Crossroads of Desire by Amos Hatter — page 60: what you’re looking at

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

CROSSROADS OF DESIRE “No,” said Larry shaking hi sf ; i 2 iy oa teeemage y ng his head. “My guess is he just got Connie paid no attention to what he said. She stormed into the living room. Larry and Yvonne exchanged helpless glances. He turned and followed Connie. “Connie,” he pleaded with her. “Can’t you see now what I meant? It just wasn’t meant to be. Our love has been fatal. qt might always be that way. It didn’t matter about me being fired because the job was nothing to begin with. But look at the awful thing that’s happened to you.” “Oh shut up. Do you think this bothers me for a second. I’m planning what I’m going to do, and believe me Philip will regret it.” But? if Tu start a new show,” Connie declared, her eyes narrow, Pll make the Ballet du Roi look sick. The public came to see me do that Libretto thing. Well, I'll do it again and the new See humber as well I’ll show Philip Hathaway a thing rt two.” Just then the buzzer sounded and Yvonne started to the door. “Tm not in to anybody!” Connie snapped. Yvonne received an envelope at the door.’ She brought it to Connie, who glared at it a moment then tore the end off. She pulled out a letter and read it grimly, The management of the apartment hotel expressed their regrets but they had just been informed that Mr, Philip Hath- away, In whose name the apartment was held, had given notice that Miss Carter was to vacate the premises at the end of the month. “Damn him!” cried Connie in a tage. “Now I will get even! He'll be hollering ‘uncle’ at the top of his lungs when I get through with him.” Larry picked up the note from the coffee table where Connie had dropped it. He read it through regretfully, “At least you’ve got two weeks before the end of the month,” he said sympathetically. Things were moving entirely too fast for Larry. But he wasn’t surprised. Connie had loved him to her own destruction. Her world was falling down about her ears. It would be a ter- rific shock to her when she finally realized what had happened. He could only admire her now for her determination to fight 118 CROSSROADS OF DESIRE back. But her fight was hopeless. She could accomplish nothing against a man with Philip Hathaway’s resources. “Look, Connie, maybe it isn’t too late. For your own sake forget me. I’m no good for you. Can’t you see?” he implored. “Bring the coffee in here, Yvonne,” Connie ordered. She sat down on the divan and fumed. “As I was saying,” Larry tried again. “This whole thing is a calamity for you.” “Tt’s nothing of the sort! Now quit yapping. I’ve got work to do.” Suddenly Larry straightened up. She was carrying on as if he were not a part of this at all. “Listen to me,” he said sternly, “you're making me feel like a gigolo. You’d better start getting that out of your head right now.” Connie glanced up at him. Her eyes showed surprise. “I wasn’t even thinking about anything like that.” “If you’re going to live with me, then you'll live as I do. I’ve been trying to tell you that all along. I’ve tried to make you see what you were getting into. But no! You wouldn’t listen. Get your feet on the ground. You've thrown a millionaire over- board for a two bit musician. As my wife you'll live on my income. Not on yours.” , “T understand that,’ said Connie. There was a new and wondrous look in her eyes as she stared up at him. “Then what’s ail this talk about what you’re going to do. Do you think I’m just going to twiddle my thumbs in the mean- time?” he asserted. “Of course not, darling,’ she soothed. “The new ballet will be a joint effort. You'll take care of all the music. I’ll handle the dance end of it.” Larry studied her dubiously. ‘Okay, then. Start talking about us. Not you.” : “T love you more than ever,” Connie beamed as she stood up ‘and kissed him. “We'll go to work at once.” At two-thirty that afternoon they sat in a small but expen-~ Sively furnished office two stories above Fifth Avenue. The office belonged to Guy Ackers, the theatrical producer. He was a big man. He gave Larry a pleasant smile when Connie introduced them, then forgot he existed. “Connicbooks.conn Lboaeowt ee