Hookers Part 20

"Well, I'm going to run out home," said Harry, getting ready to leave, "I'll see you at the funeral."

"All right, dear," said Pearl, as she kissed him goodbye.

"Don't you think we better go over and see if there is anything we might do? I'll get a check cashed and take enough money over to pay the expenses for the flowers, since you insist on paying all the funeral expenses--the least I can do will be to see that she has lovely flowers, poor kid."

"That's right, Ev, we had better go on over--I'll have to get a check cashed, too."

They called a taxi and started for Juarez, and as the car pulled over the bridge, and under the shed where all cars stop to be questioned by the Mexican officials before entering Juarez, there were soldiers everywhere.

"Why are you Senoritas going to Juarez at this time," asked one of the officials.

"We are going over to attend the funeral of the American girl who was shot Sat.u.r.day night in the Rio Bravo Hotel," answered Pearl.

"What other business have you to attend to over there?"

"None."

"You will pardon, Senorita, but may I suggest that as soon as possible you will return to the American side--the rebels have left Chihuahua City by train, and they may arrive at any time from one o'clock to six."

"Thanks, we will," answered Pearl, as the official motioned to the driver to drive on.

"I bet there will be some wild carrying on here with the rebels, when they do arrive," laughed Evelyn.

"I wonder if there will be much fighting?"

"Sure, there will be fighting, and lots of screaming and running. The way they carry on you think there is twice as much fighting as there really is."

"I guess we had better try and get back before the rebels arrive. What do you think, Ev?"

"Well, after the funeral we will come back. We won't waste any time."

"Come right in, Senoritas," said the Mexican undertaker, as he bowed low to them.

"You have made the necessary arrangements that we called you about this morning?"

"Si, Senorita."

"How much is the whole bill?" asked Pearl, as she fished into her bag.

"Four hundred Pesos, Senorita."

"How much American?"

"That will be two hundred dollars, Senorita, and that is everything. I have already had the grave dug, and the time you said over the phone is the time the funeral will take place. I, Senorita, have taken the privilege of calling a Padre--was that right?"

"That's O. K. by me, don't you think, Ev?"

"Sure."

"Here's your money," as she handed him two hundred dollars.

"The good G.o.d will be kind to you, Senorita, for this good deed," as Pearl and Evelyn went out.

"h.e.l.l, I need a drink, don't you, Ev?"

"Yeah--a good stiff one," as they climbed in the car.

"Driver, take us to the Central, and come in and have a shot with us."

"Oke, Sister," answered the driver.

They turned on the Sixteenth of September Street, and had to stop to let troops pa.s.s, some short, some tall, but none with uniforms that fit, except the officers, who were perfectly groomed, with beautiful uniforms that would have done credit to a rear Admiral of anybody's country, and as they marched past, sullen dirty faces showed no sign of expression, of joy, of madness, chagrin, nor contempt--they were like so many dirty brown masks, that hide so much thievery, murder, and cowardice underneath.

"Do the rebels look anything like this?" asked Pearl, as they pa.s.sed.

"Just the same--clothes may be different, but that means nothing. These men that just marched past may be on the rebel side before sundown--they are just as willing to fight for one side as the other, as long as it promises to be profitable."

"I can't understand why they are always having these revolutions down here."

"Pearl, in our country every boy is taught that he can, by hard study and work, be the President if he wants to be, but down here every boy is taught that he must be President, even if he has to kill the former one, and they have tried to live up to their teaching, so it's just another case of some bad boy taking what he thinks is rightfully his."

"I suppose they will stop the trains out of town, and march in."

"Oh no they won't--they will ride those trains into the heart of the town, screaming and yelling and shooting at anybody that happens to be in sight, at least that is the way they always have done, and Mex's never change."

"I hope the rebels don't arrive before the funeral is over--that would be awful."

"I'll say it would," as the car stopped. "Come on, here's where we drink--come on, driver." They all went in.

"I'll have whiskey," said Pearl.

"So will I."

"Make it three whiskeys," answered the driver. "Say do you girls want me to wait over here for you?"

"No, we are going to stick around here until time for the funeral. You can go on back--oh, I almost forgot about paying you--here, take this,"

as she shoved a bill in his hand.

"If I were you, girls, I wouldn't waste any more time over here than I had to, and if you say the word, I'll stay and see you through,"

answered the driver.

"That's nice of you kid, but we will be O. K."

"So long," as he went.

"It's going to take more than one whiskey to get me through that funeral," said Pearl.

"Let's buy a couple of quarts, and go on out to the cemetery and wait there," suggested Evelyn.