The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1869-12-03

A Quaker's word is good, even
among thieves; so, after q hasty
''gOod night" the robber thrust his
pistol in his pocket, anu with his two
companions, one of whom had held
the rcins of the leaders, was about
taking his departure.
"Stop!' exclaimed the Quaker. in
q tone more Of command than request.
''Stop! what for!'' returned tic
other, in evident surprise.
"For at least two good reasons,
was the reply, emphasized with
couple of Dcrringcrs cooked and pre-.
sented.
'1Iclp!" shouted the robLcr.
Stop the Quaker again cxclaim-
cd. "Aad If one Of thy sinful com
panions advances step to thy relief
the spirit will surely move me to blow
thy brains out"
The robbcr at the opposite window,
aud the one at the leaders heads,
thought it a good time to leave.
Now get in, friend" said the
Quaker still covering his man, land
take the middle seat, Tut first deliver
up thy pistol"
The other hesitatcd.
''Thcc had better not delay; feel
the spirit beginning to move my right
fore finger"
The robber did as he was directed,
and TIC t2uakcr took his place by his
side, giving the new conner the mid
die seat.
The driver, who was frightened half
out Of his wits, now set forward at a
rapid -atc. The lively gentleman
soon recovered his vivaci,y. He
was especially facc.ious OH the Qua
kcrs prowcss.
"Iou're rum Quaker, you are
Why, you don't quake worth cent
II am not a Shaking Quaker if
that's what thee mcans.'
'Of the Hickory or rather of
the Old Hickory stripe, l should
say. rctortcd the lively man; but the
Quaker, rclapsing into his usual
morosylla blcs, the conversation flag
gcd.
Time sped, and sooner than we ex-
pectcd, the coaca stopped where we
were to have supper, and change of
horses. We had deferred a rcdistri-
button C our effects till we should
reach this place, as the dim light of
the coach lamp would have rendered
the process somewhat difficult before
1t was now necessary, however,
that it should be attended to at once,
as our joviai companion had prcvi-
ously announced his intention of leav-
ing lis at this point. lie proposed a
postponemcnt till after supper which
he offered to 60 and order.
"Nay,'' urged the Quaker, with
an approach to abruptness, and lay
ing his hand on the others arm,
d" business before pleasure, and for
business there is 10 time like the
present"
"Vill thee be good enough to search
the prisoner? he said to me still
keeping his hand in friendly way,
OIL the passengers arm.
l did so, Int not one Of tie sto,en
articles cou,A be touad.
"He Must have got rid of them in
the coach,' the gay gentleman sug-
scsted, and Immediately offered to 60
and search.
"Stop!' thundercd tho Quaker,
tightening his grasp.
The man turned pale and struggled
to release lis arm. In an instant one
Of the Derringcrs was lcvelled at his
head.
''stir hand or foot and you are a
dead man. .#..
The Quaker must have been awful
ly excited SO completely to forget
both the language and the principles
Of his persuasion. ...
Placing the other pistol in my hand,
with directions to fire on the first OF
tho two men that made suspicious
movement, he work on Lothario,
from whose pockets. in less time than
l take to tell it, he produced every
item Of the missing property, to the
utter amazcmcnt of the two ladies,
who had begun, in no measured terms
to demonstrate against tho shameful
treatment the gentleman wss receiv-
ing:
The Quaker, I need scarcely add,
was no Quaker Mt all, but y shrewd
detective, who had been put on the
track Of band Of dcsperadocs, Of
whom our middlc-aged fricnd-who
don't look near 50 middle aged when
his wig was off-was the chief The
robbery was adroitly planned. The
leader Of the gang had taken passage
in t, ,c coach, aid learning, as he
supposed. our defenccless condition.
had given the signal to his compan-
ions by throwing out the scrap Of pa
per already mentioned. After tho
unexpected capture Of the first rob-
Der, it was attempted to save the
booty by secretly passing it to an ac-
complice, who counted on being able
to make of with it at the next stop
ping place.
The result was, that both for sea-
son, did che State some service
,u,l, !, N = = ~ - J, :, 1,nnvrrtol