Show rs LD A A 1 TAYLOR WM U fele CHAPTER I 1 arthur Mul fords secretary faced him unsuspectingly across the massive mahogany desk you wanted to see me mr mulford the man surveyed the slender figure before him its like this joan he said decisively ci ill have to let you go joan leland stared at him in astonishment ment you mean im fired mulford shrugged it but why what have I 1 done he picked up a sheaf of papers and reached for the telephone 1 I dont care to discuss it receive your next two weeks salary of course but you need not finish out the month you mean this is my last day yes all joan the late october sunshine flowed in pale golden streams across the busy streets of san francisco as joan left the office for the apartment she shared with her sister fired there was something almost sinister about this abrupt dismissal after two years on the job thank heaven sybil has a job joan thought the apartment boasted a fireplace and long floor length windows it was 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 apartments true there was seldom enough heat and the cooking facilities were inadequate but the old house reflected the charm and graciousness cious ness of the past joan glanced lovingly about the room the girls had used their furniture left to them by their parents it was heavy and rather old fashioned but it suited the high room A voice from the bedroom hailed her joan that you why sybi syb what are you doing home so early I 1 thought the beauty 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 seemed to have little in common in appearance or temperament joan brunette twenty restless impulsive sybil seven years older gold en haired inclined to caution especially where men were concerned sybil had been married and divorced when she was twenty one since then she had been determined to save joan from making the same mistake never trust any man was sybila motto but joan did not take it too seriously suspecting that her sisters cynicism was covering a broken heart what a dayl day sybil said drearily throwing herself upon the couch 1 I have some news for you sis 1 I have something to tell you too tog joan said grimly ive lost my job mr mulford gave me two weeks salary and told me not to come back sybil sat up wide ea eyed red oh I 1 joan no he even give me a reason joan continued heatedly 1 I cant understand it im sure there anything wrong with my work theres something very strange about this syb mr mulford seemed positively anxious to get rid of me but joan sybil interrupted 1 I lost my job today too tool the girls stared at each other in ui alarm the beauty shop is closing sybil said breaking the silence this is my last week well of course well find something else joan said but her voice carried no conviction after all were both experienced im sure mr mulford will give me a reference jobs arent easy to get dont be a pessimist darling joan advised she tied a colored apron around her waist and went into the kitchen theres nothing to worry about tonight weve got enough money in our account to last almost a month sybila blue eyes were troubled joan just it I 1 checked that money out yesterday to pay for a new coat I 1 thought we need it and I 1 was going to pay it back a little bac each h month theres not a cent left in that account night had fallen with a suddenness which filled the apartment with a strange new silence how much money have you in your purse joan inquired frowning two or three dollars and you 1 I have this check from mr mulford that will pay the rent for another month sybil shivered ana an d drew her quilted satin robe closer what are we going to do then you return the coat no its been altered ill start lookin looking tomorrow joan said resolutely mr MuL fords usually at the store until late im going to telephone him and teh tell him ill stop by the morning to get a reference I 1 forgot all about it this afternoon I 1 was so upset sybil watched in silence as joan dialed the number this is joan leland may I 1 speak to mr mulford there was a pause before a strange feminine voice replied 1 I im in I 1 after all theres no harm in applying for the job if something is wrong with it I 1 can tell when I 1 go down there so sorry rry that will be impossible fr mr mulford left town an hour ago joan gasped left town tonight right who is this speaking please joan inquired hotly 1 I am his secretary the voice informed her and the receiver clicked w hes left town and hes already hired a new secretary 1 I told you there was something funny about this and how can you get a reference if hes not here youve never worked for anyone else what worries met me lets eat sybil suggested 1 I cant think when im hungry cheerful night sybil commented as they ate 1 I know joan cried suddenly ill look for a job in the want ads wheres the paper sybil indicated the small coffee table joan seized the paper and turned to the classified section 1 I need a job and I 1 need it right bowl now listen to this joans voice voica rang with excitement cit ement as she read competent secretary wanted willing to work nights apply after 9 p in wait sybil said seriously why do they want you to work i nights and why apply after 9 p m what does it matter A job jobs s a job sybil stared at her in disapproval youre not serious joan jumped up and ran into the bedroom 1 I certainly am im going to apply for that job right now sybil followed her do nothing of the kind joan lelanda were not that hard up even if we were I 1 dont want you to work nights joan laughed recklessly as she ran a comb through the raven black hair and touched a powder puff to the white skin you take everything too seriously syb after all theres no harm in applying fo tor r the job if something is wrong with it I 1 can tell when I 1 go down there 1 sybil was unconvinced 1 I dont like the sound of 0 it she insisted stubbornly the address north beach sybil said carelessly north morth beach certainly not a very good place for a girl to be working nights night sf how do I 1 look joan asked exasperated sybil stared at her joan looked sophisticated too sophisticated sybil thought because at heart joan was just a kid i she know anything about life or about men be careful joan and come right home afterwards will you of course stop treating me like a child ill call you after the interview if that will make you feel any better 1 I still dont understand why mulford fired you without notice or reason sybil pondered and why did he leave town if that girl is telling the truth by the way what is she doing at the office at night 1 I dont know of course I 1 worked at night once in a while its strange that he should start a new girl at night but an importing shop is a little different from a regular office 1 I dont understand why he would hire another secretary so quickly maybe she was lying but why should she and why should mr mulford try to avoid me 1 I know sybil admitted but I 1 want you to be careful tonight joan however was not even thinking of her sisters warning as she stepped from the street car into the damp foggy streets of north beach with mounting curiosity she walked to the address given in the paper why its a night club 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 pushed open vy y door and went in she paused a moment 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 the shadows and surveyed her from head to foot before he said well what do you want joan said uneasily 1 I came about an ad that was in the paper for a secretary he seemed relieved okay down the hall second door to the left the boss will talk to you joan following instructions opened the door into a large modernistic erni office ay A powerful built blond man stood before a filing cabinet he turned quickly as she entered 1 I came about the job advertised in the paper she faltered he flashed her a quick smile from steel blue eyes wont you sit down his voice was tinged with an accent joan saw a hard face almost grim yet amusement hovered in his eyes his lips seemed not to move as he spoke the hand that indicated a chair was beautifully shaped the fingers tapering and artistic there was something strangely magnetic about this man 1 I am karl miller androu And you joan Le leland landis is my name until today I 1 have been employed by an importer import irr e firm owned by arthur mulford ali ah he opened a large silver box and took out a cigarette 1 I was in the importing business myself but the war stopped that I 1 am now opening this night club I 1 need a secretary to take care of the office work im sure find me satisfactory mr miller you have references of course she hesitated no mr mulford was called out of town and I 1 have been unable to reach him if you are able to do the work that will be sufficient I 1 want you to be here at night but you wont have to come until early afternoon two hours off for dinner the salary is is fifty dollars a week her eyes widened fifty dollars a week his expression did not change as he said considering the unusual hours I 1 feel that a smaller salary would not be fair recompense 1 I understand when do you w want nt me to start two 0 tomorrow joan rose to go I 1 i TO DE CONTINUED |