The Twin Falls times. [volume] (Twin Falls, Idaho) 1905-1916, 1908-05-07
Mr. BarniCkei's Portrait
IOrisinal.l


which he found. though his title to 1t
was rather thin. and the next was his
portrait to hang In his drawing room
and to hand down to his descendants
as the lineaments of the reinstitutor OF
the family. Arnold Elliott was at that
time the principal portrait painter III
the city where Mr. Barnckel lived.
and to him Mr. Barnickel gave the or
der, agreeing to pay for the portrait
$500.
Now. although Mr.. Barnickel had
dealt in hides, an article not calculated
to stimulate the imaginative faculty,
his imagination was strong The mo-
ment he set himself up as a reinstitu-
tor of his family he saw himself Il fine
looking. dignified gentleman of aristo-
cratic mien and benevolent counte-
nance. In truth. he was crafty look
Ing man with q money making nose
He saw the picture of himself grow
Ing up In the hands of the artist as he
was and not as he thought himself
He made several protests, but when
he attempted to point out the errors
he signally failed. He could not give
the artist his conception of himself
and the artist had no choice but to
paint him as Mr.. Barnickel When the
portrait was finished. there sat the
merchant looking for all the world as
If he We're buying a cargo of hides.
When Mr.. Barnickel saw the portrait
he refused to accept 1t on the ground
that his best friend wouldn't take It
for him.
AS soon as Mr. Elliott got little
spare time he hooked Mr.. Barnickel's
portrait up against the wall of his
studio, covered 1t with sheet OF
drawing paper and on the paper
sketched prison bars. This done, he
cut out the paper between the bars,
leaving Mr.. Barnickel in limbo. I'm
derneath he placed the title of the pic
ture, "a Prisoner For Debt"
1t was not long before one who knew
Mr.. Barnicke well saw him behind
bars. Had he loved Mr.. Barnickel he
would have gone to him at once with
the information. But he didn't love
Mr.. Barnickel-few people did-so he
went about telling those who knew the
hide dealer Of the rare sight to be
seen, and Mr.. Elliott's studio at once
became very popular. Indeed, from
among those who visited 1t to see az
Prisoner For Debt he secured a num-
Der of orders,
The episode at last reached mem
Der of the Barnickel family, and the
family head was Informed. The same
morning he drove up to Mr.. Eliott's
studio, alighted in hurry, climbed the
stairs In anger and burst into the stu
do In passion. There hung the pic
ture, and there sat the artist quiescent
at his easel.
What do you mean by perpetrating
chat outrage?" shouted Mr.. Barnickel,
pointing to the picture.
What outrage?" asked the artist
without disseminating his work.
Putting my portrait behind bars"
"Your portrait? That isn't your por-
trait. You said yourself that no one
would recognize it,
The merchant saw that he could not
demand the removal of the objection
able features without eating his words.
he went out, slamming the door be-
hind him. lie had been triumphant IN
too many deals to be beaten by a pic
ture maker: he would find way to
get round the imposition"
But before he found this way he
heard that new feature had been at
tached to the portrait. The artist Lad
removed the bars and the title, replac-
ing the latter with the words "You
Want Too Much"
The title fitted the expression on the
face so well and Mr.. Barnickel's lido
syncrasies were so keenly appreciated
that new lot of people came pouring
into the studio to see Old Scrouge. as
they called him, buying hides, though
some declared that he was disputing
the price of bis portrait. Mr. Bar
nickel was made aware Of the change
by receiving an anonymous letter in
curing which Of these two interpreta-
tons of tie title was correct.
By this time the merchant had con-
>
that the most satisfactory way out OF
the difficulty was to pay for the pic
ture and take 1t away. Therefore on
receipt Of the anonymous note he drew
his check for $500. jumped into his car
riage and drove to Mr.. Elliott's studio.
On entering his eyes naturally sought
the picture. The expression had been
changed. Instead Of Mr.. Barnicke
beating down q seller, 1t was Mr.. Bar
nickel just having bought at his own
price. There was no title attached to
the picture. Instead bit Of cardboard
rested upon 1t on which In big letters
was Inscribed "Sold."
Mr.. Barnickel saw the word and was
seized with new anxiety He, and
only he. could not see Its double mean
ing.
There's your check. Send that daub
home" he said.
Pm sorry, Mr.. Barnickel Don't you
see the card on the picture?"
That's bOSh No one would want