When I went to Kansas City, I could have found a job of some kind, and
worked like thousands of girls do, but I didn't want to. I've never
wanted to be what is called decent. I think that a life like that would
be damn slow, and it's not in my nature to live like that. I love all
this excitement--all this uncertainty, and most of all, I could never be
true to one man, because--well, because when I see a man that arouses my
interest, I could never resist the impulse to satisfy my curiosity,
so--what good would I be with a husband--I'd only make the poor guy
miserable, or else cause him to kill me--I know me, like no one else
does."
"You are right there, Mickey," said Pearl. "No girl ever went the wrong
way unless she wanted to--she may cry and say that a man made her what
she is, and that she would never have been so unless some man tricked
her--but down deep in her heart she wanted to be what she is. No girl
was ever really raped--unless she helped the process along a little. The
girls who have been raped, and really in their hearts didn't want to be,
were the only ones that have been found dead, after an awful fight. No
man can really rape a girl who doesn't want to be raped just a little. I
know from actual experience."
"You're both right," said Evelyn, as she reached for the coffee pot, for
her second cup of coffee. "This coffee hits me right where I sit this
morning--it sure tastes good."
"Well, I gotta get dressed and start for town. I gotta date with Big
Boy, but I can't for the life of me remember what time it was for. What
are you going to do tonight, Ev?"
"I suppose I'll do the usual thing--go over the bridge."
"Do you suppose there will be anything said to us about last night?"
"I don't see how they can say anything--we weren't caught doing
anything, and there's no proof that we were mixed up in that mess, and
we weren't caught coming over the border, so--what can they say?"
"Yeah--I guess you're right at that--well, I'll see you later," as she
started for the door.
"But where?" called Evelyn.
"I'll tell you what--you come over to my hotel, Ev, about six o'clock.
How is that, and we'll go to supper--oh, by the way, Mickey, what are
you doing tonight--the usual thing?"
"Sure--the usual thing, but I'll see you over on the other side,"
answered Mickey.
"Then I'll be over at your hotel at six," said Evelyn.
"O. K., Ev, see you then--and thanks, Mickey, for the hospitality. So
long," as she closed the door behind her.
"That girl's sure a real good scout, Mickey--it's too bad that she has
got to go the route."
"Let's have a little drink--what do you say, Ev?"
"Quick."
"Say, Ev, where did you meet Pearl?"
"On the car the other night--and right away that Big Boy falls head over
heels for her in a big way, and wants to marry her, and she can't see
him--but--she is nuts over Harry Hicks--ain't that something to tie your
bowels in a knot?"
"Oh, Jees, Harry will do to her what he has done to all the rest that's
come his way--he will get tired of her as quick as the rest, and then I
suppose she will grieve, and go on the usual drunk, to forget it. I
don't know what it is about that guy that makes these girls go for him
like they do."
"Yeah--and look at the dough she could get from that big guy."
"I sure wish I could get my hooks into that Big Boy for a couple of
days, but he won't even give me a tumble," as they went on sipping their
coffee.
When Pearl arrived at her hotel, she found Big Boy sitting in the lobby,
with a sour expression on his face, which brightened when she came in.
"Hello, Big Boy," said Pearl, "Did you think I was going to stand you
up?"
"No--I forgot what time our date was for, so I came at noon, and they
said you hadn't been in all night. Where have you been?"
"Well--now, is that nice, to ask me where I've been, and what do you
care where I've been? I'm here for our date, am I not? Isn't that
enough? Come on up to the room, while I get dressed for wherever it is
we are going?"
Big Boy followed Pearl into the elevator and to her room, without saying
a word. When she closed the door, then he turned to her, face red with
anger.
"I know where you've been--look at that dress--I know you was one of the
women who waded the river last night. I suppose you went and spent the
night with the guy that helped you across."
"Listen, Big Boy, what ever gave you the notion that you had the right
to question where I've been, and who I've been with? Get a load of
this--there is no man, woman or child that has a right to talk to me
like that, see--so don't you try it."
"Well, what was you doing in Juarez that you couldn't have come across
the bridge before twelve, and why was it so necessary for you to come
back over here that you would take the chance of wading the river to get
here?"
"I--I--well--I just didn't make the bridge, and I--well, I was afraid to
stay over there all night."
"You're lying like Hell, and you know it. You was on that party last
night at the Rio Bravo--" as he came over to where she was standing.
"I was invited over there, but I didn't go," said Pearl, timidly.
"Stop that lying--you was invited all right--and you went, and when that
shooting happened, you thought you better beat it. Who was with you?" as
he moved closer, "Where was Evelyn?"
"I don't know," lied Pearl.
"Now, you listen to me--I don't care what you do, or where you go,
see--but don't lie to me," as he took hold of her, "You are the first
woman in my life I have ever asked to marry me--and get this--if I can't
have you, nobody else will--I mean it."
"You turn loose of me--I don't see what right you have to treat me this
way, because I've been nice to you, you think I belong to you body and
soul. Well, you let go of me, and get out. Who do you think you are?"
"Oh, so that's the way you want it--well--what I said goes--if I can't
have you, there's no other bastard will get you," as he punched her in
the eye.
"Oh--help--help--you lousy tramp, get out of this room," screamed Pearl.
"God damn you, don't think you can get away with that kind of stuff with
me."
"Oh, Pearl--Pearl, please forgive me--I'll never do that again. Oh,
honest, kid, I let my temper get away from me--Oh, please listen to me.
I didn't mean it--if I didn't think so much of you I wouldn't have done
it," as he took her in his arms, while she sobbed violently, and let him
hold her close. "I'll call a doctor and have him fix the eye up so it
won't get black," as he held her away from him, and then went to the
phone.
"Oh, Jees--" sobbed Pearl. "It's too late, my eye is already swelling
shut--Oh, what a sight I'll be," as she threw herself on the bed,
kicking her feet and crying loudly.
Big Boy called the doctor, and was told he would be there at once, then
he threw himself on the bed beside Pearl, taking her in his arms,
kissing her and trying to stop her from crying.
"You see, you don't trust me--then you call me a liar--and then you beat
me," said Pearl, between sobs, as she thought, "I'll put on a real show
for him, I'll make him shell out some dough for this."
"Oh, honey, can't you see I'm crazy about you--honestly nuts for you? If
I didn't love you, I wouldn't be jealous of you, would I? I'll never do
that again--will you believe me--let me get you a glass of water--please
don't cry--come on, straighten up--the doctor will be here in a minute,"
as he held her in his arms.
A rap came on the door.
"Come in," called Big Boy, as he got off the bed, "Oh, hello, Doc--I
want you to fix this eye for Miss Jones--she had a little accident."
The doctor walked over to the bed, stooped over Pearl, and looked at her
eye, already swollen shut, and turning a deep blue.
"That's a peach," said the doctor, "How did you get it?"
"I was coming in the door, doctor, and I dropped my key on the floor,
and as I stooped over to pick it up, I hit my eye on the door-knob,"
lied Pearl.
"Well, it's the first door-knob I've ever seen that left knuckle
prints," laughed the doctor, as he went to work to fix the eye.
"How long will it be black, doctor?" asked Pearl.
"Oh, about a week or so, and then it will be as good as ever."
"Ah, gee, that's tough," said Big Boy awkwardly as he backed towards the
door, "I'll be back in a minute," as he left the room.
"Will I have to wear a bandage over the eye until it gets all right?"
"No, you don't have to wear a bandage at all, unless you want to, but
you know a bandage covers a multitude of sins. You can say you got a
piece of glass in your eye, and that way you won't have to stay in your
room for a week until it gets well."
"Ah, gee, Doc, you're a peach, thanks," as she got off the bed.
"Well, I'll be going now," as he gathered up his things. "Next time tell
your boy friend to hit you some place it won't show," as he went out the
door.
Pearl lay on the bed--there was nothing else to do. Now she couldn't
very well go to Juarez, with her eye bandaged up. No matter what lie
she told, nobody would believe it. Maybe it was just as well not to go
over for a few days anyhow--let some of the trouble of the shooting die
down, and that would be time enough, but she couldn't stay in the room
all that time--she would go crazy. She arose from the bed, went to the
phone, and called Evelyn's apartment and left a message for her to call
as soon as she came in.
The door opened slowly, as Big Boy came in, loaded with candy and fruit
and flowers.
"My God, what all have you got there?" asked Pearl, as she looked at him
with the one good eye.
"Some little things you might like, Pearl. You can have anything you
want, no matter what it is. Will you please forgive me?"
"Well, it will take a lot more than candy or flowers to make me forget a
sock like that."
"Ah, gee, honey--you can have anything you want--just name it. Let me
get you a nice apartment, and some clothes, open an account for
you--just anything to show you I do really love you, and I only want
you to marry me--will you?"
"No, I won't marry you--but I'll think about the apartment and the other
stuff you mentioned."
"Ah, that's great--I gotta go now--I gotta meet a guy on some business
about the mine--I'll be back tonight."
"Aw--alright, go ahead--I'll be here when you get back--you've seen to
that, all right," as he came over to kiss her--"Never mind kissing
me--I'm still mad."
"I love you--can't you understand that," as he took her in his arms.
A rap came on the door.
"Who's there," called Pearl.
"It's me--Ev," came the voice.
"Come on in."
"My God--what's happened to you--your eye--what's happened?" asked
Evelyn, breathlessly.
"Well, you see, it was like this," said Big Boy.
"Never mind--never mind--I get it--she was late for the date and you
socked her for it--ain't you the big bully?" said Evelyn, as she walked
over to Pearl.
"I just lost my temper, and I didn't mean to."
"You said you had to go--well, go ahead--I want to talk to Ev."
"Will you be here when I get back?" asked Big Boy anxiously.
"Yeah--she'll be here, all right, thanks to you--scram--" answered
Evelyn, as he went out the door.
"My God, this thing hurts," said Pearl, as she put her hands to her
head.
"What happened?"
"Oh, we got into an argument about last night, and he was furious, and
just took a punch at me, that's all."
"Well, what was you saying?"
"He wanted to know about last night--and I was lying and trying not to
tell him anything, and he seemed to know that I was lying, so he gives
me the shiner."
"Didn't I tell you about that guy--I told you not to try to kid him, or
lie to him. He is the meanest louse that ever lived when he loses his
temper, and if you go ahead and play around with him, you won't only get
another black eye, but you'll get a beating, and one that you will
remember. I know him, and I also know his reputation. It's like I
said--that guy is a killer, and if you go on fooling with him, and he
ever catches you with Harry, he'll kill you as sure as you're born. I'm
not saying I told you so, or any of that stuff. Heavens knows I know
what it is to have a black eye, and it's no fun, but remember what I'm
saying--I suppose he rushed out and bought this stuff to get you to
overlook the sock, eh?"
"Yeah--that's what he bought it for, and he also is going to get me an
apartment, and some new clothes--he said I could have anything I want--"
"Well, you better take sparingly, because, sister, you will pay in the
end. You let that guy go do all that, and you don't stay true to him,
it's curtains for you--I'm telling you, because when he finds you are
hot for Harry, he'll go up in smoke anyhow. He and Harry are the best of
friends, but they are rivals as well. I'm dying for a drink--I'll bet
you haven't got a drop around here, have you?"
"Look in the top dresser drawer--there's a full bottle that hasn't been
opened."
"Thank Heavens--that's a life saver," as she fished the bottle out of
the drawer, and opening it, took a long, deep drink. "Want one too,
don't you?
"Might as well," said Pearl, as she raised up and took the bottle Evelyn
handed her.
"Maybe I'm nuts, but I can't figure it out--here is a guy that wants you
to marry him, and you can't see him for Harry. Ah, Hell--give me another
drink--the world's all haywire."
"Hell, I'm not going to stay in this room all day. I want to go out, at
least for a little while. I know, Ev--let's you and I go get an
apartment--you come with me and help me hunt."
"Why go hunting apartments? If you really want to be swell, then take an
apartment in the Hussman Hotel. They got the swellest in this town, and
there's no use taking anything but the swellest, since Big Boy is going
to pay the bill."
"That's an idea--I'll do it--you are all wrong about me taking
sparingly--I might as well have whole hog or none, because he won't
figure that, in case there is a big showdown. If I have to pay the
price, I might as well make it worth while, ain't I right?"
"Yeah--I guess you're right, at that, because when he does start mopping
the town up with you, he won't figure what he has spent--he will just
figure you have been a louse, and you will get it--and how!"
"I'll change this dress and we will go," as she started to strip again.
"Gee, I'm sorry you won't be able to go across the border tonight. I
hate to go over there alone."
"Don't worry, you won't be alone--I'm not the first Hooker that has
sported a black eye in this burg. I'm going over--to Hell with what that
crowd thinks. I've got a sucker on the string that's not so bad, so
let's have the fun while we can. Give me that bottle, darling, I need it
badly."
"Damn if you ain't the best pal I've had in a long time, Pearl."
"You ain't so bad yourself, Ev."
They left the hotel, also a note on the door, saying they would be back
shortly, as they had gone apartment hunting. They moseyed by the Plaza,
and over to the Hussman, where they looked at apartments, which ended in
Pearl taking one.
"This is some hot-looking joint," said Evelyn, as she sat down,
gorgeously putting on the Ritz, "If I'm going to come up here to see you
I might as well start putting on the dog right now."
"Come up and see me--you--you're going to move up here with me."
"Like Hell--I'll come up and see you, but I ain't moving in here--I
don't want to have to jump out of one of these windows some night when
you and Big Boy have one of your grudge fights--I'll stay where I'm
at."
"Come on, let's go back to the hotel, and I'll get my things packed, and
start to move--will you help me?"
"Sure, why not?"
They went back to the hotel, and found Big Boy waiting for them.
"Did you find the kind of a place you want?" he asked anxiously.
"Did I? Did I? I went to the Hussman and picked the best in the
joint--is that all right?"
"Right," he smiled, "And the best is none too good."
"I'm going to pack and move right now, Ev, and you are going to help
me."
"No, you call the maid and let her pack your things, and send them over.
Here's a little present I have for you," as he handed her a small book.
"Oh, that's wonderful--now I'll forgive you for the black eye. Look, Ev,
my own bank book, and already a thousand dollars to check on--Ah, gee,
that's swell, Big Boy," as she gave him a peck on the cheek for a kiss.
"How would you and Ev like to go to a show for the rest of the
afternoon?" asked Big Boy.
"I wouldn't mind if I can have a few more drinks before I go in," said
Evelyn.
"I'm all fixed for that," he answered, as he took a pint out of his hip
pocket.
"I'll tell you, Pearl, you kill a third, and you kill a third, and I'll
kill the rest. How's that?" said Evelyn, as she took the bottle from Big
Boy.
"Why just the pint? I've a quart in the other dresser--wait, I'll get
it," as she went to the dresser and took out a quart of Kentucky
Bourbon.
"Why not kill both?" suggested Evelyn.
"Did you say you wanted to see the picture, or just want to go in the
theatre to sleep?" asked Big Boy.
"Well, we'll get a bigger kick out of it, if we are stiff; I know we
will."
"I've a better idea than that," said Pearl. "Let's just kill the quart,
then take the pint into the theatre, and have a nip during the picture,
huh, what do you say?"
"It don't matter where I drink it, as long as I drink, let's get
started--Big Boy, you drink first, then you Pearl, then I'll knock the
rest of it off," suggested Evelyn.
"Oke," answered Big Boy, as he turned the bottle up to his mouth, while
deep gurgling sounds came forth.
The quart was finished, and all went to the theatre, as Pearl left
orders with the maid to pack her things, and have them sent to the
Hussman.
The afternoon papers carried warnings to all Americans that the
long-expected rebellion in Mexico had broken out in Durango, and that
the administration of Portes Gil, Mexico's President, looked as though
it were at an end.
Portes Gil was at a loss--his troops could not seem to do
anything--there was only one thing for him to do, and that was to recall
ex-President Calles, known as the Iron Man of Mexico, to help in
breaking the rebellion.
Juarez, with its large garrison of soldiers, was at a nervous tension,
and the bar owners were twice as nervous, not knowing how long the
garrison would be loyal to the Federals, as all that is necessary to
change their loyalty is to shoot the commanding officers, and declare
they were loyal to the other side, which is so often the case when the
opposing side is much larger, or when there is a little looting to be
done.
Fort Bliss, with its rows of beautiful two-story brick houses for its
officers, its large brick barracks, housing its hundreds of men, and
small, newly built brick bungalows for its petty officers, its
tremendous stables housing its hundreds of horses, its enormous parade
and drill grounds, clean as a freshly swept floor, aroused from its
lethargy at the rumors of war. The men were raring to be let loose to
fight, anybody or anything, as long as it promised excitement and fight.
"It sure looks like a hot time in the old town soon," said Evelyn, as
she lay back and stretched out on the beautifully appointed divan in
Pearl's new apartment.
"Wait a minute until I change the bandage on this bum eye, and you can
read the newspaper to me," said Pearl, from the bathroom.
"Why don't you leave the bandage off when you are in the house? There's
nothing you can put on it now that will take the black out of it--just
leave it alone, and when you start to go out, then stick the patch over
it."
"That's a good idea, I'll do it," as she sat down in front of Evelyn.
"Now, tell me more, what the paper says about war."
"The American Consul says in a statement in the paper that he cannot be
responsible for American citizens who go over to Juarez just to have a
good time, and that only those who have business and have to go over are
the only ones to go over--Well, in my business it's necessary for me to
go over--but you having a man who has money, on the string, you don't
have to go over--but I can see by the expression in the one good eye of
yours that you will have important business in Juarez--will you not,
Miss Jones?" said Evelyn, with mock elegance.
"With all this excitement brewing I should stay up here in the
apartment, and act like a lady. Now's the time to go over there and
raise Hell--with the revolution coming on, they will have forgotten
about the shooting, and will be so taken up with other things, it will
be as safe as ever, if you can ever call Juarez safe."
The telephone started ringing madly--"Who the Hell can that be?" asked
Pearl, as she went to answer it.
"Hello--Oh, yeah--yeah, I hear you all right. You have to go right
now--well, when will you be back?--Oh, gee, I'm sorry--well, is there
anything you want me to do?--sure, I'll be careful--will you be safe in
that territory? That is where most of the fighting will be, so the paper
says--Oh, that's why you have to go down there--I didn't get that last
crack--come again--don't mind if I go over to Juarez with Evelyn, and
have a few drinks, do you? I can go, but you would rather I wouldn't?
And have a drink whenever I want, too--No, I'm not mad--why should I be
mad? But why should I go into the sisterhood just because you will be
out of town for a few days? Oh, it might be weeks--well, you are going
of your own free will--nobody is making you go--Oh, Hell, yes, certainly
I've enough money till you get back--yes, O. K., goodbye," as she hung
up the receiver.
"What did I tell you?" said Evelyn. "He has to go to the mine and wants
you to be the sweet and innocent one till he gets back--that guy is so
jealous of you he smells bad--what are you going to do tonight?"
"Well, I was thinking it would be grand to go over to Juarez, and before
the bridge closes, bring our own gang here for a party--what do you
think?"
"Yes, dear--Harry will like your new apartment--you ain't kidding me,
I'm wise--and what's more, I'm staying here myself tonight with a boy
friend--that is, if I can pick up one that is young enough to come
without his wheel chair."
"All right--let's get started--wait till I put the patch on the bum
eye."
"If anybody asks you how you got the eye, what are you going to tell
them?"
"Tell them the truth--they won't believe it anyhow."
"I never thought of that before, and the way I've worried over trying to
think up a grand lie to tell someone when, if you were to tell the truth
it would be just as good, because they would never believe it, anyhow.
That is a new idea, and I won't have to think so much now--Hooray--let
us drink--Oh, damn it--there ain't no more whiskey."
"Never mind, dear, we will soon be in Juarez," said Pearl, as she pulled
the hat down over the patch on her eye.
"The way you have that hat on, you would hardly notice that eye,"
remarked Evelyn, as she arranged her dress.
"Don't you worry, that herd of hawk-eyed whores will see it long before
I get there. Any time some woman's man socks her in the eye, it travels
by mental telepathy--not that they have any mental capacity, but even
the most lowly animal has instinct--therefore they would know it."
"Oh, sister, thou speaketh the truth--thou wilt be blessed," said
Evelyn, lifting her hands to Heaven, "Come, Juarez calleth."
They boarded the Juarez-bound car, and as the car stopped for the
Customs and Immigration officials of Mexico to get on, more than usual
boarded the car, questioning everybody as to their reason for going over
the border,--the extra questioning was because of the revolution having
started.
"For what reason, Senorita, are you going to Juarez tonight?" one of the
men asked Pearl.
"I'm going over to see a friend on business," answered Pearl.
"What manner of business, Senorita?"
"About a job he promised me."
"And you, Senorita Evelyn, why are you going over tonight?"
"Well--to be damn truthful, Senor, I'm going over for a drink," answered
Evelyn.
"That is a very good reason, Senorita--Gratias!"
The men moved slowly through the car, going through every bundle and
package, regardless of size, whether it be large or small, making men
stand up, and feeling them over for firearms, finally leaving the car to
ramble its way on to town.
"My Heavens, they are particular tonight," said Pearl.
"They will be that way until the war is over, and what good it does, I
don't know," answered Evelyn.
Juarez, since the reports of the war, and the warning for Americans to
stay on their own side, there were twice as many people in the bars as
there usually were at this hour of the evening. They stayed on the car
until they arrived at the Lobby No. 2, where they got off the car, with
Pearl holding her head down so that no one might see the black eye.
"I wonder what Harry will say when he sees my shiner?"
"Black eyes are nothing new to Harry."
They went into the bar--crowds were milling, singing, talking, cursing
and drinking to the war.
"This is going to be another wild night over here--I can see that
already--come on, let's get a drink, and then you can go in and see
Harry."
"O. K."