| Show JE py LL SYLVIA yS TAYLOR THE STORY SO FAR join leland pretty r secretary ecret ary to arthur mulford mufford san francisco importer Is amazed and entry when he unexpectedly discharges her with two weeks salary and refuses to give five any explanation for or the act the bewildered girl arrives at the studio apartment shared with her bet sister sybil feeling thankful that one of 0 them still has a position only to be told by her sister that the beauty salon where abe he is if employed Is closing up reading the want ads that evening joan decides to answer one calling for a secre secretary will ins ing to put la in some night hours over the protests of sybil she goes to the address liven given and finds it to be a new night club the handsome proprietor karl miller builer enrages her at once at fifty dollars a week considering the unusual hours now continue with the story CHAPTER 11 just a minute miss leland ill give you two weeks salary in in advance joan colored did mr miller think she needed money it wont be necessary she felt embarrassed and rebuffed as he wrote out a check and handed it to her but she said quietly thank you very much mr miller he opened the door for her and their hands touched on the knob blue eyes gazed into green he was very close to her ill expect you tomorrow then she felt a personal significance in each of these unimportant words good night mr miller good night miss leland it was almost eleven when joan arrived home you said telephone sybil reminded her what happened happened without removing hat or coat joan sank down before the fire 1 I got the job all right syb its a night club A man named karl miller you dont seem very excited sybil commented hes the most interesting man ive ever seen joan said softly what goes on sybil exploded have you lost your mind joan rose and laughed shakily sorry syb anyway I 1 have a job starting tomorrow and the salary is fifty dollars a week 1 fifty dollars a week sybil frowned theres something wrong with this picture too good a salary for a job without a reference I 1 dont like it joan this thi s karl miller like joan yawned dawned and went into the bedroom take it easy darling no doubt he is all right come on to bed syb lets not argue about it tonight sybil opened the windows to the screaming wail of foghorns fog horns what are your hours 1 I dont have to be there until two and I 1 work until around midnight joan im not going to let you take that job theres something phoney about it joan pulled the covers up over her chin her hair spilled like liquid jet over the white pillow case it will be fun working at a night club im almost glad that mr mulford fired me sybil wouita gouid the last golden curl on a bobby pin and tied a net over her hair youre getting into something I 1 have a feeling at least I 1 wont be bored you know syb ive always wanted to have something exciting happen to me something like karl miller sybil questioned shrewdly perhaps sybil snapped oil off the light dont be foolish jaan you possibly be in love with a man youve met only once joan smiled in the darkness why not because that love if ever really been in love know the difference diff arence 11 maybe I 1 already know the difference joan thought remembering a pair of shrewd blue eyes infatuation and love are two different things sybila voice cut through the darkness joans first day as karl millers secretary was uneventful the club elite was in the hands of painters and decorators who made so much noise and confusion that it penetrated even to the inner office from two to five joan worked harder than ever before in her life karl was particular he watched every move she made he scrutinized each letter she typed with a quick sweep of his blue eyes his very presence made joan nervous 1 I want ant you to memorize every name in this book he told her indicating di a small leather volume 1 I speak to no one in person or over the telephone unless the name is here you understand he took a red carnation from the vase vas on the desk broke the stem and inserted the flower in his buttonhole ton hole but his eyes did not miss the flicker of expression that crossed joans face when she opened the book and came to the name of atthur arthur mulford 1 I told you I 1 have been in the importing business I 1 knew your former boss yes mr miller joan was too good a secretary to question his word she turned back to her typewriter it was almost six before karl said AU all right joan you may go now you dont have to be back until eight thirty the unexpected use of her first name sent a thrill of anticipation through the girl 1 I must be crazy joan told herself as she hurried down the long corridor she had dinner at a small restaurant sipping hot coffee gratefully she remembered with a wry smile that sybil was worried about her salary she could understand now why karl thought the job was worth fifty dollars a week she was as tired already as if she had put in a full day she lingered over her dessert and walked slowly back to work pausing on the way to look in the shop windows but she could not fill up youre working for the boss he reminded her smiling ill see that were through early two hours and a halt half and it was only a few minutes before eight when she pushed open the door of the club elite an orchestra was rehearsing in in the dimly lit salon karl kari miller sat on one of the gilt chairs listening his keen eyes spotted joan instantly sit down he directed what do you think of the band it sounds grand she felt the old sensation of self consciousness what was this peculiar excitement that seized her whenever he smiled at her Is anything wrong joan he was so sure of himself so smooth it made her feel like a schoolgirl she felt positive that he knew the emotions that were racing through her heart positive that he knew the attraction he had for her nothing why should there be he laughed then throwing back his head but the laughter made her angry id better get back to work she said theres a lot to do he caught her hand as she rose how would you like to go dancing with me friday night his proposal took her by complete surprise why mr miller id love to he released her hand 1 I would prefer that you call me karl all right karl but what about working friday night youre working for the boss he reminded her smiling ill see that were through early joan did not tell sybil about her date until the time came her sister did not approve going out with the boss never works sybil insisted stubbornly honestly joan I 1 dont know come over you youre not using your head at all theres something funny about this whole business and this man lets not go over it again joan said happily when you see karl miller understand why im so crazy about him sybil sat down on the bed and watched her sister apply makeup make up if hes opening the club tomorrow I 1 why is he running around tonight why he in the office taking care of things his business it look syb will you light the fire in the living room I 1 want everything to look nice nice and cozy sniffed sybil okay but dont think im going to be the retiring sister and stay in the bedroom im going to be right there to meet him joan slipped into the new black velvet dinner dress she had purchased before she knew karl kari miller she had been saving it for an occasion like this the square neck was provocatively cut the sleeves long and tight she had drawn her smooth black hair over her ears and coiled it in a abow lo 10 w knot at the nape of her white n neck eck look syb joan begged mayi use a little of your perfume sybil thrust the bottle at her ungraciously that dress makes you look ten years older joan joan was not to be ruffled after all darling you cant expect me to run around in pink tulle all my life and karl must be all of thirty five she added thoughtfully all of forty snapped sybil you have no business running around with a man twice your age skip it please sybil karl miller put an end to the argument by pressing his finger on the doorbell joan flew fied v to meet him she was proud of him his charming manners his impeccable evening clothes clothed his smooth indifferent chatter as he talkea talked pleasantly to sybil while joan got her wrap but she knew from her sisters cold good night that she was not favorably impressed karl knew it too 1 I dont think your sister likes me he said as he helped joan into his car perhaps she thinks I 1 am too old for you his uncanny accuracy embarrassed joan sybila Sy bils been married and divorced ashes not very trusting when it comes to men and you joan do you trust men some men joan replied hoping that she sounded careless they went to a night club 1 I could use a few pointers karl told her since im new to this kind of business A hawaiian orchestra played under soft rosy lights karl was a superb dancer surprisingly light on his feet for such a heavily built man hes me like tempered steel joan thought everything about him voice expression strength he held her lightly but joan felt that she could not have broken away from him had she tried 1 I have news for you he said suddenly your former employer mr mulford has gone out of business no doubt that is why he let you go but impossible joan cried in surprise when I 1 c called the office three days ago he had hired a new secretary why would he do that if he were closing the office karl miller did not smile you are quite a little detective joan laughed id like to be one im afraid im an adventuresome soul in spite of the unexciting life ive led perhaps your life will become more exciting as it goes on 1 I hope it does joan said recklessly 1 I am quite sure karl miller said tonelessly that it will what was it about him that drew and held her interest his face which showed her a thousand men in one varied moods I 1 hardness coldness irritation and amusement he was obviously a man of the world a world that joan had never known dont think too much joan karl advised her gently 1 I have found that it seldom pays it was a strange evening gay yet restrained by the undercurrents under currents that baffled and disturbed joan afterward looking back on this evening she could understand many things but at the time being with karl was all that mattered feeling the touch of his arms as they danced looking into his eyes as he raised his glass hearing his charming voice blending into the wail of hawaiian music guitars gentle bass soft drums the quartette from honolulu that droned dronek chants into their ears he paid her many c compliments 1 I like your hair that way he remarked it makes you lo 10 look k quite foreign and much older my sister like it at all she has an idea that rm im sti htiu I 1 a little girl his eyes swept the figure in its black velvet sheath really I 1 am afraid that your sister and I 1 would not agree TO BE |
