The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1915-03-25
A Newspaper
Episode
By EVERETT P. CLARKE

Just before the war that led to the
evacuation Of northern Italy by the
Austrians Edward Wharton, young
American newspaper correspondent,
went abroad to seek his fortune by
practicing the profession be had adopt
ed There was not enough--at least on
the surface-in European affairs to war
rant an expenditure by American news
papers in keeping a special correspond
ent abroad, but Wharton found posi-
ton as such on an English newspaper
the patrons of which were more direct
ly interested In the continental political
complexion of the times.
The young journalist was sent to VI
emma, where, possessing those quaih-
cations calculated TO make one social
success, he became favorite In the
court circle. He won the good will OF
the wife of the army officer charged
with preparations for the mobilization
Of troops so far as to be admitted on ia
miliar terms to her home. One day he
| was left alone in her husbands cabinet
and on the desk found spread out a
schedule showing the movements of
trains intended to carry a large army.
Hastily noting the important features
In his memorandum book, he was about
to leave the room when the major domo
entered.
He found Wharton studying picture
on the wall.
II beg your pardon, SIR" said the
servant. mo one is allowed In this
room"
mot allowed here?" said Wharton,
looking about him with well affected
surprise. 81 supposed this was the
library
'It is the generals private cabinet"
Wharton left the room and the house.
He dared not let the grass grow under
his feet Should the man who had
seen him in tke cabinet speak of the
| matter to the general some means
would doubtless be taken to prevent
| what was exposed on the desk from
| being revealed Wharton did not even
| go to his hotel making straight for
the railway station. He hoped to
catch a train for Munich or Nurem-
berg which would enable him to go
west, but unfortunately there was no
train leaving in that direction for sew
eral hours But a train was pulling
out for Trieste, lying southwark, and
Wharton, not having time to secure
ticket, got aboard without one. In
deed, he did not know where the train
would take him until informed by the
guard.
The fugitive's object was to get out
of Austria, thinking that once across
the border he would be safe But he
had great doubts about escaping-that
is, If an effort were made to detain
him. Trieste is on the northern ex-
tramity of the Adriatic sea and about
sixty miles from Venice, In Italy, by
either land or water. On reaching the
former city Wharton jumped off the
train just before it had rolled into the
station, realizing that kilograms might
be sent in every direction ordering that
he be stopped.
Going to hotel, which he entered
by rear door, he sent to the office to
learn how soon and by what route he
could go to Venice He was informed
that boat would leave in an hour
He went down side streets to the land
ing, looked ahead of him and saw
standing at the gangway one of the
menservants of the house at which he
had purloined his information. He
knew at once that the man was there
to identify him, though he must have
been there for some time or had been
sent on a special train ahead of the
one on which Wharton had Travelled
CHANGING forward and astern Of the
boat lying beside the dock, the fugitive
looked for an opportunity to get aboard
elsewhere than at the gangway There
was but the one entrance, and If he
undertook to go aboard except through
1T he would surely be observed. To 20
by that route was hopeless.
Wharton retreated and determined to
go by land. Of course if he attempted
to telegraph his news In Austria he
would be arrested, and he did not try
such course. Going to a dealer in
hair goods. he bought wig and beard
TO represent an old man, then hired a
room in an obscure apartment house.
where he put them on. Learning that
a train left Venice at 10 o'clock at night
stopped and there boarded it, thus es-
Gaping any one attempting to prevent
his leaving the city
At the next stop the door of the COM
partment in which Wharton Travelled
was thrown open, and a man stepped
upon the footboard and examined crit
ically every one in the compartment.
Wharton recognized him as waiter
who had often served him at his hotel
In Vienna. But the wig and beard
saved him, and after satisfying himself
that the man required was not there
the walter withdrew, and the train
moved on.
This enabled Wharton to enter Italy.
The Italians hated the AusTians, and
he knew that where he had one enemy
to fear he had a hundred friends to
help him. He left the station, entered
a gondoa and was rowed to a hotel
While on the canal he gave 10 francs
besides his fare. to the gondolier and