The Press., 1915-06-09
AnAmerican
 Messenger He Carried a Dispatch In
 the European War.
By GEORGE Y. LARNED

Cyrus Delano, an American, went to
 Italy when he was twenty years old
 and was so delighted with the coun-
 try, the climate, the historical associ-
 ations, that he found it hard to get
 away. Finally he settled in Rome and
 became a foreign resident of that in
 teresting city. Several years passed,
 during which Delano became intimate
 with many Italian citizens of promi-
 hence and was invited to social func-
 tions in the royal circle. On several
 occasions he met the king, who seem
 ed to take a great fancy to him.
 Then like a bolt from heaven came
 the great European war. Italy found
 herself In a very equivocal position.
 A member of the triple alliance with
 Germany and Austria, bitter hatred
 existing on the part of Italians aSainst
 the Austrians, unprepared to enter the fray on either side, the government
 was in a quandary. Nevertheless the
 sympathies of both the government
 and the people were strongly in favor
 of the allies.
 One day when Cyrus Delano was
 walking idly down the Via Rationale.
 watching the knots of people discuss ing the advance of the German troops Into Belgium, he felt a tap on his shoulder. Turning, he saw a gentle man he did not remember to have seen before, who said to him:
 "Signor Delano, will you please ac- company me. The minister of foreign affairs wishes to speak to you"
 Wondering what in the world so dis tinguished a functionary wished with him, Delane accompanied the man to the foreign office and without any de- lay whatever was ushered into the office of the secretary. There was an- other person present whom Delano recognized as the French ambassador. The former asked the American to be seated and then began to interrogate him. When he had finished the ques- tions he saids
 "Mr. Delano, this is the ambassador from France. He desires to send very important message to his govern ment at Paris. In this I am equally interested on behalf of the Italian gov ernment. We are beset by spies. If we send an Italian or a Frenchman he is liable to be waylaid by secret emis- saries of the members of the triple al- lianee. An American will have a far better chance to get through with the than one of different nation ality. Besides, you Americans are fer tile in expedients. Indeed, you are very bright people,"
 Delano, though he had no preference for either side, was quite pleased with the idea of such a service and at hay ing been chosen for it. He accepted the mission and was told that the dis patch would be sent to him the same afternoon and it was desirable that he depart at the earliest possible moment 
 However" said the secretary, i've have decided to intrust you with a of what the message con- tains. If you are waylaid and robbed of the document you can in that case proceed and deliver your message orally. We shall send a person known to be in our confidence to con- firm what you say. What we desire to mpart to the French government is his: As members of the triple alliance we are expected to threaten France in he south while she Is attacked in the north. All the French troops will be needed on the northern border. We Ire sending word by you that we have 10 intention whatever of attacking France. For the present at least we shall remain neutral"
 "I confess, your excellency," said De ano, "that I feel highly fiattered at having been chosen to carry a message of such vital importance"
 Delano was then furnished with funds for his journey and given in strucions as to the different routes he might pursue. Then he took his de parture and began preparations for his journey.
 The shortest route from Rome to French territory Is by way of Genoa. Therefore if spies were on Delano's track they would naturally expect him to proceed by this route. It was there fore decided that he should go by Switzerland, passing through Lucerne, Berne and Neuchatel
 Having received the dispatch, which was written in as small compass as possible, Delano called a cab and was driven to the railway station. Walk ing back and forth on the platform was a lady whom he had met at func- tions at the Quirinal palace, Mime. Tatiani, a Greek, who he had un- derstood was distantly related to the queen of that country. The lady on seeing Delano smiled graciously, though he did not remember to have been pre- tented to her.
 "Oh, Signor DelanoI Are you going on the train? Yes? I am so glad. dislike travelling very much and shall be glad of your company"
 Delano said that he was going to Switzerland, since be could no longer stand the midsummer weather of Rome. He expressed himself pleased in words at the lady's company, but his brows were knit, for he had been assured that he could trust no one, and the most effective spies were women of high degree. However, resolving to be on his guard. he made the best of what he considered misfortune and at Mime. Tatiani's invitation took a seat In compartment that she had engaged for her own exclusive use.
 The lady was a woman verging on thirty and had been very beautiful. That beauty had but little faded, and her mental attractiveness was at it's best Delano soon became aware that she was endeavoring to fascinate him. She adored Americans, pronounced them a marvellous people. and the ab- senee of European conventionality in them gave them freshness that other people did not have. Her eyes were very expressive, and she kept them constantly fixed on Delano's.
 At 10 o'clock Delano left the lady's after she had exacted a