Crossroads of Desire by Amos Hatter — page 18: what you’re looking at

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

CROSSROADS OF DESIRE “T’ve forgotten your name, sir. Mine’s Larry Brooks. We were honored to have you and the others in O’Brien’s last night.” Philip’s eyes darted around fearfully, as if others nearby might have heard where he had been. He looked at Larry and forced a civil smile. “It was an experience, at any rate,” he said, moving on. “You're a friend of Miss Carter’s, aren’t you?” Larry asked, following him. “Yes,” “I was wondering if you could do me a favor. I enjoyed her performance so much this evening that Id like awfully to drop around to her dressing room and pay my respects just for a moment,” Philip stopped. He looked around at Larry peculiarly. After a moment, he said, “Look, old man, I’m afraid that’s a bit irregular. Miss Carter sees no one in her dressing room.” With that he turned away brusquely. Two more steps took both men through the entrance to the box. An usher was standing there inquiring of those who left it if one of them was named Brooks. “That’s me,” said Larry, giving the usher a bewildered look. “Miss Carter asked if you could come by her dressing room. Follow me, please.” With that the usher started off. Larry glanced smilingly at Philip who was staring back at him with wide-eyed astonishment. The next second he took out after the usher. Philip trotted with sudden determination at his heels. They arrived in a dead heat backstage at Connie’s dressing room. The usher knocked and announced Mr. Larry Brooks. “Come in,” Connie caroled gaily beyond the door. Larry turned the knob and entered, followed by Philip one step behind him. Connie looked up at them both, She smiled, “Glad to see you two remembered each other from last night. I forgot to tell you, Philip, that I had given Larry a ticket to the box for tonight. Sit down.” “I wish you had told me,” said Philip. “Naturally I would have arranged to bring him back here after the show so he could extend his thanks personally.” “No harm done. I remembered to send an usher. How’d you enjoy the performance, Larry?” Connie was in Splendid spirits. 34 CROSSROADS OF DESIRE “I’ve never seen anything quite like it before,’ he said in a most flattering tone. “Tt was an unusually good show tonight,” said Philip, not to be outdone. And Larry wondered how he knew that since he hadn’t been there until toward the last. “Glad you both enjoyed it,” said Connie airily. “Now if you’ll both wait for me in the foyer T’ll get dressed in a jiffy and we'll be on our way.” “You mean he’s going with us to eat?” asked Philip, jerking his thumb toward Larry and frowning. “Yep. We've got business to talk over tonight.” Larry and Philip went out. They walked in silence out to the entrance of the theater. Larry lit a cigarette. He glanced with some amusement at the perplexed features of the older man. Then he looked away and let his mind savor the recol- lections of what he had witnessed on the stage. “What sort of business was Constance referring to?” asked Philip, no longer able to contain his curiosity. “You've got me there,” Larry replied lightly. “Just where do you know her from?” “From the cocktail party she gave yesterday afternoon.” Philip eyed him evenly, “What were you doing there?” “IT guess I was sort of an interloper. A friend of mine, a fellow I’ve known for years, was invited and asked me to come along.” “Who was it?” Philip asked sternly. “Clayton. He’s one of the dancers in the show.” Philip nodded and made a mental note to have a little chat with Clayton. After all, if just anybody could crash the parties Connie threw with Philip’s money, something obviously had to be done. No male dancer was going to take it upon himself to do a trick like that again! Not if he valued his job in the Ballet de le Roi! Fhilip would see to that! Half an hour later they were joined by Connie. She gazed at them both fondly, thrust her arms through theirs and marched them gaily out to Philip’s waiting limousine, fairly erackling with vitality. “Tm as hungry as a bear tonight,” she said, sinking back into the seat. Connicbooks.conn