River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1912-03-07

sage and picked the lock in hands shake.
/ knew that yet another door was before me
before got to my window and that the lock
might give me more trouble. 1t did, and had
to work hard to get that door open was per-
spring freely as l passed through 1T and came
beneath the window giving access to the fort
ress garden, which had yet to be traversed
zones troubles only begin with a file, and
more than once while engaged that solid
iron bar l despaired of overcoming this OBJ
stace. For four mortal hours l sawed away
the perspiration pouring down my face. | had
to stop every minute to listen if any one were
coming but all remained STILL
"When I look back on those four hours be-
hind that grated window I don't know how
held out, and I can hardly recall how l got
through and let myself down the sixteen feet
separating me from the ground All know Is
that I left stump of bar on which had fixed
my ladder and a minute later l sprang noise
lessIy to earth
"Here found myself in some gardens which
I crossed stealthily. knew what was to come
My objective was high iron gate surmounteC
by a gas lamp where I knew a sentry woulc
be posted. Once past this danger point and /
was free-of the citadel at least. For the
gate gave on to the roadway.
Stealing cautiously over the ground and
picking my way I came to- the high fortress
wall Step by step sided along that wall
until l reached the gate. scaled it and look
ing over the top saw in the road Immediately
beneath me the spike of the sentry's helmet
flashing in the rays of the gas lamp.
"If the man had been prompted to look up
he would have seen me in that instant and 1
should have been lost. But he was just on
the turn. With his great-coat collar turned up
to his ears and his rife firmly grasped in his
mittened hand he turned and tramped, stamp
ing, back to his sentry box, which he passed
and then returned in my direction.
'T ducked my head. When he turned his
back again I would make a dash for it.
From behind the gate I heard the heavy tramp
cease an instant and then recommence. Then
I raised my head. l was full in the glare of
the lamp. 1t was now or never, SO getting both
legs over the top of the gate let myself fall
lightly to earth.
81 found myself within a few yards of the
sentry and opposite a kind of timber shelter on
the other side of the road In moment the
sentry would turn again, so leaped on tiptoe
like flash for the shelter. After waiting a
few seconds l walked boldly out, disregarding
the sentry, down the road to the station"
This is where Captain Lux's story ends. He
will say no more for fear of causing unpleas-
antness to any one of those who helped him
in his marvellous escape.
This extraordinary Monte Crsto up to date
just walked into the station of Glatz and
boarded the Austrian express. When the con-
ductor came for the tickets the muffled-up Ger
man gentleman with the gold-rimmed glasses
and the green overcoat explained he had run
little short of money, but would pay his
ticket to the frontier station of Mittelwalde in
Austria. Here he was handed over to the sta
tionmaster, to whom he frankly explained his
case revealing his identity with a calmness
which stupefed that gold-laced functionary.
Very politely the captain asked for permits
sion to use the station telegraph to wire his
friends in Budapest for money. Permission
was granted, for, as a political prisoner, the
captain was immune from extradition proceed
ings, and in few hours the money was forth
coming for the captain by telegraph. And
them free man once more, he took train for
Paris, having wired his friends the news of
his successful escape by means of a telegram
signed "Karl Noel"