The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1873-10-03


with me I'm your new supervisor"
Now I'd written just note to our su-
perVisor, old Blathery, a decent old
fellow as ever lived: "Dear Bladder,
I'm going to take prisoner to Dublin,
tonight, and as I come back I'll come
and see you, and we'll have a gey willie
waught for auld lang syne.
Yes, said the man, a tallow-candie-
looking kind of chap, with big teeth,
that made quite a shine, as you may
say, Eyes, I'm your new supervisor,
and I'm astonished that you should
make SO free with your superior officer
as to write such letter to him as that I
got, tonight. But I'm glad to see
you've got your prisoner all right. I'm
going up to Dublin, too. I've got a
prisoner, and there's nobody else to
take him, so I'm going myself"
"Why, where's Blathery ?" said 1.
Suspended sure to be dismissed. +"
"And Tomkins and Jones, the Off
GERS 2"
Suspended, too"
'Gude save us !" said I "and
what's that for?"
II can't tell ye all, but I can tell We
this much: They were constantly TAX
ing prisoners to Dublin castle, and
getting paid for their coach-fare and ex-
penses, and all the while they'd be dri-
wing them up in carts they'd borrow
from their friends for nothing; and
there was one impident fellow made his
prisoner walk, and claimed his fare just
the same"
"And was it for that they suspended
emp"
Wasn't it enough-to be defrauding
the revenue? I'm glad to see ye've got
your man safe alongside you, for by
lingo, if I'd caught you at those tricks,
I'd have been the dismission of you"
Well, 1 felt my heart go down into my
boots. What on earth was I to do?
Sure enough, the next time the old wo-
man woke, I'd be discovered, and then
what would be the end of it! I'd be
dismissed in disgrace; and ruin my
prospects for life; and then poor Katie
Stewart, who was aiting for me up in
Kirkcaldy, waiting till I'd get my next
rise in my salary, o whatever would
I do? just catch me doing a work of
mercy and charity again ''OLord ~
said, breathing a mental prayer, "1et
me off this once I'll never offend any
more"
The supervisor, Chandler, his name
was, queer enough, seeing he was, for all
world, as I've said before, just like
tallow candle, he clambered up, with
his prisoner, to where was sitting, and
took his place just opposite me, at the
very back of the coach, you know, with
his face to the horses. Just the jerk of
starting the coach woke up the old wo-
II, oh IN ,Ia,.
for a moment, thrt W her arms up and
began to cry
80 sure I'm past the place entirely
o sure I'm left behind 0 I'll never
find my way backi" and she tried to
Jump off the coach.
I threw my arms round her and held
her down; but the more held her the
more she struggled, till, in the end, I
TO pinion her arms and, fairly
she became quiet at last.
Mr. Chandler was all of a shake.
"W-what's the meaning of that ex-
scene?" he cried.
"Prisoner trying to escape" I said.
"Bless me, that was very courage
Ous resistance on your part. I'll make
a note of that" and Chandler pulled
0ut big notebook but between the
Jerking of the coach and the shaking of
MS hands he couldn't write a word. |
However, it wasn't long before we were
vt Portarlington, which / was thankful |
10 see. was tired of hugging my old |
woman. What I'd do after that,
lidn't know. But as luck would have |
It., the moment the coach stopped Chan |
Her leaped down.
"Ill get drop of something hot"
he cried, "to stop this shivering. Look |
after the prisoners, McAlister.
"Mother. aint't you thankful to me |
,bat I saved your life?" said to the
Did woman, unclasping my embrace.
She gave me look and curse, and
stepped off the coach. And then
bright thought came into my brain.
Come over here, I said to the prisoner
opposite, who had been stolidly looking |
1n you'll be warmer and more COM
in this corner, and you'll get a
pit of sleep, perhaps. i"
The man came over, and sat down in
he corner the old woman vacated.
Whats your name ??
"Andrew Mccarthy"
Chow much have they given you'?"
[ asked him.
"Six months.
"Now, my Iad," I said quickly,
u would you rather take two months
as crown debtor, living
IN the best of everything, or your six
months ON prison fare"
"Why, I'd take the two, av coorse."
"Then you've only gottO change your
lame from Andrew to Terence. Will
vou do it ?"
"That I will, your hammer" said the
nan with grin. think he OWNED my
purpose.
"Hi hi hi Halo halo! Stop!
top !" 1 began holloaing and shouting
With all my might, and all the passen-
yers and coachman, and Chandler among
he lot, came tumbling out of the inn.
"He's gone!' ~ 1 cried; "your priso-
ler's gone"
"Why the--didn't you stop him ?"
Chow could hold the two of them"
roared.
Andrew, entering into the spirit of the
Gene, began to struggle violently, and
hrew my arms about him and held him
lown.
(Which way did he go?" roared
Chandler.
"Down Montmellick wayl"
Away went Cnandler, MS long legs ny
ng out behind him, his skirts futtering
n the breeze, till he disappeared in the
utter darkness. I need hardly say
hat the sympathy of the public was with
he escaping prisoner.
"What should we wait for him for ?"
aid the coachman, clambering up. into
lis seat, and looking over the back of
he coach "we can't stop the coach for
lim."
"Go on p shouted all the passengers.
My heart began to beat once more, as
he coach moved slowly on. Not till we
lad cleared the lights of Poltarlington,
lot till the shouts of the mob which the
scape had collected had died away, did
feel perfectly secure.
1t was gray dawn as we reached Dub
in, and clattered along its streets to the
astle gate. Just by the gate there stood
solitary figure, masculine figure,
ressed in a long, tatterei frieze coat
nd battered caubeen he had cudgel
.nder his arm, and was leaning in mel
ncholy guise against the weather-worn
7alls. He frightened up when he saw
he coach, came forward, and recogni-