Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1869-10-29
An American Stage Coach Adventure.

We were five passengers in all; two
ladies on the back seat. middle.aged
gentleman and Quaker on. the middle,
and myself on the one in front.
The two ladies might have been moth
err and daughter, aunt and niece, Cover
ness and charge, or might have sustain
cal any other relationship which made il
proper for two ladies TO tiavel together
unattended.
The middle aged gentleman was
sprightly and talkalive. He soon struck
up an acquaintance with the ladies, TO
ward whom, in his zeal to do, he rather
overdid the ngreeabie-bewing and smi
ling and chattering over bis shoulder in a
way painfully suggestive, Mt his time Of
life. of I" cricE" in the neck. He was
evidently gray Lothario.
The Quaker wore the uniform Of his
sect. and confined his speech, as many a
parliamentarian would save bis credit bv
dong, TO simple 'syeas" and "nays.
AS for myself, make it an invariatle
rule of the road to be merely locker
on and listener.
Toward evening | was aroused from
one of those reveries into which young
man, without being either a poet or a
lover, will sometimes fall. by the abrupt
query from the laxative gentleman:
Are you armed, sir?"
am not" | answered, astonished,
no doubt visibly, at the question.
Il am sorry to hear it," ne replied,
+" for before reacbing our stopping place
it will be several hours in the night, and
we must pass over portion of the road
on which more than one robbery is re
ported to have been committed"
The ladies turned pale. but the strarg
er did his best TO reassure them.
"Not that l think that there is the
slightest danger at present." he resumed,
"a only when one is responsible for the
safety of ladies, you know. such thing
as pistol in reach would materially aid
ones confidence"
"Your principles, my friend" address
ing the Quaker, ii presume, are as much
opposed to carrying as to using carnal
weapons"
Yea" was the response.
Have the villains murdered any OF
their victims!" the elder lady nervously
inquired.
"Or have they conteuted themselves
with-witb plundering lhem!' inquired
the younger, in timorous voice.
decidedly the latter" the amiable
gentleman FASTENED to give assurance
and as we are none of us prepared tC
offer resistance in case of attack
nothing worse than robbery can befal
u.s."
Then after blaming bis thoughtlessnes:
in having unnecessarily introduced dis
agreeable subject, the gentleman quite
excelled himself in efforts to raise the
spirits of the company, and succeeded SC
well by the time night set in that all had
quite forgotten, or only remembered then
fears to laugh at them.
Our genial companion fairly talked
himself hoarse, perceiving which he tool
from his pocket package OF newly IN
vented cough candy" and after frs
passing it to the ladies, he helped him
self TO the balance, and tossed the paper
ont of the window. aat
He was in the midst Of high eDcomium
on thesnew Dostrum, more than half The
efficacy of which. he insisted, depended
on its being taken by suction, when q
shriIl whistle was heard, aud almost i'm
mediately the coach stopped, while two
faces, bideously blackened, presented
themselves Mt each window.
Sorry to trouble you,' said the mar
ON our right, acknowledging with bow
two lady like screams from the bach
seat; but business is business anC
ours will soon be over, if things g
smoothly
"Of course, gentlemen, you will spare
as far as may be consistent with your dis
agreeable duty, the feelings Of these la
dies" appealed the polite passenger il
his hlandest manner
My own affair, like the sum lost. wa
scarcely worth mentioning. The Quak