The Washburn leader., 1916-06-23
BY A HAIRS
BREADTH
b. EMMA BRUCE

midst Of the reign of terror. whel
crowds Of condemned mobiles were be
ing hurried to the guillotine, a numbe
of tumbrils two wheeled carts) drew
up in front Of the Concicrgerie prison
for victims. They were filed. all bdt
one, for which it seemed there were NJ
persons intended for the az, and the
driver was about to move away, think
ing that he was not needed, when 8
young man was led out and placed II
his cart.
DRIVER" said the condemned man
If you viii permit me to escape and
succeed in getting out Of France
will give you 100000 francs. I am the
Marquis de Fontaigny: Our family
long ago deposited fortune in Eng.
land"
"What good would 100000 francs dc
me without my head?" was the reply.
'"They would guillotine me in yous
place."
| Leave France with me- Think of
the fortune you WIFI gain. Have you q
sweetheart? Fancy the little home you
can make with her."
The man began to- lag farther behind
the, other tumbTils, 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, liz turned into it., at the same
time reaching back, with one hand and
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 We're side by side be fold the mar
quis to take off his coat and throw it
down into the. cart. and,, tnking off hfs
own waistcoat;-hc. wore ITO coat--hsr
gave it to the marquis to puE on. Then,
taking clay pipe from his pocket, he
put 1T In the marquis mouth: All this
was done. scarcely q person noticing it,
In few moments. Then the two
drove on as if they were of the same
rank In life and! but on: am ordinary
purpose. Fontaigny took care to. play
his part well.
Monsieur" saidi the driver ct want
no. pay for what: am doing am.
tired of driving people to- their death,
and VIII 60 away with. you IL We can
elhde those who aue' expected to. catch.
us., Our success VIII depend. upon; tile.
luck we have in not Being: sOoEA missed
But Rt us take no chances as ~, that"
With the last words he drove the
cart into an entrance to a court behind
q, gBocer's shop. Then both he. and:
the marquis got down and, seeing an,
open door, entered it and, passing.
through passageway, came. to. the
rear Of another Shop opening: on, an+
otlter street.
. They had scarcely turned the cart
into, the court when.a mounted; soldier
gallsped past the entrance antll hurried
on, down the street..
Before reaching ttie barrier they pro.
cured some more coarse clothing fOE
the. marquis by trading with, am over.
grown youth for his worn breeches,
shoes and hat, for they knaw that at
the. gateway through which, they were
to, pass they woulll! lie liable, to, ihspec. :.
ti0n-
Several citizen soldiers. were, lOung
ing about. The teamster. as they ap-
preached talked volubly TO- the mar
qMs, as though he was not think
ing: Of anything except the subject that
interested him When he. came, 10. the
gate,. pretending not to- see the, guarA
be was ordered to halt He looked up
as though awakened from a dream.
'3Well," he said, swhat will. yeu2'''
"Who are you; and where are you
eoing?"
~ am teamster and am going be-
y0nd the barrier to. contract for some
fodder for. my horsas.'
"And yen?''' to tie MARQUES
81 assist him, In his. stables
"You don't look Ike q stablemon."
After some further questions the two
were permitted to pass.
The nearest border for them waa
Belgium. Once out Of Paris, they turn.
ed ncrthward and began Journey
over the route that many an emigre of
the revolution had Travelled before
them, only. instead Of keeping to a
main road, they devfated from one as
much as possible. The marquis COM
panion, who gave his name as Antoine
Royer. proved by far the better STRAIT
egist Of the two. and it was due to his
well 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, 1t 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
ed the border. and 1t 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. 3e
Fontaigny gave the man to whom he
owed his life the promised reward.
Antoine had sweetheart and consent
ed that the money should be settled on