The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-01-11

L
IL was.
Redmond was a fine, strapping, gentle
manly fellow, and a devoted admirer of the
ladios-as where Is tho lrishman that Is
not--and, what Is more, friend TO the
poor, as you'll admit when tell you that
his demands for cash were only made on
persons who could well afford Co meet
them, and that he delighted In forcing con.
tributions from those who had the name
of hard landlords to their tenants. There
was one OF this class whom Redmond nev-
or lost an opportunity of taxing, for that
was tho polite name he gave to his own
robberies Every quarter day this gentle
man, or one OF his Notwithstanding
| moro than one-used to take Journey of
six or seven miles To collect his sents, and
rs regular as clockwork there was Rcd.
mond O'Hanlon, with some stout compan-
ions, If necessary, to waylay the collector
as he returned home. Every means was
used to eludo him, but TO no purpose He
had spies everywhere and contrived to get
the exact information he needed in adj.
| vance.
20 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 1t over to him.
Now this gentleman had on his estate
boy called GERRY the Fool" who had the
run of the house and made fun for the
family. He had great conceit for himself.
and when he heard what the master said
no immediately asked TO be allowed to 90
after the rents for once and declared he
would know the way to bring them 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-qua
ters lame-and started on his enterprise.
Nothing occurred on the way. He collect
ed q considerable amount of money, care
fully disposed 1t about his person and
started homeward.
Toward evening, as he was quietly jog
ging along on the old hack and was just
entering long lane with high hodges on
each side, tall, fine looking man rode up
to him on q handsome roam mare.
"God save you, my man, " says the gen.
tleman.
"God save your honorr' replies Jerry.
whats your name, my man?" asks
the gentleman.
Jerry the Fool, and amt ashamed of
It, What's yours?"
The gentleman took no notice of the
question. After awhile he says, "That is
fine animal you're riding, Jerrys"
"Faith, I'm 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 in
hurry I'm traveling-I've only been to the |
I'LL 10. ~
for him.
with that job?"
"Arrah, why notp" asks Jerry in great |
surprise.
"Why, don't you know that Redmond |
O'Hanlon's on this road?"
Redmond O'Hanlon, Is 1t, y says Jerry,
"Ugh! That for Redmond O'Hanlonw |
says he, swapping his finger. "Faix, Jerry |
the Fool Is a match for half dozen of the |
likes Of him any day in the week, and |
Sunday into the bargain"
The stranger laughed, and then rode on |
In silence till they came to q very lonely |
part of the road, when he drew brace of |
pistols and told Jerry to hand over all the |
money he had about hirl or he'd try IL he |
had any brains by sending couple of bull
lets through his head.
"Meala murthern' roars Jerry in sur
prise and fright. "You don't mean to say
your honor's Redmond O'Hanlon9"
II do indeed. So hand over, my man,
and look sharp about 1t.
"But, fax, it's kilt entirely by the mas
ter I'll be- when get home without the |
rint''
whats that to me9" said O'Hanlon.
Anyhow" said Jerry, 81 must show |
them that made numbering fight for 1t. |
Perhaps your honor wouldn't mind firing /
a shot through my old beaver'
O'Hanlon 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 I've discharged both my pistols |
and don't want the trouble of loading |
them again for you"
"Faix, i should dearly like shot through |
the skirts. 1t would show fought des- |
perate. Are you sure your honor hasn't |
another pistol in your pocket that you |
wouldn't mind firing for poor boys |
sake?"
"Confound youl To be sure, 1 haven't. |
Hand over the money, or I'll beat you to |
jelly with my horsewhp."
well, ;" says Jerry after good deal of |
AumuiiHk, supposc, ConsluerInR tn0 i
trouble I've had In collecting these rents, |
your honor won't mind the little bother of |
going over the hedge after them"
And he threw over a sack, apparently |
well filled with coin. Half laughing, half |
angry, the highwayman, first aiming at |
Jerry with his whip, which he avoided by |
ducking, dismounted and climbed over |
the hedge, and no sooner had he done SO
than Jerry slipped of the old hack and
mounted O'Hanlon's horse.
"Bad scran to you, Redmond o O'Hanlonp |
he bawled. Didn't tell you Jerry the |
Fool was match for dozen of your It's
a sack Of brass buttons you're gone over
the hedge after, you thief Of the worldp'
And touching the fine mare with the spur
he galloped of, singing the old melody,
"Go to the mischief and shake yourself
Exchange.
Glad to Get Rid OF Them.