Show W IRE SP LL SYLVIA T THE STORY SO 80 PAR fari joan leland accept a secretarial position to in a night club and lalli falls in love with the handsome proprietor K karl art 51 bluer her sister syb I 1 11 suspects u pacts karl carlt motives and Is not illel mollified ed when he be also gets her a new position paul sherman club manager ma iager warns warm joan about karl but she defends him to both paul and sybil delivering a mysterious message for karl to a tramp steamer the she finds paul secretly following her ile he rescues her from rom eric strom karls kar partner when eric tries to kiss hiss her karl shouts shoots and klus kills eric eile in joans presence and threatens to blame h her r if she caus calls the police lie ile admits b be Is german and part of a spy ring to her surprise paul backs him up at her home that night paul enters through the window and reveals himself as paul OM alIey of the FBI knowing her fingerprints were on the gun karl made her pick up he be had bad to side with him temporarily he be explained as this work was more important than their lives joan Is sickened by the revelation that karl carl also has a wife in germany sybil disappears now continue with the story CHAPTER X one thirty and still sybil had not come home what had she meant by that note saying something terrible had happened she never trusted karl joan spoke fearfully paul was looking out of the window hes not there now whatever happened to sybil had nothing to do with karl personally he been out of sight all evening of course there are plenty of others working with him karl said that everyone at the club elite was involved Is that true 71 im afraid so karl is too clever to take any chances but what does he actually do paul thrust his hands into his pockets and stared at the fire im not sure of all his activities and I 1 have no proof but he is suspected sus pecked of transferring plans of bombing planes and plants to other foreign agents hes working wa with th someone else of course remember that freighter karl took me to and later sent me to with a package maybe establishing refueling bases for submarines not herel joan cried no probably in the south at antic lantic I 1 dont know yet joan sighed 1 I always wanted adventure but I 1 certainly expect it to take this form im sorry you got in so deep paul told her very seriously its my own fault you tried to warn me so did sybil their eyes met two and sybil was still out im going paul said rising and better get some sleep ill be by for you at one thirty karls karis orders you know he smiled grimly its fortunate for both of us im not going to bed until syb bomes omes 11 joan insisted oh yes you are arel you need your sleep deep tomorrow is going to be a tough day youve got to be clicking on all cylinders both our aur lives are at stake you cant afford to make a slip if karl ever finds out well end up just like eric dont say that oh gaul paul ive been such a fool I 1 loved him he patted her shoulder we all make mistakes he said comfortingly when he had gone she tried to obey his instructions she went ment to bed and tried to sleep but the grandfathers clock had chimed three then three thirty before she slept a fitful doze it was a little after six when she awoke sybill she called hysterically but there was no reply her sisters bed was untouched joan got up shivering in the cold I 1 of the december morning she went into the kitchen and made a pot of coffee what had happened to sybil 1 ive got gotto to keep my head she thought desperately pouring the coffee with shaking hands but I 1 feel so helpless at one thirty paul arrived and took joan to the club elite naw now remember he said as he parked the car were not friends ignore me and watch your step ill do my best joan said grimly but it was not easy to walk into this office to see karl sitting at his desk with the familiar red carnation in his buttonhole the same smile that had once endeared him to her with shaking hands she removed her hat and coat and sat down at her desk paul tells me you have decided to be sensible karl commented W what nat elseman el else can I 1 do she paused for a moment then burst out what have you done to my sister karl regarded her with apparent surprise eur prise sister what do you mean she come home all night karl miller shrugged arid and smiled what makes you think I 1 had anything to do with it I 1 have no interest estin in your sister you know what I 1 mean let us get on with our work vork karl said joan managed to control her resentment and obeyed the afternoon finally dragged to a conclusion at six paul sherman appeared and he and karl had a short conversation in german after which karl left im taking g you to dinner paul caid aid karls karis orders 1 1 M 4 tv I 1 I 1 1 ot joan laid the dazzling emerald before karl without speaking and karl put pat it in his pocket as if it had been a slip of paper without a word joan got her coat and they left the club safe in a small restaurant she asked what about sybil have you heard anything not a word and I 1 cant ask karl its too much of a chance but we have to do something joan pleaded wait until tomorrow and see what happens 11 paul smiled grimly it amuses me the way karl trusts me even the most clever criminals make one fatal mistake this is his you really think he trusts you now yes and since he does he is sure to reveal something and all this trouble started because I 1 take sybila advice As joan picked up her purse she remembered the ring karl had given her it was in its velvet box in her purse where she had placed it this morning she had completely i forgotten to return it karl did not seem to care particularly whether she did or not its probably stolen anyway 11 joan thought bitterly as paul took her back to the club joan laid the dazzling emerald before karl without speaking and karl put it in his pocket as it if it had been a slip of paper joan wanted to scream to pour out her anger but she suspected that it would only amuse himi him karl actually seemed to think that she would return to their former relationship lation ship you loved me yesterday he reminded her what is so different you can force me to work for you aill joan told him he her r green eyes blazing had she ever loved this cruel conceited man an hour later paul sherman appeared again and said something to karl in his own language joan noticed that paul did not look at her but she felt a personal importance in those guttural words even though she could not understand them karl smiled as he turned to her but there was warning in his eyes there are two officers here to see you joan I 1 believe they have news of your sister i the police pol icel 1 in an instant joan was on her feet something about sybil karl repeated calmly but his eyes warned her not to make a false move joan risked a glance at paul it seemed to her that he shook his head ever so slightly he was trying to tell her not to take any chances all ail right karl snapped show theman them in paul disappeared when the door opened acho as he left joan could hear the music andt andi laughter from the front of the club christmas gaiety gayety how could bould these people laugh and be merry how could they be so unaware of the drama that vent on in that back office watch your step karl advised it if you say anything you will be the loser I 1 warn you I 1 will not hesia hesitate ate to use all the cards bards I 1 hold shall we put it that way her green eyes filled with tears dont worry sybil is all im think ing about now paul returned with two officers sorry to bother you mr miller not at all karl replied graciously cious clou slY ly ten tell me joan cried is it so something me about my sister happened to her were not sure its your sister miss leland we want you to come down to headquarters and identify the clothes clothes you mean oh coill nol her voice rose to a scream take it easy now the officer advised were not sure tell tel I 1 ameo me joan begged where did you find them A womans comans garments were found on the golden gate bridge a coat shoes and a handbag with a letter addressed to your sister apparently it was sd suicide icide 1 suicide sybil would never do a thing like maybe she maybe she just juif wants you to think so but we called up her employer mrs murdock and she said she shown up tor for work joans eyes were upon karl you had something to do with this her eyes accused for one moment she was tempted to pour out the whole story of the spy ring to scream her accusations but paul was at her side now grasping her firmly by the arm and the pressure told her to be silent karl was saying im terribly sorry joan you may go with the officers paul will go with you and see that you get home safely thanks Thank sl I 1 joan flung the word into his expressionless face all the way to headquarters joan prayed that all this might be a mistake that those clothes found on the golden gate bridge were not sybila Sy bils it could not be sybill sybil 1 her sister had said she would be back was that indicative of suicide but when she was faced with the coat shoes and handbag she knew there was no mistake yes these are my sisters she told them tonelessly there was a sympathetic silence as an officer removed the clothes and letter do you know of any reason why your sister should have done this no joan wanted to cry co but the tears would not come A great pain welled dwelled up inside her sybill sybil casall she had in the world she felt the floor swaying beneath her she clung to the table poor eidl paul was saying as he helped her into a chair someone else brought a glass of water its almost impossible to recover a body from that part bart of the bay one of the men wai was saying of course well do all we can but the tide is so strong stop it joan screamed 1 itell I tell you my sister kill hersel fl I 1 know she It she was speaking incoherently now the officers leaned closer just what do you mean miss leland paul came to the rescue miss leland is hysterical its only natural this has been a terrible shock bf b course course probably ya a good nights sleep will fix her up why not let me take her home ashes had enough for one night sure the officer said sympathetically go ahead paul led the trembling figure down the cold marble hall and into the street joan could not have stood without without his support why you let me tell them she asked over and over paul you know karl had something to do with this we cant prove it he reminded her kindly our only chance to convict karl of this or anything else to be seemingly unsuspicious 11 they were driving home now through streets of san francisco wreaths shone from the windows of homes and apartments apartment small christmas trees sparkled next week christmas oh paul I 1 cant stand ill III listen honey hohey he said tenderly 1 I dont think sybil committed suicide then y you ou think karl is behind ilpo it 1 I be surprised but where is sybil has he 7 As a malter of fact paul said thoughtfully 1 I think sybil is alive now this is pura pure theory understand but I 1 think karl is trying to put a scare into you hes probably taken sybil away somewhere but I 1 dont think hes really harmed her he want to take that much of a chance he wants her as a hostage you mean joan said slowly that karl will someday te tell 11 M me e that sybil is alive and threaten her life if I 1 dont do as he asks the way I 1 have it figured As long as sybil is alive that s all that matters surely we can find out if we go on with karl and he suspicious good girl paul approved as they drove up before her apartment it if we work together I 1 think we can beat karl miller at his own game iles hes bound to make a sup slip and when he does we aeu ill have all the evidence not only about sybil but his other activities Y stick it out joan TO BE CONTINUED |