Crossroads of Desire by Amos Hatter — page 17: what you’re looking at

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

CROSSKOADS OF DESIRE as he put on the shirt. He buttoned it, then sat back down on the sofa and bent over to put on his shoes. When he finished lacing them and tying two neat bow knots he raised up. Jane had gotten up from the chair and was standing before him. Impulsively he circled her with his arms and pulled her to him. She rested her hands on his shoulders. “Listen to me, you big lug, we’ve been friends for a long time,” she said. “But if you start running around with the four hundred and getting big ideas, don’t count on any more favors from me. Understand?” “You've got me all wrong. All I’m going to do tonight is see the ballet.” He looked up at her truthfully. “Sure, sure. A cocktail party. A visit to O’Brien’s. Then an invitation to watch her dance. If that doesn’t look like the beginning of something, I'll put in with you.” Larry wondered what Jane would think if she knew what had happened already. Probably wouldn’t believe it. He hardly could himself. Fondly he drew her head down to him and kissed her full lips. Jane was a swell girl. He had even thought of some day asking her to marry him. “I haven’t got any grandiose ideas. When all’s said and done youre my speed.” “Well! I like that!” She shoved him down on the sofa and pounced upon him, holding him by his hair. Larry laughed. She fastened her grip on him even harder. } i ae that back!’ she ordered. “You hear me? Take that ack!”’ Larry was so choked with mirth that he couldn’t reply. She rubbed his héad with her knuckles. “Ow!” he exclaimed. “Do you take it back?” He grinned up at her. I’ll take it back.” She kissed him passionately. Then all of a sudden she jumped up, her eyes bright with victory. Larry sat up and reached for her, but she was already headed for the door. “Hey, come back here,” he cried. “I was supposed to be on duty downstairs ten minutes ago. See you later in the evening, dreamboat.” The door closed quickly behind her. Larry sat there for a 32 CROSSROADS OF DESIRE moment smiling. Then he glanced at his wrist watch and was Galvanized into action. Ten minutes later Larry left the room, neatly attired in a double-breasted blue suit, a gray felt hat and a smart covert topcoat. He was no longer a ragtime piano player in O’Brien’s Third Avenue saloon. He was a handsome, self-assured young man about town, off to the ballet and an evening of high class entertainment. — : Larry occupied a choice box seat in the theater. For two hours and a half he sat there, entranced with the tones and color and motion served up to his appreciative senses. He thoroughly enjoyed each number, but when Connie was on stage he was transported out of this world. It seemed incredulous that he had held the girl in his arms that very afternoon. Here, in this fantasia of whirling move- ment and wood-winds, she was an elusive enchantress. She was an illusion of great and ethereal beauty, dancing with such vitality and lovely grace that her very existence in the mundane world seemed hardly possible. “Gosh, but she’s marvelous!” he exclaimed aloud in the midst of the Libretto scene. A gentleman who had come in later and taken the seat next to Larry, turned and peered at him through his shell-rimmed glasses. “I beg your pardon?” Larry gave a start. Until he heard those words he had hardly been aware that he had spoken out. He looked around apolo- getically and instantly recognized one of the men who had come with Connie to O’Brien’s saloon last night. “Oh, hello,” he said pleasantly. Philip looked at him blankly for a moment, then remembered, or thought he did. But surely this fellow couldn’t be that same saloon musician he had met last night. Or could it? “Weren’t you the piano player—” “That’s right,” Larry smiled. “Last night, in O’Brien’s.” “T remember,” said Philip, puzzled at the young man’s presence here. Then he returned his eyes to the stage and to Connie and looked as if he wished he could forget it. When the final curtain fell and the performers had taken their bows, Larry stood up. The house lights were on now and the man in the shell-rimmed glasses was already moving away toward the exit from the box. Larry called to him. 33 Comicdookstcom