RANSVESTIA

"I knew it was something like that. Your face gives you away."

"Please." he begged. “I hate myself enough.”

"Martin

somebody at some time or another has dressed you in

girl's clothing for punishment. haven't they?"

Again, he was too repulsed by his own inner self to answer. He let his chin droop almost to his chest before he nodded briefly. "My mother did once.”

"And every time you do something wrong you punish yourself now the same way?”

"Most of the time. It s worse when I drink.“

"You have feminine clothes somewhere?"

“No maam. I steal them and then throw them away. I know it's wrong and I'm sorry, but I haven't been able to stop.”

An idea crossed Marie's mind as she sat looking at him, while he told how he had treated himself earlier at the gaming loss. When he de- scribed the tying to the bed and stopped, she asked: “How much have you been making a week lately?"

“I haven't been averaging but $60 to $75.00 because of the weather. In the spring I'll make about $150."

"What if I gave you a job making $80.00 including board. You wouldn't try to kill yourself if I said in 8 months I'd give you your car back as a bonus, would you?"

"What could I do that would earn me that much money? Work at the gambling hall for you?"

"Later, perhaps. But not at first. There's my housework, my flowers and some minor repair work needing attention.”

"How do you know I wouldn't take what I think is valuable and leave while you are gone?”

"I'll put one string on you Martin. You deserve a little punishment for being so foolish as to lose your money. You must become Marty,

11