The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-01-19
MET HIS MATCH. =

IL
Irish highway robber2 Wen, that's sur
prising- Your English Turpins and French
Duvals couldnit hold candle TO cur high
waymen. But for all his siIrswdness he
met his match once, and III tell you how
it was
Redmond was fine, str2ppIug, gentle
manly fellow. and n devoted adzairer Of the
ladies-ns where is the Irishinan that is
nos-and, what is more, friend to the
poor, as you II admit when tell you that
his demands for cash were only made On
persons who could well afford TO 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 nav
er 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 se-vauts-soTnet=lue
more than one-used TO take journey Of
six or seven miles to collect his rents and
as regular As clockEark there was Red
mond o Hanlon, with some stout co.npan-
ions, If necessary, 70 wayiay the collector
as he returned home Every means was
used TO elude him, but to no purpose He
had spies eEerywhere and contrived to get
the exact information he needed IN ad-
vance
60 ore quarter day, when the gentle
mans servants asked him about going FOR
didn't see the use OF collecting money to
hand IL over 20 him
Now this gentleman had on his estate a
hoy called Jerry the Fool, . who had the
run of the house and made fun for the
family He had a great couceit for himself,
and when he heard what the master said
he Immediately asked TO be allowed TO 20
after the rents fer once and declared lie
would know the way 70 bring them home.
Of course he was only laughed as. bat
when he represented that no harm would
come from trying, as he couldn't do verse
than all who had gone before him, the
master agreed 20 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-quar-
ters Iame-snd started On his enterprise
Nothing occurred on the way. He collect
ed q considerable amount of money, care
fully disposed it about his person and
started homeward-s
Toward evening, as he was quietly jog
ginc along on the old hack ard was Just
entering long lane with high hedges on
each side, tall, fine looking man rode up
10 him on handsome roam mare
God sayo you my man. says the gen.
tleman-
ICED save your honorr' replies Jerry
What's your name, my mani" asks
the gentleman
Jerry the Fool, and I amt ashamed OF
1t. What's yours"
The gentleman took no notice of the
question After awhile he says, THAT is
q fine animal your riding, .Jerry2''
Faith, I'm glad your honor likes it,
said jerry. But it ism { myself that
care TO take lease Of his life. But he'd
seCye my turn anyway, for it's not in a
hurry I'm yeling-I've only been to the
village beyond 60 collect the master rents
for him"
sturdy hes not such fool to trust you
with that jobs''
'.Arrah, why nots" asks Jerry in great
surprise
why, don't you know that Redmond
O'Ha1lon's on this roads''
Redmond o HanIon. is r. says Jerry.
"Ughl That for Redmond O'HanlonP'
says he, swapping his finger. Fax, Jerry
rhc Fool is 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 very lonely
part OF the road, when he drew a brace Of
pistols and told erry TO hand over all the
money be had about him or he'd try IL he
had any brains by sending couple Of bull
lets through his head
''Meala mUrtherr' roars Jerry in sur
prise and fright You don't man TO say
your honor's Redmond o Hanlons''
= DO indeed So hand over, my man,
and look sharp about it. -
But, fax, it's kilt entirely by the mas
ter I'll be when get home without the
ri1t"
What's that 90 1nes' said O'Hanlon.
Anyhow" said jerry, 4 must show
them that l made a numbering fight fer il.
Perhaps your honor wouldn't mind firing
a shot through my old beaver"
O'danlon did SO, laughing at the trick
And now another through the breast Of
my coat, ard 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
"sFaix, I should dearly like shot through
the skirts. 1t would show I fought des-
peEste- Are you sure your honor hasn't
another pistol in your pocket, that you
wouldn't mind firing for a poor boys
sakes''
s'Confound you'll To be sure, haven't
Hand over the money, or III beat you to
jelly with my horsewhip."
We'll - says jerry after good deal Of
fumbling, u 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 filed with coin Half laughing half
angry, the highwaEman, first aiming at
Jerry with his whip, which he avoided by
dUcking, disDoUnted End climbed over
tie hedge, and no sooner had he done so
than Jerry slipped Of the cid hack and
mounted O'HanloQ's hOrse-
Bad scran 60 you, Redmond O'Hanlonr'
he ba~ied- Didn't 1 tell you Jerry the
Fool was q match for dozen of youe It's
a sack Of brass buttons you're gone over
the hedge after, you thief OF the world"'
And touching the fine mare with the spur
he galIoped of. singing the old melody,
go to the mischief and shake yourself -
Exchange
Glad TO Get Rid OF Them