The Republican journal., 1869-11-04
A QUAKER DETECTIVE.

AQuAkER DETECTIVE.
We were five passengers in all; two ladies
on the back seat, a middle-aged gentlemen,
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
charge, or might have sustained any other re-
lationship which made it proper for two ladies
10 travel together unattended
The middlc-aged gentleman was sprghtly
and talkatiyc, He soon struck up an ac-
quaintanco with the ladies, toward whom, in
his zeal to do, he rather ovcrdid the agreeable
lowing and smiling and chatting over his
shoulder in any away painfully suggestive, at
his time OF life, OF a ''cyicb" in the neck. He
was cyidentlya gay Lothario.
The Quaker wore the uniform of his sect
and confined his speech, as many a parla-
lnentarian would save his credit by doing, to
simple ''ycas' and ''nays." As for myself, |
make it an invariable rule of the road to be
merely a lOokcr-on and listener
Towards evening, was aroused from one
of those reveries into which Young man
without being either a pet or lover, will
sometimes fall, by the abrupt query from the
talkatiyc gentleman:
Are YOU armed, sir?''
II am not" | answered, astonshed, no
doubt yisibly, al the question.
Il am sorry to hear it, he replied ''for
before reaching our stopping place it will be
several hours i'll the night, and we must pass
over a portion of the road on which more
than one robbery is reported to have been
committed"
The ladies turned pale, and the stranger
did his best 10 reassurc them.
Not that think there is the slightest dam
M lp f,11- rJa,,
one is responsible for the safety of ladies, YOU
know, such a thing rs a pistol in reach would
materially add to ones confidence"
"Your principles, my friend" addressing
the Quaker, Il presume, arc as much oppos-
cd to carrying as to using carnal weapons.''
Yea" was the response.
"llayc the villains murdered any Of their
victims" ?" the elder of the ladies nervously in
quircd
cor have they contented themselves with
plunderng them?" added the younger, in \
tmorous tone.
"Dccidedly the latter" the amiable gentle
man fastened to give assurance; land as we
are none OF Us prepared to give resistance in
case OF attack, nothing worse than robbery
can betall u.s.
Then after blaming his thoughtlessncss at
having unnecessarily Introduced disagree
'A''At 'N'J'Nt INV stIitAtlil,t Iu4lC CACtllCtl
himself in efforts to raise the spirits of the
company, and succeeded so well by the time
night set i'll that all had quite forgotten, or
only remembered their fears to laugh at them.
Our genial companion fairly talked himself
hoarse. Perceivng which, he took from his
pocket Il package of newly invented 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 cncomium on
the new nostrllm, more than half the efficacy
Of which, he insisted, depended on its being
taken by suction, when a shrill whistle was
heard, and almost Immediately the coach
stopped, Ewhile two faces, hideously black
cned, presented themselves at each window
Sorry to trouble you," said the man on
like screams from the back seat; ''but .bis-
ness is bisncss,' and ours will soon be over,
if things 90 smoothly
''Of course, gentlemen, you will spare as
far rs may be consistent with your disagree
able duty, the feelings OF these ladies'" ap-
pcaled the polite passenger in his blandest
manner.
oh! certainly; they shall be first attended
y, and shall not be required to leave their
places, or submit to search unless their
conduct renders it necessary"
'And now, ladies'" continued the robber,
the barrel of his pistol cleaning in the light
OF the coach lamp, ''be so good as to pass
out your purses watches and such other
trlnkets as may be accessible without too
much trouble
The Ladies' came down handsomely, and
We're not further molested.
One by ore the rest of us were compelled
TO get out the middle-agcd gcnteman's turn
Ia +oJ
grace, and was robbed like very Chester
field
My own affair, like the sum | lost, was
scarcely worth mentioning The Quaker's
turn came next. He quietly handed over his
pocket-book and watch, and when asked if
he had any other valuables, said ''Nay''
A .Quaker's word is good, even among
thieves; so, after a hasty ''good night" the
robber thrust his pistol in his pocket, and
with his two companions, one of whom had
held the reins of the leaders, was about tax
ing his departure
Stop" exclaimed the Quaker, in tone
more OF command than request
stop. what for?" returned the other, in
evident surprise
'For at least two good reasons.n was the
reply, emphasized with a couple of Dcrrne
crs cooked and presented
'IIclpr' shouted the robber
"Stop! !" the Quakeragain exclaimed. "And
if one of thy sinful companions advances a
step to thy relief the spirit will surely move
me to blow thy brains OUT
The robbcr at the opposite window, and
the one at the leaders heads, thought it a
good time to leave.
"Now get in, friend" said the Quaker Still
covering his man, "and take the middle seat,
out first deliver up thy pistol