Part 14 (1/2)
”I don't see how they can say anything--we weren't caught doing anything, and there's no proof that we were mixed up in that mess, and we weren't caught coming over the border, so--what can they say?”
”Yeah--I guess you're right at that--well, I'll see you later,” as she started for the door.
”But where?” called Evelyn.
”I'll tell you what--you come over to my hotel, Ev, about six o'clock.
How is that, and we'll go to supper--oh, by the way, Mickey, what are you doing tonight--the usual thing?”
”Sure--the usual thing, but I'll see you over on the other side,”
answered Mickey.
”Then I'll be over at your hotel at six,” said Evelyn.
”O. K., Ev, see you then--and thanks, Mickey, for the hospitality. So long,” as she closed the door behind her.
”That girl's sure a real good scout, Mickey--it's too bad that she has got to go the route.”
”Let's have a little drink--what do you say, Ev?”
”Quick.”
”Say, Ev, where did you meet Pearl?”
”On the car the other night--and right away that Big Boy falls head over heels for her in a big way, and wants to marry her, and she can't see him--but--she is nuts over Harry Hicks--ain't that something to tie your bowels in a knot?”
”Oh, Jees, Harry will do to her what he has done to all the rest that's come his way--he will get tired of her as quick as the rest, and then I suppose she will grieve, and go on the usual drunk, to forget it. I don't know what it is about that guy that makes these girls go for him like they do.”
”Yeah--and look at the dough she could get from that big guy.”
”I sure wish I could get my hooks into that Big Boy for a couple of days, but he won't even give me a tumble,” as they went on sipping their coffee.
When Pearl arrived at her hotel, she found Big Boy sitting in the lobby, with a sour expression on his face, which brightened when she came in.
”h.e.l.lo, Big Boy,” said Pearl, ”Did you think I was going to stand you up?”
”No--I forgot what time our date was for, so I came at noon, and they said you hadn't been in all night. Where have you been?”
”Well--now, is that nice, to ask me where I've been, and what do you care where I've been? I'm here for our date, am I not? Isn't that enough? Come on up to the room, while I get dressed for wherever it is we are going?”
Big Boy followed Pearl into the elevator and to her room, without saying a word. When she closed the door, then he turned to her, face red with anger.
”I know where you've been--look at that dress--I know you was one of the women who waded the river last night. I suppose you went and spent the night with the guy that helped you across.”
”Listen, Big Boy, what ever gave you the notion that you had the right to question where I've been, and who I've been with? Get a load of this--there is no man, woman or child that has a right to talk to me like that, see--so don't you try it.”
”Well, what was you doing in Juarez that you couldn't have come across the bridge before twelve, and why was it so necessary for you to come back over here that you would take the chance of wading the river to get here?”
”I--I--well--I just didn't make the bridge, and I--well, I was afraid to stay over there all night.”
”You're lying like h.e.l.l, and you know it. You was on that party last night at the Rio Bravo--” as he came over to where she was standing.