Arizona republican., 1892-02-16
THE ROBBER.

licve me"
"Never mind tell us, all the same"
"Willingly, but feel the necessity OF
first declaring that my story is true in
every particular, improbable as it seems.
Artists alone will not be surprised, par
ticularly those who lived in that period
when the spirit Of fun and frolic per-
vaded artist life, even in the most seri-
Gus circumstances"
This conversation took place in the
salle-a-manger of the Hotel de Barbison
among lot of students.
The old artist who had Just spoken
placed himself astride his chair and con-
tinued:
Well. we had dined that evening with
Sorieul. Poor fellow, he is now dead!
There We're only three of .us-Sorieul,
lie Poittevin and myself. Sorieul was
the widest of us all. and to say we had
dined mt his house signihcs-we were all
drunk. lie Poittevin alone retained his
senses-a little cloudy, it is true-still he
knew what he was doing All! we were
young in those days.
Lying on the carpet in a little room adj
joining the atelier, we discussed in the
most extravagant manner all kinds of
improbable things.
Sorieul, fiat on his back, his feet
perched on the back of chair, talked
about battles and the uniforms worn dur
- ing the empire. Suddenly getting up
he went to "A large wardrobe and took
down complete suit of hussar uniform,
lraccAl hip,palf IN ~ thnt, triad RI
suade LIE Poittevin to costume himself
as a grenadier. When he resisted we
seized him, undressed him, and forced
him into an immense uniform which
completely swallowed him up.
disguised myself as a cuirassier, and
Sorieul made us execute some very COM
plicated meneuvers.
Then he exclaimed, las we are now
soldiers, we must drink like soldiers!"
A punch was lighted. swallowed;
again and again the flames rose up from
the bowl of rum. We sang the old songs
which the troopers of the Grand Army
sang in ancient times.
Suddenly LIE Poittevin, who in spite
of all this was still master of himself,
made us a sign to be silent; after listen
ing moment, he said, in low voice,
81 am sure hear some one walking in
the atelierw
Sorieul got up rs well as he could, and
cried out, "A robber! what luck!" and
began to troll the "Marseillaise," ITO
arms! To arms, we brave!"
We dashed TO Il panOply of arms and
equipped ourselves according to our uni
forms. | had kind of musket, with
saber; LIE Poittevin gigantic gun with
bayonet; Sorieul, not finding what he
wanted, seized Il horse pistol, which he
stuck in his belt, and boarding AK,
which he wildly brandished. Then
cautiously opening the door of the ate
her, the army entered the suspected ter
ritory.
When we were in the midst of this
vast room, encountered with easels, pic
lures and strange, unexpected objects
of furniture, Sorieul called halt and
said: II constitute myself general. Let
us hold council of war You cuiras-
siers, go and cut off the retreat of the
enemy, that is, Lock the door, You
grenadiers will be my escort"
| executed the commanded movement,
then joined the troop that formed the
accommodating party.
was searching behind great screen,
a lighted candle in my hand when a
furious noise burst forth. darted out
TO find lie Poittevin had stuck his bayo-
net into the breast of lay figure, and
SQrieul was trying to cut off the head
with his AK.
The mistake being recognized the gen.
eral commanded, BE more prudentT
and again we commenced operations.
For twenty minutes at least we ran
sacked every corner and creyice of the
ateier without success. AT last lie Poit-
tevin thought of opening a large closet.
1t was dark and deep. thrust in my
arm, holding the light, but quickly re-
coiled; mana living, breathing man
was there looking at me!
Immediately shut the door and Sc
cured it by two turns of the key; then
we held "A new council of war.
Opinions We're very much divided. So
rieul wanted to smoke out the robber, lie
Poittevin TO take him by famine; pro
posed to blow him up with powder.
The advice of LIE Poittevin prevailed.
While he mounted guard with his
gigantic gun we ran off for the remain
der of the punch and our pipes; when
we installed ourselves before the locked
door and dranl; to the health of the pris-
oner.
AT the end of half an hour Sorieul said;
"All the same, would like to see him
nearer! Suppose we take him by forcer
cried Bravo Each one dashed to
his arms, the closet door was opened,
Sorieul cooking his pistol-which was
not loadod-wds the first to rush in, we
followed, bowling and yelling. 1t was
an awful scrimnage in the dark, and
after five minutes Of frightful struggling
we brought out an old, dirty, ragged
looking beggag with long white hair.
We bound him hand and foot and pro-
ceeded to question him. He would not
answer word.
Then Sorieul, full of digniiicd drunken
ness, said, I'VE must try this man, and
pass sentence upon him." ! was so
drunk the proposition seemed perfectly
natural to me. LIE Poittovin was charged
with the defense, and ! TO sustain the
accusation. lie was condemned to death:
only one dissenting voice, that of his de-
fender. We were going to execute the
sentence, when serious scruple came to
Sorieul. He said: "This man ought not