Coulee City dispatch. [volume] (Coulee City, Wash.) 19??-19??, 1942-04-16
49, sEfSMs
CHAPTER XII

81 know you'll excuse me-" Mrs.
Murdoch explained, "but I'm fright
fully busy. It was nice of you to
come. I hope you'll be a regular
customer"
Joan replied courteously and left
feeling that her visit had been a
failure She stopped at drugstore
for sandwich and a cup of coffee.
1t was all the dinner she would have
time for tonight She was staring
into the broad mirror behind the
fountain when she saw Pat Hines.
The girl did not reply. "Pat!"
Joan said.
The girl smiled then and came to-
wards her. ooh, Miss Leland, I'm
glad to see you. l thought I'd have
a cup of coffee before went to the
club. I'm too nervous to eat. This
is my first night, you know"
AS Joan watched Pat slipping her
coffee, she had an idea. Perhaps
she should have asked Paul first,
but there was no time for that, so
on the strength of her impulse she
said, "Where are you staying?"
Pat smiled. cat the Y.W.C.A. I
didn't have much money"
''How would you like to share my
apartment"
ooh, I'd love to! And" she added
childishly, cpl have plenty Of mon
ey now. Mr. Miller is paying me
fifty dollars week."
Eyes, l know" Joan said, think
ing how furious Karl would be when
he found out that his new discovery
was living with his secretary. But
this arrangement might permit Joan
to keep an eye on Patricia. Perhaps
she could warn her against becom-
ing too involved with Karl.
Paul did not make an appearance
for two days during which time Pat
was installed in Joan's apartment.
Joan's heart ached to see her in Syb-
IFS place, yet the girl would be a
comfort to her. 1t would take her
mind off her own troubles.
1t was almost one o'clock in the
morning when Pat and Joan arrived
at the apartment. Karl had driven
them from the club. He made no
comment upon the arrangement,
though Joan could see that he was
not pleased.
"Karl," Pat confded later, sis the
most wonderful man I've ever met.
He's different from other men.
There's something about him :"
Don't you think he's little old
for your" Joan asked, remembering
that Sybil once had said the same
thing to her.
"Old?" Pats delicate eyebrows
shot up. ooh, older men are so
much more interesting. Don't you
think so?''
Joan sighed. What could she do
to save this girl? She was sure
that Pat Hines had never sung in
a night club before. She was not
professional and sooner or later
she would find herself involved too
deeply to get out.
When the doorbell rang both girls
were in bed. Joan switched on the
light and, fastening robe about
her, went into the living room,
calling, s'Who's there?"
1t was Paul. 'Let me in, Joan!
Quick
Joan unlocked the door. Paul
stepped in and demanded, "Where
is she?"
But Pat had already risen and
was standing wide-eyed in the bed
room door. When she saw Paul, she
gave a little cry, paul" and the
color drained from her face,
Paul looked angry. ''What in the
world are you doing here, PATTI"
The three of them stood in the liv-
ing room staring at one another
Joan switched on the lights, reveal
ing the strain on each face.
"What is it, Paul?" she asked.
"Pat happens to be my sister"
'But she told me her name was
Hines!" Joan cried. "She said she
lived in Los Angeles
Paul laughed shortly. Her name
is Patricia O'Malley and she's from
Brooklyn, New York. How she ever
got to California wouldn't know.
She's seventeen and she has never
sung in night club or anywhere
else in public in her life"
Pat took his arm and looked
pleadingly into his face. ooh Paul,
I've always wanted to sing. want
ed to have an exciting life, some
thing different l ran away from
home, but | wrote to mother last
night and told her that l was safe
and had good job. And now that
you're in San Francisco she won't
worry about me-" She paused and