The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1871-06-22
The FOOL and the FIehwayman.

Never heard of Redmond OHanlon,
the Irish highway robber? Well, that's
surprising. Your English Turpins and
French Duvals couldn't hold candle to
oitr h!ghwayman. But for all his shrewd-
ness he met his match once, and III tell
you how it was r rr-a3
Redmond was a fine. strapping. gentle
manly fellow, and a devoted admirer of
the ladies-as where is the Irishman that
is not and what is more a friend 10 the
poor as You'll admit when tell YOU
that his demands for cash were only made !
on persons who could well afford to meet /
them, and that he delighted IN forcing |
contributions from those who had the |
name of hard landlord TO their tenants. |
There was one of this class whom Red |
mond never lost an opportunity of taxing, |
for that was the polite name he gave to |
his own robberies Every quarterday, |
this gentleman, or one Of his servants
sometimes more than one, used to take
journey of six or seven miles to collect his
rents, and as regular as olockwork there
was Redmond O'Hanlon with some stout
companions if necessary, to waylay the q
collector as he returned home. Every
means was used to elude him, but to no
purpose He had spies everywhere, and
contriyed TO get the exact information he
needed in advance. a t7E 81
So one quarterday, when the gentle
mans servants asked him about going for
the rents, heswore at O'Hanlon, and said
he didn't see the use of collecting money
to hand it over to him aa -F "a
Now. this gentleman had on his estate a
boy called jerry Jerry the Fool, who
had the run of the house and made fun
for the family He had a great conceit
/ for himself, and when he heard what the
master said, he Immediately asked TO be
allowed to ge after the rents for once, and
/ declared he would know the way to bring
I them safe home. OF course he was only
| laughed at; but when he represented that
no harm would come from trying, as he
couldn't do worse than all who had gone
before him, the master agreed to- humor
him. Upon that, Jerry made such prepa-
| tions as he thought suitable, chose the
worst horse in the stable-an old hack
half blind and three quarters lame-and
started on his enterprise. Nothing occur
red on the way. He collected consider
able amount of money, carefully disposed
it about his person, and started homeWsrd.
Toward evening, as he was quietly jog
ging along on the old hack, and was just
entering long lane with high hedges on
each side, a tall, fne-Iooking man rode up
to him on a handsome roam mare.
"God save you, my man p says the gen.
tleman. ----- ~
God save your honor l' replies Jerry.
whats your name, my man ?" asked
the gentleman. -.w
Jerry the Fool, and amt ashamed Of
1t. What's yours "
The gentleman took no notice of the
question. After a while he says, "That's
fine animal you're riding, Jerry ~
Faith, Pm glad your honor likes it, :
said Jerry "but it isn't myself thaGC
care to take a lease of his life. But he'd
serve my turn any way, tor it's not in &
hurry Pm travelling I've only been tc
the village beyond collect the masters
rents for him" --r |
Surely he's not such fool as to trust
goa with that Job?''
@Arrah, why not asks Jerry, in great
surprise. :r.iaer5 .. =. q
q "Why, don't you know that Redmond
IO'Hanlon's on this road ?'
Redmond O'Hanlon, is it," says Jerry
"Ugh r' That for Redmond O'Hanlon T
says he, swapping his fingers. Fax, Jer
ry the Fool is a match for half dozen o
the hikes of him, any day in the week, an'
! Sunday into the bargain % s
The stranger laughed, and then rode o.
IN silence till they came to a very lonel
part Of the road, when he drew brace @
, pistols and told Jerry to hand over all tn
: money he had about him, or he'd try if b
had any brains by sending couple c
bullets through his head. 49,. .-i-.-..--- (
,, "Meala MurtherP' roars Jerry, In a ton
of surprise and fright lyon don't meal
to say your honOr's Redmond O'Hanlon =?
! 81 do, indeed hand over, my man
and look sharp abont it." .-s s4l
r But, faix, its kilt entirely by the mas
| ter III be if i 60 home without the rint
/ What's that to me2 said O'Hanlon."
| Anyhow said Jerry II must shoV
them that had a numbering fight for il
: Perhaps your honor wouldn't mind frinl
4 a shot Through my ola beaver. 0'Han
lon did so, laughing at the trick. 5-5e
E "And now another through the breas
i of my coat, and Heaven bless you" Thi
: was done Now Just one in the skirt {
: it, and good luck to Your honor"
q But I've discharged both my pistol:
I and don't want the trouble Of loadin
q them again for you" -.--.- ~ t1s
o Fax, / should dearly like she
e through the skirts; It would show Tough
n desperate. Are you sure Your homo
2 hasn't another pistol IN your pocket tia
: you wouldn't mind firing fer a poor boy
n sake ?" -.
e "Confound you j To be sure haven
n Hand over the money, or I'll beat you
i a jelly with my horsewhip'' - So
a 1"Well, says Jerry; after a good deal
3 fumbling, Il suppose considering ii
7 trouble I've had in collecting these rent
N your honor won't mind the little bother
,e going over the hedge after them o. -
n And he threw over q sack, apparent
a well filled withscoin. HaR laughing, ha
a angry, the highwayman-frst. aiming
Jerry with his whip, which he avoided |
;s ducking, dismounted, and climbed over Il
q hedge and no sooner had he done so ths
J. Jerry slipped off the old hack and noun
Iy ed O'Hanlon's horse. -....--- -zr
az "Bad scran to you, Redmond o Hanlon
he he bawled. Didn't tell you, Jerry 4
IA Fool was match for dozen of you i
tv a sack of brass buttons you're gone ov
- the hedge after, you thief of the world
an And touching the fine mare with the sp
e. he galloped off, singing at the top of I
No voice the old melody, ,aaGo to the nischi
and shake yonselfl2s O'Hanlon couldl
he pursue him on the,hack; the cute fool b
n, made him discharge his pistols. The
4 was nothing for it but towalk away, cul
St ing his ewn stupidity and ever after
a. any one wanted to proVoke him, they b
m only to ask him when he had last Sc
NJ. Jerry the Fool.