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

denied. II just wondered, that's
ALL"
Joan could not worry about Syb-
IFS meaning now. She could not
worry about anything Karl wanted
to marry her! His ring cleaned on
her white hand! She could scarcely
wait to see Paul Sherman and tell
him the good news, but Paul did
not appear at the Club Elite that
night or for several nights to come.
The days passed rapidly, magical
ly for Joan.
you'll have to get new secre-
tary," she told Karl. my mind is
definitely not on my work.
He smiled at her. "There's plen-
ty of time for that later"
And then one night, as Joan sat
alone in the office tipping, Paul Sher-
man made an appearance. He was
as good-looking, as debonair and
cheerful as ever.
''Did you miss me?" he inquired,
grinning at Joan. ''Karl sent me
out of town.
Joan smiled. She was going to
enjoy telling Paul. He had been
so sure about Karl, so prejudiced.
"Not MUCH" she informed him
airily. "a lot has happened while
you were gone"
"Such as what?"
"Karl and l are going to be mar
ried," she said proudly.
Pauls expression changed. He ad-
vanced towards Joan's desk repeat
ing incredulously, do you mean
that Karl Miller has asked you to
marry hirn?"
There was something in his face
that took the joy out of her an
nouncement but she said calmly,
Eyes! You were wrong about Karl"
II was wrong all right" he agreed
savagely. II suppose nothing I can
say now will make any difference"
Joan smiled. "That's right"
'When is the happy event taking
placer"
''In about two or three months.
We're going away on a long honey
moon"
is that sou?
Joan was really annoyed with him
now The least he could do was adj
NIT he had been wrong.
'Well, it's your funeral, my grill"
Paul said, and tanning his hat
down on his head he bolted out of
the office.
Joan smiled as she turned back
to her work. Perhaps Sybil had
been right Maybe Paul was in love
with her. But he certainly had a
peculiar way of showing it.
Sybil seldom mentioned her sis
ter's approaching marriage. She
was behaving strangely these days,
saying little, staring into space for
long periods.
And so life moved on triumphant
ly until the week before Christmas.
1t was rainy, windy winter day
and San F'ranciscans thronged the
shops armed with umbrellas and
golashes. The stores were open at
night now and Joan found herself ell
bowling her way through the crowd.
She had dined downtown prepara-
tory to buying Karl's Christmas
present.
''Ten past eight" Joan exclaimed,
glancing at the clock on the cor
ner. ''I'll have to come back to-
morrow"
She took taxi to the Club Elite
and arrived breathlessly in Karl's
private office.
He laughed at her excitement.
"Does Christmas always affect you
this way?"
"Only this one, darling! This one
is special
There was no doubt in her heart
as his lips touched hers. No pre-
monition of disaster. She was COM
pletely sure, completely happy.
1t was nine-thirty when the office
door opened to admit Eric Strom.
"Ah?" Karl said, and Joan no.
ticed that his voice was annoyed.
"You come early"
Eric shrugged Indifferent Shout
ders. "You wanted to see me?"
"Ja!" Karl said, rising.
Eric went to the cleverly con-
cealed little bar, opened it and
reached for a bottle.
Karl glanced at Joan. go to
the dining room. I'll send for you
in about ten minutes
Joan obeyed but she was wor-
ried. She did not like the way Eric
had looked at Karl. Evidently there
was bad feeling between them. But
why?
ITO RE COMTINILEDl