The Waterbury Democrat., 1946-02-23
CHAPTER n

aNzETv-sEvEN West 72nd street
 was the Shelton Arms a pros- h,erons . looking apartment house hith a red and white striped avn Ane and a colored doormen, I gave my name to the clerk at the desk, look the elevator to the third toor md then walked along thick car bet which deadened your footsteps % efficiently that you sounded like a Aat.
 had barely touched the buzser M apartment S07 when Ginger opened the door. 1t looked as il they were impstiently waiting for hne,
 Hello Leo" xclaimed Ginger Nath that dazzling smile of hers. bCome right in She took both my hands and shook them with all the affusivenesS used for a sugar daddy bringing home the weekly check.
 You're looking more beautiful than ever. Ginger 1 said, grim ming back at her. I wasn't Kidding Her green eyes were bright and clear, her complexion was flawlesS, and she had light coat of tan that suited her admirably. It was evident that the sea voyage had done her good and that whatever the extent of virgil's worries, she wasn't going 70 share them.
 Boggio, in 8 heavy silk robe, was stretched out on the dlvan. lie waved a pudgy hand at me, notion ing me to sit down, and then re- slaced the wet cloth he had remov- ed from his forehead. l was frankly shocked by his appearance. His usually well-fed face seemed thin and drawn. There were dark circles under his eyes which he had closed. and he looked as if he hadn't slept for the past week.
 "virgil's not feeling so good, Gin ger explained in a whisper, ve given him a couple of aspirinS. It's one of his migraines and hes feel ing sick to his stomach. He doeSn | travel well. I told him to take it easy this morning, but he was in a hurry to see you. Now he realizes that he'd better wait for awhile"
 If knew anything about Virgil it wasn't the journey that made him feel sick It took something a little stronger to knock him of his feet.
 Make yourself comfortable, con- einued Ginger I'll get you drink. '
 
 CINGER glided back and forth NJ to the kitchen as if she were still, on the stage. with me doing duty for baldheaded row. She had just deposited the ice bowl on a little table in front Of my armchair. and bent over to fill two glasses when Boggio took an active part in the proceedings He slowly hoisted himself to a sitting position and swung his body around so that his short legs dangled over the edge of the divan.
 Come on" he said. Let's go into kA1e other room"
 took up my drink and we went into the bedroom on the other side of a small hallway.
 Boggio plunked himself into an armchair and sat down across from him It was funny how much taller he looked sitting down than standing up. The reason was his legs. which were completely out of proportion with the rest of his body They were at least six inches too short and thus his height of five feet two should have been about five eight. I've often wondered if 1t was- mt this physical deformity which made Boggio what he is After all Napoleons stature had something to do with the shaping of the world.
 Suppose a corporation had it; back to the wall and was about to go into receivership?" he asked suddenly And suppose it couldn't save itself, would it mean a com plete investigation of it's activl- ties? Would the bankruptcy court turn the whoe thing over to the federal authorities if certain ir- regularities were dIscuye.ed?'
 T might" said" Provided the corporation did go into re- ceivership."
 I was on the spot. Boggio had been out Of circulation for tho past six months and, before leaY'