Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-04-09

sary orders have been given, and you
will be warned three minutes before the
ship sails. Please excuse me-"
1.-THE Old Mans fed up" Stopford
back to this murder business?" He turn
ed to the charming woman occupying
the adjoining chair. Was 1t my fault
Mine, I think" she confessed IT
am sorry. But yet"-She hesitated-
perhaps we can be of use."
Say 1t quick, Macrae," Peter
Champion burst in exchanging q glance
With Roscoe. THE commander, here,
has a lot of questions to put to you.
Suppose you place yourself at his dis
posal."
without waiting for confirmation from
the informer, Drake Roscoe faced Mac
rae.
I'VE won't waste time" said he terse-
ly. You are Robert Macrae, divi-
sional chief of the organization known
as the Zones"
That's right"
"Show me your badge"
Macrae threw back the lapel of his
of eyes became focused upon the device
pinned to his coat; large diamond D
upon an onyx shield.
You have undertaken" said Ros-
coe criSply, Ito furnish evidence which
will enable us to clean up the Zone
group. What is this evidence?"
Amid a tense silence-for every one
in the cabin recognized the value of
time-Macrae took from his pocket
something wrapped in tissue paper.
Unwrapping the paper, he put upon the
captains table duplicate badge.
Paste" he explained. But no one
will Challenge it. My own daren't
part with yet. for obvious reasons. 1
figure I'm one of four, but can't be
sure. Under me have Zone
officers, 9 sector captains and So
group masters with operatives. Over
me have Head Centre. don't know
Head Centre-what he really looks like,
I mean. But he knows me. know
my three Zone officers. They know me-
know my sector captains-but they
don't know me! don't know who's
III charge of the other divisions. But
the power OF this badge holds good all
over the city"
What d'you mean?" Page Sutton
demanded.
II mean that this badge gives me au-
thority over all Zone officials below the
rank of chief, whatever division they
belong to-"
II sect" Drake Roscoe murmured
and studied the duplicate badge which
he held in his hand. You mean that
anybody, wearing this badge, could
obtain control of the zones?"
"Sure!"
Roscoe turned to Madame Czerna.
Does this look familiar to you?" he
asked, and held up the diamond D.
1T is the badge of divisional chief"
she replied composedly.
How do you know?" Macrae chal-
lenged.
II was once a Zone officer" Madame
explained. II had charge of Zone A.
That was before the big raid"
Are there any more of us here?"
Macrae asked.
NO" said Roscoe shortly. Get busy.
Time is sort Listen. Have you any
reason to suppose that there Is a big
political plot being Matched by Head
Centre?"
Yes. But I don't know what it is"
Have you reason to believe that
there are yet higher officials than Head
Centre?" the politician asked.
mo He's the boss"
How d'you know"
81 don't know. But whereas Zone
officers are sometimes put through di-
rect to Head Centre, divisional chief
is never put through to anybody above.
That's why I figure he's in control"
Reasonable but wrong" Stopford
murmured.
Let me get the facts clear" Roscoe
went on. You are supposed to be
aboard this ship tonight on Zone bust
neSs?"
Il am. My passage to Cherbourg is
booked"
You are supposed to leave before the
ship sails?"
81 am. My baggage is to 60 on"
What is your business on the shtp?"
Nov we're coming to It'll" said Mac
rae grimly. There's an important move
being made tonight" He looked around
the party significantly. II don't know
If it's you, Mr.. Champion, or Mr.. Page
Sutton, Or"
The big politician smiled, and:
"Or mel" he added dryly. But I
gather, Mr.-er-Macrae, that when a