"Good--we'll make it all right now--hold tight back there--I'm making the turn--we are nearing the fork." The screaming of rubber on the concrete, as the big car turned the corner on two wheels. "Now, you girls can get on the seat and rest a bit, instead of laying on that floor, all crowded up." "Another night like this and I'll swear off for good," said Mickey, as she sat up on the seat. "Swear off what?" asked Evelyn. "Well, off booze, for one thing." "You swore off once before, didn't you?" "Yeah--and that very night I was arrested in El Paso for Vag." "How long was you off liquor?" "Till I got out of jail." "How long was that?" "Two hours." The car was moving at a terrific rate of speed, up grade, and down grade. "See if you see any lights coming behind us," said Tony. "We won't be able to tell until you reach the top of the next grade, but I'll keep a sharp look-out," answered Evelyn, as she turned half around in the seat. "Just think," said Pearl, "This time last night I was on this road about this time, but how different it was." "Well, I've been on this road plenty of times, and no two times have been alike," answered Mickey. "There's lights coming, Tony, but they are a long ways back, and it may not be the police car, anyhow." "O. K., Ev, but I'll just keep moving pretty fast." "Listen, Ev, will you come over and stay with me tonight?" asked Pearl. "Why?" "Well, I don't want to spend the rest of the night alone--will you?" "Sure." They came into the city limits, but there was no sign of trouble. Tony slowed down to an ordinary speed, so as not to attract attention. "Listen--" said Mickey, "Why don't you two come and spend the night at our place--we have a furnished house, five rooms, three bedrooms, living-room, kitchen, and all that goes with it--you know the place, Ev, that little brick house me and Betty rented out on Myrtle Avenue. What do you say?" "Whatever Pearl says is all O. K. with me," answered Evelyn. "Well, I have something to drink out there." "Good," said Pearl, quickly. "We'll go." "Hey, Tony, you know where my joint is, don't you?" "I should, by this time. I've took you there enough--when you was so lit you didn't know where it was yourself." They arrived at Mickey's place in a few minutes, and it was just as Mickey had described it, and very tastily furnished in pinks and blues, with a faint odor of incense in the still, cool air. "Come on in, Tony, and have a drink," as the girls got out of the car. "O. K." They went into the rooms, snapping on the lights, then all heading for the kitchen by instinct. Pearl called Evelyn aside--talking in low tones, as Mickey got out the bottle of whiskey and set it on the table. "Help yourself, Tony, while I see what the conference is about." "What do you think?" "What do I think about what?" "About how much to pay Tony for his trouble tonight," said Evelyn.