The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1871-10-07
The Fool and the HighWayman.

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Il candle to our highwayman. But for
all his shrewdness he met his match
once, ard I'll tell you how it was
Redmond was fine, strapping, gen
tlemanly fellow and a devoted admir-
Ell of the ladies-as where is the Irish
man that is not? and what is more, a
friend to the poor, as you'll admit when
| tell yon that his demands, for cash
were only made on persons who could
wall afford to meet them, and that he
delighted III forcing contributions from
those who had the name of hard land
lords to their tenants. There was one
of this class who Redmond never lost
an opportunity of taxing, for that was
the polite name he gave to his own rob-
berries. Every quarter day this gentle
man, or one of his servants-sOmetlmes
more than one-used to take a journey
of SIX or seven miles to collect his
rents, and as regular as clock work
there was Redmond O'Hanlon, with
some stout companions, if necessary,
to waylay the collector as he returned
home. Every means was used to elude
him, but to no purpose. He had spies
everywhere, and contrived to get the
exact information he needed in ad
vance.
So, one quarter day, when the gen
tleman's servants asked him about
going for the rents, he swore at O'Han-
lon, and said he didn't see the use of
collecting money to hand it over to
him.
Now this gentleman had on his estate
"a boy called GERRY 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 90 after the
rents for once, and declared he would
know the way to bring 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 prepare
tiOns as he thought suitable, chose the
worst horse in the stable, an old one half
blind and thre-quarters lame, and
started on his enterprise. Nothing Oc-
cured on the way. He collected a
considerable amount of money, care
fully disposed 1t about his person, and
started hOmeward. Toward evening,
as he was quietly jogging along on the
old hack, and was just entering long
lane with high hedges on each side, a
tall, fine looking man rode up to him
on a handsome roam mare.
God save you, my man says the
gentleman.
Good save your honor" replied
Jerry.
What is your name, my man? ask
ed the gentleman.
Jerry the Fool, and l amt ashamed
of it, What's yours ?"
The gentleman took no notice of the
question. After while he says, THAT
is a fine animal your riding, Jerry"
''Faith, I'm glad your honor likes 1t, y
said Jerry ''but it isn't myself that'd
care to take lease of his life. But he'd
serve my turn anyway for it's not III a
hurry I'm travelling; I've only been to
to the village to collect the masters
rents for him."
"Surely he's not such a fool to trust
you with that job F."
"Arrah, why not2 y asks Jerry, in
great surprise.
"Why, don't you know that Redmond
O'HanlOn's on this road?"
| Redmond 'OHaul0n is it, " says Jer-
ry. ugh, That's for Redmond
| O'Hanlon " says he swapping his fin
gers. "Faix, Jerry the Fool is match
for half dozen of the likes of him, any
day in the week and Sunday into bar
! gain"
| The stranger laughed, and then rode
on in silence till they came to very
/ lonely part of the road, when he drew
a brace Of pistols and told Jerry to
hand over all the money he had about
him, or he'd try If h had any blains
by sending couple of bullets through
his head.
"Meala murther " roars Jerry, in a
tone of surprise and fright. ''You
don't mean to say your honor's Red
mond O'Hanlon?"
q do, indeed. SO hand over, my
man, and look sharp about it.
But, fax, It's kilt entirely by the
master I'll be if | go home without
rint.
whats that to me? - said O'Han-
lon.
Anyhow" said Jerry, q must
SHOW lleul llldb L udt al numbering
fight for it. Perhaps your honor
wouldn't mind firing a shot through
my old beaver" O'Haulon did so,
laughing at the trick
"And now another through the
breast of my coat, and heaven bless
you This was done. "Now, Just
one in the skirt of it, and good luck to
your honor"
"But I've discharged both of my
pistols. and don't want the trouble Of
loading them again for you
"Faix, [ should dearly like a shot
thr ugh the skirt; it would show /
fought desperate. Are you sure your
honor hasn't another pistol in your
pocket that he Wouldn't mind firing for
a poor boys sake p"
Confound you! To be sure / havnt.
Hand over the money, or I'll beat you
to Jelly with my horsewhip."
"Well," says Jerry, after good deal
OF fumbling. Il suppose, considering
the trouble I've had in collecting the
rents, your honor won't mind the little
bother Of going over the hedge after
them ? ="
And he threw over a sacF, apparent
ly filled with coin. Halflaughlng, half
angry, the highwayman, first aiming at
jerry with hls whip, which he avoided
by ducking, dismornted and climbed
over the hedge, and no sooner had he
done so than Jerry slipped off the old
hack and mounted O'Hanlon's horse