Show 3 SHE HOVID A sp ELL y SY SYLVIA TAYLOR u TUB THE STORY SO FAR joan leland secretary la in love with her algat club clab employer mp loyer karl miller Is I 1 horrified when I 1 he shoots his business partner eric i strom tro t she li Is sickened when he be tells I 1 her be has a W wife lie in germany and Is acting as a nazi nail spy when the she threatens to call the police he be reminds remind her I 1 her finger prints are on the sun CUD IM planted there when he asked her to pick I 1 it up op and unless the she will keep silent and continue her work she will be charged with the murder when his manager paul sherman who had been a friend stend to joan backs him up the terrified girl agrees later paul secretly reveals to her he Is really an FBI a gent agent and she promises to help him trap the higher ups edthe in the spy ring police find sybila clothing and a suicide note near a bridge and ana paul suspects karl kar Is holding her hos hostage tage blean meanwhile while K karl arl hires a beautiful girl as a singer who turns urns out to be pauls runaway run away sister and who innocently betrays him karl captures capture joan joaa and paul as they find and a i nazi radio transmitter and bomber plans and places them under guard on board an old tramp steamer paul thinks karl will transfer the stolen bomber plans to a submarine now continue story CHAPTER XIV karl was dressed in white in appearance pe arance and manner he was as smooth and impeccable as always but the same qualities that once charmed joan now didgus disgusted ted her as she asked coldly where is paul do you expect me to tell you karl parried where was paul this subject held her interest most she dared not think what might become of her without him but the day passed the night the next day and still she had not seen him and the next morning as she saw caw karl coming on deck she demanded what have you dot done ie with paul I 1 want to sae see him all right karl agreed surprisingly he summoned a sailor and spoke to him in german A few minutes later paul appeared his coat and tie we were re gone and his shirt was open at the throat lie he locked tired karl spoke rapidly in german then suddenly turned on his heel a end nd walked away oh paull joan gasped are you all right im fine pa paul ul said grimly karls just been trying to persuade me to join his little group both of us for that matter he thinks wed be valuable to him in his spying business then he glanced at her with a smile emile you sound almost Is as it if you care 1 I do joan said and suddenly s she he n realized that she did care that she ehe cared terribly what happened to paul I 1 five more days passed as the weather became increasingly uncomfortable C were probably off the coast of mexico paul said as he stood at the rail looking into the vast expanse of blue sky and water without turning his head paul said eaid in a low voice 1 I have something to tell you do you know which sailor is 1 I think so the one who brings our meals right it seems karl has something on him forced him into 1 ice on this ship by blackmail hes promised to help us when the time comes what time joan asked feeling suddenly chilled in spite of the tropical sun it if everything goes as I 1 expect ii it should be within two or three days you still dont know how karl pi plans ans to get rid of those papers submarine paul said briefly thomas tells me were to contact it within the next twenty four hours theres a ring around the moon paul observed were going to have some bad weather anything any tiling would be better than this closing her eyes against the heat joan leaned her head against the chair when she felt a hand over hers she ehe started oh paul color flooded her cheeks checks joan he said simply eldont dont you know im in love with you relief and joy flooded her heart fatigue fell like a mask from her yo young ung face ive been in love with you ever since the first day aay I 1 saw you pauli Pault went on in his quiet voide voice but th there ere was karl V I 1 oh darl darling fiig that aps real I 1 love karl kail I 1 just thought I 1 did you must Pel believe belleve leve that paull paul I 1 1 of course I 1 believe it honey he said if I 1 diett dodou do you think id be telling you this wyomal we omal leys are cagey people she smiled in the da darkness akness it if we ever get out of this mess paid paia continued seriously will you its not an easy life you know joan im gone a great deal and my jobs dangerous I 1 gayent much to offer you have ill all awant 1 I want 1 joan assured him and paul weve got to get out 0 this now theres so much to live for karls voice broke through the night what a romantic little scene this is too bad that you two must maii be separated joan felt pauls tw warning arning hand upon aier her arm but she burst out dw what hit do yau you ician mean X 7 ni jacw 4 M V on deck joan had to cling to paul to prevent the wind from sweep ing her off her feet 1 I have been listening to your charming conversation karl told her joan could see the outline of his white suit in the darkness the glow of his cigarette since you seem so well informed about my plans it might interest you to know that when that submarine leaves this ship paul will beon be on it nol you cant do that she could imagine his smile as he said 1 I am really quite jealous joan that you can transfer yo your ur of affection so quickly I 1 would prefer that paul is safely out of the way so that there is nothing to interfere with our friendship pauls hands clinched on the arms of his chair but he said noth nothing ing joan understood then that it was better to pacify karl than to antagonize him further her hand grasped pauls tightly as karl disappeared around the corner of the deck Is he bluffing she whispered 01 0 course he is paul replied calmly it would be easier to get rid of me entirely than to put me on another boat I 1 be any asset to karl on a submarine 0 joan slept little that night the ship began to roll and shudder ras as it met the seas that increased as the night went on A sharp wind swept the deck black clouds raced across the moon and the sea splashed and hissed as it lashed over the prow pauls finger tapped on the wall joan moved closer to thi the thin boards that separated them and called what is it she did not understand his reply but realized that his door was being unlocked presently pauls head appeared in in her door thomas is is here and knows where those papers ire arc were going to get them he said karl will find out she warned karl and the captain are drink ing below they wont bother us take me with you 1 afraid paul hesitated then said all right maybe it would be better on deck joan had to cling to paul to prevent the wind from sweeping her off her feet the decks were slippery from the spray and the waves rose like black liquid mountains As they proceeded cautiously joan dared not look out into the night it was total blackness and sky and water seemed blended into one evil force from which came the howling wind and spray at last thomas unlocked a door and crossed the room in here he whispered indicating a small wall safe 1 I know how to 0 pen open it he handed the papers to paul do what you like with them I 1 hate karl Mil miller lerl I 1 in the glow of the flashlight his eyes gleamed paul padl rapidly sorted them what are you going to do then joan asked im going to change them the plans for er the bombing boin bing plane at least we should meet the submarine tomorrow thomas Tho inis said looking fearfully over his shoulder but with this weather we may be off our course paul seated himself at the small wooden tableland handed a flashlight to thomas holdia hold Hol dit it as steady as possible we he ordered from his pocket he drew a f small bottle a brush pen and ink what are you doing joan asked watching the grotesque shadows cast on the wall as pauls fin gers deftly over aver the paper when wh en 11 I 1 get through with wl th these plans ans they wont know whether its a bombing plane or a washing m machine a 1 once thomas opened the door to listen but only the wind greeted them blowing the salt spray into their f faces and he h eshai shook his head this is going to be a bad one he predicted forcing his shoil shoulder lder against the door to close it paul finished his work and replaced the plans carefully in the safe joan was surprised to see him pu auf the other papers back in their respective envelopes these papers arg are probably going toe to E europe sirop e 1 paul explained as he shut the safe thomas nodded right the way karl always does iti then they cant prove anything 1 paul threw the circle of his fla flashlight sh upon the door 1 I can prove it this time what some of the others thought thomas wh whispered but ive never degn seen anyone double cross karl and live to tell about it lets get out of here paul said taking joans arm the three of them made their way back and crowded into joans s small mall cabin thomas stood by the door listening 1 I guess karl wont come on deck on a night like this he said theres nothing to do now but wait for morning gauf said and I 1 want you to get some sleep joan he put his arms tenderly about her shoulders will you try honey thomas and I 1 will be right in the next cabin knock on the wall if you need me wide eyed joan lay awake listen ing to the thunder and the wild hiss of water as it flooded the deck the sensitive ship seemed like another human being as it fought its valiant battle against the storm creaking and groaning it pitt pitted d its strength against the double blows of wind a and nd wave dawn tse the sea had subsided but rain still fells fell from clouded skies into the gray water outside T honi as at h his 13 post a surle paced the wet et deck with mea measure tread eyes seab searching the seas it was seven when paul and joan finally went to the small lounge which served as a dining ingroum in groom room and thomas brought their breakfast any news paul asked as thomas poured the coffee karl is with the captain the sailor reported communicated with the submarine by radio we should meet them in three or four hours paul rose do you think you can keep karl occupied in the captains quarters for a few minutes im going to the radio room ila ill try tri but the radio operator is a tough guy speak a w word ard of english either hell turn you yoa right over to karl paul smiled 1 I dont think so be careful joan begged knowing that to ask for an explanation would be useless paul bent down to kiss her don dont I 1 t worry dear deai I 1 know what im doing ill be back soon when he had gone thomas paused in the doorway he should be more careful he even carry a 9 gun 91 1 karl took tock his gun away and if he had another karl would find it thomas came closer but if you had a gun karl suspect 41 what at do you mean mean joan whispered thomas touched his pocket 1 11 I have one here ive had it for t the he last month but it do me any good if I 1 gave it to mr karl would find it but you might be able to hide it away may come in handy joan was thinking rapidly not of herself but paul it would be a safeguard for bothof both of them give it to me then she told thomas he handed it to devand her and she put it in her pocket good luckl he said and was gone joan did not tell P paul aul about the gun she was afraid he would not want her to have the responsibility she remembered the last occasion she had held a gun in her hand theotime The time karl shot eric and made her pick up the gun to have her incriminating fingerprints on it why so quiet paul inquired absorbed she had not heard him return she smiled nothing darling just thinking about me I 1 trust he drew her into his arms amis and kissed her 1 I love you joail she felt as though his love built a high will wall between her and the rest odthe of the world im afraid never have an easy life iffe paul warned ill be away a lot ond and sometimes I 1 wont be able to explain caplain where or why have to trust me k TO DE BE CONTINUED |