The Placer herald., 1873-12-27
AUBURN, PLACER COUNTY, CALIFORNIA, DECEMBER

He collected considerable sum of money,
carefully disposed of it about his person, and
started homeward. Toward evening, as he
was quietly jogging along on the old hack,
and was just entering a long lane, with
hedges on each side, tall, fine looking man
rode up to him, on a handsome roam mare.
"God save you, my man" says the gen.
tleman.
''God save your honor" replied Jerry.
"What's your name, my man" asked
the gentleman. - 1.no.
Jerry the fool, and l amt ashamed Of it.
What's yours ?"
The gentleman took no notice of the ques~
ton. After a while he says, "That's fine
animal you're riding, jerry" ar
''Faith Pm glad your honor likes it,"
said Jerry; "but it isn't myself that'd care
to take lease of his life. But he'd serve
my turn, anyway, for it's not i'll hurry
Pm travelng-Ive only been to the village
beyond to collect the masters rents for
him."
"Surely he's not such fool to trust you
with that job?"
"Arrah, why % asks Jerry in great
surprise.
'Why, don't you know that Redmond
O'Hanlon's on this road"
Redmond O'IIanlon, is t!'' says Jerry.
"Ugh! that fol Redmond O'Hanlon, says
he swapping his fingers. "Faix, Jerry the
fool is a match for half dozen of the likes
of him, any day in the week and Sundays
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 brace Of pis-
tolls, and told Jerry to hand over all the
money he had about bis person, or he'd try
if he had any brains by sending couple Of
bullets through his head. ''
"Meala murtherv' roared Jerry, in a
tone of surprise and fright, You don't
mean to say your honor is Redmond Han
Ion ?"
81 do, indeed. So hand over, my man,
and look sharp about it"
''But faix, it's kilt entirely by the mas
ter I'll be if 60 home without the rint.
''Wh is that to me" said O'HanlOn.
"Anyhow, said Jerry, 81 must show
them that l had numbering fight for it,
Perhaps your honor wouldn't mind firing
shot through my old beaver" OHanlon
did SO, laughing at the trick.
"And now another through the breast of
my coat, and Heaven bless you" This
was done. "Now just one in the skirt of
it, and good luck to your honor"
"But have discharged both my pistols,
and don't want the trouble of loading them
for you."
"Faix, should dearly like shot through
the skirts; it would show fought desperate.
Are you sure your honor hasn't another
pistol in your pocket that you wouldn't
mind firing for poor boys sake?"
"Confound you'll TO be sure | haven't
Hand over your money or III beat you to a
jelly with my horsewhip."
"Well," said Jerry, after a good deal of
fumbing, 81 suppose, considering the
trouble l have had collecting these rints,
your honor wont mind going over the hedge
aftert them.
And he threw over sack, apparently
well filled with coin. Half laughing, half
angry, the highwayman-frst aiming at
Jerry with his whip, which he avoided by
ducking -dismounted, and climbed over the
hedge, and no sooner had be done SO than
Jerry slipped off the old hack and mounted
O'Hanlon's horse.
"Bad scran to you, Redmond O'Hanlon!
he bawled. "Didn't tell you that Jerry
the fool was match for dozen of you
It's a sack of brass buttons you're going
over the hedge after, you thief OF the
world.
And touching the fine mare with a spur,
he galloped off, singing the old melody,
"Go to the mischief, and shake yourself. "
O'Hanlon couldn't pursue him; the cute
fool had made him discharge his pistols.
There was nothing left but to walk away,
cursng his stupidity, and ever after. if any
one wanted to provoke him, they had only
to ask him when be had last seen Jerry the
fool.