Crossroads of Desire by Amos Hatter — page 48: what you’re looking at

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

CROSSROADS OF DESIRE in the first place. This whole mess would never have happened if she hadn’t asked me to write the music for her new ballet.” Philip thought hard. Suddenly his eyes lit up and he slapped Larry on the back, “By George! I believe you! And you did a fine job on that music too. I’m going to see to it that the Ballet - du Roi Association provides you with suitable compensation,” “How about compensating me too, Mr, Hathaway?” Jane Spoke up brightly. “You don’t know what I’ve had to put up with around here for the sake of that damned music.” Philip glanced at the waitress. For the first time he noticed What a very attractive redhead she was. His eyes smiled happily. ; “Tll take care of you, my dear. If I ever come to O’Brien’s for dinner again, I want you to wait on me personally.” “I'd love to,” Jane assured him. “Let’s go, folks,” cried Philip happily. When they were out of the room, Larry and Jane grinned at each other. “Will you tell me,” he asked, “just what brought them here? I never did get the straight of that.” “The way I got it, Hathaway thought you were running off with his lady love, the premiere danseuse.” “And I might have, too, if I hadn’t come to my senses just in the past day or two.” Larry looked a little sad as he spoke. “But she’s too rich for my pocket. No, it would never do.” “Listen to me, Romeo, I’m fed up with that hoofer at this point. If-you expect any more favors from me, don’t mention her name again in my presence!” 3 Larry removed his things and stretched out once more with a Sigh. His head still hurt from the liquor he had consumed the night before. Jane sat down beside him and once more began soothing his aching temples with her fingers. “You’re a real comfort, Janie,” he said, closing his eyes. “Yowre an unfaithful rat but yow’re handy to have around. Now, if only you had Philip Hathaway’s money .. .” Her voice trailed off in Larry’s awareness. Restfully he sank into quiet repose. His heart ached a bit as he thought of the glorious Connie and what might have been. But he put that firmly out of his mind and drifted off to sleep. 04 CHAPTER THIRTEEN ONNIE remained incommunicado for four days. True, she went to the theater each night and did her stint, returning alone by taxi right after each performance. Yvonne prepared her meals and served as her only contact with the outside world. The outside world most anxious to contact her was Philip who - solicitously inquired of her through Yvonne by telephone each day, sent bouquets of gladioli, roses and orchids flown in from - Hawaii, and, on the fourth day, a diamond clip which set him < lve hundred clams. ‘ ee eyes danced with admiration when they opened it, but Connie didn’t even give it a second glance. She was no longer interested in material things. But she did feel that ne should thank him in person for the offering and did so the ne j he called. s : Bee vc been awfully worried about you, my dear,” he said, after receiving her acknowledgment of the clip. “Tm all right.” bie j Ee “this business of staying at home alone isn’t good for you, Connie. Can’t we have dinner tonight after the show? “J guess so,” she sighed, somewhat to her own surprise, She let Philip.take her to dinner three evenings in a row. The places he took her and the food she ate were meaningless appendages to the dismal necessities of life. She even let him make love to her one night in her apartment because she was ir dreaming up excuses. : Re nccd bhai that his victory was won and his rc! might have been proven correct had not a ‘Minor incident occurred which brought Connie into the crucial stage of her *y from the love bug’s bite. Soh! after Larry’s recital, Hoke, the director of the ee de le Roi, had started work on the ragtime number, This nee been according to Connie’s instructions. : He now soune = necessary to make some revisions in the original choreograp u and music. Hoke was innocently unaware of recent eee es upheavals and failed to mention a aes Ca or Larry tha E af nee of both were required at a cor a‘ CP eked Connis to show up at the theater at three o’clock Wcomicbooksico im