The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-02-23
Carl Weber's
Escape
By OUNCE BLAKE

In 1SAS u wave of antag0nism to
mOnarchical government swept over
Europe. It was successful In France.
though the republican government es-
tablished there under Louis Napoleon
was converted by him into an imperial
one. In Germany the effort was a
failure. and the leaders who were able
to get away became citizens OF other
countries, some finding a home In the
United States.
One day the government Of Prussia
received information that Carl Weber.
a young man who had been especially
active as leader In the revolution.
was intending to board train in one
Of its stops after leaving Berlin with
q view to escaping through Belgium.
The chief Of police was notified to take
measures to arrest him.
The chief arranged with the railroad
odicials that any one boarding the
train should he put into certain COM
partment. where government agents
had been placed. These officials, be-
ing satisfied that Weber was in the
compartment. were to arrest him.
Now. this man Weber had been un.
der the eye Of the government for
some time. but they had been unable
to nab him. Several times they had
arrested some one who was supposed
to be the revolutiOnist. and 1t was dis
covered that the wrong person had
been taken. indeed. he had achieved
a reputation for slipperiness. which
induced the chief Of police on this no.
LITIGATION Of his intention to leave Prus-
sia to take every precautiOn against
deception.
In the first place he disguised his
men ON the train 80 that they should
not be recognized as officials. One
was q wrinkled old man, one was made
up to look like an English duke, anoth.
er a young fop. These persons left
Berlin In a compartment by them.
selves. There were three Of them. all
well armed, for 1t was known that
Weber was a desperate man. who
would fight to the death.
At that early day there were not the
large number Of persons travelling
there are now. Railroads were new
and a car resembled several stage
coaches spliced together. In the com
partment In which the government Of
"details Travelled there was room foI
eight persons, four riding forward and
four backward. Therefore there wal
room for ave besides the 0d1cials. Al
the 6rst station man was put In with
them. They scrutinised him. but shoot
their heads. Weber was very young
and this man was past 6fty. Hi
beard was stubbiy and gray-a SUR
sign that he was approaching old age
At the next station young girl wal
conducted to the compartment See
ing no one in It but men. she declared
that II was not a proper place for heI
to travel Since the orders were t.
place every one boarding the train II
that compartment. the railway oficia
insisted on her entering It or remaining
behind. The latter course would In
volve waiting over a day. for at tina,
time there were very few trains. The
young lady. therefore. with apparent
reluctance entered. She held in ons
hand a portmanteau, In the other {
bouquet Of flowers. The of1cial made
up for a fop calamity alighted, tool
her portmanteau (she held on to be-
bouquet and handed her into tn
coach.
The next stop was some distance
away, and all trains were very slow
The young lady showed so much EN-
barrassment at being shut up with {
lot of men that he who was made uI
for a Britisher. In feigned broken Ger
man. assured her that she might con
slider herself under his protection
though there was no need Of it. 70
the other two men in the compartment
were respectable persons.
This seemed to relieve the young VIC
mans fears. To show her apprecia
ton of his kindness she took a fowe
from her bouquet and gave 1t to hin
: he held It to his nose and. finding th
odor delicious, continued to sni6 I
The old man settled himself for q M
OF pretended to do 90. while the 70
ogled the girl Seeing him look cove
ously at her bouquet, she took out
rose and gave 1t to him By this dim
A the Britiaher> bad become drQwly>Apl