The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1869-10-22

~ "'"i WIN ms tNo COlnpdiliOuS, one |
ofwhom had held the reins of the lead.
crs, was about taking his departure.
"StopW exclaimed the Quaker, in "a
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 couple of
Derringers cooked and presented.
"Help!" shouted the robber.
stop ~ the Quaker again exclaimed.
And if one of thy sinful companions
advances step to thy relief, the spirit
will surely move me to blow thy brains
out"
The robber at the opposite window,
and the one at the leader heads, thought
it a good time to leave
''Now get in, friend, :" said theQuaker,
still covering his man, "and take the
middle scat; but first deliver up thy
pistol"
The other hesitated.
"Thee had better not delay; l feel
the spirit beginning to move my right
fore finger"
The robber did as he was directed and
the Quaker took his place by his side,
giving the new conner the middle of the
seat.
The driver, who was frightened half
out of his wits, now set forward at
rapid rate. The lively gentleman soon
recovered his vivacity. lie was especi-
ally facctious on the Quaker's proves.
"lOu'rc rum Quaker, you are. Why,
you don't quake worth cent" %
"I'm not Shaking Quaker,' if that's
what thee means"
"Of the Hickory or rather of the
'OM Hickory stripe, should say" re-
torted the lively man; but the Quaker
relapsing into his usual monOsyilablcs,
the conversation tagged.
Time sped, and sooner than we expect
ed, the coach stopped where we were to
have supper and change of horses.
We had deferred redistribution
of our ri."G"ts 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
jOval companion had previously an
nounced his intention Of leaving us al
this point. He proposed a postpone
ment till after supper, which he Offered
to go and order.
"Nay.' urged the quaker, with at
approach to abruptnesS, and laying hi:
hand on the others arm, "'business be
fore PLEASURE and for business there il
no time like the present"
"Will thee be good enough to searcl
the prisoncr?n he said TO me, still kee
ing his hand, in friendly way, on tn
passengers arm.
did 50, Jm not one Of tie Stoiea articA
couhi be Jound!
"lIc must have gotten rid of them il
the COACH" the gay gentleman suggest
ed, and immediately offered to go ant
search.
"Stopw thundcred the Quaker, tight
ening his grasp.
The man turned pale, and struggled
to release his arm. In an instant one
of the Dcrringer5 was levcllGd at hi
heart.
"Stir n hand or IL foot, and you're
dead manw
The Quaker must have been awful.
excited 50 completely 10 forget both tn
language and the principles of his per
suasiOn.
Placing the other pistol in my hand
with directions to iilC on the first of tn
two men that made suspicious move
mGnt, he went to work on LOthario
from whose pockets, in less time than i
takes to tell it, he produced every iteu
of the missing property, to the utter
amaZement Of the two ladies, who haC
begun, in no measured terms, to remon
strate against the shameful treatmen
the gentleman was receiving,
The Quaker, need scarcely add, wa
no Quaker mt all but II shrCWd detective
who had bccnsc on the track of a bant
VI uCSlbSluNiONS, VI IDiIl OliT HlltlNllc
aged friend-whO didn't look near ;,
middle.agcd when his wig was Otf-wa
the chief The robbery had been adroit
ly planned. The leader of the gang ha,
taken passage in the coach, and aftc
learning, as he supposed, our deicncclcs
condition, had given the signal to hi
companions by throwing out the scral
Of paper already mentioned. After th
unexpected capture Of the first robber
it was attempted to save the booty by
secretly passing it to the accomplice
still believed to be unsuspected, whit
counted on being able to make of will
it at the next stopping place.
The result was thai both, for a season
"did the State some service. IN. J
Lcdger.