Middletown transcript., 1914-08-15
HIN. EGBERT
(coPYRi@HT 1919
W6.CHAPMAN)
O.IRWIN MYERS

change Of the franc l handed him.
Feverishly / opened it.
A moment later / was staggering
like a drunken woman. For, in the
large, black headlines before my eyes
l read the fate Of Charles, and the use
lessness Of my journey. The trial was
to take place on Friday morning.
The government had hastened it by
three days, to appease the outcries of
the press and save the ministry. For,
If 1 had left public feeling against
Charles at red-hot heat, 1t was now
whitehead and incandescent.
"By Friday evening the traitor must
be on his way to perpetual exile on the
DEVILS island, or the government
falls" was the terse telegraphic sum-
mary of the Paris correspondent.
What would l not have given now
for the aeroplane that lay, wreck Of
metal and wood, in Scouto market
place!
"As for the female spy, who was re-
leased on ball. the message continued,
''it is now believed that the woman
who flew through France and evaded
the authorities in so sensational a
manner upon the Monaco frontier and
at other places, was not she, but mere
ly a notoriety seeker. 1t is said, on
trustworthy report, that the spy has
fed to Belgium, to join her lover, an
ex-of1cer Of the German army, and has
already placed herself outside the
reach Of the law"
1 smiled weakly at this widest of all.
rumors. Then set off hot-footed. Five
minutes later, breathless, with tumb-
ling hair, was interviewing the sta
ton master, at Bon Martin. la
"a special train to Paris, madame!"
he calculated, when he had recovered
from his astonishment. "It is impos-
sible. 1t would cost you six thousand
francs. It would disorganize the traf-
&c over the entire system. Besides,
no special train could reach the capi-
tai by Thursday morning. If you
should take the night local to Mar
seilles and make the Thursday morn
ing express, 1t would land you there
by eight a. m. on Friday.
But Friday will be too late,"
cried, thrusting down the money upon
the table of his Office. Here are seven
thousand francs. Take them-only
give me a train. You do not compre-
hend, monsieur; it is a matter of life
or death"
He rose, perplexed, and scratched
his head
81 don't see how it can be DONE" he
faltered. Under ordinary circum-
stances 1 could give you a special to
Marseilles, where you could make your
own arrangements, but unfortunately
why, the ex-Empress Eugenie comes
from Nice tonight, and traffic must
wait for her"
1 glanced at him in dumb despair
Then my gaze wandered to a great
map of the southern railroads Of
France, suspended from the wall, and
an idea occurred to me. l walked over
and placed my finger on it.
But why not go through Lyon?" 1
asked.
He came over to me and followed
the tracing of my finger.
why, yes, mademoiselle, l could
give you clear road to Lyon" he an
swered. But there you would have to
wait for the express from Geneva,
which has precedence of all traffic, for
his excellelcy the president of the
Swiss republic makes a ceremonial
visit to Paris and
And traffic must wait for him." l
calculated bitterly.
Exactly, madame" he answered,
beaming. Your perspicacity is like
that Of man. am sorry, but"
Give me special train to Lyon" l
interrupted brusquely.
But it will do you no good
madame" faltered the station master
Then his glance fell upon the money;
he shrugged his shoulders, looked at
me whimsically as though it were use
less to interpose further objections to
ny foolish whim, and became all at
once the man of action.
1t shall be ready in fifteen min
utes," he answered. But, madame, the
authorities will certainly not permit
any special to follow his excellency,
the president, for several hours"
made no answer but paced the sta
ton platform while the numbering en-
gine reversed itself upon the turn
table and at last came Gathering up to
its car and was coupled on In less
than half an hour all was in readiness.
1 stepped into my car, and, an instant
later, we were off, really off, on the
long road to Paris-or at least Lyon.
All through the night we raced over
the vast plains, now sweeping by the
Rhone, breath of dismal, w1nd-swept
water, now winding among oak forests
and fields Of grain the scent of which
came to me through the velvety black
ness. l had not eaten since the pre-
ceding evening, and should not eat
again till reached Paris. felt dizzy
and weak-but the intensity of my res
olution spurred me to fresh efforts;
nor did l close my eyes until, soon
after six, we rolled into the large sta
tion at Lyon.
Upon the platform opposite a train
was standing, the engine putting fran
tically, as though anxious to be off. /
sprang from the carriage and raced