The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1916-06-19
BY A HAIRS
BREADTH
By EMMA BRUCE


ing hurried to the guiIlotine, a number
of tumbrils 1.-TWO wheeled cartsj 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 ak, and the
driver was about to move away, think.
ing that he was not needed, when
young man was led ont and placed in
his cart.
Driver" said the condemned man.
eff you viii permit me to escape and
l succeed In getting out of France
will give you 100000 francs. / am the
Marquis de Fontaigny Our family
long ago deposited 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
sweetheart? Fancy the little home yon
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
erS 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 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, 81 want
no pay for what / 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"
With the last words he drove the
cart into an entrance to court behind
a grocer'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
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,
the gateway through which they were
to pass they would be liable to inspee.
ton
Several citizen soldiers were loung-
ing about. The teamster as they APP
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,
ha DrIo 30 hnI
as though awakened from dream.
'Well," he said, ''what win your
"Who are you, and where are you
going?"
81 am a teamster and am going be-
yond the barrier to contract for some
fodder for my horses"
"And you" to the marquis.
81 assist him In his stables"
you don't look like stableman."
After some further questions the two
were permitted to pass.
The nearest border for them was
Belgium. Once out of Paris, they turn
ed northward and began a journey
over the route that many an emigre of
the revolution had Travelled before
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 cool head that they
succeeded In escaping suspicion.
Since the marquis was in company
v-i+J, opa of acmrou oy-ioip aud 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
ed 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.
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 a 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
tome decided to make Brussels his
home, and Fontaigny insisted on pro-
viding capital with which he set up a
shop suited tn his station and abilities
n R- m T~A