Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1893-04-06
QUASTANA. THE BRIGAND.
By ALPHoNsE DAUDET.

Misadventures9 Well, il were an
author by profession l could make a
-protty 's;s -t..l--.f-.i-.--l---:.
mishaps which befel me during the three
years / spent in,Corsica as legal adviser
to the French Prefecture. Here is one
which will probably amuse you:
l had just entered upon my duties at
Ajaccio. One morning was at the
club, reading the papers which had just
arrived from Paris, when the Prefect's
man servant brought me q note, hastily
written in pencil: "Come at once;
want you. We have got the brigand,
Quastana." uttered an exclamation Of
Joy and went off as fast as / could to the
Prefecture. l must tell you, that under
the Empire, the arrest of Corsican ban
ditto was looked upon as brilliant ex-
plot, and meant promotion, especially
# you threw certain dash of romance
about it in your official report.
Unfortunately brigands had become
scarce. The people were getting more
civilized and the vendetta was dying out.
II by chance man did kill another in q
row, or do something which made it ad-
visable for him to keep clear of the po-
lice, he generally boltcd to Sardinia in
stead of turning brigand. This was not
to our liking; for no brigand, no promo
lion. However, our Project had sue
ceeded in finding one; he was an old
rascal, Quasiana by name, who, to
ivenge the murder of his brother. had
killed, goodness knows how many people.
He had been pursued with vigor, but had
escaped, and after time the hue and cry
had subsidized and he had becn forgotten.
Fifteen years had passed, and the man
had lived in seclusion, but our Project,
having heard of the affair and obtained
clew to his whereabouts, endeavored to
capture him with no more success than
his predecessor. We were beginning to
despair of our promotion; you can,
therefore, imagine how pleased was to
receive the note from my chief.
found him in his study talking very
confidently to man of the true Corsician
peasant type.
''This is Quastana's cousin" said the
Project to me, in low tone. ..'He lives in
the little village of Solenzara, Just above
Porto Vecchio, and the brigand pays him
4 visit every Sunday evening to have a
game of scopa. Now, it seems that
these two had some words the other Sun
day, and this fellow is determined to
ave revenge; so he proposes to hand his
eusin over to justice, ana, between you
ne, believe lie means it. But, as l want
to make the capture myself, and in as
brilliant a manner as possible, it is advis-
able to take precautions in order not to
expose the Government to ridicule.
That's what want you for. You are
quite a stranger in the country, and no.
body knows you; l want you to go and
see for certain If it really is Quastana who
goes to this mans house"
"But l have neverseen this Quastana, T"
l began.
My chief pulled out his pocketbook and
drew forth photograph much the worse
for wear.
"Here you arel" he exclaimed. "Tho
rascal had the cheek to have his portrait
taken last year at Porto Vecchio.n
While we were looking at the photo
the peasant drew near and saw his eyes
fash vengefully; but the look quickly
vanished and his face assumed its usua
stolid appearance.
A." Are you not afraid that the presence
Of stranger will Brighten your cousin
and make him stay away on the following
Sundayg" we asked.
"Nol" replied the man. He is toe
fond of cards Besides, there arc many
new faces about here now on account Of
the shooting. I'll say that this gentle
man has come for me to show him whor,
the game is to be found"
Thereupon we made an appointment
for the next Sunday, and the fellow