Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1860-03-08
THE REPUBLICAN.
From the London "Once Week.rl
2 ~ TOM ROCKET,
THE ENGLISH HIGHWAYMAN.

er's 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. If you
indicted man as Jim and his true name
was joe. he got OF; and when the law was
altered-so they could set such errors right
at the trial--pcople, leasiwise lawyers. said
that the British constitution was being pull
ed up. root aud branch. But that's Meth
or here nor there. / cannot tell you how
Il was that he came to be known as Tom
F. Rocket and If / could. it would not have
snything to DO with my story. Forsix
years he was the most famous thief in
the Midland counties for six years no ono
knew what he was like. He was lazy
fellow, was Tom: he never came out
except when there was good rrize
90 be picked mp. and he had his scouts
and his spies all over the place 10 give him
information about booty, and warn him of
danger But to Judge by what people said +,
he was ION tie road" at half-a-dozen differ
ent places at once every day of his life; for
You see when any one was robbed of his
property. or found it convenient so 10 ac-
count fol it, why he laid it upon Tom Rock
ct as sort Of excuse for giving it up east
ly, because you see, no one thought OF re-
sisting Tom. So it was. that al sorts of
conflicting descriptions of his person got a
broad One said that he was an awfully
tell man and had voice like thunder; an
other that be was q mild little man, with
black eyes and light hair. He was fiery
lat man, blue eyes and black hair with some;
L. L. Ill, 1a L.
death--his nose was Roman one day. Gre
clan or snub the next. His dress was
s.all the colors of the rainbow, and as for his
horscl-that was OF every shade and breed
that was ever heard of, and of good many
more beside. that have yet to be found out
He wore a black half-mask, but somehow
or other it was always obliging enough to
slip of. SO as to give each of his victims
full view of his face, only not two of them
could ever agree as to what it was like.
e My father was Worcestershire man.
He stood six feet three in bis stockings.
and measured thirty-six inches across the
chest. He could double up half crown
between his finger and thumb and was as
brave as lion. So. many times and oft,
when any one talked of the dangers OF the
road, he would set his great teeth together.
shake his head, and say that he should like
to see the man that could rob him on the
highway; and as he said before, he did see
him and it was Tom Rocket.
My father was lawyer, and was at the
time hare mentioned, engaged in great
1.-THE cause that was to be tried at War
wick spring assizes. So, shortly befoie
Christmas, he had to 60 over to look up
Stheevidence. There was no cross country
coach, SO he rode alone. lie transacted his
business; and my poor mother being i'll,
!. and not liking 10 leave her alone longer
than he could help. he set out to ride home
again about half past nine o clock that same
<evcning. 1t was as beautiful winters
night as ever you were out in. His nag
was first rate hunter, as docile as dog,
and fit TO carry even his weight over, or
past, ANYTHING. He had brace of excel
lent pistols in his holsters; ana he logged
along humming merry tune, nsither think
ing nor caring for any robber under the
SUM- All at once it struck him that the
pretty barmaid of an inn Just ont of War
wick town, where he had stopped to have
.:.cir4h that he had broken patched togeth
or. had been very busy with those self same
pistols; and suspecting that she might have
been tampering with them, he drew the
charges and reloaded them carefully
This done he logged on as before.
He had ridden about ten miles, when he
came toia wooden bridge that there was in
those DAYS over the Avon. Just beyond it
rose,a stisiish hill. at the top of which was
. sudden bend in the roal. Just as my
father reached this turn, masked horse
man suddenly wheeled round upon him,
and bale him" Stand and delirer!'' 1t was
Tom Rocket, In second my fathers pis-
.fois-were ont. cooked, and snapped within
ward Of the highwayman's chest but. one
after the other, they missed firel The pref
II barmaid-an especial favorite of Toms
was too sharp to rely aponthc old dodge
of drawing the balls. or dampening the
charges, she thrust q pin into each touch
hole, and broke It short off. . - 9fAA :.
"Any more?" Tom inquired. as cooliy
rs you please, when my fathers second
pistol flashed in the pan.
7-Yesr' shouted my father. In fury,
zone for your mob" And selling the weap-
ON last used by the muzzle, he hurled it
with all his might and main al Rockets
head. Tom dncked. the pistol few over
the hedge, and my father, thrown out OF his
balance by his exertion. lost his seat, and
fellheaviIy on The grass by the roadside
Jnless time than it takes &c say so, Tom
dismounted, and seized my father by the
collar, and presenting pistol within an
inch Of his face as he lay, babe him be quiet,
Sfsikwouldb be the worse for him. . 4 8
You've given me deal Of trouble. -
said Tom, $50 jest hand over your purse
wihout any more ado. or by G--dl I'll
send bullet through your skull just there;;'
andhe laid the cold muzzle ofhis pistol on
nv fathers forehead Just between his eyes,
; Itis bad enough to have 20 look down
the barrel of loaded fire arms upon full
cock, with highwayman's finger upon the
sriager; but to have the cold muzzle pressed
slowly upon your head-ugh, it makes me
creep to think of it.
Ny father made virtue Of necessity and
quietly gave up his purse.
.a.Much good may it do you." he said