The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1870-04-15
SeItcteo aPlisftIIamp.
A QUAKER DETECTIVE.


and Quaker on the middle, and myself
on the front
The two ladies might have been mother
and daughter, aunt and niece, governess
and charge, and might have sustained an,
other relationship, which made it proper
for two ladies to travel together unattended.
The middle aged gentleman was spright
" and talkative. He soon struck up an
acquaintance with the ladies; towards whom
in his zeal to do, he rather oYerlaid the
greeable-bowing and smiling and chat
teTing over his shoulder in a way painfully
suggestive at his time of life of a 'fcrick'
in the trick. He was evidently a gay 10TH
ario.
The Quaker wore the uniform of his sect,
and confined his speech, as many parlia-
mentarian would save his credit by doing,
to simple 'tyeas" and s.nays." AS for my
self. make it an invariable rule of the road
10 be merely a looker-on and listener.
Towards evening was aroused from one
of those reveries into which young man,
without being poet or a lover, will some
times fall, by an abrupt query from the talk
ative gentleman:
"Are you armed, sir"
81 am not" I answered, astonished, no
doubt y.sibly, ut the question.
L dIu 6OIIl 10 near III Ho OpnSu, AOA
before reaching our next stopping place it
will be several hours in 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, but the stranger
did his best to reasure them.
''Not that think there is the slightest
danger at present" he resumed; ''only
when one is responsible for the safety Of
the ladies, you know, such thing as pls-
tol in reach, would materially add to ones
confidence"
''Your principles, my friend" address,
ing the Quaker, al presume, are as much
opposed to carrying as to using carnal Wea-
ponsP"
'.Yes, was the response.
'sHRve the villains murdered any of
their victims?" the elder lady nervously in
quired.
"Or have they contented themselves with
-vith-plundering them?" added the
younger, In q timorous voice.
Decidedly the latter" the amiable gen
tleman FASTENED to give assurance; ''and
as none of us are prepared to offer resist
ance In case of attack, so nothing worse
than robbery can possibly befan us"
Then, after blaming his thoughtlessness
in having unnecessarily introduced a dis
agreeable subject. the gentleman quite ex-
elled himself in efforts to raise the spirits
of the company, and had succeeded sowel
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. Perceiying which, he took
from his pocket box of newly-invented
and oft II first 70
the ladies, he helped himself to the balance
and tossed the paper ont of the window.
He was in the midst of high encsmium
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, hide
ously blacked, presented themselves, one
at each window.
eSorry to trouble you," said the man on
the right, acknowledging with bow, two
lady-like screams from the back seat; but
business is business and ours will soon be
over if things go smoothly"
''Of course, gentlemen, you will spare,
as far as may be consistent with your dis
agreeable duty, the feelings of these ladies,
appealed the polite passenger, in his bland
est manner.
'aOh, certainly; they shall be first attend
ed to, and shall not be required to leave
their places, unless their conduct renders
it necessary"
s.And, now ladies'" continued the rob-
Der, the barrel of his pistols glittering in
the light ofthe coach lamp; be so good as
to pass your purses, watches, and such 9TH
or trinkets as may be accessible without too
much trouble.
The ladies came down handsomely, and
were no further molested.
sfOne by one, the rest got out. The mid
die aged gentleman's turn coming first
he submitted with a winning grace, and
was robbed like very Chesterfield.
Ny own affairs, like the sum lost, are
scarcely worth mentioning.
The Quaker's turn came next. He quiet |
ly handed over his pocket book and watch,
ables, said "Nsy."
A Quaker's word is good, even among
thieves; so, after hssty ''good night, the
robber thrust his pistol into his pocket, |
and with his two companions, one of whom
had held the reins of the leaders, was about
departing.
s'Stopr' exclaimed the Quaker, in some
more of command than of request.
ssStop! What for?" returned the other |
in evident surprise.
"For at least too good reasons, was the |
reply, emphasized with couple of Der
ringers, cooked and presented.
'tHelpp shouted the robber.
'sStopi" the Quaker again exclaimed
sand if any one of thy sinful companions
advance step to thy relief, the spirit viii
surely move me to blow thy brains out.
The robber at the opposite window, and
the one at the leaders heads, thought it
good time to leave
'Now, get in, friend" said the Quaker,
still covering his man, sand take the mid
die seat; but first deliver up thy pistol"
The other hesitated.
%Thee had better not delay; feel the |
spirit begin to move my right fore-fnger."
The robber did as he was directed, and
the Quaker took his place by his side, CIV
ing the newcomer 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. he was especially facetious on
the Quaker's prowess.
"You're rum Quaker. you are. Why, |
you don't quake worth cent.
81 am not Shaking Quaker, If that's
what thee means"
VI Ino 'a1ckOEgs OF IdlACI VI bAO OAO
Hickory stripe, should say, !" retorted the |
lively man. But the Quaker relapsing into |
his usual monosyliables, the conversation
tagged.
Sooner than we expected, the coach STOP
ped where we were to have supper and a
change of horses. We had deferred re-
distribution of our effects until we should
reach this place, as the dim light of the
coach lamp would have rendered the pro-
cess somewhat difficult.
1t was now necessary, however, that 1t
should be attended to, at once, as our Jo-
vial companion had previously announced
his intention of leaving us at this point
He proposed a postponement till after sup
per, which he offered to go and order.
''Nay," urged the Quaker, with an ap-
Broach of abruptness, and laying his hand
on the others arm, business before pleas
ure, and for business, there is no time like
thepresent"
stWin thee be good enough to search the
prisoner" heTsaid to me, still keeping his
hand, in friendly way, on the passengers
arm.
Ibid so, but not one of the stolen artl-
cles could be foundl