Crossroads of Desire by Amos Hatter — page 34: what you’re looking at

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

CROSSROADS OF DESIRE Philip was not in the dancing mood but at this point he didn’t much care what he did. He nodded and they got up. The minute he put his arm around Ginger’s waist she pressed against him, following his lead as if she were a part of him. Philip found this contact increasingly pleasant as they danced. “I didn’t know you were such a good dancer,” Ginger mur- mured in his ear. “Tm not. I always feel old-fashioned on a dance floor.” “There’s nothing old-fashioned about you, sweetie,” she said flatterinely. Within a very few minutes Ginger had succeeded in partially restoring Philip’s ego. Later, back at the table, she got him to have a drink with her. After one, he was in a receptive mood for another. An hour later a rosy glow had descended upon him and he basked in the warmth of Ginger’s inviting smile. “Why are we staying here?” she asked quietly. “Are you tired of the party, Ginger?” he leered hugely. She nodded. “So am I.” In a manner they hadn’t been with the party for an hour. It swirled about them, loudly and gaily, but no one was paying any attention to them. When they arose from the table and left the saloon their absence left no vacancy whatever. Connie was absorbed with Larry at the piano and the others were having too much fun on the dance floor. It wasn’t until four a.m. when the party began to deteriorate and O’Brien finally decided he had better close up, that Philip’s presence, or lack of it, took on any significance. O’Brien stood there with the check, scratching his head. Finally he went over to Connie, and held out the check to her. “Who do I give this to, Miss Carter?” “Philip. He’ll take care of it.” “But where is he?” Connie looked around. Come to think of it she hadn't seen him for some time. She turned to Robbin Walker but he was no help. He sat in his chair, out cold, with his head resting on a ballerina’s shoulder. “Have you seen Philip lately, Larry?” she asked. Larry smiled and shook his head. “I haven’t seen anybody but you and that piano all night long.” 66 CROSSROADS OF DESIRE “Come to think of it, Ginger Doss isn’t here, either,” said Connie, her eyes narrowing. “But the check,’ O’Brien interrupted with an air of uneasiness. ‘Don’t worry,” said Connie grimly. “Youll get your money.” “Tonight?” “Tm afraid the host has taken a powder on us. You'll have to wait until tomorrow.” ‘Do you think he could pay for it?” asked O’Brien, pointing to Robbin Walker. “Tf you can wake him up he might.” Several willing hands went to work on Robbin without success. In the end he had to be carried out to a taxi and one of the male dancers and @ ballerina volunteered to see him home. Within a very few minutes all had departed except Connie and the employees who were cleaning the place up. “T’ll run you up to your apartment in a taxi,” Larry told her. “Better not. You need some sleep. You've got to be in shape for the recital,” she told him lovingly. “Ill get home by myself. Damn Philip anyway!” O’Brien was hovering anxiously around her, still holding the check. Finally she took it from him. “Took, I havent got money like this with me,” she told him flatly. “Yowll just have to wait. Ill have Philip send you a check, Will you trust us that far?” ‘ “Of course, Miss Carter,’ said O’Brien unhappily. There was 4 nothing else he could do. - Connie stuffed the check in her purse. She gave Larry a kiss ig right in front of Jane Vollmer and everybody and told him she’d see him tomorrow night at the recital. With that Connie left. She rode alone in a taxi to her apartment. She felt wonderful ‘ over the prospects of Larry’s success tomorrow night. And she envisioned the time, in the not too distant future, when he could move from Third Avenue and join her in. the world of success and enchantment. The only dark cloud on Connie’s horizon was Philip’s growing independence. Twice, now, he had forsaken her for Ginger Doss. There was no doubt in her mind that his disappearance tonight 67 : , COMIIEDOOKSEGO im