Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1860-01-14
TOM ROCKET, THE ENGLISH HIGH
WAYMAN.

n
Charles jackson, and they were particular
about names then. If you indicted a man as
jim, and his true name was Joe, he got off,
md when the law was altered-so that they
cJuid Sc, such errors ri ight at the trial-people
IeastwiSe lawyers, said the British constitution
being pulled up, root and branch But
that's neither here nor there / cannot tell
you how 1t was that he came to be known as
Tom Rocket, and if l could it would not have
anything to do with my story. For six years
he was the most famous thief in the Middle
counties, and for six years no one knew what
be was like. lie was lazy fellow was Tom:
he never came out except when there was a
good prize TO be picked up, and he had his
scouts and his spies all over the place to give
him information about booty. and warn him of
danger But to judge by what people said
ne was = on the road at half-a-dozen different
places Mt once every day in his life for you see
when any one was robbed of his property, or
found 1T convenient to account for it. why
he laid it upon Tom Rocket as a sort of excuse
Tor giving 1t up easy, because, you see, no one
thought OF resisting Tom. So it was, that all
sorts oi conflicting descriptions of his person
got abroad. One said that he was an awfully
tall man and had a voice like thunder; another
that ne was mild little man, with black eyes
and light hair. He was fiery fat man, with
blue eyes and black hair with some; he had a
jolly red face-he was as pale rs death-his
nose was Roman one day, Grecian or snub the
n
bow, and as for his horse that was of eyery
shade and breed that was ever heard of, and
0f good many more beside, that have vet to
be found out. He wore a black half mask
hut somehow or other it was always obliging
enough to slip off so as to give each of his VIC
rms fuil view of his face, only 10 two of them
eOuld ever agree rs to what it was like
Ny father was GlOuccsterShire man. He
stood SIX feet three in his stockings and meas
ured tbirty-six inches across the chest He
could double up half crown between his finger
and thumb, and was rs brave as lion So,
many time, when any one talked of the dan
ger of the road, be would set his great teeth to-
Sether, shake his head, and say that he should
like to see the man that could rob him on the
highway: and. as | said before, he did see him,
and 1t was Tom Rocket
My father was n lawyer, and was at the time
nave mentioned, engaged in n great 1.-THE
cause that was to be tried ut Warwick spring
aSsIzes. 30, shortly before Christmas he had
t. 20 over TO look up the evidence. There was
no croSs-country coach, so he rode; and being
az L have said, brave man, he rode alone
lie transacted his business; and my poor mother
being i'll. and not liking to leave her alone
than he could help, he set out to ride home
again about half-psst nine O'Clock that same
evening. Ii was as beautiful a winters night
as ever you were out in. His nag was first
rate hunter, as dOcile as a dog, and fit to carry
even his weight over, or past, anything He
and be logged along, humming a merry tune
neither thinking nor caring for any rObber
under the sun. All of a sudden il struck him
that the pretty barmaid of an inn just out of
Warwick town. where he had stopped to have
y girth that he had broken patched together
had been very busy with those self-sane pis-
to!S; and SuSpecting that she might have been
thmpering with them, he drew the charges and
Reloaded them carefully. This done, he jog
ged on again rs before.
lie had ridden about ten miles when he came
:" wooden bridge that there was in those days
over the Avon. Just beyond it rose a stiffish
bill, at the top Of which a sudden bend in
the road. just as my father reached this turn
masked horseman suddenly wheeled round
upon him, and bade him - Stand and deliyer,''
III was Tom Rocket! In second my father
pistols were out cooked, and snapped within
ayard of the highwayman's chest: but, one
"iter the other, they missed fire The pretty
btrmait-s special fayorite of Toms s-was too
sharp TO rely upon the old dodge of drawing
the balls, or damping the charge; she thrust a
pin into each touchhole, and broke it short off
Any more - Tom inquired, cOOlly rs
you please. when my fathers second pistol
flashed in the pan.
Yes" shouted my father, in a fury, 81 one
on your mob" And sezing the weapon last
used by the muzzle, he hurled it with all his
might and main at Rockets head. Tom lodged,
and the pistol flew over the hedge. and my
father, thrown out Of balance by his exerton
lost his seat, and fell heavily on the grass by
the roadside. In less time than it takes to say
So, Tom dismouuted, seized my father by the
collar, and presented pistol within an inch Of
his face he lay, babe him be quiet. or it
would be the worse for him.
e You We given me deal of trouble said
Tom, - 90 Just had over your purse, without
any more ado, or by Cd, I'll send a bullet
through your skull-just there" and he laid
the cold muzzle of his pistol on my fathers
forehead just between his eyes.
II is bad enough to have to look down the
barrel of loaded firearms upon full cock, with
ahighwayman's finger upon the trigger; but to
have the cold muzzle pressed slowly upon your
head-ugh it makes me creep to think of it.
Ny father made n virtue of necessity and
quietly gave up his purse.
Much good may it do you," he said, for
there's only three and sixpence in itr
= Now for your pocket book, " said Tom, not
needing him.
Pocket book ~ inquired my father, turn
ing u little pale.
AYE, pocket-book ~ Tom repeated; "a
thick black one; ii is in the left hand pocket of
your riding coat
Here il is,' said my father, - You know so
much about it. that perhaps you can tell what
It's contents are worth -
What are these 2'' asked Tom, quietly
taking out and unfolding half dozen legal
looking documents.
lney are law papers, not worth rusn 10
you or any one else, " said my father.
= Then" Tom replied, Il may tear them
UP, and he made as though he would do so.
= Hold on your life '" my father shouted,
struggling hard, but in vain, to rise.
"oa they are worth something them" said
lon, with grin.
1t would take a good deal of trouble to
make them out again my father replied
sulkily, that's all.
How much trouble ?" Tom inquired, with
meaning look.
Meii, my father answered, . suppose |
knC" what you are driving at Hand me them
Dack' and let me go, and will promise to send
please" """ "nefe you
iou snow very well that these papers are
worth more than hundred" :" said Tom
ther. -A' i"-
.'Go on said Tom
g tell you what it is, you scoundrel." cried
my father, "I'll stake FIVE hupdred ao,;ns.
them if you'll lose your hold and fight me fair
ly for it."