Coulee City dispatch. [volume] (Coulee City, Wash.) 19??-19??, 1942-02-26

"Isn't anyone on board?" she
asked, drawing closer to Karl.
There are a couple of sailors be-
low. l saw them as we came up.
Well wait here a few minutes. Do
you mind?"
''No. It's fun!''
Karl walked to the table, poured
some whisky out of an old-fashioned
crystal decanter, and quickly
downed it.
"This ship has been to South
America, all through the West In
dies, even to Japan
'How I'd love to 60 to some of
those places! I'm so tired of living
such an ordinary life. Just ealing
and sleeping and working day after
day."
She moved her hands with an i'm
patient gesture. Her figure was
straight and slender in it's black wool
dress, her face pale ivory with its
eager mouth and flashing emerald
eyes.
Karl Miller caught his breath as
ne looked at her.
''I'd like to take you to South
America, darling! Maybe l can
some day. Would you like to have
me show you the world?"
"More than anything!" she cried
recklessly. ooh, Karl :"
He pressed her hand to his lips.
You're beautiful" he murmured.
You're beautiful and exciting, and
love you, liebchen! Do you know
what liebchen means? 1t is sweet
heart! 1t is what you are to mel"
His arms were around her. Lieb-
chen! This foreign word held curl
Gus fascination for her. 1t was like
Karl. Strong, strange and sweet.
"You believe ME, Joan? You be-
lieve me?"
The drone Of foghorns seemed a
mournful undercurrent to her rapid
ly beating heart. eyes, Karl, be-
lieve you
AS Karl's arms closed about her
Joan heard faint sound outside the
cabin door.
Startled, she cried, "What was
that? Karl, did you hear it,"
Probably one of the Sailors" But
his hand reached to the inside pock-
ct of his coat and he walked swiftly
to the door and flung it open.
There was no one. The stairway
leading down to the deck was emp
ty. Karl looked out into the dark
night.
"You must have imagined it! No
one is there
81 heard something. | know |
did. Oh Karl, let's get out of here.
You can see your friend some other
time, can't your"
His voice was controlled. Gust
as, you WISH
But as, she preceded him down the
steps Joan saw figure disappear
into the shadows of the deck and
even in the fog she could see that
it was Paul Sherman!
Three weeks had passed since the
night Joan went to the freighter
with Karl and was followed by Paul
Sherman. She had not mentioned it
to Karl. She wanted to solve the
mystery of Paul's curious behavior
for herself. She was sure that
Paul meant no harm. Looking over
karls appointment book, she saw
that Paul Sherman would be at the
club at ten-thirty that night.
'Im going to try to see him
alone" she decided, "and demand
an explanation. If he doesn't tell
me, I'll threaten to go to Karl about
it'll"
Her relationship with Karl could
not have been more perfect since the
night on the freighter when he told
her he loved her. She felt much
closer to him. At least three eve
nings week Karl took her dancing.
On Sundays they went for long rides
across the Golden Gate bridge into
Marin county, where the trees
flashed their autumn reds and
browns in the deep November SIM
shine
Only Sybil was able to shatter
her peace by saying, eff Karl is
really in love with you, why doesn't
he ask you to marry him?''
He probably WILL, Joan said
stubbornly, Sin time. After all, we
haven't known each other verv
long"
Karl not once had mentioned mar
riage.
"You still don't trust Karl, do
your" Joan asked as the girls
washed the supper dishes.
RIO BE CONTINUED