The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1881-06-23

He turned in his seat, beheld the
strangers face dark and frowning, and
trembled violently as he felt the smooth
cold barrel of a pistol pressed against
his cheek.
"Ihis cursed beast almost ran away
with me-" cried the guide, composing
himself as well as he could under the
circumstances.
''Yes, ] know" said his companion,
dryly. ''but mark my word, young man,
il your horse plays such tricks again,
he'll 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 to
his guide, in a tone which must have
convinced his hearer Of his earnestness :
''Now, friend Wilhelm, hope we IN
derstand each other for the rest Of the
journey. You are to continue ahead Of
me, IN the right road, without swerving
to the right or left. If [ see anything
suspicious, Will drive a brace of bullets
through you without q word of notice.
Now push on.
The guide had started as directed, but
it was evident from his mutterings that
he was alarmed at something besides the
action of his follower.
In the meantime the thunder had in
creased its violence, as the flashes of
lightning had become more frequent and
more binding.
For a while the two horsemen rode on
IN silence, the guide keeping up his di-
rectIons to the letter, while his follower
watched his every movement as cat
would watch q mouse.
Suddenly the guide stopped and look
ed behind him. Again he heard the
click OF the strangers pistol, and saw his
uplifted arm.
"HaVe mercy, meinherr," he groaned.
II dare not so on"
81 give you three seconds to go on, :"
replied the stranger, sternly. "One!"
''In heavens name, spare, implored
the guide, almost overpowered with fear;
''look before me in the 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 OF lightning lit up the scene, and
he saw that the white figure was indeed
CHASTITY and frightful enough to chill the
blood in the veins Of even the bravest
man. If his blood chilled for moment.
therofo~o, 1t Was not through any fear
that he felt for his ghostIy interruption,
for the next instant he set his teeth hard,
while he whispered between them lust
loud enough to be heard by his terror
stricken guide:
"Be it man or devil-ride it down
I'll follow. Two 20
With cry of despair upon his lips
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 a pistol rang
through the dark forest, and the stran-
ger heard horse gallop off through the
woods riderless.
Finding himself alone, the stranger
raised his pistol, took deliberate aim at
the ghostly murderer, and pressed his
finger upon the trigger.
The apparition approached quickly,
but in no hostile attitude. The stranger
stayed his hand. At length the ghost
addressed him in a voice that vas anv-
thing but sepulchral:
Here, Wilhelm, move out of your
perch this minute and give me helping
hand. I've hit the game while on the
wing, haven't I?'
The stranger was nonplussed for a
moment, but recovering himself he grum-
bled something unintelligible and leap
ed to the ground. One word to his
horse, and the brave animal stood per-
fectly STILL
BY the snow-white trappings on the
would-be ghost he was enabled to grope
his way in the dark toward that indiyi-
dual, whom he found bending over q
black mass, about the size of a man. on
the road.
As the tiger pounces upon his prev.
the stranger leaped upon the stoopino
figure before him, and bore it to the
ground.
Il arrest you in the kings namel'
cried the stranger, grasping his prisoner
by tho throat, and holding him tight.
''Stir hands or feet until have YOU
properly secured and I'll send your soul
into eternity"
This was such an unexpected turn OF
affairs that the would.be ghost could
harry believe his own senses. and was
handcuffed and stripped of his dagger
and pistol before he found time to
speak.
care you not my Wilhelm?" he
gasped.
NO, landlord" replied the individual
addressed, II am not. But I am an
officer Of the king, at your service, on
special duty to do what I have tonight
accomplished. Your precious son Vii
helm, whom you thought was leading g
an innocent sheep to the slaughter, lies
II the road, killed by his fathers own
hand
Two weeks later, at Bruchsale prison
IN Baden, the landlord of the sign of the
Deer and the ghost OF iha robber of the
Rlan< EnrpSN hp