Show to us py ii sast em y SYLVIA TAYLOR THE STORY SO sa FAR FAB joan leland secretary to arthur Al mulford ulford sn ban francisco importer li Is amazed and angry when he discharges discharge her without notice or explanation ifer her sister sybil with whom the she shares an apartment losea her position also alio ind anal J joan oa n accepts accept a secretarial position wi with th handsome hand ionae soma katl karl night club proprietor or ile iia payi lays her well because ot of the unusual hours she Is fascinated and accepts big love lovemaking lovea making alUni later she meets his manager paul slier sher man and his h partner eric strom who both express admiration for or her paul warns ire her a against karl but refuses to give hl ahli s reasons returning to the unexpectedly joam overhears over hearit karl and ana eric in a mysterious conversation paul drives her home and they quarrel over joan working tor for karl later karl invites her to inspect a freighter whose captain he be knows both paul and joans joan sister sybil warn her against karl paul Is found following her now continue with the story CHAPTER VI sybil shrugged there are a lot of people I 1 dont trust for instance why is paul sherman following Y you 1 I intend to find out tonight ile he has an appointment at the club at ten thirty ill try to see him alone for or a few minutes im going to ask him to explain karl probably knows about it already it may be his orders ridiculous 1 joan flared how can you dislike karl so much after he got you your job and has been so kind to you youre just tired honey sybil said as she put comforting arms about joan you dont get enough sleep you need more sun and fresh air working in that tha t shut in office with no outside windows is enough to make anyone ill let me alone 1 her sister wept you dont understand no one ne understands der stands how I 1 feel sybil sighed as she went back to the kitchen but before joan left for the office she had kissed sybil affectionately saying im sorry sybl syb I 1 guess I 1 am tired one of the things making me nervous is having paul follow me all the time I 1 cant stand it any lo longer liger and im going to settle tt it tonight later L ater when joan hurried from the apartment abild walked to the trolley line through the dark night she felt strangely it was a thrill even to go to work when her boss was karl miller the whole world is different when wh en youre in love joan thought and nd she pitied the girls who were neglected by this great emotion at the club joan paused to look at the crowd the low ceiling was flooded with a soft indirect I 1 lighting ight ing it was a pleasant intimate room the dance floor was small but adequate it for formed meda a circle in front of the band which according to karl was going over big the club elite was definitely a success the bar at ond one side of the room was wis crowded joan glancing casually at the well dressed men and women saw paul sherman she glanced flancer at her watch it was a quarter of eight she had fifteen nil minutes before she was due in karls office now was her chance hello paul said Is j it 1 possible that you want to see me V joan sat pat do down wn beside him 1 I have been seeing you almost constantly for three weeks she said significantly a tricky hat paul said admiringly be serious paul you know what I 1 mean why have bave you been following me must have been two other people want a drink no thank youl joan exploded theres no use trying to evade the issue S sue I 1 saw you down at the boat that night his brown eyes were serious you tell karl kari nol no I 1 why not 1 I want you to lose your job she confessed 1 I believe that you meant any harm very sweet of you jearil I 1 appreciate your confidence well arent you going to explain if you dont im going to tell him paul looked at his watch we time to talk now you have to be in the office by eight dont you ill 1111 come in later and well talk then meanwhile please dont say lay S anything to karl promise me joail 1 I wont if explain you have biava all the instincts of a detective paul laughed what karl told me once joan informed him ill see you laferl karl miller was in his lof office boffice the moment joan entered he drew her into his arms an adorable hat he said kissing her 1 I knew like ill she pressed s d he her r cheek against his impossible plse ae I 1 e to think about paul sherman impossible to worry or even care what happened in the rest of the world when she was in his arms ill be out of the office until ten karl told her try to finish those letters paul wants to see you at ten inroy thirty she reminded him ril ill be back good night heb chen I 1 another kiss and he was gone joan turned back to her typewriter wondering how she could keep her mind off karl kari miller and type these letters karl was cuch a maril man I 1 he JAIT 1 ah I 1 miss leland you are alone I 1 see and looking very beau tifai as always had lived he was not an inexperienced boy in his twenties paul must be twenty six or seven but he seemed a boy compared to karl karl who was so sophisticated so completely sure of himself stop thinking about himl joan scolded herself and fitting a sheet of paper into her typewriter she began to work it was almost ten when the door opened without warning joan thought it was paul but it was eric strom karls karis partner who stepped inside joan had not seen peen him since a the night he dined with karl and her ahl miss lelanda you are alone I 1 see and looking very b beautiful as always erics voice was soft but his eyes regarded her insolently karl will be back any minute joan said quickly 1 I dont think so I 1 left him only a few minutes ago quite absorbed in a business matter mind if I 1 have a drink toy youre oure karrs karls part partner nei its your of office lice to too 0 pa she was trying to control her dislike of him you are very generous eric strom said but chedid he did not open the bar concealed conceal edin in the wall instead he approached her desk sy have to excuse me joan said suddenly afraid im very busy but with a quick step eric was beside her 1 drawing her to her feet he attempted to kiss her you beautiful little devill hi he murmured joannas joan was terror stricken she tried to scream but no bound sound would come come she pulled away with all her strength but eric strom only laughed let me alone I 1 joan cried as she felt erics arms about her she was not aware that the office door had opened until a hand seized eric and whirled him around paull pauls face was grim you dirty ra catl tl he smashed his fist full in erics face with a blow that sent him spinning across the room eric staggered to his feet but there was a smile on his evil face aull py pay for this Sherma shermana nl you seem to AD forget 1 I 1 have something to say about this business joan leaned weakly against the desk sobbing shut up and get buil paul ordered advancing toward eric again and at that moi moment nent karl miller appeared in the doorway his voice cut like a whip through the tense atmosphere going on here he demanded no one seemed inclined to answer him but hi he read the story in their faces 1 I want to talk to joan alone I 1 sho she had niver never heard him use this tone before his voice was edged with steel his eyes were hard he seemed another karl a mah man she had never never known As paul turned to io go joan ran to him thanks paull she said her voice trembling but paul did not look at her his voice was strained dont mention it I 1 when they were alone karl said if wont happen again joan ill see that eric annoy you desperately she tried to rega regain in control of her shattered nerves but sobs shook her karl put his arms about her and his touch was magic dont cry theres nothing to td be afraid of now she clung to him feeling st strength in his assurance oh karl I 1 love youl the words tripped over each other in stammering sincerity karl miller pressing his lips against her white forehead smiled the days of november marched by with astonishing rapidity joan was not bothered by eric strom again and her fears vanished karl was waa more attentive than ever and joan with the radiant assurance of a woman loved checked off each day as more perfect than the last sometimes she doubted her efficiency as karls secretary she typed letters scarcely knowing what she was writing but if she was inefficient karl did not seem to notice it one rainy night joan said to sybil ive never been so eo hap happy in my life its too good to bo true sybil prophesied gloomily 1 I still dont like karl the more I 1 see of him the less I 1 trust him and another one I 1 dont care for is that mrs murdock who runs the beauty shop Is that karls fault he got you the job enough it joan had come home for dinner and karl had told her she need not be backai back at work until nine an hour later than usual 1 I never heard of such crazy hours sybil objected karl certainly very businesslike about the club I 1 dont see how he makes anything joan walked restlessly up and down the living room karl makis makes plenty of money hes a very cliv clever man she glanced at the clock 1 I think ill go back early karl might need me shortly before eight she left happily she opened the door of karl Mill millers erIg office but the smile on her face faded when she saw that karl was not mot alone eric strom stio in was with him im just leaving eric said and without a word to joan he walked past her and down the corridor karl did not seem surprised that she had rived arrived ar early he made no comment upon her appearance he read hir her thoughts when he said 1 I think want to seeerin see eric so I 1 told you to come later instantly she was reassured it was kind of him to spare her a meeting with eric strom joan karl continued with his quick smile 1 I hate to ask you to do this on such a bad night but I 1 cant leave the office and I 1 want this package delivered he held out a small leather portfolio 1 I dont mind karll where does it go do you remember the night I 1 took you aboard the freighter she nodded and he wont went on 1 I want it delivered 7 there take a taxi and go immediately joan fastened her coat and slipped on her gloves to whom shall I 1 give it expecting you someone will meet you abu give him the package and cami come right back find a taxi outside he kissed her briefly when she arrived at lat the pier joan asked the driver to walt wait and clutch ing the portfolio tightly ran into the warehouse she walked rapidly through the darkness through the opening which led to the ship there was no one in sight as she ascended the slippery gangplank she stood uncertainly for a moment peering through the misty darkness before she heard a voice tie da she drew back involuntarily the guttural voice frightened her instantly a man appeared out pf af the night and the muscles of his scarred face relaxed when he saw who it was miss uland leland I 1 yes joan faltered here is a package from mr miller danke scho ent he eluted saluted her and disappeared into the shadows joan returned through the warehouse to the street she shivered as the wind swept the rain in great gusts thank goodness her taxi was sim still there quickly joan ran to it opened the door and climbed in good evening paul sherman said he was sitting in the corner composedly smoking a cigarette 1 I thought you might need me so youre following me she felt his arm nudge hers in war warning ning as he glanced towards the taxi driver dont talk bowl he said under his breath take me back to thel the club joan ordered but paul said drive straight ahead till I 1 give you further directions and step on it joan satin furious silence as the driver obeyed pauls orders they climbed the slope of nob hill not until they stopped at a hotel and were settled at a small table in the grill did she turn angrily to paul would you mind telling me what is the idea of this I 1 happen to be working for karl and hes expecting me back at the office the room was warm and gay and there was a hum of voices TO BE CONTINUED |