Evening star., 1940-01-14
CHAPTER IL.

that had led her to wear a warm
suit. AS she hurried along she dug
Into her purse, got her gloves and
pulled them on her hands.
Fortunately every one seemed in
tent on his own affairs and she at
tracted much less attention than
she ordinarily did on Paris street
where any pretty girl is certain to
draw stares.
Although the streets were we'll
crowded, most of the pedestrians
were women, and Claire was re-
minded that it was wartime by the
few able-bodied men to be seen.
Even the police, wearing steel he'll
NETS and brown uniforms, stationed
at the intersections to keep traffic
moving, were not the same trim,
alert figures she remembered when
she and Cameron had visited the
capital several months before.
They, apparently, like most of the
other younger men, were at the front,
and their places had been taken by
older, fatter men who had been
drafted from the home guard. Their
uniforms. more than the men them
selves, made her nervous, repre-
senting as they did the spirit of war
time Nazi-ism. and she felt definite
uplift in spirits when she saw Frau
Weber's little store a few doors
away.
The bell seemed to tinkle a merry
welcome as she swung the door and
stepped into the dimly lighted room.
Her feeling of relief vanished as she
noted several persons in the shop
and she was glad when she caught
Frau Weber's eye to see the woman
gesture with her head toward the
back room. She moved slowly back
to the door through which George
Roland had vanished that morning
and glanced curiously around as she
entered. Apparently it was store
room for surplus stock, and one
whole side of the wall was lined
with shelves on which we're boxes,
presumably holding stationery, enve-
lopes and other supplies.
Frau Weber Talks.
There were two rather monde
script chairs back against the wall
from a pot-bellied stove which
glowed duly with heat One small
electric light globe of small candle
power provided the only illumina-
ton. A heavy door at the back ap-
parently gave out onto an alley and
there was one small window, high
In the wall, which was covered
with metal grill
Claire had been sitting most of
the day, and 1t was relief to stand
near the stove and warm herself
She became bit uncomfortable
after several minutes and had just
removed her gloves and loosened her
suit jacket when the inner door
opened and Frau Weber stepped
in, leaving the door ajar.
II have minute or two, but this
is my busiest time of the day."
she explained. IF any one enters
I shall hear the bell Listen to
me closely while I tell you what
to sdo." T.
Good. The key in your purse un-
locks the back door here. Use 1t,
relock it from the outside and then
walk up the alleyway to the right.
A dozen steps or so you will come
to a stairway. 1t is the first one, so
you can't miss it. Go up to the
second floor, turn to the right and
open the first door with your key
and go in. Lock the door after you,
turn on the light switch and make
yourself at home. Wait there. I
will come as quickly as I can. I'm
derstand?"
Claire nodded. Then they heard
the bell tinkle on the front door.
A Moment of Panic.
"Go quickly" Frau Weber whis-
pered, and Claire inserted her key
IN the lock, opened it and stepped
out into the alley. As she closed
1t she saw the woman re-entering
the store and closing the door to
the little room after her.
1t was almost dark in the alley,
but Claire easily found the STAIR
way and mounted it to the second
moor. She had a moment of fear as
she inserted her key in the lock of
the first door she came to, wonder
ing If she were getting herself deep
er into trap that would cost her
liberty and maybe her life. She
had an impulse to turn and run
but realized the ute folly of such a
thing. She was in this far now.
She had to go through - through
to the end, come what might.
The key turned easily, she stepped
Inside, locked the door and then
fumbled for light switch. She
found it near the door and felt
better when the room-a comfort
ably furnished living room-was
brightly Illuminated. She saw there
were heavy draperies over the win
dows and knew instinctively that
not stray beam could escape out
side to betray the presence of any
one IN the apartment.
A small gas heater was glowing
family in the mouth of a false fire.
place, and the room was fairly
warm. She looked carefully about
the place, locating two small bed
rooms opening off the living room
and q tiny kitchen and an equally
small bath. The latter was so small
that there was scarcely room to
turn around between the old-fasn-
toned high tin tub and the wall.
New Acquaintance.
Both bedrooms, like most Euro
pean sleeping chambers, lacked
clothes closets. Instead there were
huge chests, one to each room,
against the walls which served as
wardrobes. Claire was familiar with
them.
The fiat was furnished decently
but very plainly. There were sew
eral rather heavy chairs in the liv-
ing room, table in the center of
the room on which there were
several magazines and small couch
at one side of the fireplace. Be-