Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1899-01-19

/ sonal experience. which is yet another
| evidence of ''fact" being stranger than
| fiction"
My mysterious visitor was evidently a
woman in some considerable consterna-
| ton lest she should be heard CT seen
Then came a scraping noise, and a
somewhat bulky envelope was with diff.
ficulty thrust under my door, which I,
with equal difficulty, succeeded in pull
ing through; but I was more intent on
the personality of my would-be deliver
er than her packet, and Fritz, as an ad-
ditional precaution, having taken the
key with him) was now mainly occu-
| pied in peering through the keyhole
| There, looking furtively to right and
left, wrapped in a wooden dres sing
| gown, stood for one second-one, to me.
| precious second-the young American
girl, to the lovelight of whose bright,
bewitching eyes 1 had a few hours be-
fore fallen an easy victim.
Miss" ] esitated--CIarai I
don't know your other name" said. in
fear and trembling lest should defeat
her object and my own by arousing
some sleeping Cerberus; do tell me-
was over-the light disappeared-the
footsteps grew rapidly fainter-aud the
next moment was again in utter dark
ness. had not, however, now long to
wait. Morning was not far off; aad
with its earliest light / examined the
contents Of my mysterious communica-
ton. 1t was note in pencil, and ran al
follows:
I have improvised out of ribbon, etc. q
small union jack: it may assist Your es-
cape. Under the protection of the colors of
tfelr country others have done so before
Back and front are closely guarded There
is way through the kitchen at foot of
stairs, which leads to outhouses; it's your
only chance We shall hear If you have es-
capped We shall be very anxious
CLARA DARLINGTON.
And there, worked by Clara's def fin
gers, was small union jack, which, as
it happened, was to be the turning point
on which my future life was to revolve.
Which of the fates was it (Lachesis. I
think who carried pair of scissors
with which to clip or trim the thread of
life? Surely mine used a needle and
thread. Personally l felt very much
inclined to waive the advantages of lib
erty for the prospect of again seeing
Clara-my Ga! But again l felt 1
should defeat her object and mine; and
then, too, there was not moment to be
lost.
My first difficulty was the double
locked door of my room. That it was
the door of an inn and not prison was
an initial advantage; but if bursting it
open were possible, l should arouse the
sleeping soldiery by so doing. Sudden
", as if by inspiration, it came to me.
The slot into which the tongue of the
latch fitted was inside, and fastened
with ordinary screws. Of my belong
ings-which had pro tenn. been confis-
cated-my money, watch key and pen
knife had been returned to me. The
large blade OF the latter at once broke
short; and with it, in lieu of chisel, 1,
in about five minutes, removed the slot
aforesaid, and found myself, in the
gray light of early morning, in the pas
sage outside, and, so far, free. Creep
ing noiselessly downstairs l had little
difficulty in finding the kitchen my
fair rescuer had indicated, at the door
of which l had TO step gingerly-very
gingerly-over a sleeping soldier, who
had evidently done full justice to the
lager beer for which the hotel had been
famous. Then on from one outbuilding
to another, to a yard. beyond which
gate led into the open.
Clara was right; in this direction the
coast was clear. Once away from the
guardhouse, l made straight for the
railway station. There was an early
train al about six o'clock, which might
catch before the hue and cry for the
prisoner took place. And thus,
c obtaining a ticket from an unsuspect-
ing office boy before the place was prop
erly opened, l succeeded in doing Nv
next difficulty was the examination of
which was done by the station
master, who, of course, knew me as the
victim of the night before. As, how
ever, 1 had now tied the union jack
round my hat, and, moreover, appeared
deeply engrossed in the pages of an old
newspaper as he came round, / so ar
ranged, as l handed him my ticket, to
hide my face. And thus it was, after
a very critical five minutes, that the
train started for Basic; and l found
myself before long over the border and
in safety, being ionized by a double file .
Of Swiss troops, who. not knowing if l .
were a duke or dustman. but inclining
TO the former. felt it was wise at such !
a Political crisis to salute, and do all !
possible honor to the British flag. which
same union jack, by the way, has on |
many occasions since then served me in
good stead, and which, among other
of Aud Lang Syne," still
preserve.
But how about Clara? you naturally
ask. Did we, as story books relate,
get married and live happy ever
lfter?" Alas, no. Those whimsical I
'ates had willed it otherwise. Indeed, !
i'll nearly 20 years after the event
though l often pictured her in my
minds eye) 1 did not again hear of
Ter. When letter, addressed Ito be
arrived for me at the Of
ice of the London newspaper with
which l was connected, and was sent
IL to my then address at Hampstead, Il
vas as follows:
Tenplemore, Boston. L. S. A.-Dear Sir:
recently read in a London magazine
which has reached me here an interview
which much interested me. In il the inter
lever refers, amongst other relics OF cam
a igning which hang on the walls of your
snctUm, 10 a small union jack. / was 3
CmGntic girl in those days, and-2h, wei,
n substantial ma tron now. Delighted
q find by his reference to IL that you stin
reserve, may hope, pleasant memories 4
Your earliest eSca Paue on the warpath
eliove me to be, etc, etc,
TVV