Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1870-02-18

his pocket-book and watch, and when ask
ed if he had any other valuables, said
"Nay." ..-.-...
thieves; so, after hasty ''good night, %
the robber thrust his pistol in his pocket
and with his two companions, one of whom
held the reins CT the leaders, was about
taking his departure.
''Stop exclaimed the Quaker, in a
tone more of command than request.
t'Stop for what ?" returned the other,
in evident surprise.
"For at least two reasons" was the re-
ply, emphasized with couple of Derrin-
gers cooked and presented.
"Help % shouted the robber.
"Stop p the Quaker again exclaimed,
vance to thy relief the spirit will surely
move me to blow thy brains oat."
The robber at the opposite window and
the one at the leaders heads thought it a
good time to leave.
CHOW get in, FRIEND" said the Quaker.
still covering his man, sEand take the mid.
die seat but first deliver up thy pistol"
The other hesitated.
"Thee had better not delay feel the
spirit beginning to move my right forefn-
ger"
The robber did as he was directed. and
the Quaker took his seat by his side, Civ
ing the newcomer the middle of the
seat
The driver, who was half frightened out
of his wits, now set forward at a rapid
rate. The lively gentleman soon recover
ed his vlvaclty. He was especially facetious
on the Quaker proves.
"You're rum Quaker, you are. Why,
you don't quake worth cent"
am not shaking Quaker if that
is what thee MEANS"
"Of the Hickory or rather the 'Old
Hickory stripe, should say" retorted the
his usual MUNICIPALITIES, the conversation
tagged.
lime sped, and sooner than we expected
the coach stopped where we were to have
supper and a change of horses. We had
deferred Redistribution of our effects till
we should reach this place, as the dim
light of the coach would have rendered
the process somewhat difficult before.
1t was now necessary, however, that it
should be attended to at once as our iovial
companion had previously announced his
intention OF leaving us at that point. He
proposed postponement till after supper,
which he offered to go and order.
"Nay, urged the Quaker, with an ap-
proach to abruptness, and laying his hand
on the others arm, ''business before plea
sure. and for business there is no time lik
the present"
''Will thee be good enough to search the
prisOner?" he said to me, still keeping his
hand in friendly way on the passenger IS
arm.
1 did SO, out not one of the stolen arti-
cles could be found.
"He must have got rid of them in the
nah a.
Immediately offered to go and search
stop y Numbered the Quaker, tight.
ening his grasp.
The man turned pale, and struggled to
release his arm. In an instant one of the
Derrlngers was levelled at bis heart
''Stir hand or foot and you are a dead
man"
The Quaker must have been awfully ex-
cited, SO as to forget both the language
and the principles of his persuasion.
Placing the other pistol in my hand,
with directions to fire upon the first Of the
two men that made suspicious movement,
went to work on Lothario. from whose
pockets lin less time than it takes to tell
III he produced every item of the missing
property, to the utter establishment of the
ladies, who had begun in no measured
terms to demonstrate against the shameful
treatment the gentleman was receiving.
The Quaker, need scarcely add, was no
quaker at all, but shrewd detective, who
bad been set on the track of band Of
desperadoes, Of whom our midile-nged
didn't look half SO middle
aged when his wig was of-was the chief.
The robbery had been adroitly planned.
The leader of the gang had taken pos
session of a seat on the coach, and after
learning. as he supposed, our defeuceIess
condition, had given the signal to his com
Danions by throwing out the scrap of paper
already mentioned. After the unexpected
capture Of the first robber it was attempted
% save the booty by secretly passing it to
he accomplish, still believed TO be unsus-
'ected, who counted upon being able to
make off with it at the next stopping
place.
The result was that both, for a season,
did the State some SERVICE"