The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1894-04-20

nightfall the lonely road whore It is
said . German peddler was found with
his head broken and his pack riaed
some twenty-eight years ago Tho
road has always borne the reputation
OF beng haunted. but It was not until
few days ago anything more tangi-
Bile than hearsay was the basis for
the belief .r
On that night, however. the Phila-
delphis Times says, three we'll
known young farmers, who had been
counting in the vicinity, met about
midnight as was their habit, at the
forks Of the road. and started to
walk to their homes about 1--WE miles
away. All three being Good Tenn.
plars, there is no reason to doubt
their statements of what they saw
and heard. The road leads. through
dense forest for nearly . mile. and
upon either side are high hills where
heavy growth Of underbrush rem
GERS the woods impossible. A wilder
locality could scarcely be imagined.
/, The night was dark and chilly, but
the young men. were full Of life and
spirits and. made the hills re.echo
with their shouts and laughter up to
tho time they entered the forest
Even here they chatted and ioked
about each others ''girls, ]" although
the clammy gloom seemed to
strangely affect thsir spirits. All ct
once the younger Of the trio threw
back his head and gave shearty yell,
laughingly remarking that that
would raise the dead. Scarcely had
the echoes died away ere what
seemed responsive cry came from
somewhere beyond in the darkness.
"What was that?" muttered the
elder farmer.
Sounded like . eatamount," sup-
gested the younger.
Nonsense" said the other, ..it
was only an echo" As he spoke
the cry was repeated. From . faint,
low tone It rose to Q shrill shrek Of
mortal terror and anguish. Then It
broke and died away In heart-rending
groana
The farmers huddled together and
peered panic-stricken into the black
ness ahead. Then from the gloom
came the sound of heavy footsteps
rapidly approaching. Instinctively
the men shrank to the roadside,
listening and Watching IL fascinated
horror. Again the blood-curdling
shriek rose In the darkness. followed
by . coarse oath in. an Indifferent
tone. Then . strange spectacle o.
CURED.
A great phosphorescent body sud-
denly appeared in the middle of the
road, moving rapidly toward the be-
holders. In the center was the figure
Of . German peddler bending under
the weight Of his pack. his livid
countenance expressive of the most
sgonizing fear fancy can conjure He
was striving to run, even while his
features betokeued the utter hope
lessness of the endeavor to escape
from the purauer,. . great, burly ruff
nan, armed with . club Az the un-
canny vision approached the terrify-
ing scream Of anguish again burst
from the peddler's lips. while before
their affrighted' gaze the farmers saw
the villain bring down his club with
killing force upon the victims head.
The peddler tumbled to the ground,
his pack rolling heavily toward the
ditch.
Then from above. beneath, before
and behind burst forth Q chorus of
demoniac shrieks. grosns and Wild
laughter, while upon the road lay
the body of the peddler, and orouoh-
ing over him his murderer rinsd his
pockets. The illumination grew
stronger. blue flames played around
the pair, aud the fumes Of sulphur
half choked the terrified beholders.
The flames changed into q fierce
blaze. and the youths experienced an
irresistible desire to throw them
selves into the center of the fire.
Speeches. with unnsmsble fear.
they felt themselves drawing closer,
closer to the unholy spot
"0h, Cod" gasped the elder in an
almost inarticulate whisper. At tho
word. the spectacle. the yells, tho
groans and the htdeous laughter
ceased ~ suddenly ss electric lights
60 out ut the pressing of button.
That 10 oil. The young men reached
Q farmhouse somehow and spent the
remainder Of tho night in sleepless
terror
What was It? That is Just what
every ono 10 asking with bated breath
and frightened look.
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