THE MURDER VICTIM WHO CAN'T FORGET
The sun had sunk beneath the horizon and the autumn night was closing in as Mr Ward and his uncle travelled home along the Enfield to Barnet Road.
All was quiet and still, the only sound being the clatter of the horses’ hooves and the low rumbling of the carriage wheels.
As the night shadows deepened, a feeling of sudden terror, followed by an intense feeling of hopeless melancholy suddenly descended upon both men.
THE GHOSTLY MAN
Moments later the horses shied in alarm and, without warning, bolted. The carriage was dragged at breakneck speed as Mr Ward Struggled to control the terrified animals.
Then the moon suddenly burst from behind a bank of cloud and, as its yellow light illuminated the scene, both men saw the cause of the horses’ alarm.
Walking on the grass verge alongside them, keeping up easily with the animals’ speed, was a tall man with a deathly pale face.
A deep, gaping wound ran along one side of his throat and glimmered in the moonlight.
On they galloped until, as they rounded a bend, the hideous spectre fell behind and stopped by a certain gate.
THE FIGURE VANISHED
The horses became calmer, their speed slackened, and, when the two men looked back, they saw the figure standing by the gate staring after them.
But, as they watched, it began to fade and, moments later had vanished.
The next day Mr Ward was telling a friend about their experience, and was astonished to learn that, in 1832, a Mr Danby had been murdered alongside that particular gate, and that many people had encountered his spectre in the lane where the crime occurred.
