Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1870-04-14
Selected ailiseellanu.
A QUAKER DETECfIyE,


We were passengers in all; twoladie
on the back seat, middle aged gentleman
and Quaker on the middle, and mysel
on the front.
The two ladies might have been mothe
and daughter, aunt and niece, goyernes
and charge, and might have sustained an
other relationship, which made it prope
for two ladies to travel toget her unattended
The middle aged gentleman was spright
ly and talkative. He soon stiuck up al
acquaintance with the ladies; towards whom
In his zeal to do, he rather oyerlaid the
agreeable-bowing and smiling and chat
tering over his shoulder in way painfully
suggestive at his time of life of ''c-ick'
IN the trick. He vas evidently gay 10th
ario. -
The Quaker were the uniform ofhis sect
and confined his speech, as many parlia
mentarian would save his credit by doing,
to simple yeas" and mays" As for my
self i make it an invariable rule of the road
to be merely a locker en- and listener.
Towards evening was aroused from one
Of those reyeries into which young man,
without being q poet or a lover, will some
times fall, by an abrupt query from the talk
ative gentleman:
''Are you armed, sir?"
81 am not, ! answered, astonished, no
doubt v,sibly. at the question.
81 am sorry to hear il" he replied: ssfor
before reaching our next stopping place it
will be several hours in the night, ana We
must pass over 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; '.chly
when one is responsible for the safety of
the lSdies, you know, such thing as pis-
tol In reach, would materially add to ones
confidence" st
''Your principles. my friend" address,
ing the Quaker, 81 presume, are as much
opposed to carrying as tousing carnal wea-
pons2" -r.f-
'.Yes," was the response.
Have the villains murdered any of
their vietims?" the elder lady nervously in
quired.
''Or have they contented themselves with
-with-plundering them?" added the
younger, in a timorous voice.
Decidedly the latter" the amiable gen.
tlenan FASTENED to give assurance; stand
as none of us are prepared to offer resist
ance in case of attack, so nothing worse
than robbery can possibly befall us"
Then, after blaming his thoughtlessness
N having unnecessarily introduced dis
agreeable subject. the gentleman quite ex-
elled himself In efforts TO raise the spirits
OF the company, and had succeeded sowell
by the time night set in, that all had quite
forgotten, or only remembered their fears
to laugh at them.
al fnsr falt -aA
self h5arse. Perceiying which, he took
isom his pocket box of newly-invented
'scough candy" and after passing it first to
the ladies. he helped himself to the balance
and tossed the paper out of the window.
BE was in the midst Of hign 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.
Sorry to trouble you," said the man on
the right acknowledging with bow, two
lady-hke screams from the back seat; but
t5usiness is business and ours will soon be
over if things go smoothly"
''Of course, gentlemen, You VIII spare,
as far as may be consistent with your dis
agreeable duty, the feelings of these ladies, "
appealed the polite passenger, IN his bland
EFT manner.
.'Oh, certainly; they shall be FIRST attend
ed to, and shall not be required to leave
their places, unless their conduct renders
It necessary."s lN SO -
"And, now, ladies'" continued the rob-
Der. the barrel of bis pistols glittering in.
the light otthe coach lamp; be so good as
to pass your purses, watches, and such 9TH
er trinkets as may be accessible without too
much trouble" ee
The ladies came down handsomely, and
were no further molested. -
Zone by one, the rest got out. The mid
de aged gentlsman's Turn coming first. =
He Submitted NTH winning grace, and
was robbed like very Chesterfield
Ny own affairs, like the sum lost, are
scarcely worth meationins
The Quaker's turn cam next. he quiet
" handed over his pocket book and watch,
and when asked if he had any other valu-
ables, said "Nay." eeN
. a .luaker's word il good, even among
thieves; 50, after hasty "good night, the
robber thrust his pistol into his pocket
and with his two companions, oneDf whom
had held the reins Of the leaders, was about
departing.
- ''StopP exclaimed the Quaker, in a some
more of command than of request.
.'Stopl What forP" returned the other
in evident surprise. ef =
"For at least too good reasons" was the
reply, emphasized with q couple of Der
ringers, cooked and presenteds
s1Helpr shouted the robber---.
"Stopp the Quaker again exclaimed. =
sand II any one of thy sinfll companions
advance a 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 leaders heads, thought it q
good time to leave rAf - <Ee
..Now, get in, friend, said the Quaker,
still covering his man, land take the mid
die seat; but first deliver up thy pistol.
The other hesitated- 49,.
~ghee 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 forwardata q rapid rate.
The lively gentleman soon recovered his
vivacity. He was especially facetious
the Quaker's prowess. FssaF snae
you're a rum Quaker, you are. Why,
you don't quake worth q cent"
II am not "a Shaking Quaker II that's
what thee means"
= ''Of the Hickory, or rather Of the tOld
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 wsrs TO have supper and a
change of horses. We had sdeferred 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 it
should be attended I'M al 0noe. aa our TO-