Year: 1878




give sharp turn to the right and then
disappear, as though he had vanished
through the foliage of the trees that
skirted the road.


He heard the clatter of his horse as
he galloped off. Without waiting an
other instant, he touched his horse
lightly with the reins, gave him a
prick with the rowels, and off the noble
animal started like the wind in the
wake of the flying guide.


The strangers horse being much
superior to the others. the race was a
short one, and terminated by the guide
being thrown nearly from his saddle by
a heavy hand which was laid upon his
bride, stopping him.


He turned in his seat, beheld the
strangers face, dark and frowning,
and trembled violently as he felt the
smooth, cold barrel of pistol pressed
against his cheek.


This cursed beast almost ran away
with me-" cried the guide, composing
himself as well as he could under the
circumstances.


''Yes, L know" said his companion
dryly, ''but mark my word, young man,
if 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 tone
which must have convinced his hearer
as to his earnestness:


Now. friend Wilhelm, l hope we
understand each other for the rest of
the journey. You are to continue on
ahead of me, in the right road, with
out swerving either to the right or left.
If see you do anything suspicious, |
will drive brace of bullets through
you without word of notice. Now
push on"


The guide had started as directed,
but il was evident from his mutterings
that he was alarmed at something be-
sides the action of his follower.


In the meantime the thunder had in
creased its violence, and the flashes OF
lightning had become more frequent
and more binding.


For awhile the two horsemen rode on
in silence, the guide keeping up his
directions to the letter, while his fol-
lower watched his every movement as
cat would a mouse.


Suddenly the guide stopped and
looked behind him. Again he heard
the click of the strangers pistol and
saw his uplifted arm.


"Have mercy, meinheer, he groaned,
81 dare not go on"


81 give you three seconds to go on,
replied the stranger, sternly. ''One"'


'.Iu 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 motion
less in the center of the road, but pres
entity flash of lightning lit up the
scene, and he saw that the white figure
was indeed ghastly and frightful
enough looking to chill the blood in
the veins of even the bravest man. II
his blood chilled for moment. there
4 g z, rhraunh faar that
he felt for his ghostly interpreter, 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.
I'll follow. Two,"


With cry of despair upon his lips
the guide urged his horse forward al
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 a horse gallop of
through the woods riderless-


Finding himself alone, the stranger
raised his pistol, took deliberate aim al
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 voice that was any
thing but sepulchral:


"Here, Wilhelm, ye move out o.
your perch this minute and give me
helping hand. I've hit the game while
on the wing, haven't | ?"


The stranger was nonplussed for
moment, but recovering himself, h'
grumbled something unintelligible ant
leaped to the ground. One word to hi
horse and the brave animal stood per
fectly still. By the snow-white trap
pings on the would-be ghost he wa
next enabled to group his way in tn
dark toward that individual, whom h
found bending over black mass, abou
the size of man, on the road.


As the tiger pounces upon his prey
the stranger leaped upon the stoopin;
figure before him, and bore it to tn
ground.


81 arrest you in the Kings name,
cried the stranger, grasping hi
prisoner by the throat and holding hin
tight. "Stir hand or foot until i hav
you properly secured, and I'll sem
your soul to eternity"


This was such an unexpected turn
affairs that the would-be ghost coul'
hardly believe his own senses, and wa
handcuffed and stripped of his dagge
and pistol before he found time t
speak.


"Are you not my Wilhelm" h
gasped.


sNo, landlord replied the individ
ual addressed, ''I am not. But 1 al
an officer of the King, at your service
on snecial duty. TO do what | have to