Evening star., 1939-12-31
# nearly s5o,ooo,ooo, through any

of nearly s5o,ooo,ooo, through any
lack of vigilance.
"Claire's bags had not been
opened, but they were the only ones
not opened on all that vast ship.
Hers bore diplomatic seals, affixed
in Paris. She need not open them
on the dock in New York either,
unless she wished. Cameron had
arranged this convenience as they
expected to leave for Washington
Immediately on docking. An Army
plane would be waiting at Governors
Island, to whisk them to Boiling
Field an hour after they had set
foot on American soil.
Aside from the dockhands, stand
ing ready to cast off the huge haw-
sers, the strip adjoining the ship
was now vacant. The soldiers had
withdrawn to the gate, the only en-
trance to the dock, and were stand
ing in a group there. Sailors were
beginning to unlash the moorings Of
the gangplank. ready for the signal
from the bridge to push 1t ashore.
Pleads for Delay.
Claire was almost frantic as she
glanced once more toward the shed
through which Cameron would come
hurrying if he were to catch the
boat. She appealed to the ship off,
Ger standing at the head of the
gangplank.
Cant you delay few minutes?"
she pleaded. "Mr. Cameron should
be here at any moment
I'm sorry, mademoiselle." the Of
fcer replied, with salute. 1--WE must
sail on the dot. Our convoy just
radioed that it is waiting. We can't
delay for any one
I'm very sorry" the officer in
terrupted, and snapped out sharp
order to the deckhands to get ready
to put off the gangplank.
"Wait!" Claire cried. wait for
mel" She turned and ran down the
deck, and dashed down a flight of
stairs to the deck below. In the
COl 1OO1 DIG IllCC q oGC"dAu di1O,
shouting at him in French to fol-
low. ran on to her stateroom.
my bags!" she ordered as the
astounded steward followed her in
side. Put them ashore, please!'
But, mademoiselle! he protested.
"It is impossible! We are sailing in
one minute!"
The Bags on the Bed.
That's why have to get ashore
Quickly! Take my bags! Those on
the bed!"
With an expression on his face
which clearly indicated that he
thought the 'maidemoiselle" was
crazy, the steward grabbed the bags
and all but ran after Claire as she
hurried back to the gangplank.
HAS Mr.. Cameron come aboard
while I was gomez" she demanded
of the officer.
mo, maidemoiselle. No, I have
not seen him."
"Then I'm going ashore. I can't
sail without him"
But :"
1--WE made up my mind. Please
have the steward put my bags on
the dock"
With shrug, the officer nodded
permission to the steward to go
ashore, and Claire, with one last
longing look at the big comfortable
deck, walked quickly down to the
dock. She fished 10-franc note
from her purse and handed it to the
steward, who clutched it eagerly
and scrambled back aboard just as
a crane overhead creaked and the
gangplank swung away from the
boat and settled slowly onto the
cement floor of the pier.
The St. Croix Moves OF.
The girl heard two sharp whistle
blasts, and turning, saw the dock
hands casting off the mooring lines.
Tugs belched smoke from their
stubby stacks and cables tightened
as they bent to the task of towing
the huge liner away from the shore.
Slowly, the St. Croix moved away,
the strip of water between it and
the dock gradually widening. Pas
sengers, lining the decks, waved
frantically to those on shore, shout
ing good-bys in English and French.
Tears were In Clarie's eyes as
she stood waving her handkerchief
until the big boat. painted muddy