Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1871-05-04
TIE FOOL AND TIE HIGHWAY
MAN.

! Never heard Of Redmond O'lIanlan,
tlrr Irish highway roLbcr: Wcll. that's
surprising The English Turpins and
/ French buvals couldn't hold candle to
the Irish hichwayman But for all his
shrcwlncss he met his match once, ana
+ III tel you how it was
Redmond was = fine. strapping, gen
7 ,lcmehly fellow. and a devoted admirer Of
the laiicS-as where is the lrishman that
is not and villa; Is more, Il friend TO
IN" poor; as YOU Il admit when | tell you
that his demands for cash were only made
on persons who could afford to mcc. .hem.
and that he delighted in forcing eontrihu-
tiors from thosr 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 the polite name he gave to his own
robberics. Every quarterday. this gen
tlcman or one of his scrvants-somctimc
more than one-uSrd TO take Il urncy Of
six or seven miles to collect his rents: and
as regular a clock work, there was Red
mnni D'lIanlan, with some stout COM
panionS, It necessary, to waylay the col
4 hector as h. returned home. Every means
was used to el,sle him, but to 10 purpose;
he had spies every where, and coutrivcd
to =, the exact information he wanted in
advance. 80 one quaEtcrday, when the
gentleman servants asked him about
! going fer the r,its. he sworo at O'lIan-
Ian. and said he did not see the use ofcol-
Letting money t. hand over to him.
Now this Gentleman had on his estate
a boy, called Jerry, the Fool" who had
the run of The house. aud made fun for
the family He had 4 great conceit of
himself. aud when he heard what the
master said. he Immediately asked to be
allowed n 70 after the rents for once, and
declared that he would know the way TO
bring them safe home. Ot course he was
only laughed at: but when he represented
tlat Ia harm could come from the irving,
y h. couldn't do worse tlan all those who
had gone before him, the master agreed
to humoy him. Upon that Jerry made
such preparations is we're necessary. choose
the worst horse in the Stable-an old hacS.
half blind and three-fourths lame-and
started on his enterprise. Nothing oc-
CURED on the way. lie collected a con-
siderable amount of money, carefully dis
posed it about his person, and started
homcwarls Towards evening. as he was
quietly jogging along on the old hack.
and was just entering \ long lane with
high he'd ges on each side tall ine-lcok-
ing man rode up to him on handsome
roam mare.
"God save you, my man. says the
| gentleman.
''God save your honor replied Jer-
~.
Whats your name. my MANI" asked
the gentleman.
! derry. the Fool. and amt ashamed
!, Of it. What's yours"
. The Ccnlleman took no notice of this
question. Alter q While he says:
That's very due aniraal you're ri
ding, Jerry"
Faith, and I'm glad your honor likes
it, SAYS Jerry ''lu; it isn't myself that'd d
care IL take a lease Of sis life. But he'll
serve NY turn anyway, :or it i not in much
Of hurry am travelling only been
to the village beyond to collec, the mas
ter's rents for him.'
Surely he i not such fool as to trust
you with that job"
'.Arrah. why no. :" asks Jerry. in sur
prise,
Why. don't yoa know that Redmond
. U Hanlau's oa this road: :"
Redmond OHanlan, is it says Jerry.
Ugh! That for Redmond O'Hanlan y
says he swapping his fingers. "Faix,
derry the Fool is match for dozcu of
the likes of him any day in the week, and
Sunday Ihts the bargain =
The stranger laughed and they rode on
!. in sslsase all they eeaas 10 a.very- lonely
part OF the read. when he drew brace of
pistols. and told DERRY to hand over all
the money he had abou. him or he'd try
II he kaderains by sending couple Of bal-
lets through his head,