The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1866-02-26
The Robber Outwitted.

heard OF Wine, ana the greater proportion
had seen him. Few, in his time, could excel
Willie in dexterity in his profession. which
consisted in abstracting money from pennies
pockets, and IN other predatory feats. He
frequented the fairs all round the district. and
no mans purse was safe if Willie happened IN
be In the market. The beautiful VILLAGE of
Motfat, in Annandale, was one of his treatment
places of resort when any of its fairs happen
ed to be held, and here, among the honest
farmers, he was invariably successful; and to
show his professional skill on such occasions,
ne has been known TO rob man and return
his purse to him two or three times in the
same day; but this he did only with his init
mate friends who were kind to him in pro-
viding lodgings when plying his nominal occu-
patton of tinker from one farmhouse to an
other; in the case of others, 1t was, of course,
different.
His wife allotted him In all his thieying ex-
ploits, and generally sat in place in the O. t.
skirts OF the town, that had been previously
fixed on, and there received in silence what
ever spoil her husband might throw incident
ally into her lap in the shape of her fairing.-
But Willie was privileged freebooter, was
generous withal, aud well liked by the people
in the neighborhood, on whom he rarely COM
mitted any acts ofplunder, and any one might
have trusted what he called his "honor."
Willies character was well known both to
uiSA dllu INV, anu NC DGCttlue renowned Tor q
heroism which few who esteem responsibility
would not covet. The high estimation in
which he was held as an adept in his profess
sion, induced Scottish nobeman to Law a
high bet, with an Engishman of some rank.
that Willie would actually rob and fairly de-
spoil certain noted riever ON the southern
side of the border, who was considered one of
the most daring and deXtrous that frequented
the highways in those dubious times. and one
whose exploits the gentleman was in the hab-
it of extolling. The Scottish nobleman con-
ferTed with Willie, and informed him of the
project-a circumstance which nightly pleas
ed our hero, and into which he entered with
all enthusiasm. The interest which Willie
TOOK IN the matter was to the nobleman a
guarantee OF ultimate success; and, having
given all the marks of the robber and directed
him to the particular place on the road where
he was sure to meet with him, he left it to
Willie himself to arrange the subsequent mode
of procedure.
Willie's ingenuity was instantly at work
and he concocted scheme which fairly car
ried him through the enterprise. He cot an
old, frail-looking pony, partially lame, and
with long, shaggy hair He filled a bag of
considerable dimensions with great quanti-
ty of old buttons and useless pieces of iingipg
metal He next arrayed himself in beggariy
habiaments. with clouted Shoes tattered I'M.
der-garmentS, cloak mended in hundred
places, and soiled, broad-brimmed bonnet
on his head. The naoney-bag he tied firmly
behind the saddle; he placed pair of pistols
under his coat, and a short dagger close by
his SIDE Thus accoutred he wendell his way
slowly toward the border, both he and the an
imal apparently in the last stage of hopeless
ness and decrepitude. The bag behind was
carefully covered by the cloak, that spread its
buddy folds over the hinder parts of the Door
lean beast that carried him. Sitting in a
crouching posture on the saddle, with a LONG
beard and an assumed palsifed shaking of the
hand, nobody would have conceived for mo-
ment that Willie was man in the prime of
life, of a well-built, athletic frame, with more
power in bis arm than three ordinary men.
and of an intrepid and adventurous spirit, that
feared nothing but dared everything In this
plight, our worthy went dodging over the bor-
der, and entered the neighboring kingdom.
where every person that met him regarded
linn as poor, dotted, half insane body, fit on
ly to lie doTn at the side of hedge, and die
unheeded, beside the crazy steed. In this
way, he escaped without suspicion, and adj
vanced without an adventure to the skirts of
the wood, where he expected to encounter his
professional brother
When Willie entered the road that led
through the dark and suspicious forest, he was
all on the alert for the highwayman Every
fustllng among the trees and bushes arrested
his attention, not knowing but a whizzing
ball might in a moment issue theretrom. or
that the redoubted freebooter himself might
spring upon him like tiger. Neither of
these, however, occurred; but man on horse
back was seen advancing slowly and cautious
iy on the road before him. This might be he.
or it might not but Willie now recollected ey.
cry particular mark given of the man with
whom he was expected to encounter. As the
horseman advanced, Willie was fully convinced
hat ha ha1 xuitI, |, 10
the critical moment. for here was the identi-
cal lhighwayman.
"HoW now, old fenow~ exclaimed the rob-
Der; what seek you in these parts? Where
are you bound for, with this magnificent eoui-
page ofyours.
why, to tell you the truth, I am cen puir |
honest man frae Scotland, gaen wee bit far
ther south on business OF some consequence,
and am glad have met with gentleman !
like you, and would fain put myself under |
your protection In tAis dreary wood, as am a |
stranger, and wadna like ony mischance ia |
BETA, Considering the errand / am on"
The robber eyed Willie with a sort of leer
thinking he had fallen in with an old drvel- |
ing fool, at whose expense he might amusc
himself with impunity, and play little on his |
simplicity.
what makes you afraid of this wood 9n
said the robber.
Why, was told thatit was infested with
nghwaymen; and, to tell you the truth, as i
TAKE you TO be an honest man and gentle
man, nae something in this bag that L wadna
IKE 10 lose, Tor twa reasonS-baith because it
was n mtrusted to my care and OF its value"
Wnat nave you got, pray, that you seem so
anything of great value can be intInsteJ +"
your care. Why, would not give a croyn-
piece, nor the half Of it for the whole eaui-
page" "''''e e4ou-
"That's just the very thing. You seq on,
not what appear to be. 1 have ta;en this
dress and this old slovenly pony for the mr. MR.
pose OF avoiding suspicion in these precarious
may hear by the jingling of the pieces wbcyn CIV
strike here with my hand. Now, L am en-
trusted with all this treasure to convey N a
certain nobleman's residence in the south and
l say again, that am glad that have met
you, to conduct me through the forest"
At this the highwayman was highly amused
and could scarcely believe that simplicity SO
extreme, and bordering On insanity could ex-
list; and yet there was an archness in the old
mans look, and willingness in his manner,
that hardly comported with his external ap-
pearance. He said he had gold with him-he
that he was not exactly what lie pur-
pofCeu 10 pe-not SO poor as his tattered gar
. .nehIe wouud indicate, and withal trllstWor-
10y 10y having SO large sum of money commit
-. " ms care 1t might be there was not
WIZ .. ruin In his story; he might be some
eegng adyenturer from the border, pyng
etber Of SoeaslOn on his own account not alto
case might be, the silly old man paS lhe
y in his power, and, if he had gold in ro hilp
session, it must be seized on, and no tm mus pos
10 be lost. '''iie was
u tell you,' said the highwayman. wbeel;n,
MS horse suddenly round in front Of WiIIia!s
,ony, Il tell you old man, that am the same {
obber OF whom you seem to be afraid, and /
lemand an instant surrender of your gold"
,. IH % loot exclaimed Willie, "gae'wa, gaze
nd only want to joke me-"
1 tell you distinctly that am the robber
nd hold you in my power" a
=, ana say as distinctly" persisted Willie. \
that you are true man. That face of yours N
no robbers face-there's no bit y, a rob-