Crossroads of Desire by Amos Hatter — page 11: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

CROSSROADS OF DESIRE Connie agreed. She had inflicted her will upon him enough today. She smiled at them all. “Well, are you Sorry we came to O’Brien’s?” “Not at all, my dear,” said Philip. “It’s been a happy little experience,” “We've enjoyed it immensely,” said Robbin Walker, but from the look on Ginger’s face it was doubtful that she shared his opinion. Connie excused herself and went to the powder room, having previously noted that to get there she would have to pass close by the piano. Larry was in the midst of a tune and she waved at him gaily as she passed. Inside she gave herself a brief glance in the mirror, harkening to the end of the music. The moment it was over she breezed out, ostensibly to rejoin her companions. “Enjoyed your playing a lot,” she said. Larry arose instantly and smiled. “Thanks. It was good of you to drop in, Miss Carter.” : She eyed him a moment then lowered her tone a bit so that her words fell on his ear alone. “Frankly, there was a purpose in my coming here to listen to you.’ “Ts that so?” “Yes,” she began improvising rapidly, ‘“we’re putting together a new ballet. Sort of a ‘Frankie and Johnnie’ thing. Would you be interested in helping out with the music?” “Why——” he began, surprised. “I might—” “Good. Can you drop around to my place about three tomorrow afternoon?” Larry blinked. “I guess I could—” “Splendid. See you then.” With that Connie sailed off and rejoined her party which was waiting near the door of the saloon. When they rode off in Philip’s limousine she was in great, good spirits and readily agreed to stop off at the Copa, for Ginger’s sake. CHAPTER THREE ee Yvonne tip-toed into her mistress’s bedroom to lower the window at one o’clock the following afternoon, Connie was already awake. She had been lying there for twenty 20 CROSSROADS OF DESIRE minutes, smiling up at the ceiling, her eyes bright with antici- pation. Now she sat up, to Yvonne’s surprise, and threw back the fluffy pink comforter. ‘Mademoiselle is awake early today,” Yvonne observed smiling. — “That isn’t all mademoiselle is. I’m hungry to boot.” She leaped out of the large double bed onto the thick, gray carpet. Her glossy, svelte body was covered only as far as her hips by a brief “shorty” night gown that was slit on the sides. ‘Impulsively she did a quick pirouette and filled her lungs with the fresh, cold air. The points of her beautifully rounded breasts pushed against the cloth that covered them. “Will you have your breakfast in bed?” Yvonne asked. “Not on your life. Fix it for me in the breakfast nook. Pour yourself a cup of coffee too, Yvonne.” Connie folded her arms and grabbed the sides of her nightie. She lifted it off and over her head and stood naked, yet proud and unashamed, in front of her maid. It was nothing new to Yvonne. She closed the window and went out to prepare break- fast as Connie went through five minutes of vigorous limbering up exercise. After a bracing, cold shower Connie drew on a large, quilted robe. She slipped her small feet into a pair of high heeled slippers and crose@d the living room to the kitchen. Her break- fast was awaiting her, “Sit down, Yvonne,” said Connie gaily as she attacked a plate of scrambled eggs. “Tell me, how are you getting along with Gene these days?” The little French maid joined her mistress. During the four months period that Yvonne had been in her service, Connie had never been able to look upon her entirely as a servant. Quite possibly because both girls were young, an informal camaraderie existed between them. They had on more than one occasion exchanged confidences about men. “Gene,” said Yvonne, making it sound like “sheen,” ‘“some- times I think I could kill him.” “Don’t tell me you’ve had another fight.” “No, no. But he’s such an undependable fellow. Last night he was supposed to come here but do you know what happened?” Yvonne pursed her lips and her eyes grew narrow. “He stood you up.” 21 Comichooksscom