The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1898-07-14
QUAKER DETECTIVE.

The two ladies might have been
governess and charge, or might have
sustained any other relationship which
makes it proper for two ladies to travel
together unattended.
The middle-aged gentleman was
sprightly and talkattive. He soon
struck up an acquaintance with the la
dies, toward whom, in his zeal to do,
he rather Overdid, the agreeable-bow-
ing, smiling, and chattering over his
shoulders in manner suggestive. at
his time of life, of "crick" in the neck.
He was evidently gay Lothario.
The Quaker wore the uniform of his
sect, and confined his speech, as many
a parliamentarian would save his cred
it by doing, to simple yeas and
nays" AS for myself, l make it an
invariable rule of the road to be mere
ly looker-on and listener
Toward evening was aroused from
one of those reveries into which q
young man, without either being poet
or lover, will sometimes fall, by the
abrupt query from the talkative gen.
tleman:
Are you armed, Sir?"
Il am not" l answered, astonished,
no doubt visibly. at the question.
Il am sorry to hear it, he replied,
for before reaching out stopping place
1t 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 committed.
The ladies turned pale, but the stran-
| ger did his best to reassure them
Not that l think that there is the
slightest danger at present." he re-
i sumed; ''only when one is responsible
for the safety of ladies, you know,
such thing as pistol in reach would
materially add to ones confidence
Your principles, my friend" address
ing the Quaker, II presume, are as
much opposed to carrying as to using
carnal weapons!'
YEA" was the response
Have the villains murdered any of
their victims?' the elder lady nervous
ly inquired.
"Or have they contented themselves
with-with plundering them?' added
the younger, in tinOrous voice.
Decidedly the latter" the amiable
gentleman hastened to give assurance;
land as we are none of us prepared to
offer resistance in case of attack moth
ing worse than robbery can befal u.s."
Then, after blaming his thoughtless-
ness in having unnecessarily introduced
a disagreeable subject, the gentleman
quite excelled himself in efforts to
raise the spirits of the company. and
succeeded so well by the time night
set in that all had quite forgotten. or
only remembered their fears to laugh
at them.
Our genial companion fairly talked
himself hoarse. Perceiving which. he
took from his pocket package of
newly invented cough candy" and af-
ter passing it first to the ladies he help
ed himself TO the balance, and tossed
the paper out of the window.
He was in the midst of high enco-
miums on the new nostrum, more than
half the efficacy of which, he insisted.
depended on its being taken by sue
ton, when a shrill whistle was heard.
and Immediately the coach stopped,
while two faces, hideously blackened.
presented themselves, one at each win
dow.
Sorry to trouble you," said the man
on the right, acknowledging with a
bow two ladylike screams from the
back seat; but 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 disagreeable duty, the feelings of
these ladies:' appealed the polite pas
senger, in his blandest manner.
''Oh, certainly: they shall be first at
tended to, and shall not be required to
leave their places or submit to search.
unless their conduct renders 1t neces-
sary.
And now. ladies' continued the
robber, the barrel of his pistol gleam-
ing in the light of the coach lamp. .'be
so good as to pass out your purses,
watches, and such other trinkets as
may be accessible without much trou-
ble.'
The ladies came down handsomely,
and were no further mOlested.
One by one the rest of us We're COM
PEELED to get out, the middle-aged gen
tleman's turn coming first He sub
mitted with Il winning grace, and was
robbed like a Chesterfield.
Ny own affair, like the sum lost,
was scarcely worth mentioning. The
Quakel'S turn came next. He quietly
named over MS pocketbook and watch,
and when asked if he had any other
valuables, said Nay"
A Quakers word is good even among
thieves. so, after a hasty goodnight"
the robber thrust his pistol into his pock-
ct, and with his two companions, one
of whom held the reins of the leaders,
was about taking his departure.
stop" exclaimed the Quaker, in a
tone more of command than request.
stop what for?" returned the other,
In evident surprise.
For at least two good reasons" was
the reply, emphasized with couple of
Derringers cooked and presented.
"Help-' shouted the rObber
Stop the Quaker again exclaimed,
"and if one of thy sinful companions
advances a step to thy relief, the spirit
will surely move me to blow thy brains
out"
The robber at the opposite window,