Crossroads of Desire by Amos Hatter — page 53: what you’re looking at

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

CROSSROADS OF DESIRE In a flash O’Brien’s turned into a melee. Larry tried fran- tically to get to the girls but his progress was impeded by hostile males. Someone struck Philip on the back of his head, knocking his glasses to the floor. At least twenty persons were now engaged. One of the bartenders leaped over the bar to restore order but his action only added to the alarm and confusion. O’Brien shouted hysterically for order but no one paid any attention to him. Men cursed and women screamed. Sirens wailed in the night as two Squad cars and paddy wagon rushed to the scene. It took seven stern policemen a good five minutes to separate all of the combatants and get the place quieted down, Those who could, fled. By the time the police had the situation in hand less than twenty customers remained. O’Brien’s was a shambles and its proprietor stood behind the bar quaking before the erim questioning of two towering officers. “T don’t know what happened,” he said, shaking. “Suddenly I looked up and it seemed half my customers were fighting.” “But something had to start it,” said one of the officers. “Tt sure did!” cried Jane Vollmer. She pointed toward Connnie. “She’s the one who did it.” The officers followed the direction of her accusing finger. Connie was seated in a chair, weeping hysterically. Larry was bent over her, trying to calm her down. He had a slight cut on his left cheek. Just then Philip picked himself up off the floor, Not knowing that the fray was over he glared around belli- gerently. He turned pale the next instant at the sight of the police. Several persons started talking at once but one of the officers roared for quiet: He’d do the talking, he announced. During the next ten minutes the officers quizzed everyone present as to what had transpired. Ultimately, for lack of evidence, they dismissed everyone from the saloon except Connie, Jane, Larry, Philip, O’Brien, Sam the bartender and three disheveled cus- tomers who had participated in the fight without knowing why. “Okay, all of you outside. We'll finish up at the district station,” an officer announced. The prospect of being hauled into court terrified Philip. “Oh, wait a minute officer.” he cried. “We can’t have this.” “We can’t have people like you disturbing the peace either,” 104 CROSSROADS OF DESIRE said the officer laconically. “Furthermore, I’d say the owner of this joint has every right to collect damages from you and the others who tore it up.” Philip groaned. “This has all been a mistake, officer. I swear it has. I’ll pay for the damages. Every penny. Only don’t haul a bunch of innocent people to jail.” “There’s nothing innocent about her!” cried Jane, glaring at Connie. : “Who was it stuck her nose in something that was none of her business?” Connie shouted back. “You started it. Not me!” “Quiet, quiet,” the officer demanded. “We’ll settle nothing here. Outside all of you. And step lively.” No one said anything during the ride to the district station. They all filed in before a startled desk sergeant who took down names and addresses. Philip demanded permission to call his attorney and the sergeant, after a second glance at his address, gave in. They all fell to wrangling and nothing was accomp- lished for several minutes. No one noticed the arrival of a news- paper reporter who recognized the famous Connie Carter and immediately got interested in what was going on. As for Connie she sank into a chair and stared dismally into space. Nothing seemed to work out right for her. Everytime she thought happiness was just about in her grasp a cruel turn of fate snatched it from her possession, She was par- ticularly hurt over Larry’s concern for a small bruise over one of Jane Vollmev’s eyes. : Philip and O’Brien were standing to one side talking earn- estly. The three customers involved decided that they were mad at nobody. Sam the bartender, it turned out was acquainted with the sergeant and was doing some fast talking, The arrival of Philip’s attorney, twenty minutes later, brought matters to a head. He quickly learned that O’Brien, nor any- one else, was prepared to file charges against his client and demanded to know upon what grounds he was being detained. “Why, him and his friends started a small riot over on Third Avenue,” one of the officers spoke up. “Very well, if those are the charges I’m prepared to post im- mediate bail,’ the attorney replied. Connielooolks. Gon