RANSVESTIA

$50.00 of the money left. When time came to close the operation down at 5:00 A.M. he was back up to $100.00.

Marie Corday who had sadly watched the boy lose nearly everything came up to him and said: “I'll drive you home if you will let me."

"I don't want to put you out maam," he answered. "Now I'm sorry I didn't listen to you about going home." He looked so heartbroken that she didn't know if she could stand it or not. Marie was wealthy in addition to being a pretty woman of thirty. She had worked as a stripper for several years and saved her money. The owner of this busi- ness paid he $5 0.00 a week to operate it. She knew this boy was in rough shape by this night's loss and actually feared that he would kill himself.

He finally agreed to let her drive him home, and they got in her car which was a late model Caddy. She didn't head for Gretna, but for the lakefront which has lots of benches where people sit in the summer and may be found there at any hour.

Even in this weather there were cars parked along the way, but she found a deserted strip of parking area and pulled in it. When she shut off the engine, she turned to him and got comfortable. “You don't have to talk to me Martin, but I wish you would. I'm afraid of what you'll do to yourself after losing so much."

His eyes narrowed as she mentioned this, and perhaps she saw him flinch. “Why Miss Corday?"

"I saw some rope burns on your wrist back in the office. They are self inflicted aren't they?" Without waiting for an answer she lifted his left arm and pushed the shirt and jacket up exposing the cruel marks still plainly visible.

He pulled away and nodded but didn't speak.

"These were for last night's loss, right?" she asked, knowing all the time that it was true.

He ducked his head and looked out the window. “Yes maam.”

"You would probably kill yourself for losing the car if I turned you free right now, wouldn't you?”

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