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Hookers
By
_Richard F. Mann_
PRINTED & BOUND IN U. S. A.
TO
EVELYN
COPYRIGHT
1932
RAE BOURBON
ALL RIGHTS AND TRANSLATIONS RESERVED
PUBLISHED
BY
HOUSE OF BOURBON
PHILADELPHIA
"FOREWORD"
In writing this preface, it seems that I have followed the old Mexican
custom of "Manana," and waited until the book was finished, before
writing it, then I discovered that it was a necessity.
The characters in this story are real, live, and living people, and most
of them are still in the fair city of Juarez, plying the oldest trade in
the world, and were known personally by the Author, who studied them for
several months in pop-eyed amazement.
All of the incidents in this story actually happened, and are taken
right from the bare facts of life; in fact, the Author has had to tone
down some of the descriptions of the parties herein mentioned.
The Author has not meant to be vicious in his statements of either
country, but has merely stated conditions as they were found.
THE AUTHOR.
"You lousy bastard, don't you ever set foot in this room again. You sure
got nerve--accusing me of holding out on you--you know damn well that
guy never paid me a cent."
"Well, Pearl, how was I to know? He came down into the street, and said
that he gave you two bucks."
"As long as you've been a Pimp, you should fall for that
stuff--Screw--get out of my sight."
"O. K. Baby, but remember that if you ever need me, all you gotta do is
just say the word. You know I'm all for you."
"Nuts--I've been in this burg a week, and all I done is turn Two Dollar
tricks, and split with you, and for what? You ain't never brought me one
dime, but you sure ain't missed any meals. I don't need you or any other
guy from now on. I got my permit today from the Chief of Police of
Juarez, to hustle all I want on the Mex side, and I'm doing it, starting
tonight."
One week had passed since the person of Pearl Jones had stepped off the
west-bound Texas & Pacific train in El Paso, with one thought in mind,
and that to make as much money as possible in as short a time as
possible, and without bother from the police if--possible, which is not
POSSIBLE, even in a border town like El Paso, as Pearl had already found
out.
In order for Pearl to hustle on the Mexican side of the border in the
City of Juarez, it was absolutely necessary that she have a written
permit from the Chief of Police, or any official whom she happened to
please in the usual way that a girl of her ilk had to please one, when
there wasn't enough money in the pocket to buy the permit. Consequently,
Pearl found out later she could have had a permit from the most lowly
Immigration official to the Mayor himself, but in the midst of her
efforts to please, the Chief of Police seemed to be the one who was
affected quickest in her efforts to--please--. Hence the permit.
Juarez, Mexico, chief port of entry to Mexico, population of forty
thousand souls, mostly lost ones, separated from the United States by
the Rio Grande River, if it may have the luck to be called a river,
which at no time is deep enough to wet the crucial spot of one's
anatomy, in case one has to run through it owing to lack of time to make
the bridge, which has often been the case.
"Well, this is a night for celebration," thought Pearl, as she left her
hotel to walk down to the corner of Stanton Street, to catch the Juarez
car. The car was filled from door to door with old Mexican women,
wrapped in black shawls, which would have been black with dirt had they
been originally any other color, and loaded down with topping bags
filled with the bare necessities that their own Immigration was kind
enough to let them bring in, and anything else that they might hide
under the numerous dirty underskirts they might happen to have on.
The car clanged, and slowly started its noisy journey toward the Stanton
Street Bridge, at which it stopped from three to five minutes, for the
Mexican Immigration and Customs Officials to go through the car and make
a pretense at examining everything that was being brought into Mexico,
as if anything on the face of God's green earth that was brought into
Mexico could hurt it.
"I wonder where I'll get off, now that I'm over here," thought Pearl, as
the car left the bridge to ramble on its way on into the heart of
Juarez, which is the sixteenth of September St. "I know," she thought,
"I'll get off at the Tivoli, where all the gambling is, and see if I
have any luck there."
"Hello, Honey," came the friendly voice of a heavy-set woman of about
thirty, who five years before had been the toast of the border because
of her beauty, but who now had begun to show what the excess of Men,
Beer and Hook Shops, too numerous to mention, can do to a woman who had
sold herself to any man with the price, and had given herself just as
quickly to a man whom she thought she liked. "I saw you over here last
night and wondered who you were. Did you just come to town? Well, my
name is Evelyn--the last name don't matter, but better known as Bar Fly
Ev. I'll be glad to show you the ropes around here. Come on and let's
get off here at the Tivoli and snatch a couple of shots of whiskey, and
see if there's a dollar to be made here. Of course, it's a little early
just yet. The best time to pick a live guy is about an hour before the
bridge closes tonight, that's when they are looking for a girl to spend
the night with, and they ain't too particular. That's how I manage. Of
course, you won't have to do that--you're too fresh looking--they'll go
for you like a Texas hog goes for swill."
The Tivoli, the official gambling house of Juarez with any kind of a
game you care to play, run square, but with the percentage so heavy for
the house that a winning customer is a scarce thing.
"Say, Ev, did you have to get a permit when you came to this town,
before you could hustle on this side?" asked Pearl.
"Hell, no, that's a lot of dirty gippery. The only permit I've got is
the one that every woman has. Of course, I know what you have had to go
through, and it's a damn shame that some louse didn't tip you off.
That's the way them Mex's have of getting first pop at every girl that
comes down here."
"What'll you girls have?" asked the bartender.
"Whiskey for me, Joe. What will you have, Dearie?"
"The same, and a big one," answered Pearl.
"Say, Dearie, by what name are you calling yourself?"
"Excuse me for not telling you before, but it's Pearl--Pearl
Jones--let's have another drink on it.
"Well, that's as good a name as any, at least, it's good and common,"
smiled Evelyn, as she killed her second drink without a chaser.
"You know the old saying, 'Common by name, common by nature.'"
"I'm damned if you ain't O. K., and we'll have another drink on that
one. Hey, Joe, two more drinks for two ladies."
"Say, Ev, you must have something on your mind tonight the way you are
starting off. You girls have a drink on the house, will you?"
"Hell, Yes--I'll drink on anything. You know me, Joe--Bar Fly Ev, the
girl without a limit--at anything. By the way, Joe, this is Pearl. She's
a new girl in town."
"Hello, Sister, glad to know you. Have another drink."
"I'm glad to know you, and Ev and I will have another drink, possibly
several more," answered Pearl, displaying her best smile.
"Say, Sister, you're dern good looking. I'd like to see more of you,"
said Joe, as he poured more whiskey, and leaned over the bar and patted
Pearl on the arm. "I'm O. K. You ask Ev if I ain't. How about it, Ev?"
"I'll say you're O. K., Joe, and you've spent many a dollar on me, but
Jees, you're seventy years old if you're a day. Don't you ever get too
old for this sort of thing?"
"You'll have to ask somebody older than I am," answered Joe.
"Don't let her kid you, Joe," smiled Pearl, "You and I will get together
real soon, how's that?"
"Here, here, here--you two, let's don't have an exhibition on such short
notice. We gotta be moving along. We got a lot of hard drinking to do
tonight, as well as a few dollars to earn."
"Oh, Ev, don't be in no hurry. You and Pearl have another drink on the
house."
"Well--I guess we better have another little one before we go, eh,
Pearl?"
"Sure, Ev. I'd as soon get lit here with Joe, as later. Makes no
difference by me."
Joe poured the drinks, and one for himself. "Here's how," said Joe, as
he poured his down.
"We'll be seeing you," waved Ev, as they started for the door.
"Let's see--seeing that we're on this side of the street, we might as
well go to the Gold Palace. It's only four or five doors down this way."
The Gold Palace, a large cabaret, with a balcony on one side, the dance
floor surrounded by tables and chairs with their real ugliness covered
with dirty green covers, of none too certain age, with a band stand at
the far end of the place, the bar off to the right doing a rushing
business.
"We might as well go in here and cop a couple of snorts of liquor, and
see if there's any of the girls in yet," said Ev, as she started for the
bar.
"Hello, Curley--my, you look grand tonight," Ev greeted the young
bartender, as they stood up to the rail. "I want you to meet one of the
new girls who just came to town. Curley, this is Pearl."
"Hello, Pearl--I'm always glad to meet a new girl. Now, what will you
have to drink?"
"Whiskey for me," said Pearl, "what do you want, Ev?"
"Whiskey, and lots of it, Curley," answered Ev.
"Say, for cripes sake," said Pearl under her breath, "who is that kid?
Jees, he's cute. I've been in here several times, and every time I've
seen him, I get all worked up over him."
"Cool thyself, Sister, it will doith thee no good to workith thyself
into a lather about him. The old jane who owns this joint--well, her
daughter married him. That's why he is working here, and is true to the
wife, maybe not because he wants to be, but because he'd better be, or
else lose a certain section of his anatomy which would cause him to be
of no further use to anyone--ssshhh--here he comes with the drinks, I'll
tell you more later. How is your wife, Curley?" smiled Ev.
"She's fine," answered Curley, as he went to wait on other customers.
"Well, as I was saying--the old jane who owns this place is Grace
Valdez--no, she ain't Mex, but when she came down here about ten years
ago she married one, in order to become a Mex citizen, so she could run
a chain of hook-shops without any bother from the Mex government. Grace,
at one time, was the biggest Madam in Denver, Colorado--but she's a
good scout. If you're in a jam and she likes you, she can do you a lot
of good; in fact, she can keep any girl out of this town that she don't
like. I'll introduce you to her tonight, if she comes around. That's why
I'm putting you hep--don't go on the make for the Son-in-Law. Hey,
Curley, give me and Pearl another whiskey."
"O. K. Ev, drinks coming up."
"Don't be funny, Ev. I made five bucks off him yesterday afternoon."
"Oh, Jees--" exclaimed Evelyn, with her eyes bulging, "Well, for the
love of your own soul, don't let on to any of these other hookers, as
they are sure to run to Grace with it, and Hell would break loose in a
big way--but--I'm curious, is--I mean--is,--well,--how the Hell is his
bed manners? I'm curious to know if the wife is getting a break,
considering all the fun her Mother has had."
"Oh, Ev, he's--well--"
"Ssshh, pipe down, here comes Grace now. Hello, Grace, dear, how are
you?" smiled Evelyn sweetly, "I got a friend here who is just dying to
meet you, Gracie, dear."
"Hello, Ev," answered Grace, as she walked up to the two.
"Grace, dear, this is Pearl Jones. She just came to town, and I'm kinda
showing her the sights tonight."
"How are you, Pearl," said Grace, as she offered her hand to Pearl.
"I'm glad to know you, Grace; won't you have a drink with us?"
"I've just got time enough to have a drink, then I've got to get out to
the Red Lights Apartments. Three of my girls got into a fight last
night, and one got stabbed pretty bad."
"What was the fight over--a man?" asked Ev.
"Sure--that's always the cause of fights down there. One of the girls
was caught with the other one's man," said Grace, as she threw her
whiskey down, "I'm glad to have met you, Pearl. If I can be of any help
to you any time, don't be afraid to call on me. So long, Ev," and with
that Grace disappeared in the crowd.
"Say, Ev, I like that old dame."
"I knew you would--she's a pip--that is, as long as you don't cross her.
Well, let's shove off from here. There's a lot of bars over on Lysol
Lane we ain't been into yet."
Juarez Avenue, better known as Lysol Lane, extends from the Sixteenth of
September Street to the Santa Fe Bridge, and all traffic, pedestrian and
otherwise, must go down this street and across this bridge to return to
El Paso, as both bridges are one way, the Stanton Street Bridge is to
enter Juarez, and the Santa Fe Bridge to leave it. This street, being a
little over half a mile long, even if you were sober when you start down
it, you would be drunk when you reached the bridge, as more than every
other door is a famous bar, others infamous--but bars nevertheless, and
as you near the bridge they are bigger and better and louder and wilder.
So the girls started their trek down this street with the Barrel House,
then to several bars of less importance, until they reached the Castle,
which is known for its wonderful band, its good liquor, and its
wonderful proprietor and his wife, who, when she has been drinking a
little too much, does a strip dance on the floor that causes the Cholos
to fly for the river, to keep from burning the seats out of their
pants.
"Hi, everybody," yelled Evelyn, as she threw the swinging doors open and
strode in. "I crave whiskey and lots of it. Come on, Pearl, the night is
just beginning--Everybody, this is Pearl, a friend of mine I've known
for years--come on, everybody, drink to her--W-h-ee-ee," screamed
Evelyn, throwing her arms around the nearest man, and everybody moving
and milling around the bar. The band in the cabaret struck up a hot
number, with everybody screaming and dancing and drinking, for the night
was starting its mad, hilarious orgy, which always ended with anyone
going to bed with anyone they happened to be with, regardless of who it
might happen to be, sometimes even their own husbands.
Pearl found herself swept along by strong arms, on to the dance floor,
before she had time to see his face, and when she did get a real look at
him, she wasn't displeased. He was a tall fellow, about twenty-five or
less, in laced boots, riding pants and leather sport jacket, and grey
slouch hat.
"I'm hot for you, baby; I could use you plenty," were his first words to
Pearl.
"Well, you're not hard to take."
"That will be for you to decide later," he smiled with his eyes.
"My car is parked just back of this place. Shall we go out to it, or
would you rather go elsewhere?"
"Your car is as good a place as any--let's go."
"Oke," he answered, as he put his arm around her waist and lifted her
off her feet and carried her out of the crowd to the swinging door. "How
much is this deal going to cost me, Baby?"
"Just five bucks, big boy."
"Oke, Baby," as he slipped a bill into her hand, "There's ten. If you're
good for five, you ought to be a pip for that."
In the dim light Pearl uncrumpled the bill he had slipped into her hand.
"Nuts, big boy, what's the gag? This ain't no ten--this is a fifty."
"I know it--see if you can make the next fifteen minutes worth it."
The band played wild, hot, throbbing, beating, maddening,
breath-taking, passionate music, while the crowd swayed in and out, and
around. Young men whispered soft, sweet words. Old men whispered soft,
sweet words. Young and innocent ears listened and remembered. Not so
young and less innocent ears heard, still they did not hear. Hands of
young men strayed over their partner's bodies. Hands of old men strayed
over their partners. Young and innocent figures quivered, and whispered,
"Darling, I love you," while less young, and less innocent said, "Get
your hand off my Pratt."
Evelyn looked around all the faces that were near her, but nowhere could
she see Pearl. She ordered more drinks while she waited, knowing from
experience that if a girl friend disappeared for a few minutes there was
only one thing to do, and that was to--wait. There was no need for
hurry--wasn't she drinking all she could hold, and it wasn't costing her
a cent? Sure, she would wait--till Hell froze over--or at least till
whoever was buying the drinks, stopped.
"For the love of Jees--where the Hell you been? Look at your face--my
God, but you need a drink, dear," said Evelyn, as Pearl and her boy
friend came alongside the bar.
"Excuse us for a minute, big boy," said Pearl, as she took Evelyn by the
arm and started for the Ladies' Room.
"You ain't answered my question, where--have you been?"
"I just made some real money--look." She showed Evelyn the fifty-dollar
bill.
"Well, if you was out with that guy that you came in with, all I got to
say is--you damn sure earned it."
"Ev, you said it--I ain't so sure I care to meet any more like him, at
least not tonight, although I gave him my address. He wants to come up
tomorrow. What do you know about him, Ev?"
"Plenty--dearie--plenty, and if you can put up with him you can have the
world with a dirty shirt on it. He is filthy with money, owns a mine
back out here in the mountains--you use your own judgment, dearie."
"Were you ever out with him, Ev?"
"No, thanks, I bar horses."
The crowds were beginning to work their way down to the bridge district.
All the bars were full of hard-drinking men and women. The cabarets were
crowded, as it was time for the floor shows to go on in these places.
"Come on, Pearl, let's go over across the street to the Lobby No. 2.
It's a gay place, they have a good show there, and there must be some of
the regular girls over there by now, and you've made enough tonight
already to spend the rest of the night having a good time."
"All right, I'm ready."
Lobby No. 2, one of the most popular bars in Juarez, the bar in the
front of the building, and the cabaret directly back of it, quite a
large dance floor, with a band stand at the farthest end, and surrounded
on three sides with tables, and every table filled with every specie of
the human race, some drunk, some more drunk, and some blind drunk.
"Hello, there, Ev," greeted the bartender. "How's the old girl
tonight?"
"I'm fine, Henry--I want you to meet a girl friend of mine. This is
Pearl."
"Hi, Pearl, what will you and Ev have to drink?"
"I think I'll have Rock and Rye, and a big slug of it--Ev, speed up,
you're holding up the parade."
"Whiskey, my darlings--Hey, Harry--you damn good-looking bastard--come
over here, I got a girl friend I want you to know."
"Why, hello, Ev--I haven't seen you in days, or I mean nights. Where
have you been?" greeted Harry Hicks, a tall blonde young man of about
twenty-three, who was the Master of Ceremonies of the floor show.
"Harry, this is Pearl--Pearl, this is Harry." Evelyn poured down her
whiskey without further ado.
"How do you do," said Harry, as he offered his hand.
"I'm very glad to know you," said Pearl, as she took the offered hand.
"How soon does the show go on, Harry?" asked Evelyn as she wiped her
mouth on the back of her hand.
"In about three minutes, come on in and see it. I've got a good table
for you near the band."
"I'd love to," said Pearl, as Harry took her by the arm and helped her
through the crowd.
"Hello, there, Irene," Evelyn greeted a girl friend, "How's tricks
tonight?"
"Lousy," answered Irene. "I ain't made but two dollars all day, but
thank Heavens, tomorrow is pay day at Fort Bliss, the soldiers are
coming, tra--la--la--la--la."
"See you later," called Evelyn, as she shoved her way into the cabaret,
and on down to the table where Harry had seated Pearl.
"Say, Ev, that boy is a perfect darling--gee, he is sweet, so fresh and
clean looking."
"Yes--Yes--Yes--my dear, every Bat in this town has said them same
words, and I been unlucky enough to be at every saying."
"Oh--good--there goes the show--look, Ev, the way he announces, isn't he
the cutest thing?"
"Yeah--I suppose you've made a date with him tonight to meet at the
States Cafe after you get back on the U. S. side, and he is to take you
for a ride in his brother's car, and show you the Rim road on Mount
Franklin, and how the lights of El Paso glitter down in the distance."
"Why, Ev--how did you know?"
"Dearest girl, he has only told that same line to five thousand other
Hookers in this man's burg, and what's more, they all go for it--I don't
for the life of me know what it is about him that gets all the girls
going--but do they go--"
"Did he ever tell you that, Ev?"
"Heaven forbid--there's only one thing that Harry could make me do, and
that's--puke."
"Oh, Ev, look at the way he sings that song--why, I think he is about
the sweetest thing I've seen down here."
"Pearl, dear, don't you let my dislikes bother you. If you like him, you
go for him. You see, I been in this town for a long time, and when you
have been here as long as I have, you will hate every Son-of-a-Bitch,
and all that goes with them. Don't pay any attention to my rants--Hey,
waiter--bring us two whiskeys, and for Heaven's sake, make it pronto,
I'm dead of thirst already."
The show went on, to a solid success, as it did every night. It was
eleven thirty, the band went wild, so did everybody else. There was only
thirty minutes left to drink in, before the bridge closed for the
night. Everyone was making the most of it.
Evelyn and Pearl finally worked their way back to the bar, where Evelyn
ordered a pint of whiskey, and killed the whole thing without taking it
down from her lips.
"Jees, am I gonna get drunk tonight--make it another pint,
Henry--pronto," yelled Evelyn.
Pearl and Harry were wrapped in each other's arms, conscious of nothing
around them, living for the night only.
The States Cafe, the rendezvous for the continuation of the gaiety after
one has come on the American side, not a large place by any means, but
serving good food, with no hindrance whatsoever for the noise and
ribaldry of the crowd, and took no notice of the bottles of straight
American whiskey that appeared as if by magic out of the ladies' bosoms,
where they had been concealed while in Juarez. The crowd had just begun
to come in when Evelyn and Pearl arrived.
"Let's get a booth, Ev, and save a seat for Harry, as he ought to be
here soon."
"Sure, grab a booth--but there is no need of saving a seat for Harry,
he's already here," said Evelyn, as Harry put his arms around Pearl from
behind.
"Oh, Harry, dear, I had no idea you would be here so soon," said Pearl,
happily, "Sit here, dear."
"What's the matter with you, Ev," asked Harry, "haven't you a boy friend
tonight?"
"Yeah, I've had a boy friend for the past twenty-four hours, but he's up
in my room, trying to sober up enough to go home. He is a louse to his
wife--but--damn--he's good to me. He paid my rent for a month, and
opened me a charge account at the White House, and gives me twenty bucks
a month."
"Don't this place have but the one waiter for all these people?" asked
Pearl.
"Just the one dear; Frank is his name, and he takes his time, but he's a
good scout--wait, I'll go and get you some water--gee, but you are
sweet. Boy--oh--boy, I'd love to cut you," said Harry, as he kissed her
on the ear and went for the water.
"Good Lord, Ev, did you hear what he said--he must be a sadist."
"No, I think Harry's Irish."
"But he said he would love to cut me."
"Well, dear, that expression has more definitions than the one you
happen to know," said Evelyn. "My God, look who's here--if it ain't
Mickey and Betty--for the love of Heaven, where have you two been for
the past rear-end of the week?"
Betty and Mickey came over to the table, hellos and greetings were very
much in order, loud, noisy, raucous, but good natured was the dirty
banter that passed to and fro among the crowd. Finally they left Pearl
and Evelyn, but not until they made Pearl promise to pay them a visit,
then they squeezed into a booth with four other people, but where they
could still see everybody, and shout ribald songs of the border at the
top of their voices.
"What is the matter with Mickey's face? Why, Ev, she looks like she had
been through nine wars, and fought them all herself. I've never seen so
many scars."
"Well, you see," explained Evelyn, "Mickey is the only woman in Juarez,
or the world, for that matter, that--if a fight starts in Juarez, and
she is on the U. S. side--she is sure to get into the fight before it is
over. I've seen her with a bottle so deep in her skull it looked like a
feather."
"Darling," said Harry, "My brother loaned me his car, just as I told
you. Shall we take a little ride when you are through eating?"
"I'd love to, dear--I've never been riding around El Paso since I've
been here, but where will we go?"
"Well, we could drive out the Smelter Road and back the Mesa way, or we
could go up on Rim Road, on the side of Mount Franklin, or maybe you
would like to drive out to Washington Park--it is beautiful at night."
"Well, if I were you," said Evelyn, "I'd go to Washington Park. At
least, there's grass on the ground around there."
"Well, why isn't there grass on the ground in the other places Harry
mentioned, Ev?"
"Well, you see, as far as I know--I believe the natives of El Paso have
had something to do with the wearing off of the grass in said places."
"Oh, I know," smiled Pearl, "You mean cows."
"Yes--some cows, but mostly heifers."
"How do you girls feel about a drink," asked Harry.
"Well, why the Hell didn't you say something before--good Heavens, it's
been a long time between drinks--bottoms up."
Screaming, glasses crashing, curses, tearing of clothes, yells, biting,
pulling of hair, turning over of tables, running of people, came from
the rear of the place.
"Good Heavens," screamed Pearl, "Those women are tearing each other to
pieces--why don't somebody try to separate them?"
"Come on, let's get going," said Harry, as he took Pearl by the arm and
piloted her out of the place, never bothering to pay the check.
"So long, kids, I'll see you tomorrow," called Evelyn.
"But where do you live, Ev?"
"San Antonio Apartments, on San Antonio Street, number twenty-seven.
Come up tomorrow, dear--adios."
Harry and Pearl went out into the beautiful new car, and took a long
ride toward the Smelter Road, to the fork where you return by the Mesa
Road.
"Shall we stop and look at the moon for a while?" asked Harry.
"I'd love it."
"Then we'll stop."
Harry pulled the car off the road at the top of a small Mesa Butte, and
turned off the lights.
"Isn't it beautiful here?"
"Yes, but you are more beautiful than a thousand nights," whispered
Harry into her ear.
She turned her head, looked into his expectant eyes, and thought how
handsome he was, with that tightly brushed blonde hair, bushy eyebrows,
beautiful smile, backed by manly big white teeth, surrounded by red
lips.
"Oh, Harry, you are a darling," as their lips met and their young bodies
quivered with the thrill of expectation to be fulfilled.
El Paso, city of one hundred thousand, not counting the nearby towns and
villages. Noon, the sun maddening with its terrific heat, asphalt in the
street so soft that your foot-print is left in it on crossing, only the
business that has to be done is all that is going on. People move about
lifelessly, clothes sticking to them. Mexicans, dressed in black, with
the usual black shawl around their heads, as though it were the dead of
winter, and not a bead of perspiration on them, with the only cooling
place in the town being in the theatres that are ice-cooled.
"My God--I'll die from this heat," said Pearl to herself, as she raised
up in bed, with her night-gown sticking to her. "Jees, I wonder if I'll
ever get used to it," she mused, as she climbed out of bed and raised
the shade, and looked out on the sun-baked city.
"I wonder what I'll do today to kill the time before I have to go over
to Juarez tonight. I know, I'll put on my things and go and wake Ev up
and have breakfast--then maybe she can suggest some place to go where
it's cool."
Pearl stepped out of her nightgown, looked at herself in the mirror. She
was twenty-three, but she didn't look more than twenty, her beautiful
white figure, with all the curves of youth reflected back at her, gave
her a happy feeling, knowing that she didn't look anything like the rest
of the girls that had been down on the border long, and promising
herself that she would watch out and see that she would never--never be
like them. The door-knob turned slowly, then the door was thrown wide
open. In walked the big boy of the night before.
"Oh, Heavens," screamed Pearl, "Wait a minute till I get something on,"
as she fled into the bathroom.
"Never mind, sweetheart--I like you just as you are, that's why I came
up at this hour; I thought I'd find you in bed, or just getting out of
it."
"Oh, please hand me something to put on," came the voice from the
bathroom.
"Hold your hand out to get it, then."
Pearl opened the door to put her hand out, and as she did, he slid his
foot into the opening.
"Oh, please, don't come in--I haven't a thing on."
"That's why I'm coming in," he answered, as he pushed the door open and
caught her in his arms.
"Oh, big boy, don't you know you shouldn't do this? What will you think
of me?"
"Baby, I love you--don't you know that?--I love you," he breathed hard,
as he kissed her eyes, her neck, her shoulders, and gathered her up in
his arms and walked toward the bed.
"You will believe me--won't you--?" as he held her as if she were a
small baby.
"Oh, big boy, you shouldn't act like this. What would anyone think if
they should see us like this?"
"What the Hell do I care what anyone thinks--I want you and I want you
all for myself--I'll buy you anything you want. I've got money--plenty
of it. Can't you understand that I'll do anything for you? When you left
last night without even saying goodbye, I looked all over town for you,
but I couldn't find you. You know what I mean, I don't even know your
name, but I want you to marry me."
Tenderly he laid her down on the bed, smothering her with kisses.
Pearl looked into his eyes--he was sober--sober as a judge. He was a big
man, a very big man, but he was like a child that had found the toy it
had been looking for for a long time, and was so happy at finding it
that he would never let it go again. He was fresh, clean, good looking,
and had that very manly odor about him that women love, and above all,
he had money, and lots of it; didn't Eve say so and didn't he tell her
so himself? He ran his hands over her smooth body, his head was laying
on her shoulder, his big body against hers, his breath seeming to scorch
her. What was the use to fight against this? She knew that sooner or
later she would give in to his pleadings, the sooner the better.
"Yes, dear, I do love you," she whispered, as she put her arms around
him, and pressed her hot mouth against his hot, moist lips--they seemed
to melt into one.
"Pardon, Madam, do you want to carry all these bundles, or wouldn't you
like for us to send them over for you?" asked the clerk in the White
House, the largest department store in El Paso.
"Hell, no--I'll carry them myself," said Evelyn, as she began to pick up
the numerous bundles she had bought.
"I beg pardon, Madam, but did you want to charge those things?"
"Jees, my all to Heaven has gone--certainly I want to charge them, I got
an account here, ain't I?"
"I'm sorry, Madam, but we shall soon find out."
"Yeah--and for the love of Pete, make it snappy--don't keep me in
suspense."
"Pardon, Madam," returned the clerk, laying down the receiver of the
store telephone, "I'm very happy to inform you that your account is
quite all right; thank you very much--call again."
"Thank you very much, and I'll call again damn soon. Adios."
Evelyn returned to her apartment about three-thirty, unwrapped her
packages, smiling to herself, and fondling her treasures.
"Well, I've bought a new outfit from top to bottom, and from the skin
out. Won't I floor that herd of tramps tonight--Hot--ziggety--damn--now
I'll bathe, throw on a load of that loud perfume, and damned if I won't
be a lady, or know why."
"What was that?" asked Pearl, as she sat up in bed with a start. There
was a rapping on the door.
"Who is it?"
"It's me--Ev," came the voice outside the door.
"Oh, just a minute, dear, till I unlock the door."
"My God, don't you ever expect to get up today? Do you know it is after
four o'clock?" said Evelyn, as she came into the room.
"Well, I did get up for a little while, but you see I went back to bed."
"Oh, I see," said Evelyn, as she walked to the bed on tiptoe, where Big
Boy lay sleeping like a child.
"He came in at noon, and I couldn't get rid of him, or I would have come
over to your place," answered Pearl, in a whisper.
"Well, I'm glad you're able to get up." She walked over to Big Boy, and
pulled the covers off the bed.
"Hey, what's the big idea?" asked Big Boy as he raised up in bed.
"Shame on you," said Evelyn, mockingly, "Sitting up in bed in front of a
lady, and you with no sign of any drawers on. Here, put these on while I
ain't looking," throwing him the trunks of his two-piece set.
"Oke, Sister; where is Pearl?"
"Don't you hear the water running in the bathroom? Well, you know darn
well I ain't in there."
"Hey, look, Sister, I'll give you a hundred bucks if you will talk for
me. Look--I'm nuts about that girl--there's nothing I want as much as I
do her--here's the hundred--will you do it?"
"Will I? Boy, my mouth will run from now on about you. Hell's fire--I'd
talk for a bull with that much dough."
"You know I want to marry that Broad."
"Well, at least that's cause for the damndest drunk I can think of--Hey,
Pearl--get them things on--Juarez calleth me in a big way--and you too;
get them things on. Good Heavens, I'm dry as a bone. Come to think of
it, I ain't had a drink in nearly an hour."
"My, Ev, you look good today. Where did you get all those new clothes?"
asked Pearl, as she came out of the bathroom.
"The boy friend I told you about last night. He is the cause of all this
dressing up, and do you notice the smell? I even put on my best
perfume."
"It sure smells good, all right."
"It does now, but wait until I throw a few beers into me, and I'll be
the only one in Juarez that will smell like a cross between a violet and
a swill barrel," laughed Evelyn.
"Don't you girls think we ought to have something to eat before we
start on this drinking tour?"
"Big Boy, you think of the best things--food will do us a lot of good
right now. Come to think of it, I forgot to eat this morning. Damned if
I ain't hungry," answered Evelyn.
"Where shall we go," asked Pearl.
"Well--I think that the Hilton Coffee Shoppe would be grand," suggested
Evelyn.
"Hey, look--Big Boy, you go on down to the cafe, and order for us, and
we will be along in a few minutes--will you?"
"Oke, Baby; what do you crave in the way of food?"
"Well, as for me--I'll have ham and eggs--what do you want, Ev?"
"The same, and lots of it."
"Now, look, you two--don't be all day," said Big Boy, as he went out the
door, giving Evelyn a wink.
"Pearl--" said Evelyn, slowly, "Do you know what you're letting yourself
in for?" as she sat down on the bed.
"Why--I don't get you, Ev, what do you mean?"
"Just this, Honey--I like you--you're a good kid, but don't be
foolish--now don't think I'm trying to tell you your business, but you
see I've been down here for a long time and I know this border--Oh, God,
how well I know it."
"What are you driving at, Ev?"
"Honey, don't try to kid that guy--look here," said Evelyn, showing
Pearl the hundred-dollar bill Big Boy had given her.
"What's it for, Ev?"
"Well, he's nuts about you--and he wants to marry you. Of course, you
know that already, and what's more, it's none of my business, but for
your own good, don't try to string that guy along. He looks like a kid,
that's true. He is as easy to handle as a kid, but Pearl, he is a
killer. I know him, and I know what he will do. So, if you want to marry
him, and settle down, your nest will be feathered and in a big way, but
don't try to kid him if you ain't serious--be frank about it--tell him
the truth and then lay off him, or else be all for him. He gave me this
money to talk for him, and to tell you what a great guy he is, and try
to talk you into marrying him--I ain't telling you what to do and I
ain't telling you what not to do--but don't kid him, and don't promise
nothing you can't make good."
"Why, Ev, I haven't known you for hardly twenty-four hours. I didn't
even stop to think you had a serious side--you are a dear. Sure, I know
what you mean. Now I'll tell you how I feel towards him. I don't love
him, I never could. He's not my type, but when he gets around me, and
puts his arms around me, and pulls me close, I can't hold out on him--he
is the personification of satisfaction--Oh, Hell, Ev, you know what I
mean, don't you?"
"I admit you ain't left much to my imagination, but I get you."
"You see, Ev, I am in love--but I know it is a hopeless love--but love,
nevertheless--and it's Harry Hicks, the guy I went with when I left you
last night in the cafe--that kid sure got under my skin."
"Well, he better stay from under them things."
"You don't like Harry, do you, Ev?"
"Well,--I don't dislike him. I never thought of him as anything but a
big kid and I always treated him as one--Harry is a damn good guy as far
as I know, and I don't think that he has an enemy in the world, but
don't make the mistake that lots of the other girls have made with
Harry--he likes all the girls, and what's more, he couldn't be true to
any one for five minutes, not even himself--he's like millions of other
men; to him a woman is for one thing, and when he is through, he is
through--so the only way to impress him is to never--never let him know
that he means any more to you than the lowest Cholo."
"That seems to be the standard formula to make any man nuts for you."
"Oh--good--Heavens, Pearl, dear, we are forgetting Big Boy, and most of
all to me, we are forgetting breakfast, even if it is almost dinner
time," said Evelyn, as they hurried to the street.
"Have you been waiting long?" asked Pearl, as they sat down.
"Not long, but I had begun to be a little impatient."
"Did you order for us yet?" asked Evelyn.
"No, I thought I'd better wait, so I just had coffee, and decided to
read the paper until you showed up."
"Any news?" asked Pearl.
"Paper says that some old boy down below the border is sore because he
ain't President, and is gathering troops back in the mountains to start
a little revolution."
"That ain't nothing new," said Evelyn, "That's in every day's paper."
"I'll bet it's something awful down here when a revolution does start,"
mused Pearl.
"Awful is right--awfullest laugh in the country," answered Evelyn.
"Have you and Big Boy ever been down here when one started?"
"I'll say," answered Evelyn, as she sipped her coffee. "I was over in
Juarez when the last one started."
"It must be awful, all those guns."
"Yeah--the only kind of guns these Mex wars are fought with is Gonorrhea
Guns."
"Listen, honey," said Big Boy, "What are you doing tomorrow afternoon?"
"Nothing--why?" asked Pearl.
"Well, I won't be able to see you tonight, I've some business to attend
to, but tomorrow afternoon I thought you might like to go swimming some
place."
"Oh--I would--wouldn't you, Ev?"
"I would not. I hate water, even for swimming, but that don't stop you
two from going and having a good time."
"Well, I'll be seeing you, tomorrow afternoon at two o'clock, at your
room, baby," as he picked up the checks and started for the door.
"Are you sure it's swimming he wants to meet you for?" asked Evelyn,
with a mouth full of eggs.
"I don't know, Ev--I can't figure it. I've never been in love before,
and I don't know what it's like, but I think this is the real thing."
"You mean with Big Boy?" exclaimed Evelyn.
"No--no--no--Ev, honey, I mean Harry Hicks. When that kid took me in his
arms last night out on that mountain, I went hook, line and sinker, and
I don't know how to handle it."
"I'm sorry, Pearl, yet I'm happy--but there's only one thing can come
from it, and that's--trouble--, but you got to expect that. You see, for
every bit of fun you have in this racket, you have twice as much
trouble, so my motto is--laugh, as long as you can, and take the rest of
it with a grain of salt, so if you love Harry--you go right ahead--let
nothing stand in the way--make it grand while it lasts--then when it's
over, you will have something to remember, and nothing can take that
from you."
"Come on, Ev, let's get going. It's early, but let's go on over to
Juarez and have a few snorts, what do you say?"
"When you mention drinks, you're talking right up my alley."
Evelyn and Pearl strolled out of the Coffee Shoppe, and down South El
Paso Street, across in front of the Paso Del Norte Hotel, to wait for
the Juarez car.
"My God, what you all doing standing here, not saying a word?" came a
voice from behind them.
"Why, hello, Mickey," said Evelyn, as she turned and saw who it was.
"Hello, Mickey," said Pearl.
"Say, listen, you kids--got any dates for tonight?" asked Mickey.
"I ain't," said Evelyn. "Have you, Pearl?"
"I haven't."
"Well, there's three old guys, five days older than Hell, throwing an
all-night party in the Rio Bravo Hotel, and they asked me and Betty to
get as many girls as we could. There's plenty to drink, plenty to
eat--there will be lots of fellows there besides them old ones, and
there's a chance to make a few dollars, and if you can't make any
money--well--when they get drunk you can always go through their
pockets," said Mickey, in a voice that was supposed to be confidential,
but still could be heard at least a block away.
"What do you say, Pearl?" asked Evelyn.
"Do you think Harry will be there?"
"Oh, Heavens, be calm," as she lifted her hands in supplication.
"Yes," answered Mickey, "He'll be there; you couldn't keep him away from
them kind of parties. Last one Harry was on, he got so drunk he stripped
stark naked and did a Spanish down the hall."
"I'll bet that was a sight," said Evelyn.
"Oh, honey, that wasn't no sight at all--that big guy here they call Big
Boy, well--he was as drunk as Harry, and he got naked too, and took an
umbrella and opened it, and used it for a parachute when he jumped from
the second-story window."
"Is that the Big Boy we know?" asked Pearl.
"I don't know how well you know him," answered Mickey, "but it's the one
you was out in the car with last night."
"Why, jumping out of a second-story window like that, it's a wonder he
didn't break his neck."
"Pearl, dear," said Evelyn, "It wasn't his neck he lit on."
"How did you know I was out in the car with Big Boy last night?" Pearl
asked Mickey.
"Well--you see, I had been mixing my drinks, and I was sick, and I went
outside to heave. Well, I was sitting on the running board of the car on
the off side, when you all got in, but I didn't sit there long."
"Why?" asked Evelyn.
"Honey, riding a wild horse is tame beside trying to sit on that
fender," laughed Mickey. "Well, I'll see you all tonight at the party,
as soon as the bridge closes." She waved as she went on down the
street.
"Don't you get sore at nothing anybody says to you--she is a good scout,
Pearl, and when you know her better you will like her, I'm sure."
"Oh--Ev, why would I get sore--come, come, come--here is our car."
Pearl grabbed Evelyn's hand and started running for the car.
"My Heavens," exclaimed Evelyn, "This street car reminds me of some
Madam's parlor--there's five girls I know--hello, gang."
"O. K., Ev. How is the biggest liquor and beer consumer today?" asked
one of the girls.
"I'm fine. Girls, this is Pearl. She is a newcomer in our midst, and a
good scout--Pearl, this is the girls--find out their names for yourself.
I knew what some of their names was last week, but only Heaven knows
what they are this week."
The girls smiled and said hello to Pearl, and all moved over for them to
sit down.
"Ev, what's this I hear about a party tonight at the Rio Bravo
Hotel--have you heard about it yet?"
"Yeah--Mickey Finn, you know her, we just run into her at the corner,
and she told us about it, and said for us to come. Are you going?"
"Sure, we all are."
"Do you think it will be all right, Ev?" asked Pearl, under her breath.
"I don't get you--how do you mean all right?"
"Well, I've never been on an all-night party in Juarez--so naturally I'm
curious--but what I mean is--can you get away with much over here
without the Mexicans landing you in jail?"
"As long as there ain't no murder, or absolute destruction of
property--you are pretty safe, but why bother--wait till you get in the
can before you start worrying about it."
Juarez, with its lights twinkling in the glowing dusk--with its midnight
purple mountains looking like big, futuristic pillows flanking it on
three sides, the skies screaming, flaming, gold, crimson, varied colors
of reds, shading into blue, darker blue, then deep blue, then to purple
in the far east, with the sounds of laughing, running, playing dogs and
children, sounds of a twanging guitar slightly out of tune, accompanied
by a nasal but sincere Mexican love song being sung to a Senorita with
dark eyes and broken, dirty teeth, and bosoms that would make a Holstein
cow's eyes bulge with envy--smells of all sorts drifted on the soft,
gentle breeze, of tortillas, of beans frying with cheese, of chili
sauces, of charcoal, of unwashed dirty bodies, of manure, both human
and animal. A street car rattling by with its cargo of brilliantly
painted cheeks, flashing smiles, syphilis-carrying, would-be, has-been,
and are-to-be whores.
Signs advertising whiskeys, and liquors of all kinds, brilliant in
color, flashed in the deepening dusk, their utter defiance at the
American side of the border. The extra bartenders were coming on duty,
extra waiters were appearing in respective places, rubbing their hands
together like pawnbrokers, at the thought of the night's tips; at the
thought of what could be taken out of the pockets of one too drunk to
notice; at the thought of the tips that would be thrown at the
entertainers that would roll where they could stoop and pick it up
without being noticed; at the thought of drunken women's pocketbooks
that can so easily be gone into in a crowded place without fear of being
caught. This was Saturday night, the biggest night of the week.
"We are getting off here at the corner," said one of the five girls. "We
are going to start with the Gold Palace, Pearl; you and Ev come along
with us."
Evelyn started to rise.
"Thanks," said Pearl, as she caught Evelyn's arm, "We are going to ride
around to the Lobby No. 2. I've a friend around there to see on
business--but we will see you at the party, if not sooner. I hope you
all have some good luck tonight."
"Thanks, honey," called one of the girls, "I'm damned if we don't need
it."
"Why didn't you come on and get off and get a drink? I don't think Harry
is there yet--it's a little early for him."
"Oh, Ev, I just can't wait."
"Well, I admit you sure got it bad."
"Say, how do these parties usually end, and where?"
"They usually end in the Goddamnest fight, and just anywhere that they
didn't start," answered Evelyn.
"Do you think this one will end that way?"
"I can't see why this one should be any different from any of the rest;
besides, Mickey Finn is going to be there, and that's always the sign of
a fight."
Hugo's Lobby No. 2 was brilliantly lighted, as ever, and much less
crowded than the night before, owing to the early hour. As Pearl and
Evelyn walked in, there were about fifteen or twenty people at the bar,
and about three times as many in the cabaret having dinner.
"Hello, Henry," called Evelyn, "Two whiskeys for two ladies."
"Coming up, Ev."
Pearl felt two cool hands slip over her eyes, and a soft voice in her
ear, that made her body quiver and caused a tight feeling in her
stomach.
"Guess who, darling," said the voice in her ear.
"Hi--Harry, you big louse," came from Evelyn before Pearl could say a
word.
"Oh, gee, Ev, you spoiled my game," said Harry poutingly.
"She ain't no game, Harry--she's a sure thing," winked Evelyn.
Harry took Pearl in his arms, gave her a big hug, and then kissed her.
"Oh, Harry--what will people think?"
"Look all around you," said Evelyn, "Not a soul has noticed you."
"What are you having to drink, Harry?" asked the bartender.
"Whiskey, pal," answered Harry; then to Pearl, "Listen, honey, are you
doing anything tonight? I'm going on a party, and it may be a bit rough,
but would you like to come? I know you will have a good time."
"I know all about the party, darling, and Ev and I are both going,
aren't we, Ev?"