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

| SuouIuHI WOTk lOr Mari!
"And she doesn't approve of your
working for Karl, either?"
''Please!" Joan cried, exasperat-
ed. els there any good reason why
l shouldn't work for Karl? Do you
know something against him?"
Paul stared into the fire but he
was silent.
''Then you don't know anything?"
Joan continued.
Paul tossed his cigarette into the
flames. "Okay, Joan. You win. I
can't say any more. But remem-
Der this. Watch your step! Will
your"
| Thanks for the advice
cts for your own good" Paul
Sherman said, picking up his hat.
"How about that date tomorrow
night?"
Joan smiled family. Don't you
ever give up? told you'll COULDN'T
CO."
They stood at the door measur-
| ing each other with their eyes
Paul's, a mask that told her moth
ing, Joan's challenging him, defy
ing him to speak one word against
Karl Miller.
81 won't bother you any more
then," Paul said quietly. Good
night"
In the bedroom. Sybil was propped
up in her bed, wearing blue satin
bed jacket, reading magazine.
"Was that Karl?'
"No, Paul Sherman, giving me
some good advice about working at
the club. He doesn't think I'm the
type, whatever that means"
She slipped into her warm bath
robe and sat down on the edge of
her sisters bed. 81 met Karls part
ner, Eric Strom, tonight. He tried
to make date with me, too It's
shame the way everyone tries to
double-cross KARL
How in the world did you happen
to come home with Paul?"
Joan explained, but did not men
ton what she had overheard when
she went back to get her purse Be-
fore she could finish the telephone
rang.
Karl Miller's voice came forceful-
ly over the wire. "Joan? You are
home safely?"
eyes. I've been home for some
time" She smiled, picturing Karl
on the other end of the line. How
sweet that he could be so concerned!
81 just wanted to be sure that you
were all right. Good night, darling"
1t was the first time that he had
called her darling" Her pulse
leaped at the unfamiliar endear-
ment.
eve will not work tomorrow,
Karl informed her. eve shall have
dinner together alone"
Joan went back to the bedroom
with shining eyes to tell Sybil.
Then you won't meet Paul?"
"Of course not! 1 wouldn't any
way"
Joan had not considered the pos
sibility that Karl Miller might take
her to dinner at the same place Paul
suggested but as they walked into
the lobby of the hotel Paul had men,
toned, Joan saw him coming out of
the bar. He nodded pleasantly as
he passed them and Joan breathed
sigh of relief. Their meal was al
most finished when Joan saw Paul
again. He was sitting alone at
corner table directly behind Karl.
When they left, Joan, looking over
her shoulder, saw Paul behind them.
Was he deliberately following her?
Was this his idea of a joke? But
Joan did not tell Karl He might
have discharged Paul and she did
not want him to lose his job on her
account.
Karl drove swiftly along the En-
barcadero. "Have you ever been on
freighter?" he asked the girl at
his side. Like to see one?"
'I'd love it," she answered.
Sweet thing!" He reached for
her hand.
They stopped at Pier 81. Joan
could see the hulk of small ship
looming out of the mist. Karl took
her arm as they walked through a
large storeroom, out into the foggy
night, and up the swaying gang
plank of the freighter.
On deck she followed Karl up a
narrow staircase to the captains
quarters.
But though lamp burned bright
ly in the cabin, there was no sign of
the captain. Joan was intrigued by
the round wooden table, the small
desk, the faded curtains that in
adequately draped the portfolios.