| Show M M MM MM el AS py f SYLVIA TAYLOR THE STORY stolly SO FAR joan leland pretty secretary to arthur mulford Mul tord san francisco importer is amazed and ana angry when he unexpectedly discharges her with two weeks salary and refuse any explanation 1 1 oil the bewildered girt arrive at the apartment part ment she shares with her sister shtil sybil feeling thankful that one of 0 them atheni SUM still has a position only to te be told by her sister that the beauty salon where the she works it Is closing up over tte the protests protest of 01 sybil joan answers a secretarial ad requiring some night work the fascinating proprietor karl miller engages her at once at a salary ol of 50 per week and insists upon paying her in advance even though she lacks references sybil suspects suspect something sinister and divines joans quick interest in karl she pleads with her not to take the job and the two quarrel joan accepts karls karis dinner invitation now continue with the story CHAPTER III 7 joan felt karls irritation towards sybil my parents are both dead she explained syb feels that she has to look after me but even joan was annoyed to find sybil waiting up for them later that night its almost two sybil snapped the idea karl miller looked amused ashe as he stood hat in hand in the doorway in that case I 1 shall say goodnight without further delay when he had gone joan turned furiously to her sister why did you have to say that im old enough to manage my own affairs there were deep circles of fatigue beneath sybila blue eyes her voice seemed to echo like a warning through the old fashioned high ceil hinged rooms youve got to quit working for karl miller youve got to quit tomorrow the sisters stared at each other in the dimly lit room joan threw her head back defiantly as she cried youve made karl angrys angry you had no right to do that sybil smiled ruefully he looked more amused than angry its up to me to look after you joan I 1 feel responsible since mother and dad are gone if anything happened id never forgive myself 1 I know syb and we quarrel about it she yawned dawned and started for the bedroom but sybil caught her arm then you will quit working for karl miller no I 1 will not im twenty years old sybil and im not going to let you or anyone else run my life the grandfathers clock in the corner chimed two thirty joan observed evading sybila worried glance wed better get some sleep dont you have to work in the morning no today was my last day from now on im one of the unemployed and you expect me to quit my job oh no syb im making a good salary and whether you think so or not karl kari is a gentleman maybe so sybil said as she snapped off the lamp but I 1 dont trust him the next day joan leland arrived at the club elite promptly at two karl millers office was filled with baskets of flowers tonight was opening night but karl was unruffled behind his desk good afternoon she said demurely her employer was not the type to evade issues ive been think thinking ipg about your sister joan tell me something about her joan removed her hat and coat and smoothed her black hair before she replied sybila Sy bils a little low right now you see ashes just lost her job the beauty shop where she worked has been closed karl laughed then perhaps that was why she was in such a bad humor he said it with such apparent honesty that joan was not angry she sat down at her own small desk beside karls and mechanically inserted a sheet of paper in her typewriter karl suddenly leaned forward would it please you if I 1 could help your sister the girls lovely face lifted innocently to his oh karl could you 1 I think so A friend of mine a mrs murdock owns the ritz beauty salon if I 1 ask her I 1 feel sure she will be able to use another experienced perien ced girl joans eyes were shining the ritz beauty salon oh karl that s wonderful it was one of the best shops in town sybil would be thrilled but with a swift change of attitude karl had ground out his cigarette and when he turned again to joan his eyes were void of any emotion get that orchestra leader on an the telephone he said 1 I have some instructions to give him yes mr miller Mill erill 1 and as joan dialed the number she found her ber self more than ever intrigued by this man who had offered to help her sister this strange enigma that was karl kari miller at six joan decided to go home for dinner in two hours she could easily make it and she was eager to tell sybil of her good fortune her sister looked up in surprise as joan burst into the living room what on earth are you doing home you by any chance quit 11 dhont dont be sill silly joan cried throwing her hat on the table 1 I have wonderful news for you karl kari can get you a job at the ritz beauty salon sybil was genuinely surprised the ritz that smart new shop on an post street nothing less it wonderful karl kari knows the owner hes going to call her and fix it up for you but its one of the best shops in in town sybil said unbelievingly of course it nice of him honestly sybil how can you dislike a man who isso kind imagine 1 I ar w all right from now on im not saying another word you sou can do just as you like joan his thinking about a job for you today of all days when hes so busy with the club opening sybil was standing by the window look like a very good night for it its going to rain Is that all you can say joan cried indignantly karl said maybe since you like him you want his help but I 1 thought you would sybil turned youre right joan I 1 do need the job you may tell mr miller that I 1 appreciate it very much joan did not notice the coldness of her sisters reply she was happily unconscious of the expression on sybila face how about dinner im starved I 1 have to be back at the club by eight sybil broiled the chops while joan made a salad 1 41 I see youre wearing your good black dress to work the idea why not joan retorted im making fifty dollars a week now and I 1 have to look my best you seem to think it necessary when you worked for mr mulford on table and set places for two you know how I 1 feel about karl syb she said in a low voice why make it hard for me all righta from now on im not saying another word you can do just as you like joan maybe its none of my business after all joan put an affectionate arm about her sister dont feel that way darling but give me a little credit cred j t for knowing what im doing im not a child you know sybil smiled as she turned back to the stove but she said no more As sybil had predicted it was raining when joan reached the club but the weather had not seemed to affect business already the first 9 guests bests were arriving the bar was crowded gay laughter conversation tinkling glasses made an exciting combination of sounds which spelled success for the future joan felt a little thrill of pride as she passed on down the corridor to the office she settled herself at her desk and began to type karl was not there her mind wandered as she worked only a week ago she was working for arthur mulford now everything was different lue life i turned a fresh page which joan oan felt sure would be filled with adventure it must have been fate that she answered karl millers advertisement fate that mr mulford had gone out of business alid been forced to fire her she was thinking so intently that when he opened the door she felt the color rush into her cheeks and she knew that his keen eyes had observed her embarrassment karl seemed pleased every things going fine be better by the way I 1 spoke to mrs murdock Tell your sister she can start work monday morning oh thank youl joan cried its so kind of you karll karil he rose came around the desk has it madey made you qu happy joan of course her eyes faltered beneath the steel blue eyes karl miller laughed softly as he drew her inia into his powerful arms sybila warnings 1 rang in her ears but the pound ag g of her heart overcame c me them a as her lips blindly met his there was strange magic in karl millers kiss how long karl held her in that embrace joan did not know when he released her he put a hand beneath her chin and looked deeply into the green eyes that were filled with emotion oh karl joan cried softly but before she could say mare more the office door opened and a man entered his eyes cau the little scene and he turned to go S sorry orry karl see you later joan turned back to her desk with flaming cheeks but karl miller did not seem embarrassed its all right paull come on in I 1 dont think youve met my new secretary miss leland this is paul sherman joan was forced to look into a pair of brown eyes their owner was tall and lithe he had a quick smile brown curly hair it was a good looking face with its straight nose and square jaw im very glad to meet you paul sherman said emphatically joan acknowledged the introduction and turned quickly back to her typing what would this man think of her karl had said my new secretary which implied that they had not been acquainted long joan told herself that she care what paul sherman thought yet for some indefinable reason she did paul is my right hand man karl said opening a panel in the wall which revealed a tiny but complete bar he manages the club probably be seeing a lot of each other have a drink paul the other sat down and crossed his long legs A short one I 1 have to get out front again things look good karl what do you think of the club miss leland at the unexpected question addressed to her joan started its very nice she replied dark lashes sweeping over her embarrassed green eyes she had an uncanny feeling that paul sherman was staring at her conscious of her embarrassment barras she w was a s so confused that she made three mistakes in one line it was not easy for her to turn emotion off and on as karl miller did she marvelled marvellee marvel led at his coolness as he sat on the edge of his desk and talked to paul by the way paul was saying his eyes still on joan eric wants to see you hes in the bar wants you to meet some people ill go then coming paul paul fin finished shed his drink im right with you karl joan was relieved when they had gone she pushed back her chair and made no pretense of finishing the letter she had been typing it was thus that paul sherman found her when he returned to the office a few seconds later she started guiltily when he came in oh its you again you dont seem too pleased to see me paul observed shutting the door carefully behind him but as a matter of fact I 1 came back on t purpose joan stared at him in disapproval you mean that no one wanted to see karl oh sure that was legitimate at e but when I 1 saw a chance to slip away I 1 took it P his friendly smile made it difficult to be offended well joan asked flatly what do you want paul laughed displaying even white teeth to talk to you you be so annoyed after all I 1 am the manager of the club was there a hint of cynicism m in his voice im sorry joan said trying to smile 1 11 I guess im not used to this type of work yet as what I 1 am getting at paul said seriously how did you I 1 happen to come to work for karl miller any anyway way TO BE CONTINUED |
