Evening star., 1940-01-27

SYNOPSIS OF PRECEDING CHAPTERS.
Claire Duttnn. private secretary to
William Cameron. American diplomatic
St.. Croix at lie 'Havre Just before it
sails: He has not arrived from Paris.
exTa bae dancae nds of sns her mas oven an
night bag, containing an infiammable
chemical which would have DESTROYED
bas s disappears dis pears from en her f'f hote ei room
A stranger says Cameron is alive and
gives her her compact from the stolen
ozs v IN fells tt IS ser raTs s TeannF Was tidnaped
by Nazis. She agrees to fly to Bcrlin
gith instructions for Bill. Her, pilot is
Weber fiat tells Claire he loves her.
They elnde Gestapo searchers, led by
Roland, who had been a spv n Paris.
lin. It Is shot down. Rene is wound
ed and they all bail out. They hide
IN forest and Bill steals farm boys
clothes to disguise Claire.
CHAPTER %.
1t was the following afternoon be-
fore the three of them started out
on the adventure that was to bring
them safety or recapture and i'm
prisonment and possibly death. AL
though Rene and Claire had papers
to prove their German citizenship
and good standing as Nazis, they
knew that any searching investiga-
ton must reveal that they were
forged. Bill Cameron had no papers
of identification at all, and could
expect little mercy if he were cap
tured, especially as he was wearing
Nazi uniform.
Cameron had spent the day rec
onnoitering the wooden area in
which they had taken refuge, and
found fairly clear path, with few
detours, which would lead them to
a main road about miles away.
At his suggestion they made the
start at about 3 o'clock so that it
would be dusk before they came out
onto the road. It would be easier to
make their way undetected in the
dark, once they knew their way,
than to travel by daylight. Y
Before starting, Claire had retired
to the privacy of clump of bushes
and discarded her skirt in favor of
the farm boys trousers Cameron
had stolen from the clothesline
They were not bad fit, although a
little short in the legs. Bill said the
coarse sacking that he would wind
about her feet would bridge the gap
between her ankles and the bottoms
of her trousers, but he permitted
her to wear her own oxfords until
they reached the road. There was
virtually no chance of discovery SO
long as they stayed in the shelter OF
the trees, and the going was too
rough for the girl to bruise her feet
unnecessarily.
Claire Well Disguised.
Claire tucked the bottom of her
tight suit coat into the tops of the
trousers, and then pulled the sweater
Bill also had provided over it, She
would need the extra warmth during
the night.
Her hair, she pushed up tightly
under the same brown felt stroller
she had been wearing, after tearing
the brim little, removing the bano
and rubbing it in the dirt.
Now, you look like country
boy" Cameron commented, admir-.
ingly as she presented herself fol
inspection. THE idea, of course, /.
| for us not to attract any more at.
tention than necessary, and dressed
in skirt and with two men in uni
form, you certainly would have beer
noticed"
Rene was feeling much better ane
was happy at the thought that they
finally were going to get some &C.
ton.
We'll be back in Paris in no time
now" he said, gayly, "and I'll b.
calling on my Maria"
Road Too Dangerous.
The French aviator was still quite
weak, however, from loss of blooe
and his wounded arm hung use
lessly at his side. He insisted tina
he was strong enough to travel
and without a backward glance a
the little clearing that had servet
them as home for more than two
days and nights, they set out.
Cameron half supported Rene
and Claire brought up the rear a.
they slowly threaded their wa!
through the trees. Making frequen
stops for Rene to rest, and will
Bill carrying him bodily over some o
the worst places, they f1nall.
!, emerged from the trees and saw
I the road, winding down the slop
before them. It was broad, pavet
highway one of the many built ii
recent years for military purposes
Although it made walking mucl
easier, it also increased their DANCE
as they might at any moment en-
counter a patrol, or groups Of artil
lery or marching men.
"The road is too dangerous t