Crossroads of Desire by Amos Hatter — page 41: what you’re looking at

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

CROSSROADS OF DESIRE inspection of herself in the mirror, she hastened to the foyer to join Larry. Several persons were standing about but she didn't see him. These people, it turned out, wanted her autograph on the playbill. Connie favored them obligingly, keeping an eye out for Larry. She was surprised that he was not already here. Two or three people still idled about, thrilled to be so close to the famous dancer. She wished they’d go away, and where the devil was Larry anyway? Her brows knitted as she tried to appear casual for the benefit of those who lingered. “We can’t conceive that you're not waiting for someone, Miss Carter. But if you aren’t we’d be mighty proud to take you any place you say,” said one admiring couple. “Thank you, no. I am waiting for someone,” she managed to smile. And her, confusion grew as she continued to wait. In time she was left alone in the foyer with no one but the janitor who was sweeping up. : “Anything I can do for you, Miss Carter?” he asked, “No thanks, Joe. My date was due here twenty minutes ago. I can’t imagine what’s happened.” “I can’t either. If I was a young blade you’re one girl I’a never keep waiting. That’s for sure!” She waited ten more minutes. Then all at once she grew hot and uncomfortable with the feeling that Larry wasn’t coming for her. She couldn’t understand it. Real fear swept through her. She had Joe unlock the office for her so she could make a telephone call. Urgently she dialed the number to O’Brien’s saloon. “Let me speak to O’Brien,” she said, her voice almost frantic. “Speakin’, Miss.” “This is Connie Carter. Is Larry there?” “No. He sure isn’t.” Connie’s mouth dropped open in Surprise. ‘Then—then where is he?” “I wish I knew, Miss Carter. I gave him last night off. He said he wanted tonight off too but I asked him to come in and play during the early part of the evening at least. That’s because people are coming here more and more to hear him. 80 CROSSROADS OF DESIRE We're doing a fine business all of a sudden and—” “Where is he?” She almost shouted over the phone. ‘ “T said I don’t know. He didn’t come in tonight like he said he would, even for the early part of the evening. oe “You—you mean he hasn't been there since yesterday “That’s right.” “Oh,’’ she choked back a fearful sob. For a moment she sat there holding the telephone in her hand. Then suddenly she erabbed it. “Where can we look for him? “Got no idea.” ‘ : : Connie hung up stupefied. Her mind whirled with all BouUS of foreboding thoughts. If anything had happened to him su ely she’d have heard. But he hadn’t been seen by O’Brien for two 9 days. What on earth could have happened: ; _ She racked her brain for some course of action. She could think of nothing to do, no one to turn to. The only people He might have any clue at all were right over there on chee Avenue. Suddenly she jumped up. That was the place for her, at least as a start. She’d have to go there and enlist O’Brien’s help at once, Connie jumped into a taxi outside the theater and told the driver to hurry over to O’Brien’s. Halfway across town she urged him to more speed. ; 5 Pook, lady,” he said caustically over his shoulder, “you want to get there in one piece don’t you?” é When they arrived Connie flung him some dollar bills and ran into the saloon. The place was quite noisy and full of more people than she had even seen in there before. Hastily she sought out O’Brien. ane mend ig fter the show, “Larry was supposed to meet me tonight a ber she said, gazing at him frantically. “But he didn’t show up, and he didn’t call.” “Tt beats me where he went,” said O’Brien helplessly. “But haven’t you got any clue? Can you think of any place or any reason?” ‘Nope, None.” hae “That girl—uh—the waitress. Do you think she’d know? said - Connie indicating Jane Vollmer. She reasoned that since J ang lived across the hall from Larry, she might know something more than O’Brien. 993 COMIGcHOOKS GO im