The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1872-11-20
a QUAKER DETECTIVE,

/ Wp were QVe passengers III all-CWO
ladies on the back seat, and a middle
aged. and aquaker OIL the middle, and
myself in the front. Il, 81; .gt;;.r,y
| The two ladies might have been moth
er and daughter; aunt and 11eiSe, COVER
ness and charge or might have sustain
edany ,ot her relationship which made
Fit proper for two ladies to travel togeth7
er unattended. ''.'3' 80!
The dmiddle-agedif gentleman was
lsprightly and talkative. He soon struck
up an acquaintance with the ladies, to-
wards whom in his zeal to do he. over
Ibid the agreeable -bowing, and smiling
and chatting over his shoulder ina way
painfully suggestive at the time Of life,
Or 8 "cricknn in the, back. He, was evi-
IDENTIFY. gay Othafio.; '''''sl %
The Quaker wore the uniform of his
sect, and confined his speech,i as many
parlimentarian would save his credit
II by doing, to simply i'yeasn and mays
As for myself, i make 1t an Unavailable
rule Of the road to be, merely aloeker on
and listener. ,bsfcliat NJ. !.
|, Towards evening was aroused from
lone Of those reveries into which q young
man, without being poet.or lover, will
fro,,, the tofIat;vs ga;,tieman!
"Are YOU armed, sif?0i 10 l3N'1
II am not" answered; astonised, no
doubt, yisibly at the question. a;.i =
II am sorry to hear it," he replied /;
for before reaching our next stopping
place twill 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 com
The ladies turned pale, but the stran-
Iger did his best to re-assure them. .,.t,,i
"Not that I think there is the slight
est danger at. t.present,p he resumed, Son
ly when one is gesponsible for the safe7
|ty of the ladies, you know such a thing.
as pistol in reach would add material
ly to ones coDf1dehce." ."i'Jt'H d ~ .ih'+.
"Your principles, my friend !1address-
ing the Quaker, IT presume. are as
much opposed to carrying as using car
|nal weapons ?p 60: - i2'-"it'1'
"Yes," was the response. .a,, g'E4.3
"Have the VILLAINS murdered any Of
their victims?" the elderly lady ner-
vously inquired..r. ~ '.i' = .'''' a.,
"Or have they contented themselves
with-with plundering them ?" added
the younger in timerous voice.
"Decidedly; the latter,'nJ the amiable
gentleman hastened to give assurance;
Hand we are none Of us prepared to offer
resistance in case Of attack soanothing
worse than robbery can possibly befal
|us."
Then, after blaming mis- thoughtless-
ness in having unnecessarily introduced
a disagreeable subject, the gentleman,
quite excelled himself in efforts to raise
the spirits of the company, and had sue
ceeded so we'll by the time night had
setin. that all had quite forgotten or
only remembered their fears to laugh at
them. =.
Our genial companion fairly talked
himself hoarse. ,Perceiyipg which: he
took. from his pocket box of newly
invented cough candy" and after pass
it to the ladies, he helped himself to-
the balance and tossed the paper out Of
thd window ''''' -
.Hewas in the midst of high. .eneo-
MUM of the new nostrum,. more than.
half the efficacy of which he insisted
depended on its being taken by suction,
wien shrill whistle was heard and
almost Immediately the coach, stopped
while two faces, 3hide0usly blackehed,
presented themselves, one at each WIN
dow. a..
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 60 on smooth
| ly." ~
"Of course, gentlefhen, you will spare
as far as may, be consistent with your
disagreeable duty, the feelings of these
ladies'" appealed the polite passenger
4 in his blandest manner. ~, n ~ ~ !
."Oh, certainly! they shall first be at
tended to, and shall not be required to
leave their Seats. unless their conduct
renders it necessary. :..f.-,,,,,9.,;
land now ladies,H continued the rob-
ber,l the barrel OF his pistol gilt
ering in the light of the coach lamp.
''be so good as tos~pass your purses,
watches, and such other trinkets as may
be accessible without much trouble" :,
The ladies came down handsomely,
and were no further molested. 81, ., :.,..
One by one the rest got out. The
middle-aged gentlemanfs turn came first
He submitted, with; q winning grace
and was robbed like Chesterfield.
MY own affairs, like the sum lost,
ore scarcely, worth mentioning. =
Tie Quaker's turn came next. He
quietly handed over his pocketbook and
watch, and when asked if he had any
other valuables, said NAY"
A Quaker's word is good, even among
thieves; so after hasty "good night
the robber thrust his pistol into bis
pocket and, with his two companions,
one of whom had the reins Of the lead
ers, was about starting. ........,. !
.'Stop!" exclaimed the Quaker, In q
tone more of command than OF, request.
'Stop! What for?" returned the 9TH
er, in evident surprise.
''For at least two reasons" was the
reply, emphasized with couple Of Der.
ringers cooked and presented.
.uHelp ~ shouted the robber.
"Stop!' the Quaker exclaimed. "And
|if any one of your sinful companions
advance step to thy, relief, the spirit
will surely move me to blow thy brains
out" y - - '.,'..'':''.' = ''''' -
The, lrobber at the opposite, window
and the one at the leaders head thought
lit q good time to leave.
i "Now, get in. FRIEND" said the Qua
ker still covering his man, land take
1.-The middle seat. but frst,deliver up thy