OUTWITTING A HIGHWAYMAN.

Western Star, Issue 810, 19 January 1884, Page 3

OUTWITTING A HIGHWAYMAN.

As the chivalrous Robin Hood suffered more than one defeat from tanners, tinkers, and sturdy beggars, so Redmond met a vanquisher in a shopkeeper’s apprentice. The youth’s master having to receive a good round sum in Newry was afraid, on bis return to Dundalk, his native town, to risk an encounter with Redmond or some of his gang. In the master’s perplexity his apprentice, sixteen years of age, offered his services, which after some hesitation were acre ted. The youth, in the words of Mr Congrare, author of the “ Irish Rogues and Rapparees,” went to the. field and brought home an old vicious screw (much of the same humor with Sir Teague O’Regan’s war-horse, on which he rode out to meet Duke Schomberg at the surrender of Charlemont), that when any other came up to meet him on the road he always strove to bite or kick, and by which means he commonly kept the road to himself. As he wended on his way he was overtaken by a well-dressed gentleman, with whom he freely entered into discourse, making no secret of his business or of his expectation of being about the same place on his return to-morrow with £IOO in his possession. “ I wonder,” said his fellow-traveller, “you are so free in your communication with strangers. How can you tell but that I may be Redmond O’Hanlon, or one of his gang?” “ Oh, oh ! ” said the boy, bursting out laughing, “such a niee-lookiug gentleman as you are to be a robber! Do you think I haven’t eyes ?” “ Well, at all events, I advise you to be more discreet. Kedmond is famous at disguises, and will pin you if he gets wind of your business. Here’s a crown to drink my health, but keep a bridle on your tongue.” The youth sobered at once and made the promise. And, even as the boy expected, the gentleman overtook him as he was returning next day, and the conversation was resumed.

“ Well, my boy, I suppose from your looks you have not met with any bad company, and your money is safe ?” “ Indeed it is, sir ; many thanks for your good advice.” “ How are you carrying it ? ” “In the two ends of this ticken wallet?”

“ Dear me, I would like to feel the weight of it, out of curiosity” ; but the horse lashed out, and he. was obliged to keep his distance. “ Throw over the wallet,” said he, rather sternly for such a fine-spoken gentlemen. “ Oh, sir, honey, you wouldn’t rob me ! What would the master say ? ” “I don’t know, but this is what I say; If you do not surrender it at once I will send a bullet through you, and another through your garran.” “ I promised ray master not to let myself be robbed till I was in danger of my life. Here is the money, but you must take the trouble of crossing the ditch for it.”

So saying, lie heaved the slough that bordered the road, and the hedge hevond it, into the next field. This annoyed the highwayman, but judging the prize worth the trouble, he dismounted, scrambled over the dyke and fence higher up, and laid his hands on the hag. Hearing a clatter, he raised his head, looked over the fence, saw the innocent youth making the road to Dundalk short on his own (Sedmond's) good steed, and the vicious steed prancing about the road, and longing for someone to fly at. He was enraged at being so taken in, but much more when he found that the two ends of the precious wallet contained nothing more valuable than copper half-pence of the time, value of 80s or 40s, So there vie must leave our outlaw, encumbered with his copper, and not daring to lay hands on the ill-tempered and dangerous garran left at his discretion. The boy arrived safe in Dundalk, with the hundred guineas quilted into his waistcoat.