The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1881-01-20

The robber at the opposite window and
the one one at the leaders heads thought
it good time to leave.
"Now, get in" said the Quaker, still
covering his man, land take the middle
seat; but first deliverup thy pistol. The
other hesitated.
''Thee had better not delay. l already
feel the spirit begin to move my fore
finger"
The robber did as he was directed, and
the Quaker took his place at his side,
giving the new conner the middle seat.
The driver. who was frightened half
out of his wits, now set forward at a
rapid rate. The lively gentleman soon
recovered his vivacity. He was es-
pecially facetious on the Quakers PROV
ess. You're run. Quaker, you are.
You don't quake worth cent"
81 am not a Shaking Quaker, If that
is what thee means"
'Of the Hickory or rather the old
Hickory stripe, should say" retorted
the lively man. But, the Quaker, re-
lapsiug into his monosyllables, the con-
versation tagged.
Sooner than we expected, the coach
stopped where We were to have supper
and a change OF horses. We had de-
ferred redistribution of our effects I'M
til we should reach this place, as the
dim light of the coach lamp would have
rendered the process somewhat difficult.
1t was now necessary, however, that
it should be attended to at once, as our
jovial companion had previously an
nounced his intention Of leaving us at
this point. He proposed POSTPONE
ment till after supper, which he offered
to go and order.
NAY" urged the Quaker, with an APP
proach to abruptness, and laying his
hand on the others arm. Business be-
fore pleasure; and, for business, there is
no time like the present"
evil thee be good enough to search
the prisoner ?" he said to me, still keep
ing his hand in friendly way on the
passengers arm.
did so, but not one of the stolen ar
ticles could be found.
HE must have got rid of them in the
COACH" the gay gentleman suggested,
and Immediately offered to go and seal CHI.
''Stop ~ Numbered the Quaker, tight
ening his grasp.
The man turned pale and struggled to
release his arm. In an instant one OF
the derringers was levelled at his heart.
''Stir hand or foot, and you are dead
man.
The Quaker must have been awfully
excited, so completely to forget both the
language and the principles of his per-
suasion.
Placing the pistol in my hand. with
directions to fire on the first of TIE two
men that made suspicious movement,
he went to work on the Lothario. from
whose pockets, in less time than it takes
to tell it, he produced every item of the
missing property, to the utter amaze
ment of the two ladies', who had begun
in no measured terms to demonstrate
against the shameful treatment the gen
tleman was receiving.
The Quaker, need scarcely add, was
no Quaker at all, but a shrewd detective,
who had been set on the track of a band
of desperadoes. of whom our middle
aged friend-who didn't look near so
middle-aged when his wig was otf-was
the chief. The robbery had been most
adroitly planned. The leader of the
gang had taken passage in the coach,
and after learning as he supposed our
defenseless condition, had given the
signal to his companions by throwing
out the scrap of paper already mentioned.
After the unexpected capture of the first
robert was attempted to save the
booty by secretly passing it to the accom-
plice-still believed to be unsuspected--
who counted on being able to make off
with it at the next stopping place. The
result was that both, for a season, did
the State some service.