RANSVESTIA

Eddie nodded, his mouth dry, but his mind was agitated as it had ever been in his young lifetime. "Julie Burns," he said. "She works in Records."

"Talk it over with her." Merrick picked up the paper, placed it in his desk, leaving it spotlessly clean. "She might see the real advan- tages to your taking this assignment."

**

Julie had already been called by John Merrick when Eddie met her for lunch later.

"What is this?" she snapped at him when they were fairly seclud- ed in the staff restaurant. "Are you a queer, Eddie? What was Mr. Merrick talking about?"

With a high degree of embarrassment, Eddie explained what Roscoe Ward had told him in Merrick's office. "It's a shortcut to the top," he said finally. "But anyway I don't think I can do it." He looked about the lounge furtively. He tried to joke, "I don't think I've the legs for it."

Lisa Beard swept by their table, two of the paper's featured reporters in tow. She saw Eddie and waved to him. "Hi!" she called. "I've a message for you." She wiggled over to their table with the eyes of all the men in the restaurant on her. "Mr. Ward said he completely forgot to mention the matter of your bonus." She lowered her voice, and smiled prettily at him. "I typed up a check for $5,000 in your name before I left. Mr. Ward said he'd talk to you about it if you decided to work with him." Her blue eyes were filled with astonishment. "Has Mr. Ward offered you a job and you've turned it down?"

Eddie shrugged and looked at Julie. At the mention of the bonus, Julie had stopped eating. Now she looked intently at Eddie. "For that kind of money, it's O.K. with me," she said quickly. She smiled at Lisa. "You can tell Mr. Merrick that I persuaded him. I wouldn't want him to pass up his biggest chance because of me." Lisa raised her eyebrows and returned to her table. "I'm told she's frigid; can't come at all," Julie's voice dripped acid. She suddenly grinned at Eddie. "Think you'll look as great as she does, Eddie?"

***

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