Yes, Lex had other things on his mind… other things that the love-starved widow would not have understood in her silent modest humility. Things a God-fearing woman such as herself didn't even know happened in a big city where everyone is prey to other lethal talons.

His thoughts turned to the young, virginal girl reporter in the newspaper office across the way.

Oh, it was going to be so fine.

Lois and the Shaft of Steel

Lois was in a quandary about what to do. Her semi-amorous entanglements were getting more and more complicated by the day. First there was Jimmy, her sometimes-sidekick on the many assignments she drew at the paper, with his grinning dark face and close-cropped black, Afro hair. Then there was, of course, Clark, who always watched her with guarded eyes when she had to speak with other men, and she knew that he had at least some special affection for her, as she felt she did for him, though what exactly that extended to was not quite clear to her.

Thirdly there was the chief editor Perry White-Chief, as they were wont to call him-who seemed to be making suggestions whenever she was alone with him in his office. Yesterday he had come around his desk, smiling, and edged her over against it, setting his paunch against her soft, taut belly beneath her full, round breasts. She had cringed with embarrassment and blushed to the roots of her dark hair. Perry was attractive in his middle-aged way, powerful as he was at the Daily Planet, but Lois had much higher aspirations and the great, hardening bulge she felt growing against her left her in no doubt as to what he meant when he said:

"Lois, I think we should get to know each other better." He smiled and, reaching up, stroking the back of her neck beneath her dark tresses. "A lot better."

Lois bowed her head and blinked her eyes, very uncomfortable. She didn't know what to do or say, she who was never at a loss for words, always resourceful, always relentless in her rise through the ranks of the reporters at the newspaper.