River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1880-11-04

/ As for myself, | make 1t an lnVarabl6
rule Of the road to be merely locker
on, and listen.
Toward evening | was aroused from
one of those reycries into which a
young man, without being poet or a
lover, will sometimes fall, by an abrupt
query from the talkative gentleman:
! Are you armed sir?'
Il am not" | answered, ast0nished
no doubt visibly, by the question.
Il am sorry to hear it, he replied
! for before reaching our next stopping
place, it will be several hours in the
night, and VIC must pass over portion
uf the road on which more than one
robbery is reported to have boon com
nitted."
The ladies turned pale, but the
stranger did his best to reassure them
Not that think there is the slight
est danger at present he resumed, ON
| II when one is responsible for the safe
~ Of the ladies, you know such a thing
az 4 pistol in reach would materially
add to ones confidence"
Your principles, my friend ad
dressing the Quaker, Il presume are a.
III opposed to carrying as to using
"anal weapons
''Yes" was the response.
Have the Williams murdered any o
their victims.
Or have they cOntented themselves
-with-plundering them?" added
the younger, in IA timorOus voice.
Decidedly the latter" the aimiablt
gentleman FASTENED to give assurance
e r,
oiler resistance i'll case of attack, sc
Iothing worse than robbery can posi-
" befallus.
Then after blaming his thoughtless
moss in having unconsciOusly introduce
Il Il disagreeable subject, the gentle
: IAN quite excelled himself in efforts tC
-.ise the spifsts ofthe company, and
g hd succeed so well by the time night
/ had set in that all had quite forgotten,
OF remembered their fears to laugh al
them.
Cur genial companion fairly talked
himself hoarse, perceivng which he
took from his pocket a box of newly
invented cough candy and, after pass
in" it to the ladies, he helped himself
to the balance and tossed the paper
1 Oftl III Int W lilOlOM.
lie was in the midst of high enom-
! men on the new nostrum, more than
| half the efficacy of which, he insisted,
| depended upon its being taken by sue
/ ton when shril whistle was heard,
and almost Immediately the coach
stopped, and two faces, hideously
blackened, presented themselves one
a each window.
sorry to trouble you, said the man
on the right, acknowledging with bow
| two ladylike screams from the back
seat, but business; and ours will soon
he over if things 60 smoothly"
"Of course, gentlemen, YOU will
| spare, as far as may be CONSTANT with
your disagreeable duty, the feelings OF
these ladies" appealed the polite pas
] seuger in his blandest manner
"Oh certainly, they shall be first at
tended to, and shall not be required to
! leave their sets, unless their conduct
renders it necessary"
And now, ladies'" continued the
ROLLER, the barrel of his pistol glisten-
ing in the light of the coach lamp
"be SO good as to pass your purses
watches and such other trinkets rs may
be accessible without too much
trouble"
The ladies came down handsomely
and were not further molested.
One by one the rest got out The
middle-aged gentleman came first, he
submitted with winning grace, and
was robbed like a very Chesterfield.
Nv own affairs, like the sum | lost
30 as,raalx- worth m aptiopinp
The Quaker's turn came next. He
quietly handed over his pocket-bOOk
| and watch, and when asked if he had
any more valuables said nay,
\ Quaker's word is good, even
| among thieves, so after haZy good
night" the robber thrust his pistol into
his rocket and with his two cOmpan-
ions, one of whom had held the reins
Of the leaders. was about departing.
stop" exclaimed the Quaker in a
ton" more of command than of re-
quest.
stop! what for?' returned the rob
Der in evident surprise.
For ut least two good reasons,
was the reply emphasized with a
couple Of derringers cooked and pre-
scented.
Help shouted the robber
stop" the Quaker exclaimed, 'and
if any of thy sinful companions advance
a step to thy relief, the spirit will surely
move me to blow thy brains out
The robber was at the opposite win
/ dow and the one at the le ders heads
thought it a good time to leave.
Vow get in, friend" said the Quak-
or. still covering his man, take the
middle seal, but first deliver up the PTS
toll The other hesitattd.
Thee had better not delay; | feel the
spirit begin to move my right fore
flyer.
Tho robber did as he was directed
and the Quaker too his place at his
side, giving the new CONNER the mid
die Of his seat.
The driver, who was frightened hall
out of his wits, set forward at rapid
rate. The lively gentleman soon re-
covered his vivacity. He was espec-
iallv facetious ON the Quakers process
YOU'RE a rum Quaker, you are
Why YOU don't quake worth cent.
Il am not shaking Quaker if that
is what thee means.
NJ ttAk LIN NIL VI AttAAANA Va NtsN
Old Hickory stripe, | should say re
torted thu lively man. But the Quak-
er r,apte3 into monosyllables, the
conyer>&1ien tagged.
t Sooner than We expected the coach
/ stopped where We were to have supper
ana change of horses. We had de
ferreI L redistribution of our effects I'M
til we should reach this place as the
dim light ofthe coach lamp would have
rendrred the process somewhat difficult
Ii was now necessary that il should
be attended to at once, as our jovial
companion had previously announced
his intention of leaving us at this point
He proposed postponement until
after supper, which he offered TO &C
and order.
Nay urged the Quaker, with an
approach Of abraptneSs, and laying
MS hand on the others's arm. Business
before pleasure and for business there
IS no tame like the present.