Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-10-04
The Quaker Detective.

We were five passengers in all: two
ladies on the back seat, a middle-aged
gentleman, Quaker and myself on the
front. The two ladies might have been
mother and daughter, aunt and niece,
governess and charge, or might have sus-
tanned any other relationship which makes
it proper for two ladies to travel together
unattended.
The middle-aged gentleman was spright-
" and talkative, and soon struck up an
acquaintance with the ladies, toward
whom. in his zeal to do the agreeable. he
rather OYerdid lt-bOwing, smiling, chat
tering in a most attentive manner He
was evidently a gay LOthariO. The Quaker
wore the usual drab OF his Sect and con-
fined his speech, as many an NJ. Z. would
save his credit by doing, to simple yeas"
and nays" As for myself, | make it an
inyariable rule Of the road to be merely
lO0ker-On and listener.
Toward evening was aroused from one
Of those reveries into which young man,
without either being poet or a lover.
will sometimes fall. by the abrupt query
from the talkative gentleman: Are you
armed, Sir:'
i am not" l replied, astOnished-no
doubt visibly-at the question.
Il am sorry to hear it" he said; for be-
fore we reach our stopping place it will
be nearly midnight. and we must pass
/ over 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.
Not that think there is the slightest
danger at present." he resumed; ..only
when one is responsible for the safety Of
the ladies. you know, such thing as a
pistol in ones possession would materi-
ally add to ones confidence. Your prin-
ciples, my iriend." he said addressing
the Quaker. Il presume are as much OPP
posed to carrying as to using deadly
weapons
Yea" was the response.
'Have the villains murdered any OF
their victims:' inquired the elderly lady
nerVOusly.
"Or have they contented themselves
with-with plundering them| added the
younger, in a timorous voice.
Decidedly the latter" the amiable gem
tleman FASTENED to give assurance; land
as we are none of US prepared to offer re-
sistance in case of attack, nothing worse
than robbery could befall us"
Then. after blaming his th0ughtlessness
in having unnecessarily introduced dis
= agreeable subject, the gentleman quite
excelled himself in his efforts to raise the
spirits Of the company, and succeeded so
we'll by the time night set in that he had
membered them to laugh at them.
Our genial companion fairly talked
himself hoarse; perceiying which, he took
from his pocket a package of newly
invented cough candy" and after pass
ing it first to the ladies he helped himself
to the remainder. and tossed the paper
out of the window.
He was in the midst Of his enconiums on
the new nostrum, more than half the
efficacy of which, he insisted, depended
on its being taken by such, when shrill
whistle was heard. and Immediately the
coach stopped, and two faces, hideously
blackened. presented themselves one at
each window.
'.Sorry to trouble you,'' said the man on
the right, acknowledging with bow two
lady-like screams from the back seat, "bui
business is business and ours will soon
be over if things 90 smoothly"
"Of course. gentlemen, you Will spare,
as far as may be consistent with your dis
agreeable duty, the feelings of these
ladiesr' appealed the polite passenger, in
his blandest manner.
sob, certainly" was the replyi they
shall be first attended to, and shall not be