The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-05-10
EIPGSODB NO. 5.

A Kings Messenger makes many Journeys which are without incident But there are other missions more romantic. It arises upon occasion that the messenger does not finish his Journey at the destination indicated He Is asked to do this or that whom he gets there. During 0 time of war ho may pass from the proteC- ton of the military authorities and be out upon his own. in which case he often needs all his wits to help him.
 Speaking for myself, I was warned that this would be so when I left England on a curious mission to France in the year 1916.
 was to go to Paris to be the in term ediary in certain very delicate negotiations between diplomatists. and for a time was to remain there, car ring such despatches as were ur- gent. London warned me that great care would be necessary. It was known that German agents were moving heaven and earth to get in touch with these proceedings. I must be often on my own by the very ne cessities of the case. and set cut for Paris fully realizing my position.
 There was plenty of time and the Dieppe route was chosen. I remem- Der an amusing incident at the be- ginning, when in an English port, having gone to bed upon the steamer which was to take me over, I awoke next morning and asked the steward if he had arrived. He amused me oy saying that we had not yet start ed, there having beon a submarine in the Channel which had kept us to our anchorage. When our navy had po- litely removed this obstacle, we set out upon a glorious day, and made a rapid passage. The warning from London being in my mind, [ natural 1y observed my fellow passengers very closely, and I am bound to confess that two of them excited my cur tosity.
 Suspicious Companions.
 One pretended to be q French jour nallst. He was a little man, with frtzzy hair, and an odd way of snap ping his fingers when he talked. I am now quite convinced that he was not a Frenchman at all Indeed, he fig ured subsequently, with some prom thence in the Bolo trials at Paris, and it may be safely said of him. as Bret Harte said of the Deacon at the meeting. That subsequent proceed ings will interest him no more."
 On the ship. however. he was en- tirely affiable. Whenever I sat or walked on deck I found this little man had somehow installed himself nearby. He had a bundle of French and English papers. and upon the pretence of being greatly interested in the news, he intruded his con- versation upon me.
 What a patriot the fellow seemed to be!
 He cursed the Hun with all the emphasis that a Latin can command. pooh-poohed all pessimisrn, and de- clared that Russia would finish the job in a few months time Tn one thing he showed his cIeverness-he made no attempt to question me con corning my business. did not put a single question about 1t. and gave no indication whatever that he was aware of my indendty. This man I suspected from the first. and upon him I determined to keep my eye
 With him there was one whom I shall call The Lady in Distress" She was a very pretty, fair-haired wo- man. who was. as the man told me, a Californian from Los Angeles. As I had already diagnosed her for an Austrian, and was quite sure that had seen her some years ago at the house of the Baron Kallai at Sera- jevo, the apology for her interested me curiosly. ...
 Her pretended trouble was the diff hculty of travelling in France. She told me that her passports had been signed at the American and French Embassies in London; but she still seemed doubtful whether some enc would not eat her directly she sci foot on the quay at Dieppe, and otherwise her troubles were many She had lost some of her luggage between Liverpool and London; she believed that a maid at the hotel had stolen an ermine tie; she was quite sure that she would never find hel alleged brother, who had besS zz en- gineer upon tie cr6=r$=Sznd railway of Paris.
 Let me say at once that, but fol the fact of my confidence in my own memory, shotsiS never have suspected this engaging lady. Sht certainly was a wonderful actress who would have made a fortune up on any stage.
 will not say that she wept, bu she looked tears all the time, ant she had a manner of inviting protec ton which was priceless. Neverthe less, marked her immediately, ant when she got to Dteppe I dropped ; hint to the proper @uthcestys