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Show msM B Sylvia Taylor tm THE STORY SO FAR: Joan Lei and, secretary to Arthur Mulford, San Francisco Fran-cisco Importer, Is amazed and angry wuen be discbarges her without notice or explanation. Her sister Sybil, with whom she shares an apartment, loses her position posi-tion also and Joan accepts a secretarial position with handsome Karl Miller, night club proprietor. . He pays her well because be-cause of the unusual hours. She is fascinated fasci-nated and accepts his lovemaking. Later Lat-er she meets his manager, Paul Sherman Sher-man and his partner, Eric Strom, who both express admiration for her. Paul warns her against Karl but refuses to five his reasons. Returning to the office unexpectedly, -Joan overhears Karl and Eric in a mysterious conversation.. Paul drives her home and they quarrel over Joan working for Karl. Later Karl invites in-vites her to inspect a freighter, wbose raptaln he knows. Both Paul and Joan's sister, Sybil, warn ber against Karl. Paul Is found following her. Now continue with the story. CHAPTER VI Sybil shrugged. "There are a lot of people I dont trust. For instance, why is Paul Sherman following you?" "I intend to find out tonight He has an appointment at the club at "Ah! Miss Leland: You are alone, I see. And looking very beautiful as always " prophesied gloomily. "I still don't like Karl. The more I see ol him the less I trust him. And another an-other one I don't care lor is that Mrs. Murdock who runs the beauty shop." "Is that Karl's lault? He got you the job. That's enough, isn't 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. "I never heard ol such crazy hours," Sybil objected. "Karl certainly cer-tainly isn't very businesslike about the club. I don't see how he makes anything." Joan walked restlessly up and down the living room. "Karl makes plenty ol money. He's a very clever clev-er man." She glanced at the clock. "I think I'll go back early. Karl might need me." Shortly belore eight she left: Happily she opened the door of Karl Miller's office but the smile on her face laded when she saw that Karl was not alone. Eric Strom was with him. "I'm just leaving," Eric said, and without a word to Joan he walked past her and down the corridor. Karl did not seem surprised that she had arrived early. He made no comment upon her appearance. He read her thoughts, when he said, "I didn't think you'd want to see Eric, so I told you to come later." Instantly she was reassured. It was kind ol him to spare her a meeting with Eric Strom. "Joan," Karl continued, with his quick smile, "I hate to ask you to do this on such a bad night but I can't leave the office and I want this package delivered." He held out a small leather portfolio. ten-thirty. I'll try to see him alone for a lew minutes. I'm going to ask him to explain." "Karl probably knows about it already. al-ready. It may be his orders." "That's ridiculous!" Joan flared. "How can you dislike Karl so much? After he got you your job and has been so kind to you?" "You're just tired, honey!" Sybil said as she put comforting arms about Joan. "You don't 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 ill." "Let me alone!" her sister wept' "You don't understand. No one understands un-derstands how I feel." Sybil sighed as she went back to the kitchen. But belore Joan left for the office she had kissed Sybil affectionately, saying, "I'm sorry, Syb! I guess I am tired. One ol the things that's making me nervous is having Paul follow me all the time. I can't stand it any longer, and I'm 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 you're in love," Joan thought, and she pitied the girls who were neglected by this great 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. ade-quate. It formed a circle in front of the band which, according to Karl, was "going over big." The Club Elite was definitely a success. had lived. He was not an inexperienced inexperi-enced boy in his twenties. Paul must be twenty-six or seven but he seemed a boy compared to Karl, Karl who was so sophisticated so completely sure of himself. "Stop thinking about 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, Karl's partner, who stepped inside. Joan had not seen him since the night he dined with Karl and her. "Ah! Miss Leland! You are alone, I see. And looking very beautiful as always." Eric's voice was soft but his eyes regarded her insolently. "Karl will be back any minute," Joan said quickly. ' "I don't think so. I left him only a lew minutes ago, quite absorbed in a business matter. Mind il I have a drink?" "You're Karl's partner. It's your office, too." She was trying to control con-trol 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. "You'll have to excuse me," Joan said, suddenly afraid. "I'm 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!" 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!" Jnan rripd as she "I don't mind, Karl! Where does it go?" "Do you remember the night. I took you aboard the freighter?" She nodded and he went on, "I want it delivered there. Take a taxi and go immediately." Joan fastened her coat and slipped on her gloves. "To whom shall I give it?" "They're expecting you. Someone will meet you. Give him the package pack-age and come right back. You'll find a taxi outside." He kissed her briefly. When she arrived at, the pier Joan asked the driver to wait, and clutching clutch-ing 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 mo-ment peering through the misty darkness before she heard a voice. "Wer da?" She drew back involuntarily. involun-tarily. The guttural voice frightened her. Instantly a man appeared out of the night and the muscles ol his scarred lace relaxed when he saw who it was. "Miss Leland?" "Yes," Joan faltered, "Here is a package from Mr. Miller.'' "Danke schoen!" He saluted her and disappeared into the shadows. Joan returned through the warehouse ware-house 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 felt Eric's arms about her. She was not aware that the office door had opened until a hand seized Eric and whirled him around. "Paul!" Paul's face was grim. "You dirty rat!" He smashed his fist full in Eric's face with a blow that sent him spinning across the room. Eric staggered to his feet but there was a smile on his evil lace. "You'll pay lor this, Sherman! You seem to forget I have something some-thing to say about this business." Joan , leaned weakly against the desk, sobbing. "Shut up and get out!" Paul ordered, or-dered, advancing toward Eric again. And at that moment Karl Miller appeared in the doorway. His voice cut like a whip through the tense atmosphere. "What's . going on here?" he demanded. No one seemed inclined to answer an-swer him but he read the story in their laces. "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. "Don't mention men-tion it!" When they were alone, Karl said, "It won't happen again, Joan. I'll see that Eric doesn't annoy you." Desperately she tried to regain control of her shattered nerves but lne bar at one side of the room was crowded. Joan, glancing casually casu-ally 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 Karl's office. Now was her chance. "Hello," Paul said. "Is it possible possi-ble that you want to see me?" Joan sat down beside him. "I have been seeing you almost constantly con-stantly for three weeks," she said significantly. "That's a tricky hat," Paul said admiringly.' "Be serious, Paul. You know what I mean. Why have you been following fol-lowing me?" "Must have been two other people. peo-ple. Want a drink?" "No, thank you!" Joan exploded. "There's no use trying to evade the issue. I saw you down at the boat that night." His brown eyes were serious. "You didn't tell Karl?" "Nol I didn't." "Why not?" "I didn't want you to lose your job," she confessed. "I couldn't believe be-lieve that you meant any harm." "That's very sweet of you, Joan! I appreciate your confidence." "Well? Aren't you going to explain? ex-plain? If you don't I'm going to tell him." Paul looked at his watch. "We haven't time to talk now. You have to be in the office by eight, don't you? I'll come in later and we'll talk then. Meanwhile, please don't say anything to KarL Promise me, Joan!" sobs shook her. Karl put his arms about her and his touch was magic. "Don't cry, Liebchen! There's nothing noth-ing to be afraid ol now." .She clung to him, leeling strength in his assurance. "Oh, Karl, I 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 was more 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 effi-ciency as Karl's secretary. She typed letters scarcely knowing what she was writing. But if she was inefficient in-efficient Karl did not seem to notice it. One rainy night Joan said to Sybil, "I've never been so happy in my life." "It's too good to be true," Sybil door and climbed in. "Good evening," Paul Sherman said. He was sitting in the corner composedly com-posedly smoking a cigarette. "I thought you might need me." "So you're following rrie again!" She . felt his arm nudge hers in warning as he glanced towards the taxi driver. "Don't talk now!" he said under his breath. "Take me back to the club," Joan ordered. But Paul said, "Drive straight ahead till I give you further directions. direc-tions. And step on it!" Joan sat in furious silence as the driver obeyed Paul's 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 happen to be working for Karl, and he's expecting expect-ing me back at the office." The room was warm and gay and there was a hum of voices. (TO BE COST1MED) "I won't if you'll explain." "You have all the instincts ol a detective," Paul laughed. "That's what Karl told me once," Joan informed him. "I'll see you later!" Karl Miller was in his office.' The moment Joan entered, he drew her into his arms. "That's an adorable hat," he said, kissing her. "I knew you'd like it!" She pressed her cheek against his. Impossible Im-possible to think about Paul Sherman, Sher-man, impossible to worry, or even care what happened in the rest of the world when she was in his arms. "I'll be out ol the office until ten," Karl told her. "Try to finish those letters." "Paul wants to see you at ten-thirty," ten-thirty," she reminded him. "I'll be back. Good night, lieb-then!" lieb-then!" Another kiss and he was gone. Joan turned back to her typewriter wondering how she could keep her mind off Karl Miller and type these letters. Karl was such a man! He |