The Shasta courier., 1869-11-20
COURIER.
A Quaker Detective.

We were five passengers in all /; two
ladies on the back seat, middle,aged gen.
tleiaen and Quaker on the middle, and
myself on the one in front.
The two ladies might have been mother
and daughter, aunt and niece, governess
and C ar5e, or might have sustained any
other relationship which made it proper
for two ladies to travel together unattended.
The middle aged gentlemen was sprght-
ly talkative. He soon struck up an ac-
quatntance with the ladies', toward whom
in his zeal to do, he rather overdid, the
agreeable-bowing and smiling and chat
tering over his shoulder in way painfully
suggestive at this time of life of "crick'
in the neck. He was evidently grag
Lothario.
The Quaker wore the uniform of his sect
and confined his speech, as many a parlia-
mentiarian would save his credit by doing
to simple yeas and nays As for myself
| make it an invariable rule of the road to
be merely locker on and listener
Toward evening, was aroused from one
of these reveres into which young man
without being either poet or lover will some
times fall, by the abrupt query from the
talkative gentleman
Are you armed, sir !?
" | am not | answered, astonished, no
doubt visibly, at the question.
{ am sorry to hear it, he replied; tor
before reaching 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 reported to have
been committed
The Indies turned pale, but the stranger
did his best to reassure them
Not that think there is the slightest
danger at present, he resumed only
when one is responsible for the safety of
ladies, you know, such thing as pistol
in reach would materially add to ones con-
fdence'
Your principles, my friends, addressing
the Quaker, presume are as much op-
posed to carrying as to using carnal wea-
pons.'
Yea, was the reponse.
Have the Williams murdered any of
their victims 2 the elderly lady ncrvously
inquired.
'Or have they contcnted themselves
with plundering ? added the younger, in
a timerous voice.
Decidedly the latter the amable gen
tleman fastened to give assurance; and
as we are none of us prepared to offer re-
sistance in case of attack, nothing worse
than robbery can befall us
Then after blaming his thoughtlessness
i'll having unnecessarily introduced dis
agreeable subject, the gentleman quite ex-
celled himself in efforts to raise the spirits
of the company, and succeeded 50 well by
the time night set in that all had quite
forgotten, or only remembered their fears
to laugh at them.
Our genial companion fairly talked him
self hoarse. Perceiving which, he took
from his pocket package of newly invent
ed cough candy and after passing it first
to the ladies, he helped himself to the
balance, and tossed the paper out of the
window.
He was in the midst of high encomium
on the new nostrum, more than half the
efficacy of which, he insisted depended on
its being taken by suction, when shrill
whistle was heard, and almost Immediately
the coach stopped, while two faces, hid
eously blackened, presented themselves,
one at each window.
Sorry to trouble you,' said the man on
the right, acknowledging with bow two
ladylike screams from the back seat; but
business is business and ours will soon
be over, if things 60 smoothly
'Of course, gentleman, you will spare
as may be consistent with your disagree
able duty, the feelings of these ladies, ap-
pealed the polite passenger in his blandest
manner.
oh certainly, they shall be first at
tended to, and shall not be required to
leave their places or submit to search, un-
less their conduct renders it necessary.
and now, ladies' continued the rob-
Der the barrel of his pistol cleaning in the
light of coach lamp, 'be so good as to pass
out your purses, watches and such other
trinkets as may be accessible without too
much trouble.
The ladies came down handsomely, and
were no further molested.
One by one, the rest Of us were COM
PEELED to get out, the middle aged gentle
mans turn coming first. He submitted
with winning grace, and was robbed like
a very Chesterfield.
MY own affair, like the sum lost, was
scarcely worth mentioning. The Quaker $
turn came next. He quietly handed over
his pocket book and watch, and when asked
if he had any other valuables, said Nay
A Quaker1s word is good even among
thieves; so, after hasty good night the
robber thrust his pistol into his pocket,
with his two companions, one OF whom
had held the rains of the leaders, was about
taking his departure.
Stop said the Quaker in tone more
of command than request.
Stop? what for 2 returned the othel