Year: 1870

"Now, get in, friend, said the Quaker, still
covering his man, "and take the middle seat
but first deliver up thy pistol"


The other hesitated.


"Thee had better not delay. l feel the spirit
beginning to move my. right forefnger."


The robber did as be was directed, and the
Quaker took his seat by his side, giving the new
conner 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 especially facetous on the Quakers
prowess.


YOU'RE a rum Quaker, you are. Why, you
don quake worth II cent"
I" am not " Shaking Quaker" if that 5
what thee means"


"Of the Hickory or rather of the sold Hick-
ory stripe, should say" retorted the lively
man; but the Quaker reapsing into his usual
monosyllables, the conversation tagged.
Time sped, and sooner than we expected the
coach stopped where were to have supper
and a change of horses. We had deferred re-
distribution of our effects till we should reach
this place, as the dim light of the coach-lamp
would have rendered the process somewhat diff
fcult before.


1t was now necessary, however, that il should
be attended TO at once, as our jovial companion
had previously announced his Intention of leav-
ing us at this point. He proposed postpone
ment till after supper, which he offered to go
and order.


"Nay," urged the Quaker, with an abrupt
ness, and laying his hand on the others arm,
&C. business before pleasure, and for business
there is no time like the present"


"Will thee be good enough to search the pris-
oner?'' he said to me, still keeping his hand in
friendly way on the passengers arm.


did so, but not one of the stolen articles
could be found.


He must have gotten rid of them in the
coach" the gay gentleman suggested, and inn
mediately offered to go and search


"Stop!" thundered the Quaker, tightening
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 "A hand or foot and you are a dead
man ~


The Quaker must have beer awfuly excited
so completely to forget both the language and
the principles of his persuasion.


Placing the other pistol in my hand, with di-
rections to fire on the first of the two men that
made 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 properly, to the utter amozement
OF the ladies, who had begun in no measured
terms to demonstrate against the shameful treat
ment the gentleman was receiving.


The Quaker, need scarcely add, was no
Quaker at all, but shrewd detective, who had
been set on the track OF band of desperadoes
of whom our middle-aged friend-who didn t
look near SO midde-aged when his wig was Off
was the chief The robbery had been adroitly
planned. The leader Of the gang had taken
passage in the coach, and after learning, as he
supposed, our defenceess condition, had given
the signal to his companions by throwing out
the scrap of paper already mentioned. After the
unexpected capture of the first robber it was at
tempted to save the booty by secretly passing it
to the accomplice, still believed to be unsus-
pected, who counted on being able to make of
with II at the next stopping place.


The result was that both, for season, "did
the State some service"