Coulee City dispatch. [volume] (Coulee City, Wash.) 19??-19??, 1942-05-14

up in bed. 'Who's there?" she de-
manded.
No one replied. She drew on the
colorful Mexican robe and slippers
she had bought and tiptoed to the
door. "Who's there?" she repeated.
Thomas voice came to her. cts
me, miss. I've something to tell
you"
Quickly she unbolted the door and
snapped on the light. whats the
trouble?" she asked, annoyed. "Why
don't you tell Mr. O'Malley what
ever it is?''
81 can't Thomas whispered,
looking over his shoulder. Give
found way to get out of here"
Joan eyed him coldly. "Have you
been drinking?"
"Only few" Thomas insisted.
'Listen, Miss Leland, l met man
tonight who will take us back to the
States. He's an American and he's
flying back home tomorrow. He has
his own plane and when l told him
we were stranded -
"You shouldn't have done that!"
"Maybe not, but I'm scared, Miss
Leland. This guy is okay SO l took
a chance. He was swell about it..
Said he'd be glad to help us. told
him l thought you'd be willing to
go too and he wants to see you.
He's downstairs right now"
"Paul will never consent to leave"
Joan said slowly, land l can't leave
him. don't blame you, Thomas,
but you know Mr.. O'Malley said it
wasn't safe. However, if you want
to go, l suppose it's all right.
"Now look, Miss Leland" Thorn
as begged. cat least go down and
talk to this man. He's waiting for
you. After all, he's been pretty de-
cent about this whole thing. If you
don't see him, he'll think there's
something phony about it and he
won't even take me-
2 Joan considered for minute. "All
right, for your sake III see him. But
I'm not going to leave. No one
can persuade me-"
"Okay," Thomas said hurriedly.
"Just back me up on my story.
That's all l ask"
He departed and Joan dressed
quickly, thinking how strange it was
that now that she had chance to
escape she could not take it, 1t
was impossible to consider leaving
Paul. Even so, she could not blame
Thomas, And if corroborating his
story would help, she would be
glad to do it. After all, he had
given them all the aid possible on
the ship.
She walked down the stone ramp
to the dimly Lit lobby. A man was
waiting for her, man who was at
once familiar to her. 1t was the
same man she had glimpsed in the
car that afternoon from the street.
"Mr Mulford!" she cried in sur
prise as she realized that it was
in truth her former employer who
now rose smilingly to greet her.
Joan! This is surprised" Ar
thur milford said.
cit is to me-" she admitted.
81 heard you were here. l even
went so far as to ask the bartender
for information about you, but
didn't connect you with Thomas"
"Possible Now tell me, what is
this all about?'
They both sat down in the deep
leather chairs. Il suppose Thomas
has explained the situation?"
Thomas was standing on the We
randa smoking cigarette, appar-
emily preferring to let Joan do the
talking.
eyes," milford said with concern.
HE tells me you are in danger of
being recaptured by some gang.
must say it sounded a little fan
tastic."
cts the TRUTH" Joan said grave
ly. "After you discharged me went
to work at a night club, the Club
Elite, owned by Karl Miller |
learned later that he is head of a
spy ring in this country l also met
Paul O'Malley, of the FB1, who is
trying to get evidence against Karl.
''And why don't you leave Mazat.
LAM" milford inquired.
paul, that is, Mr. O'Malley, is
still trying to run down the rest of
the gang And he believes they are
keeping tabs on us. He is deter.
mined not to give up"
Thomas seems quite willing to
leave"
Eyes. He worked for Karl in re.
turn for KarPs promise to save his
wife from Nazi concentration
camp" Joan said bitterly
RIO BE CONTINUED