THE HIGHWAYMAN’S REWARD.

Dunstan Times, Issue 738, 9 June 1876, Page 3

THE HIGHWAYMAN’S REWARD.

—o—.ln 176!), a gentleman was passing late at night over Pont Nuef (Paris) with a lantern. A man came up to him and said: “Read this paper.” He held up his lantern, and read as follows: Speak not a word when youv’e this read Or in an instant you’ll he dead, Give us you’re money, watch and rings, With other valuable things— ° Then quick, in silence, you depart, Or 1 with knife will cleave your heart.”

Not being a man of much pluck, the affrighted gentleman gave up his watch and money, and ran off. He soon gave the alarm, and the highwayman was arrested. “ What have you to say for yourself?” inquired the magistrate before whom the robber was ushered. “ That lam not guilty of robbery, though I took the watch and money.” “Whynot guilty?” asked the magistrate. “ Simply because I can neither read nor write. I picked up that paper just at the moment I met this gentleman with a lantern. Thinking it might be something valuable, 1 politely asked him to read it for me. He complied with my request, and presently handed me his watch and purse and ran off. I supposed the paper to be of great value to him, and he thus liberally rewarded me for finding it. He gave me no time to return thanks, which out of politeness I was ready to perform.” The gentleman accepted the plea of the robber, and withdrew his complaint.