Coulee City dispatch. [volume] (Coulee City, Wash.) 19??-19??, 1942-04-16

81 was on my way back to work
when l saw him standing in front
of a shop with this woman. He was
smiling and holding her hand"
Young or old?" Paul asked care
lessly.
'She was about Karls age. Rath-
er hard-looking, with black hair.
She wore beautiful furs. Karl was
smiling at her :"
Joan drew in her breath. Mrs.
Murdock!
When Joan and Paul were driving
back to the club, she asked, do
you think it means anything? Karl
and Mrs. Murdock?"
There's some connection. I've
suspected it for some time. Look al
this! He indicated a copy of the
morning paper that lay on the seat
beside him.
mysterious explosion in aviation
plant" Joan read.
"And there's more to it than
that Paul went on. l have
just learned that the plans for a
new bombing plane for the govern
ment have been stolen. Last night
Karl sent a telegram to hotel in
that same city. He used another
name. The telegram in itself was
innocent enough. Probably in code.
I feel sure he's connected with the
stolen plans; also this Murdoch
woman. The fact that Pat saw them
together and that they were so obvi-
ously pleased about something might
be an indication of it."
In the office, Joan watched Karl
carefully, but she could learn moth
ing from his attitude except that he
seemed extraordinarily cheerful.
She had noticed that Karl seemed to
delight in trying to make her jealous
of Pat.
1t was surprising how little she
cared. SYPHILIS disappearance had
wiped out all romantic illusions. Life
was serious struggle, not ro-
mantle dream. Every minute Syb-
IFS life was in danger. Every move
Karl made might prove to be clue
to her sisters whereabouts.
Joan worked feverishly through
out the evening. When Paul Sher-
man came in suddenly few min
utes later, she was so startled that
she half rose from her chair.
He shut the door noiselessly be-
hind him. ''What time will you be
ready to leave?"
I'm about an hour" Her tone
matched his own. She knew that
something had happened.
"I'll be back for you then" He
came quite close and said with a
grim smile, "Tonight's the night!
We're going to raid the beauty
shop"
1t was five minutes after twelve
when Paul returned to Karl's Of
fee for Joan. She was ready,
standing by the door in her hat and
coat "Karl has taken Pat dancing"
he said. 81 followed Mrs. Murdoch
home, so she's out of the way. We
should be able to find out some
thing"
When he finally parked in an al
ley near the beauty shop, the street
was deserted and no one saw them
as they walked swiftly.
"How will we get in?" Joan in
quired as they reached the door.
"That is simple enough" Paul
said, taking a key from his pocket
and opening the door.
His fashlight made a path for
them through the front of the shop
down the hall to Mrs. Murdoch S
private office. Paul opened the door
softly.
He tapped the walls softly. There
is probably another room opening
off this one" His fingers beat a tat
too against the wood as he moved
slowly around the wall "There it
isl" he said, quietly, and even Joan
could detect a hollow sound as his
knuckles raped on the panel.
She stood close behind him, ap-
prehensive as his hands silently ex-
plored it. There should be but
ton here,' he said, frowning,
"Wait-here it is" A piece of cas-
ing slid from its place, revealing a
small iron switch At the pressure
of Paul's finger the panel began to
swing aside.
Joan gasped as she watched it
move, with its strange grating noise.
1t swung around to reveal a small
room enveloped in darkness.
Pau's fashlight played into the
dark. There doesn't seem to be
any light switch in here Wait a
minute! Here's a lamp"
RIO BE CONTINUED)