New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1859-10-15
Hth @rleans DaiIp Greseent.
POOLING TOM ROCKET.
The Detectives and the Highwayman.

EOOLING TOM ROCKET.
The Detectives and the Highwnyman.
Ny father used often to say that he would like to
see the man who could rob him upon the highway,
and one fine November evening he did see him.
You young fellows who are accustomed to be
Wnlskea away hundred miles between your break
fast and your dinner by express tran and grumble
vastly II you are ten minutes behind time don't know
much about what travelling was in old England in
l7s5-cross country travelling specially. Folks did
all very fine to talk about the beauties Of tie country
and the delights OF change Of scene, but when
there are more highwaJmen than scavargers or police
about, the roads are not 80 very charming can tell
you. Why, 1t was weeks journey to London and
back, in those days. and II you got home With
whole bones and full purse, you were not in hurry
to tempt Providence and Tom Rocket second
time.
Tom Rocket was highwayman, No one ever
christened him Tom, and his fathers name was not
Rocket. When he was tried for his life at Warwick
Assizes, he was arraigned as Charles Jackson, and
they were particular about names then. II you in-
dicted man as jim, and his true name was Joe,
he got off !; and SO the law was altered in such a
way that they could set such errors right at the
trial.
cannot tell you how it was that he came to be
have anything to do with my story. For six years
he was the most famous thief in the midland coun.
ties, and for ak years no one knew what be was like
He was lazy fellow, was Tom be never came out
and be had his scouts and his spies all over the place
to give him information about booty and to warn
him Of danger. But to Judge by what people said
he was "on the road at half dozen different
any one was robbed Of bis property OF found it CON
yenient so to account for It, why he laid 1t upon Tom
Rocket as sort Of excuse for giving it up easily, be
cause you see, no one thought about resisting Tom
So 1t was that all sorts Of conflicting descriptions Of
bis person got abroad. One said that he was an aw
fully tall man and had voice like thunder another
that he was a mild little man, with black eyes and
light hair. He was fiery fat man, with blue eyes
and black hair with some he had jolly red face
he was as pale as death-his nose was Roman one
day, Grecian or snub the next. His dress was all
the colors OF the rainbow and for bis horse that
was Of every shade and breed that ever heard Of
and of good many more beside that have Jet to be
found out. He wore black halfmask, but somehow
or other it was always obgng enough to slip off, so
as to give each Of his victims full view of bis face
only no two of them could ever agree as to what it
was like.
Ny father was Gloucestershireman. BE stood
six feet three in his stockings and measured thirty
Blk inches across the chest. He could double up a
halfcrown between his finger aud thumb, and was
as brave as lion. So, many time and oft, when
any one talked OF the danger Of the road, he would
say that be should like to see the man that could
rob him On the highway and, as said before, he
did see him, and it was Tom Rocket.
My father was lawyer, and was, at the time
have h mentioned, engaged il great 1.-THE cause
&c. shortly before Christmas, he had to 60 over to
look up the evidence. There was no cross.country
coach, so ne rode: and being, as have said, q
brave man, he rode alone. He transacted his bust
ness; and my poor mother being ill, and not liking
to leave her alone longer than he could help, be SET
out to ride home again about halfpast nine o'clock
that same evening. 1t was as beautiful a winters
night as ever you were out in. His nag was first
rate hunter as docile as dog, and fit to carry even
mr. He had Ia hron
OF excellent pistols in his holsters; and he logged
along, humming merry tune, neither thinking nor
caring for any robber under the sun. All Of sud
den, it struck him that the pretty bar maid Of an inn
just out of Warwick town, where had stopped to
have girh that he had broken patched together
had been very busy with these selfsame pistols and
suspecting that she might have been tamperng with
them, he drew the charges and reloaded them care
fully. This done, he logged on as before.
He had ridden about ten miles, when he came to a
wooden bridge there was in those days over the Avon
Just beyond it rose stifsh hill at the top Of which
was sudden bend in the road. just as my father
reached this turn, a masked horseman suddenly
wheeled round upon him, and babe him Stand and
deliver!H 1t was Tom Rocket In a second my
fathers pistols were out, cooked and snapped within
yard Of the highwayman:s chest but one after the
cia favorite of Tom-was too sharp rely upon the
old dodge of drawing the balls, or dampening the
charge: she thrust pin into each touch-hole, and
then broke it short off.
!" ANY more?" Tom inquired, as coolly as you
please, when my fathers second pistol flashed in the
pan.
" Yes!' shouted my father, in fury, zone for
your nob!" And Selling the weapon last used by
the mnzzle he hurled it with all his might and main
at Rockets head. Tom ducked the pistol flew over
hedge, and my father thrown out of balance by his
exertion lost his seat and fell heavily on the grass
by the roadside. In less time than it takes to say So
Tom dismounted, seized my father by the color and
presenting pistol within an inch Of his face as be
ha tha for
him.
"You've given me deal of trouble,p said Tom,
so just hand over your purse without any ado,
or by Cd, III send bullet through your skull
just there aud he laid the cold muzzle of his pistol
on my fathers forehead just between his eyes.
1t is bad enough to have to look down the barrel of
loaded firearms upon full cock, with highwaymans
finger upon the trigger, but to have the cold muzze
pressed slowly upon your head-ugh lit makes me
creep to think of it.
My farther made virtue of necessity and quietly
gave up his purse.
Much good may it do YOU" he said, " for there's
only threeandsixpence in it,"
"Now for your pocket-book," said Tom, not heed.
!" Pocketbook?" inquired my father, turning a
little pale.
black one 1t is in the lefthand pocket of your
riding coat
Here it Isl" said my father !" you know so much
about it that a. perhaps you can tell what its contents
are worm r.
ON see, Tom replied quietly taking out and IN.
folding half dozen legallooking documents.
"They are law papers-not worth rush to you or
any one else.H said my father.
Them Tom replied, ~ may tear them up" and
he made as though he would do SO.
Hold on your life!f my father shouted, strug.
Cling hard but in vain to rise.
ooh they are worth something then,' said Tom,
with grin.
1t would take a deal of trouble to make them out
again." my father replied sulkily, that's ALL"
I" How much trolble?" Tom inquired with q
meaning look.
"We )" my father answered, I" suppose know
what you are driving at. Hand me them back and
let me go, and promise to send you a hundred
guineas when and where you please"
You know very well that these papers are worth
more than hundred" said Tom.
"a hundred and fifty, then, said my father.
$50 on" said Tom
al tell you what it is, you scoundrel,' cried my
father III stake five hundred against them if you'll
loose your hold, and fight me fairly for it.'
Tom only chuckled.
'Why, what ninny you must take me for" be
said. "Why should l bother myself fighting for
what can get without"
YOU'RE cur, that's what you are" my father |
shouted in fury.
Don't be cross" said Tom, sit don't become |
you to look red in the face Now, attend to me-" he
continued in an altered tone; +" do you see that |
bridge? Well There's heap of stones in that |
center, isn't there? Very good! If you will place
five hundred guineas in gold, in a bag, amongst
those stones at twelve O'Clock at night this day week.
you shall find your pocketbook and all its contents
in the same place two hours afterwards"
g How am l to know that you will keep your
1t. .1.NI fva ffNy,