The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1917-09-06
George
Starkweather's
Mission
A Story IF Secret Service e
In the Worlds War.
By F.oA. mitchell

| l 10y He "a XvA4 N11GAS
George Starkweather was dressins
for dinner at his hotel in Rome whe1
q stranger entered his room and closed
the door behind him. Starkweathel
looked at him, indignant at this COO
trespassing.
"Why do you enter my room with
out knocking?' he asked sternly.
Because I do not wish to be seen
entering your room. l chose a momen,
when there was no one In the corridor
and it was essential that l should lose
no time. signor, you are wanted al
the Quirinal palace"
| Cat the palace?" a
Eyes, signor, and I am ordered to
take you there without your going be.
ing known. AS soon as you have fin.
ished your toilet 60 down and out
You will find a cab standing by the
sidewalk. Enter it and tell the. cab
man to drive you to the Plaza de
Venetia. He will take you to the pal
ace"
'But why this mystery?'
'There are spies watching the move
ments of every one who has any com.
munication with the government. That
Is all can tell you now. You will
soon know the rest. May trouble you
to look out into the corridor and ad-
wise me when it Is empty?''
Starkweather did as requested and
presently reported that the coast was
clear. The stranger went out, and
George finished dressing. While doing
SO he was wondering what this sum-
mons to the kings palace meant. He
was an American traveller who had
gone to Italy some six months after
the breaking out Of the worlds war. to
see for himself how things were 60
ing, He knew no one in Rome except
an American lady who had married an
Italian who now held a portfolio in
the cabinet. But he could not see why
this acquaintance should cause him to
be summoned by the king.
When Starkweather had finished his
toilette put on ordinary clothes in.
stead of evening dress-he went to
the dining room, partook Of one course
Of the table d'hote, then went out and
got into cab which he found waiting
for him. He saw there the man who
had entered his room unbidden.
"You have been long while, signor,'..
said the stranger, Gin finishing your
toilet. You do not seem to hesitate to
keep his majesty waiting" 80,
III the king calls for me-" replied
George, when am about to dine
either he or,tmy stomach must wait,
Since Lam an American citizen, not =
subject Of the king Of Italy, do not
feel compelled to sacrifice my stomach
to royalty Il. ~ 4.
When they reached the gates of the
palace grounds they passed in through
lines of guaIds and alighted at side
entrance Of the building, Starkweath-
er was conducted to room in which
sat the king and his prime minister.
At bis entrance both rose and greeted
the American in friendly manner.
Mr.. Starkweather," said the prime
minister in fair English, "Signor Baro-
nj, whose wife is a countrywoman Of
yours, has suggested you as one fitted
to carry a message from his majesty
to France. Would you be willing to
Oblige us by doing sO?''
II am at loss to know why am
selected for such purpose" replied
Starkweather. 4,
You are an American, thus far. q
neutral in this war. Therefore you
will not be SO. likely suspected Of bear
ing a message from the Italian govern
ment. For you must know that the.
central powers are watching us keenly
to know what we are going to do and,
IL we enter the war on the side Of the
allies, to know 1t at the earliest possi-
BILE moment Were we to send an
Italian or one known to be in our con-
fidence it is quite likely that the mes
sage would he stolen from him before
he had crossed the border. We hope
BY: using an American who has not
been previously known to us to throw
the spies of the track.
III we are neutral the allies can move
q million men they now hold to OPP
pose us against the central powers.
Here is a dispatch notifying the French
premier that Italy will remain neu-
trail. 1t must be delivered with the
utmost dispatch, and the central pow
srs must not know Of our policy.
'"You are to carry the dispatch to
Edward Bruson, who Is waiting for
the kings decision In Lucerne. BE
will instruct you as to the best means
Of reaching Paris"
1t was suggested to Starkweather
that the cab in which he had come to
the palace would be watched on its re-
turn, and he was advised not = use 1t
further. 1t was dismissed, and that
Aight the messenger left the palace by
a private exit, entered his hotel by a
rear door and, having thrown what
articles he needed for his journey into
lightweight suit case, left the house
in the gray of the morning when no
one was about, proceeded to the rail
way station on the Esquiline hill and
took train leaving for Milan.
It did not seem to the American that
after such precautions any one excent