The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1897-02-18
MET HIS MATCH.

Irish highway robher? Well, that's sur
prising. Your English Turpins and French
Duvals couldn't hold candle to our high
waymen. But for all his shrewdness he
met his match once, and IL tell you how
1t was.
Redmond was fire, strapping, gentle
manly fellow, and devoted admirer of the
ladies-as where is the lrishman that is
not-and, what is more, a friend to the
DOOR as you'll admit when l tell you that
his demands for cash were only made on
persons who could well afford to meet
them, and that he deli GIFTED in forcing con-
tributions from those who had the name
of hard landlords to their tenants There
was one of this class whom Redmond new
or lost an opportunity of taxing, for that
was the polite name he gave to his own
robberies. Every quarter day this gentle
man, or one of his servants-sOmetiIues
more than one-used to take q journey Of
six or seven miles to collect his rents, and
as regular as clockwnrk there was Red
mond o Hanlon, with some stout compan-
ions, if necessary, to waylay the collector
as he returned home. Every means was
used to elude him, but to purpose. He
had spies everywhere and contrived to get
the exact information he Eeeded in ad-
vance.
So one quarter day, when the gentle
mans servants asked him about going for
didn't see the use of collecting money to
hand it 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
he Immediately asked to be allowed TO go
after the rents for Cnce and declared he
would know the way to bring them home.
n l.. II, 10, Cd hr,t
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 i n the stable
an old hack half blind and three-quar-
tiers lume-and started on his enterprise
Nothing occurred on the way. He collect
ed a considerable amount of money, care
fully disposed it about his person and
started homeward
Toward evening, rs he was quietly jog
ging along on the old hack and was just
entering a long lano with high hedges on
each side, a tall fine looking man rode up
to him on IA handsome roam marc.
''God save you, my man., says the gen.
tleman.
''God save your honorr' replies Jerry.
whats your name, my MANI" 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
a fine animal you're riding, Jerry?''
! Gath, I'm glad your honor likes it,
said Jerry. ''But it isn't myself that'd
care to take a lease of his life. But he'd
serve my turn anyway, for it's not in a
/ hurry I'm trayeling-Ive only been to the
village beyond to collect the master S rents
for him -
f'Surely he's not such fool to trust you
with that job?''
"Arrah, why not?" asks Jerry in great
surprise.
"Why, don't you know that Redmond
O'Hanlon's on this road?''
Redmond o Hanlon, is it., - says Jerry.
"Ugh! That for Redmond O'Hanlonr
says lie, swapping his finger. ''Faix, Jerry
the Fool is a match for half II 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 a very lonely
! part of the road, when he drew brace of
pistols and told Jerry to hand over all the
| had any brains by sending a couple of bEl-
| lets through his head.
Meala nurther!'' roars Jerry in sur
| prise and fright You don't mean to say
your honor's Redmond O'Hanlon?''
81 do indeed So hand over, my man,
| and look sharp about il. !"
"But, faiX, it's kilt entirely by the mas
ter III be when 1 get home without the
rint.''
"What's that to me?'' said O'Hanlon.
anyhow said Jerry, 81 must show
them that made a numbering fight for it.
| Perhaps your honor wouldn't mind firing
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, / should dearly like shot through
| the skirts. 1t would show l fought des-
| perate. Are you sure your honor hash It
another pistol in your pocket, that you
| wouldn't mind firing for a poor boys
| sake?''
"Confound you'll To be sure. I haven't.
| Hand over the money, or I'll beat you to
| jelly with my horsewhip."
| "Well," says Jerry after good deal of
fumbling, 81 suppose, considering the
| 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 sack, apparently
we'll 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 off the old hack and
| mounted O'Hanlon's horse.
"Bad scran to you, Redmo nd O'Hanlonp'
| he bawled Didn't l tell you Jerry the
Fool was a match for dozen of you? 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 off, singing the old melody,
$50 to the mischief and shake Yourself u
| Exchange.