Coulee City dispatch. [volume] (Coulee City, Wash.) 19??-19??, 1942-05-21
CHAPTER XVII

"And you? Don't you want to GO
homer" Milford asked Joan.
eyes and no. l want to leave
but not without Paul.
'Ah," Milford said, Il see. But
l will be glad to take all of you.
have my own plane, my own pilot,
and l am returning to San Fran.
cisco tomorrow. Why not talk il
over with him? Surely he can have
no objection to your leaving since il
will be absolutely safe"
Joan wavered. II couldn't go with.
out him. But maybe he would be
willing to go with us. He could get
aid in the states and return to MeXi.
co and continue the search. I'm not
much help to him now, and neither
is Thomas. What really came down
here to tell you, Mr.. milford, was
that what Thomas told you is the
truth. He should have his chance tc
get out
81 understand, and I'll take him Of
course. But, Joan, / think you
should 60 too. I'm really shocked al
this situation. After all, you were in
my shop for almost two years. Nat.
urally your welfare concerns me-"
She smiled. "That's nice of you,
Mr.. Milford. BY the way, what are
you doing in Mexico?"
"Since the war ruined my bust.
ness and l closed the shop, I've
been having vacation. l needed
one after all those years. I worked
hard, and it's good to be away"
Joan rose. "Can l let you know
early in the morning about leaving?
I'll have to talk it over with Mr.
O'Malley."
cot course. l do not plan to leave
before noon, so take your time"
you're not staying at the hotel?"
''No. With a friend of mine, DR..
Gomez. I'll give you his number,
or better yet, I'll phone you here.
About ten o'clock, say?"
''That will be fine. And thank you
very much for everything"
What lucky break, Joan thought.
It all worked out so perfectly. If
Mr.. milford had his own plane, how
could Karl possibly check on them
She reused the desk clerk and had
him ring Pauls room.
"Please come down, Paul." she
begged. 81 must talk with you
Thomas came In from the veran-
da. "What do you think?" he asked.
cit sounds fne," Joan agreed.
"That man is my former employer.
I've known him for years. He's here
on vacation"
'Then you'll 60, too?"
at certainly seems like a good
chance, but I'll have to talk to Paul.
In any case, Thomas, Mr.. Milford
has promised to take YOU"
Thanks, Miss Leland" The graf
itude in his eyes was unmistakable.
Paul came down almost immedi-
ately. "What's going on?" he de-
manded.
''The most wonderful thing has
happened! Arthur Milford is here!
I used to work for him before l got
my job with Karl He was the man
who was trying to locate me through
the bartender, also the one l saw
on the street today"
They went out to the patio, which
was covered by patchwork of shad-
oWs and moonlight. Thomas had
gone upstairs and Joan and Paul sat
down at one of the rustic tables. "So
Arthur milford has offered to take
you home?'
eyes! How did you know"
Every simple deduction, darling"
Paul laughed. 81 read it in your
eyes suppose Thomas is al
the bottom of all this
eyes," Joan admitted.
His keen eyes searched her face
"You want to go?"
mot without you. But, Paul, il
we all went, it might be better. We
could get help and come back ~
A bird twittered sleepily, and the
fragrance of million flowers flood.
ed the moonlit night. Paul smiled
"Okay! I'll go with you"
1t did not occur to Joan that vic.
tory had been too easy.
The following day at noon they left
Mazatlan in Mulford's plane.
1t was Joan's first experience a,
flying. Once or twice she tried to
look out but it made her so dizzy
she turned to Paul, saying, II guess
l can't take it.
Paul smiled placldly, much toe
placidly, Joan decided, cycling him
speculatively. This was the first
time she had known Paul to give in
SO easily on any issue. But perhaps
love had changed him. She said i'm
pulsively, Il know you're doing this