Part 4 (1/2)

”Never mind, sweetheart--I like you just as you are, that's why I came up at this hour; I thought I'd find you in bed, or just getting out of it.”

”Oh, please hand me something to put on,” came the voice from the bathroom.

”Hold your hand out to get it, then.”

Pearl opened the door to put her hand out, and as she did, he slid his foot into the opening.

”Oh, please, don't come in--I haven't a thing on.”

”That's why I'm coming in,” he answered, as he pushed the door open and caught her in his arms.

”Oh, big boy, don't you know you shouldn't do this? What will you think of me?”

”Baby, I love you--don't you know that?--I love you,” he breathed hard, as he kissed her eyes, her neck, her shoulders, and gathered her up in his arms and walked toward the bed.

”You will believe me--won't you--?” as he held her as if she were a small baby.

”Oh, big boy, you shouldn't act like this. What would anyone think if they should see us like this?”

”What the h.e.l.l do I care what anyone thinks--I want you and I want you all for myself--I'll buy you anything you want. I've got money--plenty of it. Can't you understand that I'll do anything for you? When you left last night without even saying goodbye, I looked all over town for you, but I couldn't find you. You know what I mean, I don't even know your name, but I want you to marry me.”

Tenderly he laid her down on the bed, smothering her with kisses.

Pearl looked into his eyes--he was sober--sober as a judge. He was a big man, a very big man, but he was like a child that had found the toy it had been looking for for a long time, and was so happy at finding it that he would never let it go again. He was fresh, clean, good looking, and had that very manly odor about him that women love, and above all, he had money, and lots of it; didn't Eve say so and didn't he tell her so himself? He ran his hands over her smooth body, his head was laying on her shoulder, his big body against hers, his breath seeming to scorch her. What was the use to fight against this? She knew that sooner or later she would give in to his pleadings, the sooner the better.

”Yes, dear, I do love you,” she whispered, as she put her arms around him, and pressed her hot mouth against his hot, moist lips--they seemed to melt into one.

”Pardon, Madam, do you want to carry all these bundles, or wouldn't you like for us to send them over for you?” asked the clerk in the White House, the largest department store in El Paso.

”h.e.l.l, no--I'll carry them myself,” said Evelyn, as she began to pick up the numerous bundles she had bought.

”I beg pardon, Madam, but did you want to charge those things?”

”Jees, my all to Heaven has gone--certainly I want to charge them, I got an account here, ain't I?”

”I'm sorry, Madam, but we shall soon find out.”

”Yeah--and for the love of Pete, make it snappy--don't keep me in suspense.”

”Pardon, Madam,” returned the clerk, laying down the receiver of the store telephone, ”I'm very happy to inform you that your account is quite all right; thank you very much--call again.”

”Thank you very much, and I'll call again d.a.m.n soon. Adios.”

Evelyn returned to her apartment about three-thirty, unwrapped her packages, smiling to herself, and fondling her treasures.

”Well, I've bought a new outfit from top to bottom, and from the skin out. Won't I floor that herd of tramps tonight--Hot--ziggety--d.a.m.n--now I'll bathe, throw on a load of that loud perfume, and d.a.m.ned if I won't be a lady, or know why.”