Coulee City dispatch. [volume] (Coulee City, Wash.) 19??-19??, 1942-02-12
CHAPTER III


Sybil. "My parents are both dead"
she explained. "Syb feels that she
has to look after me-"
But even Joan was annoyed to
find Sybil waiting up for them later
that night
cts almost two O'clock" Sybil
snapped. whats the idea?"
Karl Miller looked amused as he
stood hat in hand in the doorway
I'm that case, l shall say good
night without further delay"
When he had gone Joan turned
furiously to her sister. "Why did
you have to say that? I'm old enough
to manage my own affairs"
There were deep circles of fatigue
beneath SYPHILIS blue eyes. Her voice
seemed to echo like a warning
through the old-fashioned, high-ceil-
inged rooms. you've got to quit
working for Karl Miller! You've got
to quit tomorrow"
The sisters stared at each other
in the dimly lit room. Joan threw
her head back 'defantly as she cried,
you've made Karl angry! You had
no right to do that"
Sybil smiled ruefully. "He looked
more amused than angry. cts up
to me to look after you, Joan.
feel responsible since mother and
dad are gone. If anything happened,
I'd never forgive myself"
81 know, Syb! And we mustn't
quarrel about it.
She yawned and started for the
bedroom but Sybil caught her arm.
''Then you will quit working for
Karl Miller?"
''No. will not. I'm twenty years
old, Sybil, and I'm not going to let
you or anyone else run my life
The grandfather's clock in the cor
ner chimed.
"Two-thirty," Joan observed,
evading SYPHILIS worried glance.
WED better get some sleep. Don't
you have to work in the morning?"
''No. Today was my last day.
From now on Pm one of the un-
employed"
"And you expect me to quit my
L
salary and whether you think so or
not, Karl is a gentleman
''Maybe So" Sybil said as she
snapped off the lamp, t'but l don't
trust him."
The next day Joan Leland arrived
at the Club Elite promptly at two
o'clock. Karl Miller's office was
filled with baskets of flowers. To
night was opening night but Karl
was unruffled behind his desk, i'm,
peccably dressed in gray suit,
red carnation in his buttonhole.
She was glad that she had worn
her best black dress. 1t was an eX-
pensive sophisticated dress, the kind
of dress Joan knew Karl would ap-
prove. Heavy silver earrings were
her only ornament, and she had used
touch of mascara, dash of dark
red lipstick. Joan had the assur-
ance of a woman who knew that she
looked her best. Her green eyes
sparkled as she closed the Office door
behind her.
Good afternoon, she said de-
murely
Her employer was not the type to
evade issues. 1--WE been thinking
about your sister, Joan. Tell me
something about her"
Joan removed her hat and coat
and smoothed her black hair before
sEfe Fbled, 'Sybil's a little low
right now. You see, she's just lost
her job. The beauty shop where
she worked has been closed"
MNl laughed. ''Then perhaps that
waa8W&y she was in such a bad
hun rG''
He said it with such apparent hon
esty that Joan was not angry. She
sat down at her own small desk be-
side Karl's and mechanically insert
ed a sheet of paper in her typewrit-
er.
Karl suddenly leaned forward.
would it please you if 1 could help
your sister,"
The girls lovely face lifted inno-
Gently to his ooh Karl, could your"
81 think so. A friend of mine,
Maaua6aaaaeck, owns the Ritz Beau
ty Salon. If l ask her, 1 feel sure
she will be able to use another ex-
perienced girl
Joans eyes were shining 1.-THE
Ritz Beauty Salon! Oh, Karl, that's
wonderful" 1t was one of the best
shops in town. Sybil would be
thrilled.
"Of course" Karl continued,
"your sister may not want any as
sistance from me since she so OBJ
viously dislikes me-"
"I'm sure Sybil will appreciate it
very much" Joan assured him. at
was sweet of you to think of her,
Karl"
But with swift change of atti-
tude Karl had ground out his ciga-
rette and when he turned again to