Smyrna times., 1912-11-06
A FAMOUS
ESCAPE
By ELSIE B. MATTESON

Doctor" said the prince, IF you
will aid me l think l can get out of
this
IF do l shall but put myself in
your place."
1T might pay you to remain in my
place for awhile. am awaiting an
opportunity to place myself where |
could reward you hundredfold."
"I am aware of your highness' ambi
tious intentions, but unfortunately
there are those who occupy the posi-
ton to which you aspire, and there
seems no reason at present why they
should give it up to you. No; if | save
you it will be from loyalty rather than
the hope of gain"
You as my physician can testify
that l am i'll and that it is necessary
that be placed where l may be kept
Quiet-in other words, where l will not
be seen. Meanwhile l may get out. l
have friends who will have transporta-
ton waiting for me that will take me
across the border"
Where you may renew your at
tempts made at BoulOgne in 1910 and
again get yourself in limbo"
''That was six years ago, when the
pear was not ripe"
II do not believe it to be ripe now"
ITO return to the more immediate
problem, you as my physician, after
my departure, may use what argu-
ments you think will be effective to
persuade the governor that l am i'll
and must not be disturbed"
But supposing he insists on seeing
you"
LET him look upon dummy"
''That may do for q short time. but
sooner or later he will insist on an
examination"
Meanwhile shall have reached
Belgian soil.'
"And l will be a prisoner"
''Trust to me for your reward"
''If you are able to reward me-"
! A week passed. during which the
prince communicated with his friends
/ outside the prison walls. and they
agreed to keep a carriage waiting at
all hours of the day and night at an
appointed place. This was to continue
till the prince appeared or informed
them that the contemplated attempt
had been abandoned.
Painters were at work in the prison,
and the prince conceived the design OF
walking out openly disguised as one
Of them. DR.. Conneau secured for
him a workingman's blouse. trousers
and wooden shoes. He also reported
the prince to be III and requested that
he be not disturbed. DR.. COnneau had
smuggled the workman's apparel into
the room and concealed II there. He
had also got ready some extra bed
clothing that he proposed to roll into
the form of a dummy to be placed in
the prisoners bed.
On the morning that the prince In
tended to attempt an escape he arose
at 6 o'clock, shaved off his mustache
put on the trousers. the blouse and
the shoes. and that he might hav,
something with which to conceal hi
features If he should pass any ont
familiar with them he picked up
bookshelf that was in the room anC
lifted it to his shoulder. DR.. Con
neau was with him and when all wa
ready stepped into the corridor, and
having assured the prince that tn
coast was clear, the latter passed from
his room.
DR.. Conneau Immediately steppei
back to arrange the dummy.
1t was an anxious moment for th
prince. If detected he would be take
back to his room or. more likely, to
cell and kept doubly guarded that b
might not make another attempt.
he got away scot free to a foreig
country possible crown awaited hin
Passing along the corridor. he hear
footsteps approaching. Bending b
head aud partly covering his face wit
the bookshelf. he passed a prison of
cial unrecognized. At the other end
the corridor a man walked by him, bu
intent upon his thoughts. took no hee
OF the supposed painter. In this wa
he passed several persons and at la
found himself in the prison yard.
keeper was lounging beside the gat
but he had never seen the prince al
If he had would not likely have know
him in his disguise. Walking out in
the town, the supposed workman we
leisurely to where a carriage W
standing. opened the door and stepp
inside. The coachman-one of
friends-understood and without ev
a word being spoken between the
mounted the box and drove sway.
At o'clock that afternoon the fu
tive was at Valenciennes.
At that time there were no telegraI
ic lines by which to intercept
prince. So long as he was unrec'
nized he was safe. So, retaining
smock and his wooden shoes. he I
tered a third class railway coach
Brussels. Once across the line
breathed freely. for by information
law he was immune from arrest wi