The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-08-03
Grening stats aaurnaI.
SATURDAY EVENING, AUG 8, 1872.
A QUAKER DETECTIVE. ~.

and daughter, aunt and niece, governeSS
and charge, or might have sustained any
other relationship, which made it proper
for two ladies to travel together unat-
tended.
The middle-aged gentleman was sprightly
and talkative. He soon struck up an acquain-
lance with the ladies' towards whom, in
his zeal to do, he rather oper done the agree
able-bowing and smiling and chattering
over his shoulder in a way painfully sug.
gestive at his time of life, of "crick"
in the trick. He was evidently gray To-
thario.
The Quaker wore the uniform of his
sect, and confined his speech, as many a
parliamentarian would save his credit by
doing, to simple "yeas" and "nays."
AS for myself, make it an invariable rule
of the road to be merely looker-on and
listener.
Towards evening was aroused from one
of those reveries into which a young man,
without being poet or lover, will some.
times fall, by an abrupt query from the
laxative gentleman:
b Are you armed, sir ?"
g am not, /" answered, astonished, no
doubt visibly, at the question.
81 am sorry to hear it," he replied
for, before reaching our next stopping place,
it will be several hours in the night, and
we must pass over portion of the road
on which more than one robbery is repor-
ted to have been committed"
The ladies' turned pale, but the stranger
did his best to reassure 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 pis-
toll in reach would materially add to ones
confidence"
"Your principles, my friend" address,
ing the Quaker, :" presume, are as much
opposed to carrying as to using carnal
weapons ?"
"Yea,o was the response. nj.
Have the villains murdered any of
their victims 2" the elderly lady nervously
inquired.
s.Or have they eontented themselves
-with-plundering them !" added the
Younger, in a timorous voice.
"Decidedly the latter,' the amiable gen.
tleman hastened to give assurance "and
we are none of us prepared to offer resist
ance in case of attack, so nothing worse
than robbery can possibly befall u.s."
Then, after blaming his thoughtlessness
in having unnecessarily introduced dsa-
greeable subject, the gentleman quite ex-
cclled himself 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
to laugh at them.
Our genial companion fairly talked him
self hoarse. Perceiving which, he took
from his pocket box of newly-inyentcd
s'cough-candy," and, after passing it to the
ladies, he helped himself to the balance and
tossed the paper out of the window.
lie was in the midst of high encomium
on the new rostrum, more than half of the
efficacy OF which, he insisted, depended on
its being taken by suction, when shrll
whistle was heard, and almost Immediately
the coach stopped, while two faces hideous-
w blackened, presented themselves one at
each window.
"Sorry to trouble you," said the man
on the right, acknowledging with bow,
two lady-like screams from the back-seat;
"but businessis business and ours will
soon be over if things 60 smoothly"
"Of course, gentlemen, you will spare,
as far as may be consistent with your disa-
greeable duty, the feelings of these ladies'"
appealed the polite passenger, in his bland
est manner.
"Oh! certainly; they shall be first at
tended to, and shall not be required to
i leave their places, unless their canduct rend-
ers it necessary"
And now, lades,u continued the rob
her, the barrel of his pistol glittering in
the light of the coach lamp; be SO good as
to pass your purses, watches, and such
other trickets as may be accessible without
too much trouble"
The ladies came down handsomely. and
were no further molested.
One by one the rest got out. The middle
aged eentleman's turn came first. He SUBJ
mitted with willing grace, and was robbed
like very Chesterfield.
Nv own affairs, like the sum lost, are
scsrcely worth mentioning. Nv
The Quaker's turn came next. He quiet
ly handed over his pocket-book and watch,
and when asked if he had any other valua-
b!es, said ''Nay."
A Quaker's word is good, even among
thieves: so. after a hasty "good night.O
the robber thrust his pistol into his pocket,
and with his two companions, one ofwhom
had held the reins of the leaders, was about
departing.
''Stop!n exclaimed the Quaker, in a tone
raore of command than of request. vi