Show A 3 SW toy A S py 11 1 BEL ey SYLVIA THE lre STORY SO FAR joan uland to arthur blufford san fran cretaro se isco importer Is amazed and angry discharges her n without out notice or waco aca tt lie so pUn atlon her sister sybil with whom shares an apartment loses her site he flon also iso and joan accepts a secretarial karl kari miller with handsome proprietor no he pays pay her well be club mb cause tuse of the unusual hours hoori she li Is fasal ted and accepts accept his hl love lovemaking making later lster ste be meet meen hit his manager paul sher bt aa and bil partner eric strom who both express admiration tor for her paul girnt ras her against karl hot but reto refuses Os to 90 give ive hll his reasons returning to the office joan overhears karl and unexpectedly expectedly ra la in a mysterious conversation paul drives her home a and nd they quarrel over join working for karl later karl invite her to inspect a freighter whose captain be knows both paul and joans sister sybil warn her against karl rial paul 1 Is found following her NOW how continue with the story CHAPTER VI S sybil shrugged there are a lot of eipl people 0 le I 1 dont trust for instance why is is paul sherman following you 1 I intend to find out tonight he has an appointment at the club at ten thirty ill try to see him alone for a few minutes im going to ask him to explain karl probably knows abo about ut it already it may be his orders ridiculous joan flared abow how can you dislike karl so much after he got you your job and has been so kind to you youre just tired honeil sybil said as she put comforting arms about joan you dont get enough sleep you need more sun and fresh air working in that shut in office with no outside windows is enough to make anyone anyon e LU ill d let me alone her sister wept you dont understand no one understands der stands how I 1 feel sybil sighed as she went back to the kitchen but before joan left for the office the she had kissed sybil affectionately saying im sorry 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 longer and im going to settle it tonight later when joan hurried from the apartment and walked to the trolley line through the dark night she felt strangely exhilarated it was a thrill even to go to work when her boss was karl miller the whole world is different when youre in love joan thought and she pitied the girls who were neglected by this grek great e emotion at the club joan paused to look at the crowd the low ceiling was flooded with a soft indirect lighting it was a pleasant intimate room the dance floor was small but adequate it formed 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 one side of the room was crowded joan glancing casually at the well dressed men and women saw paul sherman she glanced at her hen watch it was a quarter of eight she had fifteen minutes before she was due in karls office now was her chance hello paul said Is it possible that you want to see me joan sat down beside him 1 I have been seeing you almost constantly for three weeks she said significantly a tricky hat taul paul said admiringly be serious paul you know what I 1 bran mean why have you been following me must have been two other people want a drink no thank you joan exploded theres no use trying to evade the issue I 1 saw you down at the boat that night his brown eyes were serious you tell karl kari no nal I 1 why not 1 I want you to lose your lob job she confessed 1 I believe that you meant any harm very sweet of you joan I 1 appreciate your confidence well arent you going to explain jf if you dont im going to tell him paul i looked at his watch we time to talk now you have to be in the office by eight dont you ill come in later ana and well talk then meanwhile please dont bay ay anything to karl promise me joan 1 I 1 wont if explain you have all the instincts of a detective paul laughed what karl told me once joan informed him ill see you later karl miller was in his office the moment joan entered he drew her tato into his arms that I 1 s an adorable hat he said kissing her knew like it I 1 pressed her cheek against his impossible to think about paul shernan sherman ir impossible possible to worry or even tare care what happened in the rest ol of the world when she was in his bis arms ill be out of the office until ten karl kari told her try to finish those letters paul wants to see you at ten taij thirty ta she reminded him ill be back good night lieb cherbo another kiss and he w was as gone joan turned back to her typewriter wondering how she could keep her mind nd oa ca karl miller and type these letters tiers karl karawa was such a man danl I 1 lie he all ah miss leland you are alone I 1 see and looking very beautiful 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 kari who was so sophisticated so completely sure of himself stop thinking about himl him 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 him since the night he dined with karl kari and her ali ah miss leland you are alone I 1 see and looking very 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 in a business matter mind if I 1 have a drink youre karls karis partner its your office too she was trying to control her dislike of him you are very generous eric strom said but he did not open the bar concealed in the wall instead he approached her desk have to excuse me joan said suddenly afraid im very busy but with a quick step eric was beside her drawing her to her feet he attempted to kiss her you beautiful little devil I 1 he murmured joan was terror stricken she tried to scream but no sound would come she pulled away with all her strength but eric strom only laughed let me alone 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 paul pauls face was grim you dirty rat 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 pay for this Sher sherman maril you seem to forget I 1 have something to say about this business joan leaned weakly against the desk sobbing shut up and get 0 out ut paul ordered advancing toward eric again and at that moment 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 he read the story in their faces 1 I want to talk to joan alonet alone she had never heard him use this tone before his voice was edged with steel his eyes were hard he seemed another karl a man she had never known As paul turned to go joan ran jan to him thanks paul she said hir her voice t trembling rem bling but paul did not look at her his voice was strained dont mention it 10 when they were alone karl ka ra said it wont happen again joan V ill 11 see that eric annoy you desperately she tried to regain control of her shattered nerves but sobs shook her karl put his arms about her and his touch was magic dont cry Lieb chent theres nothing to be afraid of now she clung to him feeling strength in his assurance oh karl I 1 love youl you the words tripped over each other in stammering sincerity karl miller pressing his lips against ifer her white forehead smiled e the days of november marched by with astonishing rapidity joan was not bothered by eric strom again and her fears vanished karl kari was m more ore 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 chency y as karls secretary she typed letters scarcely knowing what hat but if she inefficient she w was as writing was karl did not seem to notice it one rainy r night light joan said to sybil ive never been so happy in my life its too good to be true sybil prophesied gloomily 1 I still dont like karl kari 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 back at work until nine an hour later than usual 1 I never heard of such crazy hours sybil objected karl kari certainly very businesslike about the club I 1 dont see how he makes anything joan walked restlessly up and down the living room karl kari makes plenty of money hes a very 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 kari millers office but the smile on her face faded when she saw that karl was not alone eric strom was with him im just leaving eric said and without a word to joan he walked past her and down the corridor karl kari did not seem surprised that she had arrived early he made no comment upon her appearance he read her thoughts when he said 1 I think want to 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 kari 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 gov go do you remember the night I 1 took you aboard the freighter she nodded and he went on 1 I want it delivered 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 give him the package and come right back find a taxi outside he kissed her briefly when she arrived at the pier joan asked the driver to wait and clutching 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 da she drew back involuntarily the guttural voice frightened her instantly a man appeared out of the night and the muscles of his scarred face relaxed when he saw who it was miss leland yes joan faltered here is a package from mr miller danke he saluted her and disappeared into the shadows joan returned return ed through the warehouse to the street she shivered as the wind swept the rain in great gusts thank goodness her taxi was 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 thong thought ht you might need me so youre following me again she felt his arm nudge hers in warning as he glanced towards the taxi driver dont talk bowl he said under his breath take me back to the club joan ordered but paul said drive straight ahead till I 1 give you further directions and step on ill AV joan sat in furious silence e 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 |