The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1917-08-24
George
Starkweather's
Mission
a Story of Secret Service
In the Worlds War.
BY F. A. mitchell

0eorSe StdrkWeatner was dressing
for dinner ut his hotel in Rome when
a stranger entered his room and closed
the door behind him. Starkweather
looked at him, indignant at this cool
trespassing.
why do you enter my room with
out knocking?" he asked stefnly.
Because / do not wis., to be seen
entering your room. chose moment
when there was no one in the corridor,
and 1t was essential that should lose
no time. Signor, you are wanted at
the Quirinal palace"
lat the palacer
"Yes, signor, and l am ordered to
take you there without your going be-
ing known. AS soon as you have fin
tSked your toilet go down and out.
You will find cab standing by the
sidewalk. Enter 1t 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 l 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 emptyT'
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 GO
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 StNrkweather had finished his
toilet-he 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 a 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, ''in finishing your
toilet. You do not seem to hesitate to
keep his majesty waiting"
'If the king calls for me-" replied
George, ..when-I am about to dine
either he or my stomach must wait.
Since l am an American citizen, not a
subject of the king of Italy, do not
feel compelled to sacrifice my stomach
to royalty"
When they reached the gates of the
palace grounds they passed in through
lines Of guards and alighted at side
entrance of the building. Starkweath-
err was conducted to a room in which
sat the king and his prime minister.
At his entrance both rose and greeted
the American in n friendly manner.
"Mr Starkweather," said the prime
minister I'm fair English, "Signor Baro-
nj. whose wife is 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?'
al am at q loss to know why / am
selected for such purpose" replied
Starkweather.
.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 posi-
BILE moment. Were we to send ar
Italian or one known to be in our con
fidence it is quite likely that the mes
sage would be stolen from him before
he had crossed the border. We hope
by using an American who has no
been previously known to us to throw
the spies off the track.
eff we are neutral the allies can move
million men they now hold to op
nose us against the central powers
Here is q dispatch notifying the F'rencl
premier that italy will remain 'neu
trail. 1t must be delivered with TN
utmost dispatch, and the central pow
ers must not know of our policy.
"You are to carry the dispatch t
Edward Bruson. who is waiting 10
the kings decision in Lucerne. Ill
will instruct you as to the best mean
of reaching Paris"
1t was suggested to Starkweathe
that the cab In which he had come Z
the palace would be watched on its re
turn. and he was advised not to use
further. 1t was dismissed, and tina
night the messenger left the palace b.
private exit. entered his hotel by
rear door and. having thrown wha
articles he needed for his journey int
a lightweight suit case, left the hous
in the gray Of the morning when n
one was about, proceeded to the raj
way station on the Esquiline hill an
took a train leaving for Milan.
II did not seem to the American tina
after such precautions any one excep
those who had dispatched him coul
know that he was on a mission, prot
ably the most important to France
to the world, that had ever left To