Part 17 (2/2)
”No--and from all I hear, he ain't got much of what you're crazy about, to give, either.”
”Do you believe all you hear, Ev?”
”Well, I can't say that I do--but I have no reason to doubt the rumor, unless you care to enlighten me on the subject.”
”Well, darling, you use your imagination--and sign my name to it.”
”Really.”
”Surest thing, Ev.”
”Don't tell me I've missed something.”
”I think you have.”
”Well, it's really too late now--all I can do is be sorry.”
”You see, Ev--what I really like about Harry is his--well, his way.”
”No--REALLY,” said Evelyn, eyes wide.
”That's what it is.”
”Well, I admit I've always suspected Harry.”
”What?” said Pearl.
”Oh, nothing,” smiled Evelyn, ”But that calls for another drink--waiter, whiskey, quick.”
”I'll have one, too--p.r.o.nto.”
They drank the whiskey, and crowded their way into the cabaret, and back near the band stand, where they found an unoccupied table, that commanded a good view of the show.
”I'll be with you in a few minutes,” said Harry, as he pa.s.sed their table.
”Just a minute--Ladies and Gentlemen--I have some news--I've been requested by the management to read for your benefit,” said Harry, as he silenced the crowd, then continued reading from a yellow piece of paper in his hand: ”The Rebels have taken Chihuahua City, and are organizing more troops for the march on Juarez.”
The crowd was silent; not a sound or a word for several minutes, then the sounds started, with low whispers, then rose to the usual loud singing, talking, dancing, still rising higher and noisier, until the gaiety was at the point of hysteria.
Mexicans stole sly glances at each other, some very serious and worried, others not noticing or caring that the rebels were going to march on Juarez, and others wondering which side to stick to, as the winning side is always the best, and if the rebels had taken Chihuahua City, Juarez would be nothing.
Americans who ordinarily came over the border every night to have their little drink and waste a few hours, and go home practically as sober as they came over, were drinking with the best of the lot, as they knew that if the fighting was to take place in the city, as it had done before, there would be no chance to come over and have the usual drink; therefore drink all that was possible while the drinking was good; others, who remained gentlemen, whether drunk or sober, were making a.s.ses of themselves in huge form, and there is nothing that can be so perfect an a.s.s as an American in a country other than his own, and with a mind made up to show off; hence, hilarity in its most violent form held sway for the rest of the night, cars and drunken people so numerous on the International Bridge it would be impossible for the gates to be closed before at least one o'clock, and the Customs and Immigration Officials dared not close the bridge until those that were dragging themselves and others were across, as it was possible that the Rebels would take a train, or an engine with a caboose, and in one of their moments of madness, which are many in the Mexican temperament, and leave Chihuahua City without the rest of the Rebel army, and just cause enough for a fight, to kill some innocent bystander, which is a known fact, that in a battle in Mexico there are more people killed by accident than with actual intent, as they are very bad shots, but if they ever work up enough courage to come close enough for a hand-to-hand fight, they either do it with knives, or call the whole thing off and go into the nearest bar, and have a drink. It is not an unusual thing to see the Federal army and the Rebel army call off the fighting for lunch and the usual noon siesta, and a general get-together, and congratulate each other on the bravery of the things they have seen done, or have heard of. Knowing this, and knowing that when the fighting did start in Juarez, that there would be as many bullets fall on the American side as on the Mexican side, Fort Bliss had already stationed a troop of men at the foot of the Santa Fe Bridge; consequently, with all the ribaldry the bridge had to be kept open until nearly two o'clock.
Thrill seekers and tourists who were out to see everything and experience everything, stayed in Juarez that night, hoping to see some fighting and have first-hand information to tell the folks back in Kansas, or Ohio, just what it was like, and with the usual intelligence, which isn't above that of a stray cur, thinking it possible to witness a battle, but expecting that, owing to the fact that they were American citizens, that the Mexicans would watch where they were shooting, and not a hair on them would be harmed.
Men whose wives in their drunken stupor wanted to stay in Juarez; men with women that they had picked up, but were too drunk to walk, were thrown over their shoulders, and carried like a bag of meal to the American side of the bridge; drunken women helping women more drunk than they, with the occasional leaning over the side of the bridge to let off some of the last of the liquid cargo they had taken on at the last bar.
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