The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1893-12-30
THE ROBBER.

when tell you. you Will not BE-
lieve me-"
"Never mind; tell us, all the same"
"Wilingly. but feel the necessity Of
first declaring that my story is true in
every particular, improbable as it seems
Artists alone viii 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 tho
salle-a-manger of the Hotel de Barbison
among q 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 were only three Of us-Sorieul.
LIE Poittevin and myself. Sorieul was
the widest Of us all, and to say we had
dined at his house signifies-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 little room ad-
joining the atelier, we discussed in the
most extravagant manner all kinds OF
improbable things.
Sorieul, flat on his back. his feet
perched on the back of a chair. talked
ing the empire. Suddenly getting up,
he went to large wardrobe and took
down complete suit of hussar uniform,
dressed himself in it, then tried to per-
suade LIE POittevin to costume himself
as 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
picated meneuvers.
Then he exclaimed. las we are now
soldiers. we must drink like soldiersr'
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 sign to be silent: after listen
ing moment. he said. in = low voice.
II am sure hear some one walking in
the atelierr'
Sorieul got up rs well as he could, and
cried out, "A robber! what lucky' and
began to troll the "Marseillaise," ITO
arms! To arms, ye braver'
We dashed to a panoply of arms and
equipped ourselves according 70 our uni
forms. had kind of musket, with .
saber: LIE Poittevin gigantic gun with
q bayonet: Sorieul, not finding what he
wanted. seized horse pistol. which he
stuck in his belt, and boarding Ak,
which he wildly brandished. Then
cautiously opening the door of the ate
ier, 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: IL constitute myself general. Let
us hold council of war. You cuiras-
siers. go and cut of the retreat Of the
enemy, that is, Lock the door, You
grenadiers will be my escort"
executed the commanded movement,
khen Joined the troop that formed the
connoitering party.
7 was searching behind great screen
lighted candle in my hand. when q
furious noise burst forth. darted Out
to find LIE Poittevin had stuck his bayo
net into the breast Of lay figure, and
Sorieul was trying to cut of the head
with his AK.
The mistake being recognized the gen
eral commanded, BE more PRUDENT
and again we commenced operations.
For twenty minutes ut least we ran
sacked every corner and crevice Of tn.
atelier without success. At last LIE Poit
tevin thought of opening large closet
It was dark and deep. thrust in my
arm, holding the light, but quickly re
coiled; mana living, breathing mar
was there looking ut me!
Immediately shut the door and go
cured it by two turns Of the key; thel
we held now council of war.
Opinions were very much divided. So
rieul wanted to smoke out the robber, Ii
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 hi
gigantic gun we ran off for the remain
der Of the punch and our pipes; whel
we installed ourselves before the locket
door and drank to the health Of the pris
oner.
At the end Of half an hour Sorieul said