Coulee City dispatch. [volume] (Coulee City, Wash.) 19??-19??, 1942-03-12
CHAPTER VII

Listen to me, Joan!" Paul said
in a low voice. "You were right.
I have been following you. but only
for your own projections; You don't
know what you're getting into. I've
tried to warn you but you won't
listen"
''You have never said anything ex-
cept that I wasn't the type to work
in a night club" In spite of her an
noyance, she felt compelled to lis
ten. -
"There are some things I can't
tell you, but you must trust me. Do
you think I'd be risking nay own po-
sition this way if didn't feel that
it was terribly Important
Silently she stared at him.
81 know you think you're in%love
with Karl" Paul went on quickly.
"But if he is sincere, Joan, why
doesn't he ask you to marry hin? 2,
Isn't that proof enough that there s.
something wrong with the picture?"
His steady brown eyes gazed into
hers. She twisted her hands nerv-
ously. Pauls words had quickened
the doubt in her own heart but she
said calmly, 81 don't see that it's
any of your business" '~
He smiled wryly. ''I'rn only u.s.
ing that as an example to prove to
you that Karl Miller is not on the
level. Believe me, don't 60 around
meddling in other peoples affairs
without reason"
The sincerity in his voice was I'M
mistakable as he continued, 81 can't
tell you now what that reason is.
All can do is to warn you that
Karl Miller will never marry you"
Her voice was ragged with alarm.
"How do you know? What right
have you to say that?"
"You poor kid! You're really in
love with him, aren't you?''
A lump rose in her throat. He's
wrong about Karl" she thought.
''He must be. Karl loves mel"
Paul went on, There's no use
kidding yourself, Joan! If you don't
believe me, why don't you ask him
and find out for YOURSELF"
Joan raised challenging green
eyes to his. 'All right! Maybe I
Wilt"
Paul Sherman's warning had dis
turbed Joan. Paul had said that
Karl would never marry her. Why?
Paul had even challenged her to
find out for herself whether or not
Karl was sincere.
She was awake early the next
morning. Lazily she watched Sybil
dress to leave for the beauty shop.
When Sybil had gone Joan tried
to sleep but it was useless. At nine
o'clock she rose, dressed, and drank
glass of orange juice and cup of
coffee.
Shortly before ten she left the
apartment and went downtown. To
satisfy her curiosity she walked past
the shop where she had been en-,
ployed formerly by Arthur milford.
1t was vacant and For Rent sign
hung in the window.
"Karl didn't lie about that then!"
she told herself, recalling that he
had said milford had quit the i'm
porting BUSINESS.
Why was she doubling him? Was
it really because of Pauls warn
ing? Or because of her own small
doubts that she had concealed so
carefully the last few weeks?
AS she walked down Grant ave-
nue., deep in her own thoughts, a.
voice surprised her. "Hello, Joan!
What are you doing out so early?"
She looked up into the smiling face
of Karl Miller.
whats the matter, liebchen? You
look surprised"
1t was impossible to doubt him
when she was with him. His mag
netism banished her fears. -
81 am surprised to see you," she
admitted.
He took her arm and they walked
slowly up Grant avenue past the
shops, into the crowded narrow
streets of Chinatown. Karl stopped
at a sidewalk flower stand to pur-
chase three waxen gardenias.
well have lunch together" he
promised, land take drive. Would
you like that?"
AS they sat eating lunch, served
by bland, unsmiling Oriental, Joan
felt thrill of pride. The thought
of losing him aroused fierce emo
ton in her heart. Would he ever
transfer the tenderness he had given
her to another woman? How could
she be sure unless But Paul's
words rang in her ears! Hell new
er marry you. Ask him and see :"
"You are worrying about some
thing" Karl said. what troubles
your"
What would he think if he really