Evening star., 1939-12-31

the window and as the beautiful
countryside, brilliant in the colors
Of autumn, rushed by, puzzled over
the extra bag and tried to think
what Cameron would do In such q
circumstance.
There's something funny about
it," she said to herself. Some one
is trying to put something over on
me-"
She decided that Cameron. in her
place, would Immediately take the
case to some one who would solve
the mystery of French uniforms,
termined to do as soon as she
reached Paris.
Consequently, when the train slid
to a stop at the Care Street Lazare
and porter carried her baggage to
the taxi stand, she directed her
driver to take her to the American
Embassy.
Cameron Is Missing.
1t was after S O'Clock, but she was
fortunate In finding Welles San
ford, an attache she had met several
times through her employer, and
told him of her experience after she
had first made inquiries about
Cameron. He knew nothing Of what
might have happened to Cameron,
but promised to investigate.
He inspected the bag containing
the carton, whistled softly and tele-
phoned the surete generate. He
briefly described what had happened
and while they waited for a man
from the secret service, he called
the ministry of war. He had diff
Guilty finding the man he wanted
because of the lateness of the hour,
but finally got minor official on
the wire.
mo, M. Sanford" the man said.
Il do not know what has become
of M. Cameron. But shall make
inquiries. I know nothing of his
plans, so I shall have to make sew
eral phone calls. I shall call you
later"
Pierre Bornet of the surete didn't
look the least like master detec-
tive, Claire thought as he hoWed
deeply when Sanford introduced
him to her. He was very short,
scarcely feet, and was quite ro-
tund. In fact, she wondered if he
didn't measure almost as much
around as he did up and down.
Funny but Foxlike.
His head was almost completely
bald, but as if to make up for this
deficiency, nature had endowed him
with a luxurious mustache which
easily extended three inches on
either side of his nose, with slight
upward tilt at the ends which, with
his small, sharp, bright blue eyes,
gave him the general facial appear
ance of fox.
If NJ Bornet was funny to look at,
he was anything but that in his
professional capacity He was eff
cheney itself as he snapped out ques-
tions with the rapidity of machine
gun.
He wanted to know just when she
discovered the case. If she had
seen it on the boat Who had carried
it off. Who had placed it in the
taxi. A description of the steward
and the porter, and the taxi driver,
too. He asked about the diplomatic
labels. Nodded sagely as she ex-
planned why Cameron had them af-
fixed to her bags as we'll as his.
Finally he got around to the case
itself. He carefully compared the
odd case with the one Claire knew
positively to be hers. Point by
point. he went over them, nodding to
himself as he saw how cleverly the
second bag had been made to look
like her own.
With flourish which would have
done credit to master Snowman. he
at last opened the bag He carefully
removed the carton He smelled it.
Shook it gently, and at last took d
penknife from his pocket and slit the
cover.
Plot to Burn Ship.
Cautiously inserting one finger he
withdrew it and nodded brightly at
the powder which adhered. He
smelled that, shifting like a dog at
a rat hole. Finally he barely touched
the end of his tongue to it.
"Mademoiselle. you have done
France a great service" he ex-
claimed finally. You have defeated
a dastardly plot-a plot which, If
successful. would have utterly de-
stroyed the grand paquebot-the st.
Croix"
You mean :" Claire couldn't
go on.
Il mean it is a highly inflam-
mable powder-a powder which in
several days would have set fire to
it's paper covering. burned through
the case and your cabin would have
become raging inferno. 1t would
have spread so rapidly that it would
have been impossible to control it
once it caught hold. The st. Croix
would have burned to the waters
edge. 1t is one of the most terrible
chemicals known!"
But how could it have been
done?" Sanford demanded.
"Spies, monsieur, spies. They
knew M. Cameron and Mile. Dutton
were leaving on the st. Croix. They
know about the diplomatic seals on
their baggage. They initiated one
of mademoiselle's bags and placed
this powder in it. 1t was unlikely,
they thought, it would be noticed.
All other baggage which went aboard
the boat was carefully examined for
just such things as this. They knew
mademoiselle's would not be. Sol"
He shrugged his shoulders ex-
pressively.
(Tomorrow-The Paper Clue.)
Copyright, 1910, by the Bell Syndicate, Inc.
n.