Part 6 (1/2)
Evelyn and Pearl strolled out of the Coffee Shoppe, and down South El Paso Street, across in front of the Paso Del Norte Hotel, to wait for the Juarez car.
”My G.o.d, what you all doing standing here, not saying a word?” came a voice from behind them.
”Why, h.e.l.lo, Mickey,” said Evelyn, as she turned and saw who it was.
”h.e.l.lo, Mickey,” said Pearl.
”Say, listen, you kids--got any dates for tonight?” asked Mickey.
”I ain't,” said Evelyn. ”Have you, Pearl?”
”I haven't.”
”Well, there's three old guys, five days older than h.e.l.l, throwing an all-night party in the Rio Bravo Hotel, and they asked me and Betty to get as many girls as we could. There's plenty to drink, plenty to eat--there will be lots of fellows there besides them old ones, and there's a chance to make a few dollars, and if you can't make any money--well--when they get drunk you can always go through their pockets,” said Mickey, in a voice that was supposed to be confidential, but still could be heard at least a block away.
”What do you say, Pearl?” asked Evelyn.
”Do you think Harry will be there?”
”Oh, Heavens, be calm,” as she lifted her hands in supplication.
”Yes,” answered Mickey, ”He'll be there; you couldn't keep him away from them kind of parties. Last one Harry was on, he got so drunk he stripped stark naked and did a Spanish down the hall.”
”I'll bet that was a sight,” said Evelyn.
”Oh, honey, that wasn't no sight at all--that big guy here they call Big Boy, well--he was as drunk as Harry, and he got naked too, and took an umbrella and opened it, and used it for a parachute when he jumped from the second-story window.”
”Is that the Big Boy we know?” asked Pearl.
”I don't know how well you know him,” answered Mickey, ”but it's the one you was out in the car with last night.”
”Why, jumping out of a second-story window like that, it's a wonder he didn't break his neck.”
”Pearl, dear,” said Evelyn, ”It wasn't his neck he lit on.”
”How did you know I was out in the car with Big Boy last night?” Pearl asked Mickey.
”Well--you see, I had been mixing my drinks, and I was sick, and I went outside to heave. Well, I was sitting on the running board of the car on the off side, when you all got in, but I didn't sit there long.”
”Why?” asked Evelyn.
”Honey, riding a wild horse is tame beside trying to sit on that fender,” laughed Mickey. ”Well, I'll see you all tonight at the party, as soon as the bridge closes.” She waved as she went on down the street.
”Don't you get sore at nothing anybody says to you--she is a good scout, Pearl, and when you know her better you will like her, I'm sure.”
”Oh--Ev, why would I get sore--come, come, come--here is our car.”