Coulee City dispatch. [volume] (Coulee City, Wash.) 19??-19??, 1942-02-19

me. Pm SO young and unsophisti-
Gated"
"'And you're going to stay that
way" Sybil said sharply. "You don't
love Karl Miller, Joan! You want
him because you know he's out of
your REACH 5a &, ME S c2
ooh, it's more than that!" the
youthful voice was full of pain.
Gwen so, it can't hurt anything
for you to be nice to this other man.
He's young and apparently he likes
you. Why don't you have dinner
with him?"
81 don't want Karl to be angry
with me-" Joan confessed.
"Is it as bad as that?" Sybil
asked quietly.
Joan sighed, "I'm sorry, Syb! But
that's the way it is. I can't help
it." rr . tfa
Sybil was silent and in the twi-
light they could hear rain splashing
against the windowpanes. When the
telephone pealed through the room,
Joan flew to answer it. Perhaps it
would be Karl!
It was. And at the sound of his
voice her heart sang.
81 find that l am going to be free
this evening"" came his carefully
modulated voice. 'Would you like
to have dinner with me?"
Would she like to? ooh, dar-
ling!" her heart cried. But she an
swered demurely. "I'd love to-"
Joan ran into the bedroom to
change her dress but Sybil had not
missed the unconcealed JOY in her
face. SYPHILIS blue eyes were full
of worry as she stared thoughtfully
after her sister. 3-t t--t
Joan was disappointed to find that
Karl had invited another dinner
guest. Eric Strom, whom Paul had
described as KarPs partner, met
them at the hotel Sitting in front
of the broad windows which over
looked the sea, loans, spirits
dropped. XXI IS 4. 81 a
Eric Strom asked, ..Do you find
the rain so depressing, Miss Lee
land? u -e-==--=
''It does seem gloomy" Joan adj
7nitted. TIT
Karl smiled at her indulgently but
the two men continued to talk about
business. Joan did not like Eric.
For the same inexplicable reason
that she trusted Paul, she did not
trust KarPs partner.
'My intuition's working over
time" Joan reflected, glancing at
Eric HI &a
He was a slightsman, blond, about
Karls age. But he had none Of
Karl's magnetic power. There was
something shifty about his pale eyes.
His manner was cautious, unpleas-
antly so. He looked a great deal at
Joan and his glance made her I'M
comfortable. If Karl noticed this, he
gave no sign. He was cheerful dur
ing the meal, which seemed end
less to his secretary. The two men,
engrossed in their own conversa-
ton, left Joan free to speculate.
Joan looked at Karl, whose eyes
were as sphinxlike as the vast ocean
that rolled outside the broad win
dows. A little thrill swept over her
that this man was here. But was
he? For one small moment the. day
before she had been in his arms,
but during the rest of the brief time
she had known him he seemed a
thousand miles away.
Joan's reverie was broken by the
headwaiter who was speaking to
Karl. you're wanted on the tele-
phone, Mr. Miller"
When he had gone, Eric Strom
smiled at her and leaned across
the table. .-@e.'
''You are very beautiful, Miss Lee
land. But / suppose Karl has told
you that His accent was much
heavier than Karl's, and Joan found
it difficult to understand. "a wom-
an with green eyes is very rare.
Did you know that?"
Joan forced smile to her lips.
81 don't believe we've met before,
have WEI"
He shrugged. II am Karl's silent
partner. He doesn't need me to
run the club. Others can do that.
BY the way, Miss Leland, would
like to see you again sometime. Just
the two of US"
Her piquant face was white be-
meath the sophisticated VEIL She was
afraid of this man. "I'm afraid it
is impossible" she replied sharply.
But Eric Strom was not dis
pleased. Have a cigarette, Miss
Leland? You may find that some
time we have no choice in such
matters" So. s. 4...s ',