Show SH I 1 grim A rl nv BELL SYLVIA TAYLOR WN W N u arcase ane STORY SO FAR FAB joan leland secretary to arthur li fulford san francisco francisc 0 importer Is amazed and angry when he he discharges dl tier her without notice or explanation her sister sybil with whom she be shares ao an apartment loses her position also and joan accepts a secretarial position with handsome karl miller night club proprietor he pays her well because of the unusual hours boors she Is fasal slated bated and accepts his love lovemaking making tater later site she meets meet his hi manager paul pan sherman in it a and his partner eric strom who both spiess express admiration for her paul warns her against karl but refuses to give five his reasons returning to the office unexpectedly expectedly im join joan overhears karl and eric in a mysterious conversation paul drives her home and they quarrel over joan working tor for karl later karl invites her to inspect a freighter whose captain he knows both paul and joans sister sybil warn her against karl paul Is louna found following her now continue with the story CHAPTER VI sybil shrugged there are a lot of people I 1 dont trust for instance why 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 about it a already it may be his orders ridiculous joan flared how can you dislike karl so much after he got you your job and has been so kind to you sybil sighed as she went back to the kitchen but before joan left for the office 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 laier 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 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 C club ab 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 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 paul said admiringly be serious paul you know what I 1 mean why have you been following me must have been two other people want a drink no thank youl 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 teu tell karl no I 1 why not 1 I want you to lose your 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 if you dont im going to tell him paul looked at his watch we time to talk now you have to be in the office by eight dont you ill come in later and well talk then meanwhile please dont say anything to karl promise me joan 1 I wont it 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 mas w as in his office the moment joan entered he drew her into his arms an adorable hat he said kissing her 1 I knew like it iti she pressed her cheek against his impossible to think about paul sherman impossible to worry or even care what happened in the rest of the world when she was in his arms ill be out of the office until ten karl told her try to finish those letters paul wants to see you at ten thirty she reminded him ill be back good night lieb cheal another kiss and he was gone joan turned back to her i wondering how she could keep her mind off karl miller and type these letters karl was such a mant man stop thinking about himl joan scolded herself it was almost ten when the door opened without warning joan thought it was paul but it was eric strom karls partner who stepped inside joan had not seen him since the night he dined with karl and her alit 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 a business matter mind if I 1 have a drink youre karls 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 ah miss bliss leland you are alone I 1 see and looking very beautiful as always feet he attempted to kiss her you beautiful little devil 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 is a 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 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 fe feet et but there was a smile on his evil face pay for this sherman Sherma nl you seem to forget I 1 have something to say about this business joan leaned weakly against the desk sobbing shut up and get out 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 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 to him thanks paul she said her voice trembling but paul did not look at her his voice was strained dont men tion it when they were alane karl said it wont happen again joan ill 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 liebchen theres nothing to be afraid of now she clung to him feeling strength in his assurance oh karl I 1 love you the words tripped over each other in stammering sincerity karl miller pressing his lips against her white forehead smiled the days of november marched by with astonishing rapidity joan was not bothered by eric strom again and her fears vanished karl kari was more attentive than ever and joan with the radiant assurance of a woman loved checked off e each ach day as more perfect than the last sometimes she doubted her efficiency as karls karis secretary she typed letters scarcely knowing what she was writing but it if she was inefficient karl did not selem to notice it one rainy night naghi 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 the more I 1 see of him the less 1 I trust him and another one I 1 dont care for is that mrs murdock Murdoc lC who runs the beauty shop Is that karls karis fault he got you the job enough it joan had come home for dinner and karl had told tier 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 certainly very businesslike about the club I 1 dont see how he makes anything joan walked restlessly up and down the living room karl makes plenty of money hes a very clever man she glanced at the clock 1 I think ill go back early karl might need ali me shortly before eight she left happily she opened the door of karl 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 did not seem surprised that tha t 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 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 karl where mere does it 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 w will ill 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 g which led to the ship there was n no 0 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 tl yes joan faltered here is is a package from mr miller danke he saluted her and disappeared into the shadows joan returned 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 thought you might need me so youre following me again agai nill she felt his arm nudge hers in warning as he glanced towards the taxi driver dont talk bowl now 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 it joan sat in furious silence 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 tor for karl and hes expecting me back at the office the room was warm and gay and there was a hum burn of voices TO BE CONTINUED |