Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-09-09
THE QUAKER DETECTIVE.


ladies on the back seat, and n middle
aged gentleman and Quaker on the
middle, and myself on the front.
The two ladies might have been
mother and daughter, aunt and riece,
governess and charge, or might have
sustained any other relationship which
make it proper for two ladies to travel
together unattended.
The middle-aged gentleman was
sprightly and talkative. He soon
struck up an acquaintance with the
ladies, toward whom in his zeal to do,
he rather overdid, the agreeable-bow-
ing and chattering over his shoulder
in very painfully suggestive, at his
time OF life, of "crick" in the tick.
He was evidently gay Lothario.
The Quaker wore the uniform OF his
sect. and confined his speech. as many a
parliamentarian would save his credit
by doinss, to simply "yeas and mays. y
As for myself make it an invariable
rule of the road to be merely n looker-
on and listen.
Toward evening was aroused from
one of those reveries 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"
~ 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 a portion
of the road on which more than on,
robbery Is reported to have been com
mitted."
The ladies turned pale. but tn,
stranger did his best to reassure them
mot that I think there IL the slight
est danger ut present." he resumed
"only when one is responsible for tn,
safety Of the ladies, you know. such /:
thing as n pistol in reach would ma
.erially add to ones confidence"
"Your principles, my friend" ad
dressing the Quaker, "I presume are a,
much opposed to carrying rs to usinI
carnal weaponsP"
Yea" wasthe response.
"Have the Williams murdered any O
their victimsF" the elderly lady nerv
ously inquired.
"Or have they contented themselve
with with-plunderinR themPr adde,
Ihe younger. in timorous voice.
Decidedly the latter" the amiabl
gentleman hastened to give assurance
and we are none Of US prepared TO offe
resistance in Gaze Of attack, so nothinl
worse than robbery can possibly befal
Is"
Then, after blaming his thoughtless
ness in having unconsciously introduce,
Z disagreeable subject, the gentlema,
auite excelled himself in efforts TO rails
he spirits of the company, and had sue
eeeded so well by the time night ha,
ct in that all had quite forgotten or re
nembered their fears TO laugh at them
Our genial companion fairly talke
himself hoarse; pcrceiving which h
zook from his pocket box Of newly
Invented "cough candy" and, afte
passing IL TO the ladies, he helped him
ELI to the balance and tossed the pa DC
put Of the window.
He was In the midst of high en-
comium on the new nostrum, more tina
half the efficacy Of which, he insisted
dep ended on it being taken by suction
when shrill whistle was heard. an
Almost Immediately the coach stopped
while two faces, hideously blackeDed
presented themselves one at each win
low.
"Sorry TO trouble you," sald the ma
on the right, acknowledging with bo,
wo ladylike screams from the bsc
at; "but business Is business an
mrs win soon be over If things 2
moothly."