Evening star., 1940-01-01
CHAPTER III.

CHAPTER III.
Realization of the fate she had
20 narrowly escaped sent chllls up
and down Claire buttons spine as
Pierre Bornet described the IN
cerdiary powder.
"There was enough to destroy even
so large a ship as the st. CroiX, once
II got started" he explained. 1T
Is the most terrible chemical now
known and if the enemy ever starts
dropping quantities of it from planes
over our citieS-well -" He paused
dramatically and Claire and San
ford could easily envision the holo-
caust his words conjured up.
"It has been used before the
Surete detective continued. In
fact. it is strongly suspected that
small quantity of this powder caused
the destruction of the American
Clipper ship which vanished without
a trace while on pathflnding eX-
pedition in the South Seas. Every
one knows that establishment OF the
trans-Pacific air line was bitterly
opposed by certain powers. Sabotage
of other sorts was attempted so why
not this?"
Claire realized it had been mere
accident that saved the st. CrolX
and possibly the lives of every one
aboard.
IF Bill Cameron had arrived on
schedule, whoever put the over
night case in my stateroom undoubt-
edlv would have removed it and
planted it somewhere on the ship,
and it suddenly would have burst
into flames and destroyed us ALL
she thought. She was thankful that
Cameron had missed the boat.
But where was he? What had
happened to him?
Fears for Cameron.
She turned to the two men and
spoke the questions aloud.
"It was absolutely imperative that
he reach New York as quickly as
possible and 60 on to Washington"
she told them. He told me that.
I know he would be aboard the st.
Croix now unless something hap
pened-something terrible"
Suppose you leave M. Cameron's
whereabouts to me?" suggested Bor-
net. 1--WE of the Surete will find
him if he is anywhere in France.
IF mademoiselle will permit the
suggestion, / would strongly urge
her to leave France as quickly as
possible. There is an American
warship sailing from Bordeaux, be-
lieve, in two days. You are in very
grave danger here, that is certain.
If certain persons know your move
ments well enough to exactly dupli-
cate your baggage, they may not
hesitate to harm you once they
learn their plan has been baked"
Sanford joined Bornet in urging
Claire to leave.
There's nothing you can do here,
Miss Dutton," he insisted. THE
Embassy will join with the Surete
in making every effort to locate Mr..
Cameron. You may depend upon
that. 1t is much more important
now that you safeguard your own
life and leave while it is still pos
sible. I can make the arrangements
for you to get aboard the warship."
Failed to Reach Field.
Claire's chin, ordinarily so round
and soft, set determinedly.
Thank you both, very much, but
I'm staying in France until I find
Mr.. Cameron. He's my employer
he depends upon me. cannot leave
without him, regardless of any dan
ger I may be in" Her brown eyes
flashed as she faced them defiantly.
Bornet shrugged helplessly. San
ford started to renew his protests,
and then broke off as the phone on
his desk rang. It was the official at
the ministry of war, who had prom
ised to check on Cameron's move
ments.
Il finally located the officer who
had M. Cameron's affairs in charge"
the voice said over the phone. II
checked with Capt Rene Martin,
the aviator who was to have flown
the American gentleman to LIE
Havre. NJ Cameron, he says, never
appeared at st. Cyr where the cap
tain was waiting with his plane. The
captain waited until few minutes
ago, and then left the field to re-
turn to Paris. expect he will check
In here some time this evening""
Sanford thanked the official and
asked to have Capt. Martin get in
touch with him.
You know what Mr.. Cameron's
mission here has been, don't you?"
Claire inquired.
The Seals Puzzle.
'I must confess that don't, Miss
Dutton," the Embassy attache an