The Idaho world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1864-1918, 1871-08-03
THE FOOL AND THE HIGHwAyMAN,

Never heard of Redmond O'Hanlon,
| the Irish highway robber? Well, that's
surprising. Your English Turpins and
French Duvals couldn't hold candle
to our highwayman. But for all his
shrewdness he met his match once, and
I'll tell you how it was:
Redmond was fine, strapping, gen
tlemanly fellow, and devoted admlrer
of the ladies-as where is the lrishman
that is not?-and what is more, a
friend to the poor-as you will admit
when l tell you that his demands Tor
cash were only made ON persons VINO
could we'll afford to meet them, and
that he delighted in forcing contrbu.
tons from those who had the name OF
hard landlords to their tenants. There
was one of this class whom Redmond
never lost an opportunity of taxing
for that was his polite name he gave to
his own robberies. Every quarter-day,
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
clock work there was Redmond OHan-
lon with some stout companions, If nee
essary, to waylay the collector as he
returned home. Every means was used
to elude him, but to no purpose. He
had spies everywhere, and contrlved to
have the exact information he needed
in advance.
So one quarter-day, when the gen
tleman's servants asked him about go
ing for the rents. he swore at OHanlon,
and said he didn't see the use of col
lecting money to hand it over to him.
Now, this gentleman had on his es-
tate boy called Jerry the Fool" who
had the run of the house and made fun
for the family. He had great conceit
for himself, and when he heard what
the master said he Immediately asked
to be allowed to go after the rents for
once, and he declared that he would
know the way to bring them straight
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
'suchpreparations as he thought suitable,
chose the worst horse in the stable-an
old hack, half blind and three-quarters
lamc-and started on his enterprise
Nothing occurred on the way He
collected n considerable sum of money,
carefully disposed of it about his per-
son, and started homcward. Toward
evening, as he was quietly jogging
along on the old hack, and was Just
entering a long lane, with high hedges
on each side tall, fine-looking man
rode up to him, on a handsome roam
mare
God save you, my man." says the
gentleman.
God save your honor" replies Jerry.
what's your name, my man, asked
the gentleman.
Jerry the Fool, and | amt ashamed
of it What's yours?'
The gentleman took no notice of the
question. After awhile he says: That's
a fine animal you're riding, Jerry.
Faith, I'm glad your honor likes it,"
said Jerry, "but it isn't myself tha'd
care to take lease of his life. But
he'd serve my turn anyway. for it's not
in hurry I'm traveling-rve only
been to the village beyond to collect
the masters rents for him."
"Surely, he's not such a fool to trust
you with that job?'
"Arrah, why not?' asks Jerry, in
great surprise.
q" Why, don't you know that Redmond
O'Hanlon's on this road? 2"
Redmond O'Hanlon, is it?" says
Jerry. Ugh! That for Redmond
O'Hanlon!" says he, swapping his fn-
gers. "Faix, Jerry the Fool is a match
for half dozen of the likes of him,
any day in the week, and Sunday into
the bargain"
The stranger laughed, and then rode
on in silence till they came to a 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 he had any brains
by sending couple of bullets through
hic hood