Part 10 (1/2)

”Now, listen to me,” said Evelyn, ”I have a plan. We will get back over on Lysol Lane, and go in one of those all-night bars, and I'll telephone to Tony, a taxi driver I know, where to meet us.”

”Do you think it will work?” asked Pearl.

”It's got to,” said Mickey, as they started.

”Now, you two stand around the corner--I'll stagger in this dump, as though nothing had happened, and use the phone.”

”Can't I go with you?”

”No, you stay with Mickey--if they see all three of us they will be sure to suspect something, and I don't crave to get mixed up in this mess--stand back there in the dark,” as she put on her best drunken smile and staggered into the place.

”Hi, Senor--can a lady use your phone?”

”Si, Senorita--right this way,” he led her over to the phone booth in the corner.

”Gracia, Senor,” as she went in and closed the door, lifted the receiver--”El Paso operator, please--h.e.l.lo--El Paso operator--give me Main Eight-Eight--Yeah--h.e.l.lo, all-night taxi? Let me talk to Tony.

What--Oh, that's you, Tony? Listen, get a load of this--this is Ev, you know--yeah--take one of the plain cars you got there, and cruise along the Smelter Road near the Southern Pacific bridge, and look out for three of us. No--no--no--it's not liquor--don't ask questions over the phone--make it snappy--good-bye.” She hung up the receiver, and staggered out of the booth. ”Adios, Senor,” as she went out the door and around the corner, to Mickey and Pearl.

”I just heard the ambulance and the police wagon going up the street,”

said Mickey.

”Tony is going to meet us up on the Smelter Road,” said Evelyn. ”We'll go down these side streets until we get to the river, and then we'll follow the levee on around to where it is only about twenty feet wide, and about three feet deep. I know the very place. We won't have any trouble if we hurry--come on.” So saying, they started for the river, down dark alleys and side streets, of which there are plenty in Juarez.

They stumbled on through the darkness, half running, sometimes walking.

”I'm sure I hear someone following us,” said Pearl, as they neared the river.

”Your life ain't worth two cents over here in this section at this hour of the night,” answered Evelyn.

”Let's run,” said Mickey, as they started on down the levee.

”How far is this place you know about, Ev?” asked Pearl, out of breath, as they slowed to a fast walk again.

”About a mile or more,” answered Evelyn, ”But it's our only chance.”

It seemed like ten miles to the three, as they ran stumbling through the darkness, when a flare lit up the sky ahead of them to the right.

”What's that?” asked Pearl.

”Thank Heaven, it's the smelter,” said Mickey. ”We are almost there.”

”Here's the place I mean,” said Evelyn, as she pointed to a very narrow place in the river. ”Now, let's all take hands, and hold tight. The only thing we have to be careful of is the quicksands--they are as treacherous as h.e.l.l,” as they started to wade into the river.

”Watch your step,” said Evelyn.

”Jees--that water is cold--hold tight to my hand, Pearl, and don't let go,” said Mickey, as she took hold of Pearl, who was in the middle.

”We are in the midst of a lot of quicksand here--I can't seem to find bottom any further than I am standing. Let go of me, Pearl, and I'll wade around a bit and see if I can find a more solid place.”

”Oh, G.o.d--now, Ev, don't do that. Don't let go at all here in the water--we will all wade together.”