River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1899-01-26

TO the health of "his majesty the king"
The American gentleman to whom l
was indebted for this kindly suggt stion
unceremoniously introduced me TO his
wife, and her brother and sister, who
were all much interested in my capture
and probable fate. They had noticed
the ill-usage 10 which had been sub
jectod by the villagers who had been
hurting all the available rubbish they
could lay hold Of at my unoffending
head on the way TO the guardLouse;
and T. moreover, made sure al a glance
ION, such a glanceD that at least one of
my entertainers was convinced in her
own mind il was case of mis- taken
identity. that | was no spy, and sympa-
thized with me accordingly. Tha: her
name was Clara I at once ascertained
since she was thus addressed by them,
nor was long in discovering there was
a strange, indescribable something
about her which, from the moment of
that first fateful glance, had placed me
curioUsly in touch with her. That
bright, piquant face, that sympathetic
expression, those luminous dark gray
eyes. those They should never ride
Pegasus who cannot reign him in.
now felt, at least, that as 'the Prisoner
of MuIheim" Ienioyed in certain sense.
an enviable reputation, so FASTENED to
explain that my real mission was that
of war correspondent.
"Oh, certainly" said my host, "snd to
have been made the first prisoner of
war will be splendid copy if you can
get it through"
This at once threw a new light on
what to me had till this moment,
looked like an inglorious catastrophe.
Our chat, delightful one to myself.
having extended over an hour and
Fritz and his companions having
drained that decanter to the dregs, my
new-found friends and myself cordially
separated, and unless I'm much mis-
taken, when | shook hands with
Clara" there was tremulous pressure
of the fingers-but no matter. Fritz
now thoroughly realized the gravity of
the situation, and as he conducted me
to the apartment l was to occupy for
the night we were closely followed by
my two guards, with whom (having
first double-locked the door, he depart
ed, leaving me to the contemplation of
my prison house.
1t was a miserable box room rather
than bedroom, in which a truckle bed
stead, small wooden table and a chair
did duty for furniture, and the sole en-
bellishment of which was a piece of
broken lookingglass nailed against the
wall by some departed scullion of the
esta blishment, who probably slept
there a small piece of candle in a very
grimy candlestick had been placed on
the table.
My first consideration was, naturally,
some possible means of escape. The SEN
tries on duty at the rear of the build
ing en- which my window looked out,
made this utterly impossible in that di-
rection, death being the inevitable end
of the escaping spy. To undress would
have been absurd. / must be ready for
any eventuality, specially as my small
modicum of candle was already flick
ering in its socket. So ! sat and watched
and waited, and listened the while to
the dull thud of the top-booted night
watch as they paced below, when pres
emily, with a splutter my expiring
light went out altogether, and left me
awaiting developments in utter dark
ness. Now it was possibly between one
and two in the morning when not at
all as l anticipated, these came abou.
Nv attention was first aroused by the
distinct but distant sound of footsteps
coming apparently downstairs.
Then, suddenly, through the obscurity
and the keyhole, a ray of light shot
across my place of incarceration-un-
der the crack of the door-across the
bare floor of the room, and then
who's there?" queried.
And the reply came in a sweet, music
al voice: Are you the English prison
er?' which, by the way, brings me to
the opening words of this curious per
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 or seen
Then came a scraping noise, and a
somewhat bulky envelope was with diff
fculty thrust under my door. which l,
with equal difficulty, succeeded in pull
ing through; but was more intent on
the personality of my wouldbe 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 dressing
gown, stood for one second-one, to me.
precious second-the young American
girl, to the lovelight of whose bright,
bewitching eyes l had few hours be-
fore fallen an easy victim.
Miss" | hesitated-"Clara!
don't know your other name" said, in
fear and trembling lest l should defeat
her object and my own by arousing
some sleeping Cerberus; do tell me"
But there was no reply-her mission
was oyer-the light disappeared-the
footsteps grew rapidly fainter-aud the
next moment l was again in utter dark
ness. l had not, however. now long to
wait. Morning was not far off; and
with its earliest light examined the
contents OF my mysterious communica.
ton. 1t was a note in pencil, and raj as
follows:
l have improvised out of ribbon. etc, a
small union jack; 1t may assist your es-
cape. Under the protection of the colors Of
their country others have done so before
Back and front are closely guarded. There
il way through the kitchen at foot of
stairs, which leads to outhouses; SIS your
only chance We shall hear If you have es-
capped We shall be very anxious
CLARA CARRINGTON
And there, worked by Clara's deft fin
gers. was a small union jack. which, as
il happened, was TO be the tuning point
on which my future life was to reyolve.
Which of the fates was il (Lachesis,
think who carried a pair of scissors
with which to clip or trim the thread Of
life? Surely mine used a needle and
thread. Personally / felt very much
inclined to waive the advantages of lib
erty for the prospect OF again seeing
Clara-my Ga! But again | felt
should defeat her object and mine; and
then, too. there was not moment TO be
lost.
Ny first difficulty was the double
locked door of my room. That il was
the door of an inn and not prison was
an initial advantage; but if bursting 1t
open were possible / should arouse the
soldiery 10y so doing Sudden
~, as if by inspiration. it came TO me.