Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1881-01-08
TIE QUAKER DETECTITE.

We were five passengers in all-two
ladies' on the back seat, and a middle
aged gentleman and q Quaker and my.
self on the front.
The two ladies might have been moth
er and daughter, aunt and niece, gov
erness and charge, or might have sus-
tanned another relationship which makes
it proper for two ladies to travel togeth-
er unattended.
The middle-aged gentleman was
sprightly and talkative. He soon struck
up an acquaintance with the ladies, to-
ward whom in his zeal to do he rather
overdid the agreeable-bowing and smil-
ing and chatting over his shoulder in a
way painfully suggestive, at his time Of
life, of "crick" in the neck. He was
evidently gay Lothario.
The Quaker wore 81 uniform Of his
sect. and confined LII n, as many q
parliamentarian would save his credit
by doing, to simply "yeas" and mays"
As for myself, make it an invariable
rule of the road to be merely looker-op
and listen.
Toward evening I was aroused from
one of those reveries into which young
man, without being poet or a lover,
will sometimes fall, by an abrupt query
from the laxative gentleman:
care you armed, sir?"
81 am not" I 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 reported to have been com
mitted."
The ladies turned pale, but the strang-
er did his best to reassure them.
"Not that I think there is the slight
est danger at present" he resumed,
"only when one is responsible for the
safety of the ladies, you know, such a
thing rs pistol in reach would materi-
ally add to ones confidence"
"Your principles, my FRIEND" sd-
dressing the Quaker, Il presume, are
as much opposed to carrying as to using
carnal weapons?"
"Yes," was the respons..
Have the villains murdered any OF
their victims ?" the elderly lady nervous
ly inquired 49,
cor have they contented themselves
with--with-plundering them?" sddsd
the younger, in timorous voice.
DECIDEDLY the latter" the amiable
gentleman hastened TO give assurance
and we are none Of rs prepared to Offer
resistance in case of attack, 30 nothing
worse than robbery can possibly befall
us.
Then, after blaming his thoughtless-
ness in having unconsciously introduced
a disagreeable subject, the gentleman
quite exceIled himself in efforts to raist
the spirits Of the company. and had sue
ceeded % we'll by the time night had BEL
in that all had quite forgotten or remem
bered their fears 10 iaugh ut them.
Our genial companion fairly talked
himself hoarse; pGceiving which h
took from his pocket a box of newl!
invented "cough candy" and, afte
passing it to the ladies, he helped him
Golf IN the balance and tossed the pape
out of the window. -,
He was In the midst Of high en-
comium ON the new noetrum, NOR
than half the efficacy of which, he in
sisted, depended on its being taken b
suction. when shrill whistle wa
heard. and almost immediately the coac
atopped and two faces, hideously black
ened. presented themselves one at eac
window. -,'
"Sorry 10 trouble you, 3" said the ma
on tho right, acknowledging with
how two, lAdylike screams from th
hack sect; "but business is business
and ours viii soon be over If things g
smoothly" 80
"M course, gentlemen, you vi
snare. as far as may be consistent wit
vour disagreeable duty, the feelings
these ladies'" appealed the polite pa:
senger in his blandest manner.