Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1871-04-19
How the Fool Tricked the High
Wayman.
Abridged from an old Irish tale.l

4 Abridged from an old Irish tale.l
Never heard of Redmond O'Hanlon
the Irish highway robber2 Well, that
surprising. Your English Turpins ant
French Duvals couldn't hold candle tC
oar highwayman. But for all his shrewd
ness he met his match once, and III tel
you how it was:
Redmond was fine, strapping, gen
tlemanly fellow, and a devoted admireI
of the ladies-as where is the Irishman
that is not? and what is more, friend
to the poor; as you Il admit when / tel
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 landlords to their
tenants. There was one of this class
whom Redmond never lost an opportu-
nifty of taxing-for that was the polite
name he gave to his own robberies.
Every quarterday, this gentleman, OF
one of his servants-sometimes more
than one-used to take a journey of six
or. seven miles to collect his rents, and
as regular as clockwork there was Red
mond O'Hanlon, with some stout com
panions if necessary, to waylay the col
lector as he returned home. Every
means was used to elude him, but to nc
purpose, he had spies everywhere, and
contrived to get the exact information
he needed in advance.
SO one quarter-day, when the gentle
mans servants asked him about going
for the rents, he swore at O. Hanlon, and
said he didn't see the use of collecting
money to hand it over to him. g '''i'e
Now this gentleman had on his estate
a boy called Jerry the Fool, who ha(
the run of the house, and made fun fol
the family. He had great conceit fol
himself, and when he heard what the
master said, he Immediately asked to be
allowed to 20 after the rents for once
and declared he would know the way tC
bring them safe home. of course he
was only laughed at; but when he repre-
sented that no harm could come from
trying, as he couldn't do worse than al
who had. gone before him, the master
agreed to humor him. Upon that, Jerry
made such preparations as he thought
suitable, chose the worst horse in the
stable-an old hack half blind and three
quarters lame-and started on his enter
prise. Nothing occurred on the way
He collected a considerable amount o
money, carefully disposed it about hil
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 handsome roam mare.
"God save you, my mani" says the
gentleman. -...-,N .,g. ,,...v,t.-5. /
70 God save your honorl replies Jerry.
What's your name, my MANI" asked
Jerry the Fool, and | amt ashamed
of it. What's yours" , "a
The gentleman took no notice Of the
| question. After awhilehe says, " That $
a fine animal you're riding, Jerry
"Faith, I'm glad your honor likes it,
saws Jerry; "but it isn't myself that d
care to take lease of his life. But he II
serve my turn anyway, for it's not in q
hurry I'm traveling-Ive only been to
the village beyond to collect the master 5
rents for him. ~ ''l~~ '~.
"surely he is not such a fool as to
trust Dou with that jobll U0T J.
| fiArrah, whynotG' asks jerry in great
surprise. ,
"Why, don't you know that Redmond
O'Hanlon's on this road2"
Redmond 0'Hanlon, is it2" says
Jerry. "Ughl That for Redmond
O'Hanloni" 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 the
bargain
The strangers laughed, and they rode
on In silence till they came to a very
lonely part of the road, where 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 his head.
Meala murther, roars Jerry, in a
tone of surprise and fright, you don't
name to say your honor's Redmond
O'Hanlon."
"Idoindeed. So hand over, my man,
and look sharp about it.
"But. faix, its kilt entirely by the
master III DO if ! go home without the
rints.'
What's that to me9' asked oHan-
Ion.
Anyhow" says Jerry, " must show
them that had numbering fight for it.
Perhaps yonr honor wouldn't mind
firing a shot through my old beaver.
0'Hanlon did SO, laughing at the trick.
And now anotner through the breast
of my coat, and Heaven bless you.
This was done. Now, just one in the
skirts Of it, and good luck to your
honor.
"But I've discharged both nay pistols,
and don't want the trouble Of loading
them again for you.F
Fax, should dearly like a shot
through the skirts; it would show fought
desperate. Are you sure your honor
hasn't another pistol in yonr pocket that
you wouldn't mind firing form poor boy
sakeT
"Confound youl To be sure am.
Hand over that money, or Ill beat you
to a Jelly with my horsewhip."
/" Well, says Jerry, after a good deal
Of fumbling, suppose, considering the
trouble I've had in collecting these rints,