The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1886-07-18

hght an old sneak thief, sQualid, bent
ana white haired. They tied his hands
anu Ieet and showed him into a chair
he meantime saying not a word.
ms man Is spy. We must court
martial him" said Soneul, with great
solenmity.
Inc Others were so permeated with
punch That the proposition seemed per
fectly natural to them.
lie fotteyin was charged with the
prisoners defense, and Voltage with
sustaining the accusation. After an
elaborate trial, in whiofthey displayed
great eloquence ana knowledge of inter.
national law, the prisoner was con
deIaaed 10 death, with but one dissent
ing voice in the tribunal, that of MS
defender.
Now We must execute him." said
Sorieul; and then. remembering an i'm
portant ceremony, This man must
not die, however, without the consola-
ton oil rsligion. Where is the army
chaplain? ?"
As that Office had not yet been filed
Sorieul commissioned Voltage to it. and
turning TO the condemned man he
exhoTted him 10 confess his sins TO the
man OF God and receive absolutiOn.
For the last five minutes the thief had
been rolling his ewes about in a dazed
way, asking himself what sort of men
he had fallen in with. At last, in a
voice hoarse and cracked with the
ravaees Of alcohol, be managed to say
You gents is havin' yer fun, sup
pose" But SOrieul forced him down
on his knees, and, fearing that his par
ents might have omitted to baptize him
he poured a glass Of punch over the old
mans head.
Confess yourself to the priest" he
urged. Your last hour has come"
Thoroughly frightened now, the old
wretch began to below, "Helpw so
Justify that he was gagged, lest he
should arouse the neighbOrhOod. Then
he rolled around on the floor, twisting
and writhing, upsetting furniture and
knocking pictures off the easels.
Let's put an end to this" said
Sorieul, at length, and aiming his pistol
at the old man. he pulled the trigger.
The hammer fell with dry click. Fol-
lowing his example, Voltage fired in his
turn. HIS carbine, which was a flint
lock, emitted a spark which startled
him into mOmeniary sobriety.
But have We the right TO shoot this
MANI" inquired lie Pottevin, with
"Of course. He's condemned to
death, argued Sorieul, idiotically.
But he is a private citizen" replied
lie Potteyin; only soldiers are shot. "
The argument appeared conclusive.
well, hat are we to do with him ?"
Voltage demanded.
lie Pottevin, who was getting sleepy,
declared that the prisoner must be tired
poor man. And, indeed. he did look
wretched. lying there in a heap, tied
hand and foot. VOlsge was overcome
with maudlin pity for him, and, IemOv-
ing his gag, asked him how he felt.
1--we mad enough Of this, God knows, "
he groaned.
This melted Sorieul. He took off the
cords, assisted the old man 10 n chair,
and busted himself making a new punch
to comfort him. The prisoner again
relapsed into silence, but he watched the
movements Of his captOrs with incTeas-
ing interest. When the punch was
ready they gave him a glass; then they
all drank.
The prisoner drank enough for 4 regi-
ment. When his health was proposed
he insisted on drinking to each of the
others in turn. But the liquor had no
more effect on him than on the punch
bowl. SOrieul was now in the las;
stages, and after toasting "our guest
for the third time. he subsidized into his
chair and slipped thence to the floor,
where his heavy breathing soon an
nounced that he had no further interest
in the proceedings. Voltage. too. was
too drOwsy to keep awake, and, retiring
to lounge. was soon sleeping soundly.
lie Pottevin seemed surprised and Eu,t
at this lack Of courtesy on the part of
his friends. and fell into a brown study,
which. by gradual, but swift degrees,
was transformed into complete oblivion.
The old man was left alone.
Tho hrioht sunIi.bt nourinO in