The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1871-05-23
The Fool and the Highwayman.

candle to our highwayman. But for
all his shrewdness he met his match once,
and I'll tell you how it was.
Redmond was a fine, strapping gentle
manly looking fellow, and devoted ad-
mirer 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 you that his demands for cash |
were only made on persons who could |
we'll afford to meet them, and that he de-
lighted 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 op-
portunity of taxing-for that was the po-
lite 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 clockwork there was Redmond O'Han-
lon, with some stout companions if neces-
sary, to waylay the collector as he re-
turned 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
advance.
So one quarterday, 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.
Now this gentleman had on his estate
a boy called Jerry the Fool" who had
the run of the house, and made fun for
the family. He had great conceit of
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 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 enterprise
Nothing occurred on the way. He col
lected considerable amount of money
carefully disposed it about his person, and
started homeward. Toward evening, as
he was quietly jogging along on the old
hack, and was just entering long lanC
with high hedges on each side, tall
fine looking man rode up to him on {
handsome roam mare.
Good save you, my man " says thu
gentleman.
"God save your honor" replies Jerr.
the Fool.
"What's your name, my man" asked
, the gentleman,
, Jerry the fool and l amt ashamed o
it. What's yours?
! The gentleman took no notice of tn
= question. After while he says. That
! a fine animal you're riding, Jerry"
, " Faith, I'm glad your honor likes it,
: says Jerry; " but it isn't meself that'C
:. care to take lease of his life. But he,
/ serve my turn anyway, for it's not in
hurry Pm traveling-Pve only been t.
0 the village beyond to collect the master
! rents for him.
: "Surely he is not such fool as t
t trust you with that jobw
t "Arrah, why not II" asked Jerry, il
great surprise.
"Why, don't you know that Redmon
e O'Hanlon's on this road ?"
: "Redmond O'Hanlon, is it," say
Jerry. "Ugh! That for Redmond O'Han
lon p says he, swapping his fingers
J. "Faix, Jerry the Fool is match for
: half dozen of the like of him, any da
in the week, and Sunday into the bar
Il gain"
7 The stranger laughed, and they rod
= on in silence till they came to a yer
r lonely part of the road, when he drew
- = brace of pistols, and told Jerry to han
: over all the money he had about him, {
:. he'd try if he had any brains by sendin
- y couple of bullets through his head
y "Meala Murther," roars Jerry, in
- " tone of surprise and fright. "You don
y mean to say your honor's Redmon
: O'HanlonW
It Il do, indeed so hand over, my maj
"a and look sharp about it."
70 4" But, fax, it's kilt entirely by Il
N master I'll be if l go home without IL
% rint
whats that to me ?" said O'Hanlo
" Anyhow" said Jerry the Fool, I"
must show them that had murderir
40 fight for it"
as Perhaps your honor wouldn't mil
Ectn oh IL