Part 27 (2/2)

”Sure, I know the very place, and I don't think you have ever been there. It's one of the places that Grace Valdez owns--you remember the old girl I introduced you to--the one who owns the Gold Palace. Well, this is her best money-making place, so she says. It is a regular cabaret and bar, with about thirty or forty girls working there, and they have rooms upstairs--but lots of people go there--sure, we will go over there tonight--what do you say?”

”That's fine--I'm just raring to go on a good one tonight--how about you?”

”I could start right now, as far as I'm concerned.”

”I'll tell you what let's do--you get up, and let's go shopping. I need some new things, anyhow--will you come?”

”Sure,” answered Evelyn, as she climbed out of bed.

They spent the day shopping, and went to a show, then began to dress for the night over the border. As they were leaving the hotel they ran into Mickey.

”Well, it sure is good to see you out and around again Pearl--we sure have missed you.”

”That's nice of you, Mickey.”

”Hey, look Mickey,” said Evelyn. ”We're going to the popular bar tonight--you know, the one up that side street, off the Sixteenth of September Street there--you know where it is, don't you?”

”Sure, I know where that joint is--that's a good idea--keep out of sight of the Big Boy, especially till that louse gets over these fits of jealousy.”

This was too late--Big Boy was standing across the street watching the three as they were talking about him, eyes almost closed, watching Pearl as a snake watches a bird.

As they moved down the street to catch the car for Juarez, Big Boy followed. He boarded the car with them, but stayed in the back, with his hat well over his face.

The night was beginning as they unloaded in Juarez.

”Oh, Jees----” said Evelyn, ”don't look, but there is Big Boy just getting off the rear of the car--let's disappear p.r.o.nto.” They ran up the block and into the darkness.

”Do you think he will suspect where we are going?” asked Pearl.

”I don't think so. He will probably figure you will make right for Harry, and that's where he will go, and wait for you,” reasoned Mickey as they made their way on up the dimly lighted street to the Popular Bar.

As they neared the Popular sounds of a tinkling piano and drums, mixed with laughing and singing, came to them. The place was crowded with men who had not only come over for their satisfaction of liquor, but to satisfy their baser l.u.s.ts as well--and this was the perfect place of satisfaction of this sort. The girls were in short dresses, heavily made up, with cheap rouge and powder--they mixed with the men, hugging and kissing whomever put their arms around them, thinking only of the two dollars that could be made upstairs.

”Jees, what a joint,” exclaimed Pearl.

”You said it,” answered Evelyn.

”Yeah--but you got a chance of making some real money in this place--when these guys are hugging any broad in the place you can always get your hand in the pocket and he never knows just who to blame,” said Mickey as she looked the place over for a prospect.

”Well, we might as well get to the bar and start sipping some of that joy water, don't you think?” suggested Evelyn.

”Let's get at it,” as they shoved their way through the crowd.

”This place does the best business in town--at least it looks that way,”

said Pearl.

”Well, they can get rougher and noisier, and just anything goes, and this is some tough mob in here right now.”

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