The Press., 1916-11-09
BY A HAIRS
 BREADTH
By EMMA BRUCE

 midst of the reign of terror, when crowds of condemned nobles were be- ing hurried to the guillotine, number of tumbrils two wheeled carts) drew up in front of the Conciergerie prison for victims. They were filled, all but one, for which it seemed there were no persons intended for the ax, and the driver was about to move away, think ing that he was not needed, when a young man was led out and placed in his cart.
 Driver" said the condemned man, Eff you will permit me to escape and I succeed in getting out of France I will give you 100000 francs. I am the Marquis de Fontaigny. Our family long ago deposited a fortune in Eng land"
 What good would 100000 francs do me without my head?" was the reply. "They would guillotine me in your place."
 Leave France with me. Think of the fortune you will gain. Have you a sweetheart? Fancy the little home you can make with her.
 The man began to lag farther behind the other tumbrils, which in the start had got away before him. Presently he drew rein and, getting down from his seat, pretended to fix the harness. When the other carts had passed al most out of sight he got up again and drove on till, coming to narrow side street, he turned into it, at the same time reaching back with one hand and cutting the rope that bound the prison CTS hands.
 Get up on the seat beside me-
 The marquis in his anxiety to escape death was about to jump out of the cart, but the driver stopped him. When they were side by side he told the mar quis to take off his coat and throw it down into the cart, and, taking off his own waistcoat-he wore no coat-he gave it to the marquis to put on. Then, taking a clay pipe from his pocket, he put it in the marquis mouth. All this was done, scarcely person noticing it, in a few moments. Then the two drove on as if they were of the same rank in life and but on an ordinary purpose. Fontaigny took care to play his part well.
 Monsieur" said the driver, "I want no pay for what I am doing. am tired of driving people to their death and will go away with you if we can elude those who are expected to catch us. Our success will depend upon the luck we have in not being soon missed But let us take no chances as to that t."
 With the last words he drove the cart into an entrance to court behind grocer's shop. Then both he and the marquis got down and, seeing an open door, entered 1t and, passing through passageway, came to the rear of another shop opening on an other street.
 They had scarcely turned the cart into the court when a mounted soldier galloped past the entrance and hurried on down the street.
 Before reaching the barrier they pro- cured some more coarse clothing for the marquis by trading with an over grown youth for his worn brooches, shoes and hat, for they knew that at the gateway through which they were to pass they would be liable to inspec' tion.
 Several citizen soldiers were loung- ing about. The teamster as they ap- preached talked volubly to the mar quis, as though he was not think ing of anything except the subject that interested him. When he came to the gate, pretending not to see the guard, he was ordered to halt. He looked up as though awakened from dream.
 We'll he said, what will youY'
 Who are you, and where are you going?"
 II am a teamster and am going be yond the barrier to contract for some fodder for my horses
 And yOuy" to the marquis.
 II assist him in his stables"
 You don't look like 8 stableman."
 After some further questions the two were permitted to pass.
 The nearest border for them was Belgium. One out of Paris, they turn ed northward and began a journey over the route that many an emigre of the revolution had trayeled before them, only, instead of keeping to a main road. they deviated from one as much as possible. The marquis com panion. who gave his name as Antoine Boyer, proved by far the better strat egist of the two, and it was due to his we'll laid plans and cool head that they succeeded in escaping suspicion. . Since the marquis was in company with one of common origin and in a commoner's clothing. it was not diff cult for them to get on without excit- ling attention. The main feature Of their escape was in the beginning. :there being no clew to what had be- come of them. In due time they reach ied the border. and it was not long be fore the young marquis was embraced by his widowed mother, who, having learned of his arrest. had given him up for lost. .-.es
 Fontaigny gave the man to whom he owed his life the promised reward. Antoine had a sweetheart and consent ed that the money should be settled on her for dowry. Funds were sent to her, and she joined her lover in Brus- sells. where there was a wedding graced by the presence of the marquis mother and others of his family. An toine decided to make Brussels his home and Fontaigny insisted on pro- viling capital with which he set up shop suited to his station and abilities.
 Mystifying Chemical Trick.
 A nl:lin hlue handkerchief is shown