Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1880-11-05
The Quaker Detective.

Inc quaker DeIeCttSe.
We we're five passengers in all-two
ladies on the back seat, ard . middle.
aged gentleman and Quaker and my
self on the front.
The two ladies might have been
mother and daughter, aunt and niece,
governess and charge, or might have
sustained another relationship which
make it proper for two ladies to travel
together unattended.
The middle-aged gentleman was
sprightly and laxative. He soon
struck up an acquaintance with the la
dies. toward whom III his zeal to DO, he
oyerdid the agreeable bowing and
smiling and chattering over his shout
der in wey painfully suggestive, at
his time Of life, Of "cfick in the
tick. lie was evidently gay Lo-
shario.
The Quaker were the uniform OF his
sect, and confined his speech, es many
parliamentarian would save his credit
by doing. to simply "yeas" and
- nsys." AS for myself 1 make it an
invariabls rule of the road to be
Toward evening l was aroused from
one of those reveries into which q
young man, without being poet or a
lover. will sometimes fall, by AN
abrupt query from the laxative gen.
tleman.
. Are you armed, cir p
I am n, t." answered, astonished,
NO doubt, visibly, at the question.
- / am sorry to hear it," he replied.
''for, before resching our next stop
ping place, it will be several hours in
the night. and We must pass over q
portion Of the road on which more
than one robbery is reported to have
been committed
The ladies turned pale, but the
stranger did his best to reassure
them.
mot that think there is the slight
sst danger ct present. he resumed !;
"only whom one is responsible for the
safety Of the ladies', you know, such a
thing NJ pistol in reach would ma
terisily add to ones confidence"
Your principles, nay friend" ad.
dressing the Qaaker, ~ presume,
are as much opposed to carrying as to
usiDg carnsl weaponsa"
Yes," was the response.
"Have the villains murdered any OF
their victims?' the elderly lady nerv-
ously inquired.
Co have they contehtea themselves
with With pluDdetipg them?" added
the younger, in timorous voice.
Decidedly the latter" the aMiabls
gentleman hastened to give ASSURANCE
land we are none OF US prepared t.
offer resistance in case OF attack, 80
nothing worse than robbery can pos
Eibly befall u.s."
Then, after blaming his thoughtless
ness in having unconsciously intro
duced t!isagreeable subject, the gen
tleman quite excelled himself in eff,
forts to raise tho spirits of the com
pany, and bad succeeded so we'll By
the time night had set in that all ha6
quite forgotten or remembered theil
fears to laugh at them.
Our genial co npanion fairly talked
himself hoarse; perceiving which be
took from his pocket box of newl.
invented "cough candy" and, afte
passing it to the ladies', he helped him
self to the balance and tossed the pa
per out of the window
He was in the midst OF high en-
comium on the new nostrum, NOR,
than half the efficacy of which, he in
sisted, depended on it's beins taken b,
suction, when shtilI whistle wa
heard, and almost Immediately th
coach stopped and two faces, hideousl
biackened. presented themselves, enc 0
each window.
Sorry to trouble yeU," sai,i th
man On the riaEt, acknowledging wit
bow two iadyliks screams iror
the back eeat; tut business is hnsi
ness, aud ours viii soon be over
things go smoothly
"Of course, gentlemen, you vii
spare, - far ss will be consistent witt
your disagrtebl,, auty, the feelings Q
these ladies', appealed the polite pas
senger in his blandeet manner.
"Oh certainly; they shail I've frs
attended, 10. amt shall not be require
TO leave their places. unless their con
duet renders it necessary"
" and now, ladies'" continued th
robber. the barrel of his pistol glitter
ing IN the light of the coach lamp
=" be so good az to pass your purses
watches and such other trinkets as ma
he accessible, without too mrc
aouble."
The ladies came down hundsomels
and were not further moiested.
One by one he rest got out. Til
middle aged genilensns turn cam
first. He submitted with wiunin
grace. and was ribbed like yer,
cties, ertield.
Ny osn affa:rs, HE the san | lost
A'a scarcely worth mentioning.
Tie Qaaker's turn came next. II