The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1873-02-14
THE QUAKER DETECTIVE.

mother and daughter, aunt and
niece governess and charge, o.
might have sustained any othel
relationship which made it proper
for tso ladies to travel together
unatt .nded. The middle-age(
gentleman was sprightly and talk
alive. HIS soon struck up an &C
quaiRtance with the ladies-bow
ing and smiling and chatting over
his shoulder. The Quaker wore
the uniform of his sect, and con.
fined his speech as many Parlia.
mentarian would save his credit
by doing, to simple ';yeas" and
"nays." AS to myself, L made ii
an invariable rule of the road to
be merely a locker on and listen.
| Towards evening / was aroused
! from one of those reveries into
which a young man, without be-
ing either q poet or lover, will
sometimes fall, by an abrupt query
from the talkative gentleman:
"Are you armed, sir?''
Liam not / answered, aston
ishcd, no doubt, visibly, at the
question.
81 am very sorry to hear it" he
replied, '.for before reaching our
next stopping place it will be sew
eral hours in the night, and we
must pass over 4 portion of the
road on which more than one rob-
beryis reported to have been com
mitted.''
The ladies turned pale, but the
stranger did his best to reassure
them.
Not that l think there is the
slightest danger at present" he
resumed, ''only when one is re-
sponsible for the safety of the la
dies, you know, such a thing as a
pistol in reach would add mater
tally to ones confidence.
"Your principles, my friend"
addressing the Quaker, II pre-
sumo, are as much opposed to car
rying as using weapons?"
EYES," was the response.
"Have the Williams murdered any
of their victims?" the elderly lady
nervously inquired.
'Or have they contented them
selves with plundering them?" adj
Ged the younger, in a timorous
voice.
Decidedly the latter the ami
able gentleman fastened to give
assurance; "and we are none of us
prepared to offer resistance in case
of attack, so nothing worse than
robbery can possibly befall u.s."
Then, after blaming his thought
lessness, in having unnecessarily
introduced a disagreeable subject,
the gentleman quite eXcelled him
self i'll efforts to raise the spirits
of the company, and had succeed
ed so well by the time night had
set In, that all had quite forgotten
or only remembered their fears to
laugh at them. Our genial com
panion fairly talked himself hoarse.
Perceiving which, he took from his
pocket box of @newly invented
cough candy and after passing it
to the ladies he helped himself to
the balance, and tossed the paper
out of the window. He was in
the midst of high encomium on
the new nostrum, more than half
the efficacy of which, he insisted,
depended upon it's being taken by
suction, when shrill whistle was
heard, and almost Immediately the
coach stopped, while two, faces,
hideously blackened, presented
themselves ut each window.
"Sorry TO trouble you, said the
man on the right, acknowledging
with a bow two lady-like screams
fIom the back seat, ''but business
is business and ours will soon be
over if things go on smoothly"
"Of course, gentlemen, You will
spare, as far as may be consistent
with your disagreeable duty, the
feelings of these two ladies'" APP
pealed the polite passenger in his
blandest manner.
"Oh, certainly; they shall be
first attended to, and shall not be
required to leave their places, I'M
less their conduct renders it nee
essary."
"And now, ladies'" continued
the robber, the barrel of his pistol
glistening in the light of the
coach lamp, ''be so good as to pass
your purses, watches, and such
other trinkets as may be accessi
bic without too much trouble"
The ladies came down hand
somely, and were no more modest
ed. One by one the rest got out,
the middle-aged gentleman's turn
came, first. He submitted with
charming grace, and was robbed
like very Chesterfield. My own
affairs, like the sum l lost, are
scarcely worth mentioning.
The Quakcr's turn came next.
He quietly handed over his peck
ct book and watch, and when ask
ed if he had any other valuables,
said, ''Nay." A Quaker's word is
good even among thieves; so, after
Lastly ''good night" the robber
thrust his pistol into his pocket,
and with his two companions, one
of whom held the reins of the
leader, was about starting.
''Stop! exclaimed the Quaker,
in a voice more of command than
of request.
stop! what for:" returned the
other in evident surprise.
''For at least two reasons was
the reply, emphasized with a
couple of pistols presented.
@Help!" shouted the robber.
'Stopr the Quaker exclaimed,
"And if any of thy companions
advance step to thy relief, the
spirit will surely moye me to blow
thy brains OUT
The robber at the opposite win
dow and the one at the leaders,
head, thought it a good time to
leave.
snow get in friend,'' said the
Quaker, still covering his man,
and take the middle seat, "but
first deliver up thy pistol" The
/ other hesitated.
'Thee had better not delay; l
feel the spirit begin to move my
forefinger.''
The robber did as he was direct
ed, and the Quaker took his place
By his side, giving him the middle
of the seat. The driver, who was
frightened out of his wits, now set
forward at rapid rate. The live
| Is gentleman soon recovered his
4 yiyacity. He was especially face
tious on the Quaker's prowess.
| Sooner than we expected the
coach stopped where we were to
have supper and a change OF