Part 9

"Ain't you funny? You don't think she would see you after the way you beat her up--you must be nuts."

"Oh--Ev--I've got to see her."

"Well, this is one thing you won't be able to explain away, or buy away. She is through with you and you ought to know it. Why make her suffer more by coming here to see her? You know she is scared to death of you?"

"Ah, Ev--I can't live without her."

"I'm afraid you will die young then--you think that because you have money, you can beat up who you please, and then give them a present and that it is all over. Grow up--don't be like that--you know she is only a kid, and new to this racket, and then you pull something like that."

"Well, I'll tell you this much, and you can tell her for me. If I can't have her, no other son-of-a-bitch will get her. I'll kill her first--do you get me?" his mouth trembling in rage.

"Listen, you ain't scaring me, Big Boy--I know your money will get you out of this scrape, but you wouldn't pull anything like that. Your money wouldn't get you out of that, and what's more, you better lay off her--I'm telling you that for myself."

"Ah, Ev, can't you see I'm nearly crazy for having treated her like I did. Do you think you can talk her into seeing me? Won't you try?"

"Well, I'll think about it--but don't come here any more, you only scare her, and you won't get to see her. I'll see you later," as she started to go back to where Pearl was.

"What did he say, Ev?" asked Pearl, anxiously, as Evelyn sat down.

"Oh, nothing, honey--he wanted to see you. He had calmed down and you won't have nothing more to worry about, so you just rest and get well."

"I'm afraid you ladies will have to go now," said the nurse, as she came to the foot of the bed.

"I'll be up later and see if I can do anything," said Evelyn, as she and Mickey rose to go.

"Come back as soon as they will let you," said Pearl.

"All right, honey, we'll go and move your things now, and then we will be back later. Now, don't you worry, honey, you just rest--good-bye," as they left the room.

"What did he have to say, Ev?" as they reached the street.

"Well, it ain't so much what he said, but it's the way he said it. I'm afraid he might kill her if he gets hold of her again. Of course, he is sorry and all that now, but the next time he gets mad at her, or catches her with somebody else, he will kill her as sure as there is a Heaven. He said if he couldn't have her, no one else could, and you know him, Mickey, he means business."

"You're right there, Ev, that guy means business. Well, he can't get at her there in the hospital."

"I'm not afraid of him doing anything to her there--he wants to make up with her now--it's when he gets mad at her again that I'm afraid of, but I'm pretty sure she is off him now for good."

"Yeah--and it's a shame. If she could only have cared for that guy, even a little bit, she would have been sitting pretty, but love is blind, so they claim, so she falls for Harry, and he also gets the Hell beat out of him. Well, it sure was some fight."

A week passed, rather uneventful--the Mexican trouble was settled and the border opened again. Evelyn spent as much time as possible with Pearl, accompanied by Mickey. Harry had already left the hospital, and Pearl would be out in a few days. The rest had done her good, and she gained weight in those few days.

"Has Harry been to see you today?" asked Evelyn.

"Sure, he was over to see me this morning. He looks as good as ever, and he is so sweet. The nurse told me I could leave here in the morning--ain't that good news?"

"I'm sure glad, but what are you going to do about Big Boy? You don't know it, but he has damn near driven me crazy--he is wild to see you--he knows Harry has been up here whenever he wants to come, and he is wild with jealousy."

"Well, it's up to me to stay out of his way. He knows where you live, and he can come up there any time he wants to, so I'll have to stay in a hotel so he can't come up. Won't you move in with me for a while, Ev?"

"Sure, kid, I'll move in with you for a while. I know how you feel and I'm kinda tired of that apartment, anyhow. Let's move to the McCoy, what do you say? I think you'll like it."

"All right, Ev, you go pick out the room, so I will have some place to go to in the morning."

"I'll go now, and do that before I go over on the other side of the river. Good-bye, honey, I'll see you in the morning," as she rose to go.

Pearl left the hospital, and went to the hotel, where she found Evelyn in bed.

"I didn't expect you to be out so soon, or I would have been down to meet you," said Evelyn, as she raised up in the bed.

"I didn't know myself, but it's grand to be out again and walk around--how is Juarez?"

"Just the same--I had a pretty good night last night. Mickey picked a live guy for me, and I got a hundred and ten bucks off him--that is, Mickey put her hand in his pocket and took it out and give it to me. She said I had earned the money by being with him. You know Mickey, and I just couldn't refuse--money is money."

"See anything of Big Boy?"

"I was coming to that--I,--well, you will have to be awful careful, honey--that guy is on a drunk, and he is bad--he told me last night that the first time he sees you he is going to shoot you. I don't think he was kidding, either--he means business. Then again he might just be bragging, because he was so drunk--but just the same, don't you think it would be best to kinda keep out of sight for a few days?"

"Ah, gee, Ev, I wanted to go over tonight--couldn't we go some place that he wouldn't think to go, and that way we wouldn't be likely to run into him. You must know of some place over there we can go and drink and have a good time?"

"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 pronto." 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 lusts 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."

"Where did Mickey go?" asked Pearl.

"Heaven only knows, but she must have smelled a pocketbook--anyway, she will show up in a minute--whiskey for me--what will you have, honey?"

"Whiskey."

The music started in the cabaret, the crowd shoved its way onto the dance floor, leaving the bar partly empty. Big Boy stepped through the swinging doors.

"Oh, God," whispered Pearl, "Big Boy."

There was no place to run, no time, nothing to do but wait as Big Boy drew a service automatic from his pocket, leveled it at Pearl, pulled the trigger six times. Evelyn had stepped in front of Pearl, taking the six bullets--she sank to the floor, everything was silent--Pearl dropped to her knees, lifting Evelyn's head.

"Oh, Ev, why did you do it--why did you do it?" she cried in anguish.

The crowd had fought and shoved its way back into the bar. Mickey knelt beside Pearl.

Evelyn slowly opened her eyes. "Don't cry, kid, its best this way--you still have a chance--Mickey, promise you will--" slowly her words came, then a faint shudder, and her head fell forward. Evelyn was no more. There is nothing greater than to give one's life for that of a friend. Evelyn had made the Great Gesture.

A shot was heard outside. People ran out to see what it was. Pearl and Mickey looked at each other.

"It's the guy that done this," said a man. "One shot was all he needed to finish him, right through the heart."

Six weeks since Evelyn had been buried. Pearl had not been in Juarez since that night. Harry had called up several times, but she had only seen him once, and tonight the desire to see him was so great she called up Mickey and made a date with her to meet on the Mexican side and see Harry. It wouldn't be the same without Evelyn, but she still had Harry and he could always be depended on--he loved her--she knew that.

"Hello, darling," said Mickey as she put her arms around Pearl. "You look a little peaked; let's have a little drink and then we will go in and see the floor show."

"All right," said Pearl, as she turned to the bar.

They had their drinks and found a table where they could see Harry and the show. Pearl was happy for the first time in weeks. She loved Harry dearly; with him she could start all over and face life on a different plane. He saw her and waved, and soon he come over to them.

"Well, it's been some time since I've seen you--how are you?" said Harry as he leaned over the table.

"Fine, Harry, and you look wonderful."

"Listen, darling, you will have to excuse me tonight--I won't be able to see you after the show. I've got an engagement, about some business, but I'll give you a ring in a day or so," as he left the table.

Pearl looked at Mickey--Mickey looked at her glass as she laid her hand over Pearl's.

"Forget it, kid, he's not worth it--have another drink and let's get out of here."

Pearl couldn't speak. The thing she depended on had been suddenly swept away from her. She wanted to cry--she couldn't. She wanted to scream--she couldn't do that. She was too numb to even think much. Harry, who she had loved, and whom she thought loved her, had given her the cold freeze-out. She drank her whiskey--it did no good--water would have had the same effect now--nothing really mattered. She and Mickey wandered from bar to bar until closing time of the bridge.

"Do you want to come out to my place tonight, Pearl, honey? You are always welcome," asked Mickey.

"I guess so," answered Pearl, "but let's go to the State's Cafe before we go home--I want a sandwich."

"Do you think it's best to go to the States, dear?"

"Sure, I'll be all right."

"Let's go."

They arrived at the States at the height of the merriment. The last of the crowd had gathered there before going home with each other. Pearl and Mickey came in. As they sat down, across the aisle sat Harry and a little blonde who had just come to town. He looked over to their table, smiled and waved, and went on with his talk to his partner.

Pearl began to laugh--not a hysterical laugh, but one filled with mirth. "Who in this Goddam joint has a drink," she called as she rose from the table. Several men rushed to her aid with open bottles; she took a drink from them all, and so did Mickey. She was gay, nothing mattered now--have as much fun as possible. Ribald songs were sung by her and the best of dirty stories came to her mind. The crowd was so entertained it wouldn't leave.

"Do you want to invite them all out to the house?" whispered Mickey.

"Sure," answered Pearl. "Listen, gang--get all your cars, and let's get going for a hell of a good time out to Mickey's," as she jumped off the table into the arms of the nearest man.

"Pearl, can't I see you for a minute?" asked Harry as he pushed his way to her.

"You have a business date to keep--now, brother, you keep it. I fell for that line once, but never again--Adios, Senor," as she went out the door in the arms of the man for the night.

END

[Transcriber's Note:

List of changes to original text:

Page 1: changed "tthe word" to "the word" Page 6: changed "Evevlyn" to "Evelyn" Page 7: changed "youv'e" to "you've" Page 8: changed "waived Ev" to "waved Ev" Page 10: changed "yesterdady afternoon" to "yesterday afternoon" Page 17: added closing quotation mark after "a good time." Page 22: changed "acount" to "account" Page 23: changed "raucus" to "raucous" Page 30: changed "Cant'" to "Can't" Page 30: changed "couldnt'" to "couldn't" Page 32: changed "Adois" to "Adios" Page 39: added closing quotation mark after "a little revolution." Page 43: changed "waived" to "waved" Page 45: changed "or tortillas" to "of tortillas" Page 46: changed "croner" to "corner" Page 51: changed "Rio Brava" to "Rio Bravo" Page 60: removed extra quotation mark: "Well," what's that got to do with us?" Page 61: added "know" to "don't Negro Noche." Page 80: added closing quotation mark after "won't get in jail." Page 81: Added quotation mark: "Well, suppose they start looking Page 102: changed "Fod" to "For" Page 102: added closing parantheses after "this pan of mine)" Page 116: moved quotation mark from "his things." to "Next time" Page 117: removed extra quotation mark after "as soon as she came in." Page 119: changed "she went out the door" to "he went out the door" Page 130: removed duplicate word in "he cannot cannot be responsible" Page 145: removed extra quotation mark after "started into the lobby." Page 147: changed "out of Pearl's head" to "out of Pearl's hand" Page 149: added closing quotation mark after "it's just grand." Page 149: changed "putting on the Ritz," to "putting on the Ritz." Page 150: changed "Eve" to "Ev" Page 154: Added quotation mark: "Negro Noche wasn't even arrested--the Page 156: changed "come n" to "come in" Page 156: changed full stop to comma in: across the border." said Evelyn. Page 159: changed "marreid" to "married" Page 159: changed "quitely" to "quietly" Page 160: Corrected quotation marks: "Hey, you two," as she shook them. "Come on--come Page 161: changed "Cemetary" to "Cemetery" Page 161: Added quotation mark: sat down beside her. "I'll call Page 162: Added comma and quotation mark: this time," asked one of the officials. Page 163: changed "They way they" to "The way they" Page 165: removed duplicate word in "over the the phone" Page 166: removed duplicate word in "fight for one one side" Page 167: added comma to "Come on, here's where" Page 169: changed "Lets'" to "Let's" Page 169: changed "cemetary" to "cemetery" in two places Page 170: changed "cemetary" to "cemetery" Page 171: Added quotation mark: "We tried to get a taxi Page 174: Added quotation mark: shot anyone she found with him." Page 175: changed "Rio Brava" to "Rio Bravo" Page 180: changed "found it's mark." to "found its mark." Page 181: Added comma and quotation mark: those 75's," commanded the General Page 182: Added quotation mark: "At your command, I have come, Senor," said Page 183: removed duplicate word in "What do you say say if" Page 187: changed "thats" to "that's" Page 187: changed "waiving" to "waving" Page 187: Added quotation mark: officers. "You can't cross that river." Page 190: changed "dont'" to "don't" Page 190: removed duplicate word in "I don't know know, but" Page 198: Added quotation mark: don't you call me again," as he Page 199: changed "Lietenant" to "Lieutenant" Page 202: Added quotation mark: Evelyn turned over and opened her eyes. "What's Page 203: Removed extra quotation mark after: revolution, Mickey?" asked Evelyn." Page 203: changed apostrophe to quotation mark: "Sure, did you?' Page 205: added comma to "those that haven't got a dime, but" Page 206: changed "it's being on the" to "its being on the" Page 208: Removed extra quotation mark in: "Sure, darling," I'll go any place Page 209: Added quotation mark: "Sure," answered Pearl. Page 209: changed "good bye" to "good-bye" Page 211: changed "all it's flamboyancy" to "all its flamboyancy" Page 216: changed "distrubing" to "disturbing" in two places Page 224: changed "cant'" to "can't" Page 224: changed "Wont'" to "Won't" Page 225: changed "give to to me" to "give it to me" Page 226: added "be" to "it would be best" Page 227: Moved quotation mark: "Sure," answered Evelyn, Page 232: Added quotation mark: whispered Pearl, "Big Boy." Page 233: Added comma: that done this," said a man. Page 212: Added full stop: started for the elevator.]

End of Project Gutenberg's Hookers, by Richard F. Mann and Rae Bourbon