Magician's Wife Read Online Free

Lockwood? Then at last he regained control and was able to speak like himself, with a fair imitation of naturalness. Yes, he told her, he was Clay Lockwood of Grant’s, and if he sounded funny, it was probably from force of habit, keeping his voice down, what with people out in the hall—“so as not to be overheard.” With apparent relief she said then that that explained it, and then, drawing a deep breath, went on: Well—what I called about—!”
    â€œYes?” he said. “What did you?”
    â€œTwo things, actually. First, your five dollars.”
    â€œPlease, forget my five dollars.”
    â€œWell, I certainly won’t. Mr. Lockwood, girls don’t acknowledge their tips, and I don’t encourage them to—for all sorts of reasons. It just doesn’t work out and, besides, could lead to things we’d better not go into. So you won’t be hearing from Ida, but I’m not a waitress, so I can tell you that getting a tip like that meant something to her. She has all kinds of trouble at home, and trouble always costs. So her face really lit up when I handed that money over, and I just wanted to let you know.”
    â€œThen, O.K.—but please, no more about it.”
    â€œSo now. So now. So now.”
    â€œYeah?” he said, and then echoed: “So now? ”
    They laughed, a bit breathlessly, both seeming to know that things were about to be said that would mean a lot more than five dollars. She drew an audible breath, then declaimed: “Mr. Lockwood, you did not overstep!”
    â€œOh, I did. No argument about it at all.”
    â€œYou did not. I won’t have it that way!”
    â€œAnd—that’s the real reason you called?”
    â€œWell, maybe so. It was nice, just the same, that you did leave Ida five dollars, so I had such a pleasant excuse. So all right, it could be the real reason at that—why I looked you up in the book, counted ten—and dialed.”
    â€œTo say I did not overstep?”
    â€œIt wouldn’t drop out of my mind.”
    â€œI made a pass, though.”
    â€œSo? Who minds a little pass?”
    â€œI talked about your navel.”
    â€œWell, as I told you, it’s there.”
    â€œI’d love to wobble my finger in it.”
    â€œListen! Are you starting all over again?”
    â€œI’d like to. Why didn’t you say you were married?”
    â€œMr. Lockwood, that’s the sixty-four-dollar question that I’ve been asking myself ever since you went out the door. And I’m not sure I know—how do you like that? Now that I have you, at a distance—a safe distance, I mean—on the other end of a phone and can talk in a natural way, be myself, without getting all fussed—I may just as well tell the truth and own up, I didn’t want to say. I was having a very good time, enjoying it, passes and all. I kept holding it back on purpose, Mr. Lockwood.”
    â€œWho’s this Mr. Lockwood? To you I’m Clay.”
    â€œThen why don’t you call me Sally?”
    â€œSally, where are you calling from?”
    â€œHome. Why?”
    â€œWho else is there?”
    â€œNobody—I’m alone.” And then, getting the point: “Oh, you mean my husband? He’s not here, Clay—he works at night. He’s in show business. He’s a magician. You must have heard of him—he has the act at the Lilac Flamingo. ... Well, what do you think? That I’d be dumb enough to put in this call to you with somebody listening in?”
    â€œJust asking, that’s all.”
    â€œWell, certainly not! ”
    â€œThen—we’re back where we were before. Where would you like to go? To step out a little with me? And where do I pick you up?”
    â€œBut I couldn’t go anywhere.”
    â€œIf not, why not, Sally?”
    â€œI’m too well known, that’s why. Clay, I see hundreds of people a day, and a