Oregon Republican. [volume] (Dallas, Or.) 1870-1872, 1870-09-24
a QUAKER DETEcTIvE.

alsl myself on the front.
The two aides might have been moth
eraud daughter, aunt and niece, gov
erness and charge. and might sustain
another relationship. which made it
proper for TWO ladies to travel together
unattended.
The middle gentleman was talkative
and sprightly. He soon struck up an
acquaintance with the ladies; toward
whom in bis zeal to do, he rather over
laid the a2reeable-bowing aud smiling
and Gathering over his shoulder in IA
way painfully suggestive at his time OF
life of "crick" 10 the trick. He was
evidently gay Lothar,o.
The Quaker wore the uniform of his
sect. and confined his speech, as many
Parliamentarian wonld save his creoit
by doing, to simply "yeas" and "nays. /"
AZ for myself. make il an inrariable
rule of the road to be merely llstepe,
and iooker-on.
Toward evening I was aroused from
one oc those rever.es inta which a
young man without being a poet or
lover, will sometimes fall, by an abrupt
query from tie laxative gentleman.
"Are you armed, sir 2"
81 am not" answered, astouished
no doubt visibly at the question.
81 am sorry to hear it, he replied !;
Hfor before reaching our next stopping
place il will be several hours in the
night. and we must tsspass over 20 tion
OF the road on which more than one
robbery is reported TO have been com.
fifitted.
The ladies turned pale. but the
stranger did his best TO assure them
sNot that thsnk there is the slight
est danger at present" he resumed !;
''only when one is responsible for the
safety OF the ladies'. you know, such b
thing as pistol in reach, would mate-
rally add to one's confidence"
.'Y"nr principles, my friend" ad
dressing the Quaker, II presume, are
as much opposed to carrying as to us.
ipg carBal weapons 2"
YES" was the response
"Have the villains murdered any Of
their victims Z" the elder lady nervous
ly inquired.
''Or have they contented themselves
with wiih-piunderiDg them ?" added
the younger in timorous voice.
Decidedly the latter" the amiable
gentleman FASTENED to give assurance
"and as none of US are prepared to re.
sistance in case of attack. so nothing
worse than robbery can befall u.s..
Then, after blaming his thougbtless-
ness in having unnecessarily introduced
disagreeable subject. the gentleman
quite excelled him-elf In efforts to- raise
the spirits of the company, and had
succeeded so well by the time night set
in, that all had quite forgotten, or only
remembered their fears co laugh at
them.
Our genial companion talked himself
fairly hoarse. perceiving which, he
took from his pocket box of newly
invented cough candy" ard. after
passing il first to the ladies' he helped
hims.lf TO the balance and tossed the
paper out of the window.
He was in the midst of high euco.
mium on the new noStrnm, more than
half the efficacy of which. he insisted
depended on its being taken By sue.
fion, when shrill whistle was heard
and alnust Immediately the coach stop
! ped, while two faces, hideously black
ed, presented themselves, ohe at each
window.
.Sorry to trouble you, said the mar
on the right. acknowledging with q
bo., two lady ike screams from the
back seat but business is business
and onrs will soon be over il things e
smoothly."
..Of course gentlemen, you will spare
/ as far as may be consistent with youi
disagreeable duties, the feelings o
these ladies'" appealed the polite pas
senger in bis blaudest manner.
..Oh, certainly they shall first be at
tended TO. and shall not be required 4
leave their places, unless their conduc
renders il necessary"
"And, now ladies'" continued tn,
robbcr. the barrel of his pistol glitter
ing in the light of the coach lamp. '.b
40 good as to pass your purses. watches
and other such tripkets az may be &C
ces-ible without too much trouble"
The ladies came down handsomely
and~were no further lnolested.
One by one. the rest got out. Th
middlc.sgcd gentleman's turn comm
first, he submitted with winning grace
and was robbed like Chesterfield
Ny own affairs, ike the sum | lost
are scarcely worth mentioning.
The Quaker's turn came next. IT
quietly hsnded over his poeket-boo
and watch. ard when ssked il. he ha
any other valuables. said. "Nay.'
A Qloker's word isgood. even anon
thieves 20, after a hasfy "good night,
: the rnhber thrust his pistol Id his be!
Stop" CRED the Qusker
'Whnt r. asked the robber.