Part 15 (1/2)

”No, you don't have to wear a bandage at all, unless you want to, but you know a bandage covers a mult.i.tude of sins. You can say you got a piece of gla.s.s in your eye, and that way you won't have to stay in your room for a week until it gets well.”

”Ah, gee, Doc, you're a peach, thanks,” as she got off the bed.

”Well, I'll be going now,” as he gathered up his things. ”Next time tell your boy friend to hit you some place it won't show,” as he went out the door.

Pearl lay on the bed--there was nothing else to do. Now she couldn't very well go to Juarez, with her eye bandaged up. No matter what lie she told, n.o.body would believe it. Maybe it was just as well not to go over for a few days anyhow--let some of the trouble of the shooting die down, and that would be time enough, but she couldn't stay in the room all that time--she would go crazy. She arose from the bed, went to the phone, and called Evelyn's apartment and left a message for her to call as soon as she came in.

The door opened slowly, as Big Boy came in, loaded with candy and fruit and flowers.

”My G.o.d, what all have you got there?” asked Pearl, as she looked at him with the one good eye.

”Some little things you might like, Pearl. You can have anything you want, no matter what it is. Will you please forgive me?”

”Well, it will take a lot more than candy or flowers to make me forget a sock like that.”

”Ah, gee, honey--you can have anything you want--just name it. Let me get you a nice apartment, and some clothes, open an account for you--just anything to show you I do really love you, and I only want you to marry me--will you?”

”No, I won't marry you--but I'll think about the apartment and the other stuff you mentioned.”

”Ah, that's great--I gotta go now--I gotta meet a guy on some business about the mine--I'll be back tonight.”

”Aw--alright, go ahead--I'll be here when you get back--you've seen to that, all right,” as he came over to kiss her--”Never mind kissing me--I'm still mad.”

”I love you--can't you understand that,” as he took her in his arms.

A rap came on the door.

”Who's there,” called Pearl.

”It's me--Ev,” came the voice.

”Come on in.”

”My G.o.d--what's happened to you--your eye--what's happened?” asked Evelyn, breathlessly.

”Well, you see, it was like this,” said Big Boy.

”Never mind--never mind--I get it--she was late for the date and you socked her for it--ain't you the big bully?” said Evelyn, as she walked over to Pearl.

”I just lost my temper, and I didn't mean to.”

”You said you had to go--well, go ahead--I want to talk to Ev.”

”Will you be here when I get back?” asked Big Boy anxiously.

”Yeah--she'll be here, all right, thanks to you--scram--” answered Evelyn, as he went out the door.

”My G.o.d, this thing hurts,” said Pearl, as she put her hands to her head.

”What happened?”