Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1918-05-01
George
Starkweather's
Mission
A Story of Secret Service
In the Worlds War.
BY F. A. mitchell.


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 sternly.
Because do not wish to be seen
entering your room. chose moment
when there was no one in the corridor.
and it was essential that should lose
no time. Signor, you are wanted at
the Quirinal palace"
"1-at the palace""
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 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 l can tell you now. You will
soon know the rest. May trouble you
to look out into the corridor and adj
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 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 Starkweather 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 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, lin finishing your
toilet. You do not seem to hesitate to
keep his majesty waiting.'
If the king calls for me-" replied
George, when l am about to dine
either he or my stomach must wait.
Since 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-
or was conducted to a room in which
sat the king and his prime minister
At his entrance both rose and greeted
the American in a friendly manner.
! Mr.. Starkweather," said the prime
minister in fair English, "Signor Baro-
nj, whose wife is countrywolaan of
yours, has suggested you as one fitted
to carry message from his majesty
to France. Would you be willing to
oblige us by doing SOP"
| Il am at loss to know why am
selected for such purpose" replied
Starkweather.
You are an American, thus far a
neutral in this war. Therefore you
will not be so likely suspected of bear
ing 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
IT we enter the war on the side of the
allies, to know it at the earliest posi-
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 be 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 off the track.
| III we are neutral the allies can move
a million men they now hold to op-
pose us against the central powers.
Here is dispatch notifying the French
premier that Italy will remain neu-
trial. 1t must be delivered with the
utmost dispatch, and the central pow
ers must not know Of our policy.
"You are to carry the dispatch to
Edward Bruson, who is waiting for
the kings decision in Lucerne. He
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 to use it
further. 1t vas dismissed, and that
night the messenger left the palace by
a private exit, entered his hotel by
rear door and, having thrown what
articles he needed for his journey into
a 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.
1t did not seem to the American that
after such precautions any one except
those who had dispatched him could
know that he was on a mission, prob
ably the most important to France,
to the world, that had ever left the
Italian capital. He did not know the
power OF the spy system of the central
powers, which in this case was oper
ated by the Austrians The man who
had taken him to the palace was
Swallowed, and Starkweather's move.
ments from the moment he left his
hotel to 60 there were known to those
VINO were Entrusted to report to Vienna
every movement of the Italian gov.
eminent.