the stranger, "don't
be afraid"
"rm afraid I cannot" replied tn.
person addressed, continuing to hole
his horse in until he was now ut least {;
length behind his companion. "My
horse is cowardly and umanageablc in
a thunderstorm. If you will go on
though, l think can make him follow
close enough to point out the road tc
you.
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 firm
ness which seemed to be exceedingly
unpleasant to the person addressed.
"But," faltered the guide, "my horse
won't CO."
Won't he," queried the stranger
with mock simplicity in his tone.
The guide heard Il sharp click, and
saw something CLEAN i'll his companion.
right hand. He seemed to understand
perfectly, for he Immediately drove bis
spurs into his horses fanks and shot
ahead of his companion without another
word.
He no sooner reached his old position
however, than the stranger saw hin
give a sharp turn to the right and thel
disappear, as though he had vanished
through the foliage of the trees tha