Part 12 (1/2)
”Good,” said Pearl, quickly. ”We'll go.”
”Hey, Tony, you know where my joint is, don't you?”
”I should, by this time. I've took you there enough--when you was so lit you didn't know where it was yourself.”
They arrived at Mickey's place in a few minutes, and it was just as Mickey had described it, and very tastily furnished in pinks and blues, with a faint odor of incense in the still, cool air.
”Come on in, Tony, and have a drink,” as the girls got out of the car.
”O. K.”
They went into the rooms, snapping on the lights, then all heading for the kitchen by instinct. Pearl called Evelyn aside--talking in low tones, as Mickey got out the bottle of whiskey and set it on the table.
”Help yourself, Tony, while I see what the conference is about.”
”What do you think?”
”What do I think about what?”
”About how much to pay Tony for his trouble tonight,” said Evelyn.
”Well,” from Pearl. ”If it hadn't been for him, I don't know what we would have done, and I think we should at least give him ten dollars apiece--what do you think?”
”It's all right by me, and here's my ten to prove it,” as she dug the wet money out of her stocking.
Both Evelyn and Pearl dug into their clothes from the neck, and produced the ten apiece.
”Tony,” said Evelyn, as she turned to where he was standing, ”Will thirty bucks be all right for your trouble tonight?”
”Ah--nuts. Pay me my regular three bucks and forget about the rest. You have to work pretty hard for that money, and what's more, I got a real kick out of that run tonight.”
”The h.e.l.l you say,” from Pearl. ”You take this dough--what do you think we are? I admit I'm new down here, and you are a good scout, but you ain't no friend of mine if you don't take this,” as she handed the money toward him.
”Girlie, you're a good scout, and I tell you what I'll do. If it will make you feel any better, I'll take it--but remember this--when you want anything from me, or want me to take you any place or do anything for you, and you ain't got the dough--call me, and any time you need some dough yourself--I know you girls run short lots of times--don't forget--call me. Now, I'll be going,” as he took his cap and started for the door.
”Good-bye,” from all three girls.
”If I hear anything, I'll give you a ring on the phone and tip you off,”
as he closed the door behind him.
”h.e.l.l's Fire. Give me a drink, quick,” said Evelyn, as she began to undress where she stood. ”I've seen funny sights, but I would have loved to have been a bystander and seen us three wading across that river. It wasn't funny then, but Mickey, when you come up out of that water, I almost broke down, as dark as it was down there, you was funny looking--” laughingly.
”It's a d.a.m.n good thing Pearl had as good hold on me as she had, or I'd been a goner.”
”Do you think there will be much of a stink about this killing? You know, Irene is an American citizen, and she was shot on the Mex side,”
said Pearl.
”Well--” said Evelyn slowly, ”You can't tell just what will come of this. The real trouble will come from Juan Moros' people, if there is any trouble at all. His old man is a political power down in that country--”
”That shows what you know about it,” said Mickey bitterly. ”When anything happens to an American outside of the U. S., it's just too bad.