Catoctin clarion., 1898-11-24

"StopI" the Quaker again exclaimed.
"And if one of thy sinful compan-
ions advances step to thy relief, the
spirit will surely move me to blow thy
brains out"
The robber at the opposite window
and the one at the LEADERS, hand thought
it a good time to leave.
"Now get in, friend" said the Quak-
er, still covering his man, "and take
the middle seat; but first deliver up thy
pistol"
The other hesitate6.
"Thee had had better not delay; !
feel the spirit beginning to move my
right fore6uger."
The robber did as he was directed,
and the Quaker took his place by his
side. giving the newcomer the middle
of the 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 especi-'
ally facetlous on the Qaaker's prowess.
"You'r a rum Quaker,y GU are. Why,
you don't quake worth cent"
Vim not a Shaking Quaker,'if that's
what thee means"
"Of the Hickory or, rather Of the
>Old Hickory stripe, l should say re-
torted the lively man; but the Quaker,
relapsing into the usual monosyllables,
the conversation tagged.
Time sped, and sooner than we expec
ted the coach stopped where we were
to have supper and change of horses.
We had deferred redistribution Ct our
effects still We should reach this place,
as the dim light of the coach lamp
would have rendered the process some
what difficult before.
1t was now necessary, however, that
it should be attended 10 at once, as our
jovial companion had previously an
nounced his intention Of leaving us at
this point. He proposed a postpone
ment till after supper, which he offered
to go and order.
May" urged the Quaker, with an
approach to abruptness and laying his
hand on the others arm; ">business be
fore pleasure and for business there is
no time like the present"
will thee be good enough to search
the prlsoner?' he said to me, still keep.
ing his hand in friendly way, on the
passengers arm.
did so, and not one of the stolen ar
ticles could be found.
Vile must have gotten rid of them in
the COACH" the gay gentleman sugges-
ted, and Immediately offered to 60 ard
search.
"StopW thundered the Quaker, tight.
ening his grrsp.
The man turned pale and struggled
to release his arm. In an instant one of
the Derringers was leveled at his heart.
"Stir haLd or foor aud you're dead
manW
The Quaker must have been awfullv
excited SO completely to forget both the
language and the principles Of his per-
suasion.
Placing the other pistol in my hand,
with directions to fire on the first Of the
two men that suspicious movement,
he went to work on 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 scarcel- add, was
no Quaker at all, but shrewd detec-
tive who had been set on the track of a
band of desperadoes, of whom our mid
die aged friend-who didn't look nearly
so middle aged when his wig was off
was the chief. The robbery had been
adoritly planned. The leader of the
gauge had taken passage in the coach
and after learnig, as he supposed, our
defenseless condition, had given the
sgIal to his companions by throwing
out the scrap of paper already men-
toned. After the unexpected capture
of the first robber it was attempted to
save the booty by secretly passing it to
the accomplice, stlll believed to be un-
suspected, who counted on being able
to make off with it at the next stopping
place.
The result was that both for season
"did the State some service"
An English paper tells of real Mrs.
Partington. She walked into the office
of the judge Of probate and asked; Ware
you the judge of reprobates!" VI am the
judge Of probate" was the reply. We'll,
that's it, l expect" quoth the lady,
"You see, my husband died detested.