"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, G.o.d," 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.
"h.e.l.lo, 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 gla.s.s 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 G.o.ddam 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 h.e.l.l 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