The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-01-29
Carl Weber S
Escape
By EUNlCE BLAKE

In lS4S wave of antagOniSm to |
m0narctiical government swept over
Europe. II 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 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 u train In one
of it's stops after leaving Berlin with
view to escaping through Belgium.
The chief of police was notified to take
measures to arrest him.
The chief arranged with the railroad
officials that any one boarding the
train should be- 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
tiflcation Of his intention to leave Prus-
STA to take every precautiOn against
deception.
In the first place he disguised his
men on the train SO that they should
not be recognized as officials One
was a wrinkled old man. one was made
up to look like an English duke, unoth-
, er a young fop These persons left
Berlin in compartment by them
selves. There were three OF them. all
well armed, for 1t was known that
| Weber was 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 car resembled several stage
coaches spliced together. In the com
partment in which the government Of
ficials travelled there was room for
eight persons. four riding forward and
four backward. Therefore there was
room for five besides the officials. AT
the first station man was put In with
them. They scrutinized him. but shook
their heads. Weber was very young,
and this man was past fifty. His
beard was stubbly and gray-a sure
sign that he was approaching old age.
At the next station a young girl was
conducted to the compartment. See
ing no one In It but men. she declared
that 1t was not proper place for her
to travel Since the orders were to
place every one boarding the train In
that compartment, the railway Officia
insisted on her entering 1t or remaining
behind. The latter course would In
volve waiting over day. for Mt that
time there were very few trains. The
young lady. therefore. with apparent
IcluCtuuCe tUtCISu CuC hCtu th Vhs
hand n portmantean. IN the other d
bouquet of flowers The official made
up for fOp CALAMITY alighted, tool
her portmanteau lshe held on to heI
bouquet, and handed her into thu
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 d
lot of men that he who was made VI
for Britisher. In feigned broken Ger
man. assured her that she might con
slider herself under his protection
though there was no need Of 1t, fol
the other two men In the compartment
were respectable persons.
This seemed to relieve the young wo
mans fears. To show her apprecia
ton of his kindness she took flower
from her bouquet and gave 1t to him
He held II u his nose and. finding the
odor delicious continued to sniff II
The old man settled himself for NAP
or pretended to do 50, while the fol
ogled the girl. Seeing him look cOvet
Ously at her bouquet. she took out Q
rose and gave 1t to him. by this time
the Britisher had become drOwsy and
leaning his head back ON the cushion
} fell asleep.
"YGn do not appreciate the perfume
of the rose. herr" said the fraulein
TRY this one" She drew forth another
and held IL to his nose herself. looking
into his eyes intently and with pleas
, ant smile on her lips The man began
to feel drowsy and. suspecting that
, something in the rose was affecting
,, him, endeavored to put 1t away with
his hand But the fraulein smilingly
resisted, and he passed into slumber
, her smiling face fading before him.
At this juncture the old man. who
was only doing and that naturally
opened his eyes and. seeing one of his
companions asleep with his head on
the cushion and the other sinking into
Inconsistencies. looked at the frauleiI
suspiciously.
"Lookr' she cried. pointing out
through the window. at the same time
assuming frightened expression.
The man looked and. seeing nothing
of importance, turned again to see him
self confronted by weapon in the
hands of the girl. Advancing toward
him. she pressed the muzzle Of her
pistol against his forehead and pressed
her bouquet to his nose. He must ell
Their get bullet in his brain or go to
sleep. He chose the latter course.
When the train reached the next sta
ton the guard reported that the three