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

| ana tne one hC Ine leaders neaQs
thought it good time to leave.
"Now get in. friend said the Qua.
ker, still covering his man, 'and take
the middle seat; but first deliver up thy
pistol"
"Thee had better not delay; I feel the
spirit beginning to move my right fore
finger"
The robber did as he was directed
and the Quaker then took his place by
his side, giving the newcomer the mid
die of the seat.
The driver, who was half frightened
out of his wits, now set forward ut a
rapid rate. The lively gentleman soon
recovered his vivacity. He was espe,
ess.
You're rum Quaker, you are. Why,
you don't quake worth cent"
Il am not a Shaking Quaker if that
is what thee means
"Of the Hickory. or rather the old
Hickory stripe, l should say retorted
the lively man; but the Quaker relaps-
ing into his usual monosyllables, the
conversation Jagged.
Time sped, and, sooner than we eX-
pected, the coach stopped where we
were to have supper and n change of
horses. We had deferred redistribu
ton of our effects till we should reach
this place. as the dim light of the coach
lamp would have rendered the process
somewhat difficult before.
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 lis at
this point. He proposed n postpone
ment till after supper, which he offered
to go and order.
Nay" urged the Quaker, with an ap-
proach of 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 prisoner" he said to me, still keep
ing his hand in n friendly way on the
passengers arm.
l did so, but not one of the stolen ar
ticles could be found.
"He must have gotten rid of them In
the COACH" the gay gentleman suggest
ed, and Immediately offered to go and
search.
Stop thundered the Quaker, tight
ening his grasp.
The man turned pale, and struggled
to release his arm. In an instant one
of the Derringers was leveled at his
heart.
Stir hand or foot, and you are a
dead man."
The Quaker must have been awfully
excited so as to forget both the lam
guage 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 made suspicious
movement, he went to work on Lotha-
rio, from whose pockets, in less time
than it takes to tell it, he produced ev-
cry item of the missing property. to the
utter amazement of the ladies, who had
begun in no measured terms to remon-
strate against the shameful treatment
the gentleman was receiving.
The Quaker, l need scarcely add. was
no Quaker at all, but shrewd detec-
tive, who had been set on the track of
band of desperadoes, of whom our
middle-aged friend-who didn't look so
near middle-aged when his wig was
off-was the chief. The robbery had
been adroitly planned.
The leader of the gang had taken
possession of seat in the coach, and
after learning, as he supposed, our de-
fenceless condition, had given the sig
nal TO his companions by throwing out
the scrap of paper already mentioned.
After the unexpected capture of the
first robber, it was attempted to save
the booty by secretly passing it to the
accomplice, still believed TO be unsus-
pected, who counted on being able to
make off with it at the next stopping
place.
The result was that both, for a sea-
son, did the State some service
True Flag.