Hookers Part 14

"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.

"h.e.l.lo, 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 h.e.l.l, 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, n.o.body 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 b.a.s.t.a.r.d will get you," as he punched her in the eye.

"Oh--help--help--you lousy tramp, get out of this room," screamed Pearl.

"G.o.d d.a.m.n 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 sh.e.l.l 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 gla.s.s 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, h.e.l.lo, 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-k.n.o.b,"

lied Pearl.

"Well, it's the first door-k.n.o.b 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?"