Louisiana capitolian., 1880-03-27

to the road. Whep they reached it
again, and turned thi' heads of their an
imals in the right dil tction, the stranger
said to his guide, in tone which must
have convinced his hearer as to his carn-
estness:
"Now, friend Wilhelm, l hope we un-
derstand each other for the rest OF the
Journey. You are to continue ahead OF
me in the right road without swerving
either to the right or left. If l see you
do anything suspicious, l will drive q
brace of bullets through you without a
word of notice. Now push on"
The guide had started as directed, but
it was evident from his muttering that
he was alarmed at something beside the
action of his follower.
In the meantime the thunder had in
creased in violence, and the flashes Of
lightning became more frequent and
more binding.
Forawhile the two bOrscmen rode oni in
silence, the guide keeping up his direc-
tions to the letter, while his follower
watched his every movement as a cat
would u mouse.
Suddenly tho guide stopped and look
ed around him. Again he heard the
click of the strangers pistol and saw his
uplifted arm.
"Have mercy, meinheer," he groaned.
III dare not 90 on"
"Igive you three seconds to co." re-
piled the stranger, sternly. Gone"
"In Heavens name spare" implored
the guide, almost overpowcred with
fear; "look before ME in tho road and
you will not blame me-"
The stranger looked. At first he saw
something white standing motionless in
the center Of the road, but presently a
flash oflightning lit up the scene, and
he saw that the white figure was CHASTITY
and frightful enough looking to chill
the blood in the veins of even the BRAY
est man. If his blood chilled for mo-
ment, therefore, it was not through any
fear that he felt for his ghostly inter-
prefer, for the next instant he set his
teeth hard, while he whispered between
them just loud enough to be heard by
his terror-stricken guide.
"Be it man or devil!-ride it down
III follow. Two"
With cry Of despair, the guide urged
his horse forward at the top Of his speed,
quickly followed by the stranger, who
held his pistol ready in his hand.
In another instant the guide would
have swept past the dreadful spot, but
at that instant the report Of pistol
rang through the dark forest, and the
stranger heard horse gallop off through
the woods riderless.
Finding himself alone, the stranger
raised his pistol, took deliberate aim ut
the ghoStly murderer, and pressed his
finger upon the trigger.
The apparition approached quickly,
but in no hostile attitude. Thestranger
stayed his hand. At length the ghost
addressed him il voice that was any
thing but sepu1 1,hral.
"Here, Wilhelm, you move out of
your perch this minute, and give me a
helping hand. I've hit the game while
on the wing, havn't {"
The stranger was non-plussed for a
moment, but recovering himself, he
grumbled something unintelligible and
leaped to the ground One word to his
horse and the grave animal stood still.
BY the snow white trappings of the
would-be ghost he was next enabled to
grope his way in the dark toward that
individual, wtlom he found bending
over black mass, about the size of a
man, in the road.
As the tiger pounces upon his prey,
the stranger lcaped upon the STOPPING
figure before him, and bore it to the
ground.
~ arrest you in the kings name y
cried the stranger, grasping the prison
oncr \ the throat and holding him
tight. "Stir hand or foot until l have
you perfectly secured, and Pll send youl
soul into eternity"
This was such an unexpected turn to
affairs that the would-be ghost could
hardly believe his own senses, and was
handcuffed and stripped of his dagger
and other weapons before he had time
to speak.
"Are you not Wilhelm ?" he gaspcd.
"No, landlord,' replied the individual
addressed. 81 am not, but am an off,
Ger of the king, at your service, on spe-
cial duty, to do what l have tonight
accomplished. Your precious son, Will
helm, who you thought was leading an
innocent sheep to slaughter lies in the
road killed by his fathers hand"
Two weeks later, at Bruchsale prison,
in Baden, the landlord of the sign of the
deer, and the Ghost Robber of the Black
Forest, who was the same identical per-
son, having been proven guilty of nu-
merous ticndish murders and artfully
contrived robberies, committed at differ.