Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-04-14
THE MAN WHO WASIOST.

a large, coarse looking woman Quit capa-
blesof taking care of shop and Scipion.
Scipion's past life had been sin gularly
uneventful.
One single circumstance had RI He'd it,
and that he used often to relate to his Cos
sips in proof that hero was spoiled in
the making when Scipion became a shop
keeper.
One night, ten years before the time OF
his introduction TO the reader, Scipion had
gone 10 the theatre, and after the PERFORM
ance had taken madame to a res taurant
and treated her to little supper. Return
ing home, after he was in bed ScipiC,n heard
noise in the shop. He armed himself
with a bOotjack. went down and. with the
assistance of the hastily summoned police.
captured burglar
The man, who said he was AZ Italian
named Nedova, disclaimed earne stIy all
felonious intentions, but could 1--WE no
good account of himself Scipion prose
cuted him vigorously. and he was con
victed and sent to Brest
Two years later Scipion met Vedova in a
cafe and had him arrested as an escaped
convict.
In the early part of 1852 Scipion received
official notification from Martinique that
bachelor cousin Of his on the island, whose
name was Paehe, was dead and had left
him heir to all his property which was
large, and included a valuable sugar
plantation. Desruelles was furh in
formed by the notary at st. Jean that it
would be necessary for him to come out in
person and administer on the estst tie in Or
der 10 save himself great loss ami incon-
veEience and many delays.
The bourgeois of Paris is not a travelling
character, but neither is he willing to lose
money if he can help it. Scipion bought
himself trunk, committed the little bon
tique in the Rue de Seine to n adamefs
charge-she was quite as competent TO take
care of it as he-made deed OF all his
property in Paris TO madame as a prevent
i've Of accidents, and then bidding her the
most tender adieu sailed for Martinique,
via Bordeaux, in a brig which took out a
cargo of claret and oil for the French isl
ands and New Orleans.
When Desruelies reached Martinique
and went to St Jean, he was simply struck
dumb to find his cousin alive and we'll and
all the notarial papers he had received for
geriesl
There was nothing for him to do but GO
back again.
The brig was 70 sail in day for New
Orleans, and Scipion determined to 20
thither in her, take the cars to New York.
and the steamer thence to Havre in order
TO get home again as speedily as possible
He was burning to send the police in search
of the rascals who had hoaxed nim and
made him spend his money and 81 fer sea
sickness in a wild goose chase. He was
armed with ali the preliminary de positions
and statements necessary to open the case,
duplicates of which were to be forwarded
by the authorities from Martinique
~ Il.
termined to spend day or two il the city
before taking the cars for New York. He
put up at boarding house in the French
quarter, and devoted himself to sightseeing
with great assiduity
While IT breakfast the second morning
after his arrival he was warmly greeted by
stranger who took his hand ano said. Il
am truly delighted TO see you. Monsieur
QuentiHeaul When did you arrives
Scipion gently informed the man that he
was not Quentineau, but SciYion Des-
ruelles.
The stranger with great violence said
that the dodge wouldn't go down therei
Next thing he'd want to repud ate that
bill of s725 he owed Marais q, Hughes
Scipion said ne had only been il the city
day, had never seen the stranger before.
nor knew he who or what Marais {; Hughes
them or anybody else anything
An hour later Scipion was arre sted on a
warrant taken out by Marais & Hughes.
liquor dealers in Canal street. against
Pierre Quentineau. an absconding debtor.
Scipion Desruelles. alias Qusntineau
was cast into prison. He found a lawyer,
| and with great difficulty and at the cost of
| half his money proved that he was not
| Quentineau, but Scipion Desruel es. a pas
senger aboard the brig Braganza, of Bor-
| deaux. But for the captain he would have
| been convicted, for several witnes ses swore
| that he was Quentineau
As soon as Scipion was released be went
to the levee and embarked on :; steamer
for Memphis, intending to make his way
thence by rail to New York.
At Memphis ne was misdirt cted. en-
ticed into low groggery under the bluffs
| and robbed Of every cent he had left.
| Scipiop found his way TO the may or Of the
| city, who promised to write to the French
| consul at New Orleans about il and TO
send the police in search Of the thieves.
Scipion meantime wrote to Par to mad
| anne for a remittance, and went about in
| search of a situation. A cotton broker
| gave him some correspondence with
| Louisiana creole planters to look after, and
| he was thus enabled TO earn enou Oh to eat
| but no answer nor remittance came from
madame, and our poor exile could nc;
make money enough to take him home At
! last he wrote to his cousin in Martinique
stating his circumstances, and received
| shortly after in reply draft for $500
| francs.
Scipion Immediately bought himself some
clothes and necessaries, took the cars and
started for New York.
Here while waiting for the sailing of the
| Havre steamer he was again arrested as
being Pierre Quentineau, a fugitive from
| justice and bond forger.
BY the merest good luek the cotton
broker in whose employ be had been in
Memphis happened to be in the city, and
| Scipion was able to establish an libi- His
passport was stolen from him on the Mem
| phis steamer, and he had to g another
one in New York, being thus delayed a
week
Finally, to his Intense joy, he was out
| side Sandy Hook on his return vilyage.
Arrived at Havre he was accos ed on the
| quay by customs officer viii fndeedl