The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-05-10

book of the administrative mishaps which
befell me during the three years L spent
In Corsica as legal adviser to the French
prefecture. Here is one which will proba-
bly, 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 projects man-serv-
ant brought me a note, hastily written in
pencil: Come at once; l want YOU"
/ uttered an exclamation of JOY and went
off as fast as l could 20 the prefecture.
must tel! YOU that, under the empire the
arrest of a Corsican banditte was looked
upon as brilliant exploit. and meant
promotion. especially if you threw GER
tain dash OF romance about it in your
official report.
Unfortunately brigands had become
scarce. The people were becoming more
civilized, and the vendetta was diving out.
If by chance man aid kill another in
a row, or do something which made it ad-
visable for him to keep clear OF the police.
he generally bolted to Sardinia instead OF
turning brigand. This was not to our lik-
ing; for no brigand, no promotion. How
ever, our project had succeeded in finding
one; he was an old rascal, Quastana by
name, who, to avenge the murder OF his
brother had killed goodness knows
how many people. He had been pursued
with vigor, but had escaped, and after a
time the hue and cry had subsidized and be
had been forgotten. Fifteen years had
passed and the man had lived in seclu-
sion, but our project, having heard OF the
affair and obtained clew TO his wherea-
bouts, endeavOred 10 catch him, with no
other success than his predecessor. We
were beginning 70 despair of our promo
ton; you can, therefore, imagine how
pleased / was TO receive the note from my
chief.
l found him in his study. talking very
copfidentially 10 a man of the true Corsi-
can peasant type
This is Quastana's cousin" said the
project to me in a low tone. "He lives in
the little village of Solenzara, just above
Porto VeOchiO, and the brgand pays him
n visit every Sunday evening To have
game of scOpa. Now IL seems those two
had some words the other SUNDAY, and
this fellow has determined to have re-
venge so he proposes TO hand his cousin
over 10 justice, and, between you and me,
j believe he means II. But AS | want to
make the capture IN self, and in as bril-
liant a manner as possible, it is advisable
the government 20 ridicule. That's what
/ want you for. You are quite a stranger
in the country and nobody knows you;
want YOU to 90 aud see Tor certain if il
really is Quastana who goes TO that mans
house"
But have never seen this QuastanA,"
/ began
Ny chief pulled out his pocketbook and
drew forth photograph much the worse
for wear.
Here you are :" he exclaimed THE
rascal had the cheek to have his portrait
taken last year at Porto Yecchio!"
While we were looking at the photo the
peasant drew near and / cav his eyes flash
ven9efully but the look quickly vanished
and his face resumed its stolid appear
ance.
Are you not afraid that the presence Of
a stranger will brighten yoIr cousin and
make him stay away on the following
Sunday" was asked.
mo 20 replied the man. "He is too
fond OF cards Besides. there are 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 where
the game 10 to be found"
Thereupon we made an appointment
for the next Sunday, and the fellow
walked of without the least compunc-
ton for his dirty trick. When he was
gone the project impressed upon me
the necessity for keeping the matter
very quiet. because he intended that
nobody else should share the credit of
the capture | assured him that would
not breathe a word, thanked him for
his kindness IN asking me To assist hi m.
and we separated to 90 to our work and
dream Of promotion.
he I II, F,,n
shooting costume and took the coach
which does the journey from Aiaccio to
Bastia. For those who love nature, there
Is no better ride IN the world, but ! was
too busy with my castles IN the air to
notice any of the beauties of the land
scape.
At Bonifacio we stopped for dinner
When got on the coach again, just a
little elevated by the contents OF good
sized bottle. found that 1 had fresh
travelling companion. who had taken a
seat next 70 me. He was an official at
Bsstia, and had already met him man
OF about my own age, and native of
Paris like myself A decent sort OF q
fellow.
You arc probably aware that the adj
ninistration, as represented by the pre-
feet, etc, and the magistrature never got
on we'll together in Corsica it is worse
than elsewhere. The seat of the admins
tration is at Ajaccio. that of the magistrs-
ture at Bastia we two, therefore, belonged
to hostile parties. But when you are a
long way from home and meet some one
from your native place, you forget all else,
and talk OF the old country.
We were fast friends in less than no
time, and were cOnsoling each other for
being in exile" as we termed it, The
bottle of wine had loosened my tongue,
and / soon told him in strict confidence
that was looking forward to going back
90 France 10 take up some good post as a
reward for my share in the capture of
Quastana, whom we hoped TO arrest at
his cousins house one Sunday evening
When nv companion got off the coach at
Porto-Vecchio We felt as though We had
known each other for years.
III.
arrived at Solenzara between and
O'clock. The place is populated in winter
b. vorkmen, fishermen aud customs of
fcials, but in summer every one who can
shifts his quarters up in the mountains
on account Of the fever. The village was,