Part 19 (1/2)

Don't you think it is lovely?”

”Yeah, its fine, but I don't get the connection of the black eye and the apartment.”

”It's just as well,” said Evelyn. ”The less you get, the better off you will both be.”

”No kidding, Pearl--what is the gag--who is the sucker?”

”Oh, just a guy that thinks he is crazy about me, that's all.”

”Now, Harry, I want to ask you something seriously,” said Evelyn. ”Maybe I'm wrong, maybe I'm not, but you might as well know--you will sooner or later--I been telling Pearl she is nuts, now let's see what you think.”

”Let's hear it,” answered Harry.

”Do you mind, Pearl?” asked Evelyn.

”No, I don't mind.”

”Well, here's the story. You know that big guy they call Big Boy? You and he have been more less rivals for some time, and I know you are very good friends. You know the guy pretty well--you have seen him go on a rampage and wreck a place, then pay for it. Well--he's nuts for Pearl, and he is the one who gave her the black eye because she lied to him about last night, then he gave her a thousand bucks, and this apartment, and anything else she wants--now, what I'm coming to--this guy wants to marry her--I know that will floor you--and he means it. Pearl is taking all he can give her. Don't you think that if he is crazy about her, that if he catches her two-timing him he will go on such a rampage he might kill her?”

”Yes, that's right, Ev, that guy is a bad hombre--but why should he catch her?”

”I give you credit for some sense, Harry. If he gave her a black eye for lying, what will he do to her when he finds out you or some other guy is playing around his duck's nest?”

”Don't worry, Ev. Pearl's too clever for that--anytime I fall for a woman I know she is clever,” laughed Harry a.s.suredly.

”That may be all well and good, but I'm d.a.m.ned if I care to be around when the thing happens,” said Evelyn, as she guzzled some more coffee.

”You didn't tell me what they did to Negro Noche about that shooting last night, and what did they do with Irene's body?” asked Pearl.

”Negro Noche wasn't even arrested--the authorities said that she was protecting her home, and that if another woman was trying to steal her man, and she found them in each other's arms, she had done the right thing, so she was let free. About Irene, n.o.body seems to know where her home is, or if she has any people. They are holding her body over in the morgue until they can find out something, and if they don't they will bury her out here in the usual pauper's grave.”

”Oh, Jees that's awful,” said Evelyn. ”Well, they won't bury her in no pauper's grave as long as I got a cent.”

”You are right,” answered Pearl, ”But Ev, I've more money than you have--I'll pay for the funeral, poor kid--that's usually the end of most of us--G.o.d, that's awful--I'll tell you what we will do--we'll get up early in the morning and go over to the morgue, and arrange for her to have a decent funeral.”

”I haven't any money,” said Harry. ”But I'll do anything I can.”

”That's all right, Harry--I'm glad that I have the money to do it--shall we bury her on the Mex side, or shall we bring her over here?”

”What's the difference? I'm sure it wouldn't make any difference to her, and then you might have to go through some red tape about bringing the body across the border,” said Evelyn.

”Well, I better be getting home,” said Harry, as he arose to go.

”Oh, no, Harry--stay up here tonight, won't you?”

”Do you really want me to?”

”Oh, darling, you know I want you to.”

”If you two must have your fun, then listen to me--I'll stay in the other bedroom, and if anything should happen that Big Boy would come in any time, Harry, you come and get in bed with me, then he couldn't say anything,” explained Evelyn.