Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1915-05-14
Carl Weber S
Escape
BY EUNIcE BLAKE

In 1913 a wave OF antagonism to
monarchieal government swept yer
Europe. II was successful In France.
though the republican government es-
fablished there under Louis Napoleon
was converted by tim 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 bud been especially
active as a lender in the revolution,
was intending to board a train In n
OF its stops after leaving Berlin with
a 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 a 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 I'M
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 mo-
LITIGATION of his intention to leave Prus-
sia to take every preeaution against
deception.
In the first place be disguised his
men on the train so that they should
not be recognized az officials. One
was o wrinkled old man. one wal 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 it was known that
Weber was q 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
dcials 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 d man was put In with
them. They scrutinized him, but shook
their heads. Weber was very young,
and this man was past dfty. His
beard was stubbiy and gray-a sure
sign that he was approaching old age.
1T the next SfaTfon a young girl was
conducted to the compartment. See
ing no one in 1t but men. she declared
that it was not a proper place for her
to travel. Since the orders we're to
place every one boarding the train in
that compliment. the railway official
insisted on her entering it or remaining
behind. The latter course would In
volve waiting over a day. for at that
time there were very few trains. The
young lady. therefore. with apparent
fEiuCtducG eultItu- OuG uclu III ohC
hand a portmanteau, in the other a
bouquet of flowers. The official made
up for a flop calamity alighted. took
her portmanteau tshe held on to her
bouquet and handed her into the
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 a
lot of men that he who was made up
for a Britisher, Ia feigned broken Ger
man, assured her that she might con-
slider herself under his protection,
though there was no need of 1t. for
were respectable persons.
This seemed TO relieve the young wo-
mans fears. To show her apprecia-
ton of his kindness she took a flower
from her bouquet and gave 1t to him.
He held 1t to his nose and. finding the
odor delicious. continued to sniff It.
The old man settled himself for a nap
or pretended to do SO. while the fop
ogled the girl. Seeing him look covet-
0usly ar her bouquet, b o 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.
"You do not appreciate the perfume
of the rose. herr" said the fraulein.
.'Try this one" She drew forth another
and held 1t to his nose herself. looking
into his eyes intently and with a 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 it away with
his hand. But the fraulein smilingly
resisted. and he passed into slumber.
her smiling face fading before him.
At this ju%ncture 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 fraulein