Crossroads of Desire by Amos Hatter — page 44: what you’re looking at

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

CROSSROADS OF DESIRE Boing on as they rode to her apartment. For all he knew he was still in the company of Ginger Doss. But Connie had already written that off as not being Larry’s fault. That schem- ing blonde seemed to have a talent for getting men drunk and forgetful, The taxi driver obligingly helped her get him out and upstairs when they arrived at her apartment. Larry was amenable when they were alone inside. He stood there, tottering, his eyes shut. Connie led him to the bedroom. His instinct must have told him that he was on a bed when Connie got him seated, for he toppled over at once and his head sought the pillow gratefully. Ten minutes later she had him undressed and under the covers, Larry opened startled eyes at eleven o’clock the following morning. He was treated to a vision of great loveliness as Connie hovered over him, tickling his nose. Filmy, black trans- parency covered her straight shoulders. He blinked in amaze- ment, “I thought you’d never wake up,” she grinned, He managed a sickly smile as his mind groped for under- Standing. The last he remembered of last night he had been with Ginger Doss. How in the world had he ended up with Connie? “Good morning,” he said weakly. She bent over and kissed him. “Now we're not going to say anything until I get us some breakfast,” Connie announced. This came as a result of Larry’s speculative remark about what had happened last night. She went to the kitchen and told him to join her when he had gotten ready. Larry came out a few moments later without bothering yet to don his necktie. “Here we are. Sit down,” said Connie, motioning toward the breakfast nook where she had spread out sweet rolls and butter, together with orange juice and a pot of coffee. They ate for a couple of minutes in silencé then Connie looked across at him with an amused smile on her face, her eyes dancing. ‘ “First thing, I want you to know thatT was very much put out 86 CROSSROADS OF DESIRE about you last night. And I don’t mind telling you that only one i saved your neck.” i est so,” Ese Larry vaguely. He had come to the conclusion that he’d better not do too much eae aye were too many ig idn’ Ww. hings about last night that he didn 10% ; ; : a T’a found you with anybody but Ginger Doss, I’d have held you entirely to blame.” c “Why, Connie?” : ie Be Ane I know that witch put the hex on you. ; Tt isn’t ae - first time it’s happened. Now tell me, did she. barge in on y at Sardi’s?” a “Yes,” he admitted thoughtfully. me “Just as I thought! She engineered everything. And a ae night she asked you to take her to dinner and got you so sear : that you forgot everything else. Isn’t that how it hepnel : : Connie looked at him as if she needed no continma tion a me ‘ But Larry looked down and didn’t say anything for a while. “Well, am I right?” she asked. “Partly,” he replied slowly. ; She looked at him with surprise. Her eyes elguge? pee occurred to her that there was something else on Larry's mind. “What do you mean by that?” i faced her at last there Larry took a sip of coffee. When he ‘ a was a Meal look in his eyes. ‘It Aa quite fair to say that she ot me drunk. I got that way myself. : 8 “That's one way of looking at it, but I know better. noe ae is poison. I’ve seen it happen before. She'll latch on to man—” : * : “That’s not quite the point, Connie,” Barty prone et, a elanced at her uncomfortably. “You see, Ginger didn ca up and ask me to take her to dinner. I called her. es Connie gazed at him. For a moment the space that ee i them was studded with exclamation points. Her eyes narro - “Why did you do that?” "Tm sorry now that I did it, but at the time I was mad and upset.” oes “What about?” she asked wonderingly. “About you.” .. 87 COMMCMIOOKS.EO g a J im