Show I I I t 3 Sill SHE SPy U I t eu eta Q y S SYLVIA Q Y VI LV V 1 I A A T TAY A 1 LO r rD R D W-MU- W CHAPTER I J JArthur I Arthur Mulford's Mulford secretary faced him unsuspectingly across the mast masI mas mas- j I t Ive mahogany desk deak You wanted to see lee me me Mr MulI Mul Mul- j I ford tord The man surveyed the slender figure fig ure before him Its like this Joan he said laid decisively de Ill have to let you ou go 10 Joan Leland stared at a him in astonishment as You mean Im I'm fired bred Mulford shrugged it It But why What have I done doneT He picked up a sheaf of papers and reached for the telephone I dont don't care to discuss it it You'll receive your next two weeks' weeks salary of 01 course but you need not finish out the month You mean this is my last day Yes I That's all Joan The late October sunshine flowed In pale golden streams across the thebus bus busy streets of San Francisco as Joan left the office for the apartment apartment apart apart- ment went she shared with her sister alster Fired 1 There was something almost sinister about this abrupt dismissal After Alter two years ears on the job Thank heaven Sybil has a job Joan thought The apartment boasted a fireplace and long length floor windows window It was w. part of one of the old mansions for which San Francisco is famous A regal building that had housed one of the great families of the city now cast off by their grandchildren and subdivided into studio apart ments meats True there was seldom enough heat beat and the cooking facilities facilities facil facil- lUes were inadequate but the old oldhouse oldhouse oldhouse house reflected the charm and graciousness gra gra- of the past Joan glanced lovingly about the room The girls had used their furniture furniture fur fur- left to them by their par par- ants enta It was heavy and rather old old- fashioned but it suited the high high- room A voice from the bedroom hailed her Joan That you ouT Why Syb Sybl What are you ou doing home so early I thought the beauty hop shop was staying open until seven this month Sybil appeared in the doorway clad In dressing gown and slippers cigarette in hand Her blonde hair curled meticulously her blue eyes were a trifle hard The two girls s d to common in appearance or temperament Joan brunette twenty restless sive Ive Sybil seven years ears older gold gold- haired en-haired inclined to caution especially espe espe- where men were concerned Sybil had bad been married and divorced divorced di dl when she was twenty Since then she ahe had been determined to save lave Joan from making the same mistake Never trust any man was Sybil's motto but Joan did not take it too seriously suspecting that her sisters sister's cynicism was covering a broken heart What a day daI Sybil said drearily dread ly throwing herself upon the couchI couch I Z have some news for you Sis I have something to tell you ou too Joan said grimly Ive lost my job Mr Mulford gave me two weeks' weeks salary and told me not to come back Sybil sat at up wide Oh Joan No Nol He wouldn't even give me a reason reason rea son on Joan continued heatedly I cant can't understand it Im I'm sure there Isn't anything wrong with m my work Theres There's bere something very strange about this Syb Sybl Mr Mulford seemed positively anxious to get rid of me But But Joan Sybil interrupted I lost my Job today too tool The girls stared at each other in to alarm The beauty shop is closing Sybil said laid breaking the silence This is my last week Well Wen of course well we'll find something something some some- thing else Joan said but her voice carried no DO conviction After all were we're both experienced Im I'm sure lUre Mr Mulford will give me a refer ence Jobs arent aren't easy to get get Dont be a pessimist darling Joan advised She tied a colored apron around her ber waist and went into the kitchen Theres nothing to worry about tonight Weve We've got enough money monein in f our account to last almost a month Sybil's blue eyes were troubled Joan that's just it I checked that mone money out yesterday to pay for tor a anew anew anew new coat I thought we didn't need it and I was going to pa pay it back a little each month Theres There's not a cent left in that account Night bad had fallen with a suddenness sudden sudden- ness fleas which filled the apartment with witha a strange new silence How much mone money have bave you 00 in your purse purseY Joan inquired frown ing tog Two or three dollars And you ouY S f I I 1 have thi this check from Mr Mul Mul- ford That will par pay the rent for tor another month Sybil shivered and drew her quilted quilt quilt- ad ed satin robe closer What are we going to do then You couldn't return the coat No It Its Iti been altered Til Ill start looking tomorrow Joan loan said resolutely Mr Mulford's usually at the store stare re until late Im I'm going to telephone him and tell him 4 1 i f l Jl 00 00 1 Il I t 1 tAfter After all aU theres there's no DO harm in applying appling for the Job If U something is wrong with it it I can tell teU when I J go down there Ill I'll stop by the morning to get a reference ref ref- I forgot all aU about it this afternoon I was so upset Sybil watched in silence as Joan dialed the number This is Joan Leland May I speak to Mr Mulford TV TJ- 9 was a pause before a strange feminine voice replied Im sorry That will be impossible Mr Mulford left town an hour ago Joan gasped Left town Tonight To night right Who is this speaking please Joan inquired hotly hoUy I I am his secretary the voice informed her and the receiver clicked Hes left town And he hes he's already hired B a new W- W secretary I told you ou there was something funD funny about this And how can you ou get a reference if hes he's not here Youve You've never worked for anyone else what worries me mel mei Lets Letl eat eat Sybil suggested I cant can't t think 11 when Im I'm hung hungry y Cheerful night Sybil commented comment comment- ed as they ateI ateI ateI ate I know knowl Joan cried suddenly Ill look for a job in the want ads Wheres Where's the paper Sybil indicated the small coffee table Joan seized the paper and turned to the classified section I 1 need a ajob ajob ajob job and I need It right now Listen to this Joans Joan voice rang with ex ex- excitement excitement excitement as she read Competent secretary wanted Willing to work nights Apply after 9 p. p m m. Wait Sybil said seriously Why do they want you to work nights And why apply after 9 p. p m m. What does It matter A jobs job's a Job Sybil stared at her in disapproval Youre not serious Joan jumped up and ran into the bedroom I certainly am ami Im I'm going go ing tog to apply for that job right now Sybil followed her do nothing of the kind Joan Leland Were We're not that hard bard up Even if we were I dont don't want you ou to work nights Joan laughed recklessly as she sheran sheran sheran ran a comb through the raven black hair and touched a powder puff to the white whits skin You take everything everything every every- thing too seriously Syb Sybl After all theres there's no harm in applying for tor the Job If something is wrong with it I can tell when I 1 go down there Sybil was unconvinced I dont don't like the sound of It it she che insisted stubbornly the address North Beach Sybil said carelessly care care- lessl lessly North Beach That's certainly not a very good place for tor a girl to tobe tobe tobe be working nights I How do I look Joan asked Exasperated Sybil stared at her Joan looked sophisticated too sophisticated sophisticated so so- Sybil thought because at heart Joan was just a kid She didn't know anything about life We or about men Be careful Joan And come right home afterwards will you Of Ot course I Stop treating me like a cl child Ill I'll call you 00 after the Interview interview interview inter inter- view view if U that will make you feel any I 1 still Ull dont don't understand why Mulford Mulford Mul Mul- ford fired you without notice or reason reason rea rea- son Sybil pondered And why did he leave town if that girl is telling tell tell- ing big the truth truthY By the wa way what is she doing at the office at night I dont don't know Of course coune 2 I worked at night once in a while It Its It's strange that he should start a new girl at night But But an importing shop it ls a little different from a regular of or fice flee I dont don't understand why he would hire another secretary so quickly Maybe she was lying But why should she And wh why should Mr Mulford try to avoid me I wouldn't know Sybil admit admit- ted But I want you to be careful tonight Joan however was not even thinking of her sisters sister's warning as she stepped from the street car into the damp foggy streets of North Beach Deach With mounting curiosity she walked to the address given in hi hithe inthe inthe the paper Why its it's a night club I she said aloud as she paused under the long canopy that led to the street A sign on the door informed the passerby that the Club Elite would be open for business the following Saturday night Joan pushed open the heavy door and went in She paused a moment moment mo mu- ment meat to accustom her eyes to the dim light To the right she could see a large room filled with gilded tables and chairs and a band stand which seemed to crowd a small dance floor A man appeared suddenly out of ot the shadows and surveyed her from head to foot before he said Well what do you want Joan said uneasily I came about an ad that was In hi the paper for a secretary He seemed relieved Okay Down the hall hail Second door to the left The boss will talk to you Joan following instructions opened the door into a large modernistic mod office A powerful built blond man stood before a filing cab cab- inet met He turned quickly as she en en- I came about the job advertised in the paper she faltered He flashed her a quick smile from steel blue eyes ees Wont you sit down His voice was tinged with an accent Joan saw a hard face almost grim yet amusement hove hov hovered ered in his bis eyes Ills His lips seemed teemed not to move as he spoke The hand that indicated a chair was beautifully beautifully fully shaped the fingers tapering taper ing tog and artistic There was something some thing strangely magnetic about this manI manI manI man I am Karl Miller And you Joan Leland is my name Until today I have been employed by an importing firm owned by Arthur Mulford Ah MY He opened a large silver box and took out a cigarette I Iwas Iwas Iwas was in the importing business myself myself my my- self but the war stopped that I Iam Iam am now opening this night club I need a secretary to take care of the theoffice theoffice theoffice office work Im sure lure you'll find me satisfactory tory Mr Miller You have references of course She hesitated No Mr Mulford was called out of ot town and I 1 have been unable to reach him If you are able to do the work that will be sufficient I want auto you au to be here bere at night but you wont won't have to come until early afternoon Two hours off for dinner The salary salary sal sal- ary is fifty dollars a week Her lIer eyes eye widened Fifty FUt dollars dollar a week His expression did not change as a. ashe ashe he said laid Con Considering the unusual hours hour I feel teel that a smaller maller salary would not be fair recompense I understand When do you OU want me to start Two o'clock tomorrow Joan rose role to La go TO BE CONTINUED |