The Goldfield news and weekly tribune. [volume] (Goldfield, Nev.) 1911-1947, 1916-09-02
BY A HAIRS
BREADTH
By EMMA BRUCE

DuIIIlS lle ElthCh iulIOu III Tue
midst of the reign of terror, when
crowds of condemned mobiles We're be-
ing hurried to the guillotine, a number
of tumbrils two wheeled carts) drew
up in front of the Conciergerie prison
for victims. They were filed. all but
one. for which it seemed there were no
persons intended for the AK. and the
driver was about to move away. think
ing that he was not needed. when u
young man was led out and placed in
his cart.
Driver said the condemned man,
'if you will permit me to escape and
| succeed in getting out of France l
will give you 100000 francs. l am the
Marquis de Fontaigny. Our family
long ago deposited a fortune in Eng
land"
What good would 100000 francs do
me without my headY' 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 a narrow side
street, he turned into it. at the same
time reaching back with one hand and
cutting the rope that bound the prison
er's 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 Il clay pipe from his pocket, he
pat it in the marquis mouth. All this
was done, scarcely a person noticing it,
In a few moments. Then the two
drove on as if they were of the same
rank in life and but OF an ordinary
purpose. Fontaigny took care to play
his part well.
Monsieur" said the driver, Il want
no pay for what | am doing. / an
tired of driving people to their death
and will SO 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"
With the last words he drove the
cart into an entrance to a court behind
a grocer's shop. Then both he and
the marquis got down and, seeing an
open door. entered it and, passing
through a pasSageway, came to the
rear of another shop opening III 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 breeches,
shoes and hat. for they knew that ut
the gateway through which they were
to pass they would be liable to inspec'
ton.
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 Il dream.
We'll" he said. what will you?"
who are you, and where are you
going?"
Il am a teamster and am going be-
yond the barrier to contract for some
fodder for my horses"
And you?" to the marquis.
II assist him in his stables"
You don't look like a stabieman,"
After some further questions the two
we're permitted to pass.
The nearest border for them was
Belgium. Once out of Paris. they turn
ed northward and began Il journey
over the route that many an emigre of
the revolution had travelled 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 STRAIT
egist of the two. and it was due to his
well laid plans and coo 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-
ing 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