Crossroads of Desire by Amos Hatter — page 45: what you’re looking at

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

CROSSROADS OF DESIRE “I think you’d better explain,” she said after a short, confused Silence. : “T believed you, Connie, when you said you wanted to go home from Sardi’s,” he said in an even tone. “TI didn’t wake up to the sort of girl you really are until Ginger came along and said you had gone to stay with Philip Hathaway.” A hot uncomfortable feeling crawled inside Connie. Her eyes filled with foreboding as she stared at him. She was so stunned by what he said that, for a moment, she could think of nothing. “You—you believed that?” she managed. “Yes, Connie, It’s the truth. That’s why.” A regretful smile played about his lips and his eyes were filled with disillusion- ment as he gazed at her unflinchinely. “What other lies did she tell you?”. asked Connie, feeling faint. “No lies. Let’s not try to fool each other any longer, please. Ginger told me all about you. She said it was a known fact that Hathaway’s money had put you where you are today. She pointed out to me that I was just a passing fancy and that you’d hang onto your millionaire regardless of what happened.” He ended with bitterness in his voice, In desperation she pounced on his last statement. “That’s ee so! You mustn't believe it, Larry. I don’t care for Philip like hat.” “No. I’m sure it’s his money you're interested in.” Connie was horrified at the turn things, had taken, She Searched frantically for a way out. She begged, “Larry, you’ve got to listen to reason. It’s not the way you think. I love you— love you more than anything else in the world,” “But just the night before last you walked out on me to'go to another man.” Connie’s anguished eyes fell. at all.” “T don’t guess there’s any particular harm done,” he mused afew moments later. “My only trouble was, I had begun to take you seriously.” : “Larry, please! For God’s sake don’t talk like that,” she pleaded. “Sorry, Connie, but that’s how I feel.” 38 “You don’t understand, Not CROSSROADS OF DESIRE He dropped the stub of a fae into his coffee cup and fi followed him into the living room. : ; ee Bot so much to look forward to together,” said Connie. “The ballet and the music you wrote for it and— - “Look. Let’s just forget the whole thing. It’s been fun but— “No! I won’t!”? Her voice carried a note of hysteria. I want you to know how wrong you’ve been. I’m going to prove it, ¥y : e how much I love you.” encod ‘doen at her, a half smile on his face. Dae shrugged and went on into the next room to get his neck He and coat. Connie stood in the middle of her living room. fee nerves on edge. She actually wrung her hands in despair as she tried to figure out how to handle this catastrophe. : The buzzer at the door distracted her for a moment. Almos mechanically she went to open it, knowing it must be Yvonne. i *t. It was Philip. ey dear,” he said. eagerly as he entered the room. ae at once he stopped short. He stared as Larry Brooks emerge from Connie’s eae ae ne “Fa ting you here,” sai rr ‘ : ‘ Pee cant Conte ‘wryly. This certainly confirmed eh an mind everything he had heard. Casually he walked to the ee and closed it quietly behind him as he disappeared envio) the nal : “what's the meaning of this?” asked Philip, recovering from j j nt. : ete Be “Conmie’s anxiety, her frustration ental els Re came to a climax. She lost control as her eyes Se ne the room. They fell on a small porcelain figurine that ae os a nearby table. She grabbed it up and sailed it across the roo in the direction of Philip’s head. He ducked just in Eom “Get out!” she screamed. “You hear me? Get out! He beat a hasty retreat. CHAPTER TWELVE HILIP’S fear and alarm gave way to extreme agitation when P he reached the comparative safety of the street level. ee hastened out to the curb, only to remember that he had sen Comichboolks.co im 2