Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-04-04
by Twelfth street and on the north by
Harrison. State street, Third avenue,

| by Twelfth street and on the north by
| Harrison. State street, Third avenue,
and Dearborn street in the same limits
constituted what the police called Chey-
enne, although the names were confused
| by people IN general who used them. and
that Of ''Levee" was most frequently and
incorrectly applied to State street. In
deed the misnOmer is current even at the
present time.
With the carelessness born of custom
Harry Weston trod the streets that were
as familiar to him as to their most des-
perate denizens. The idea of fear had
never entered his mind in the discharge
Of professional duties. Extremely sensi-
tive In private life so that he could not
bear to look upon pain. or behold any
thing repugnant or disagreeable, his
nerve never relaxed when called upon in
the service of his journal to look upon
the horrors of accidents, suicides, or
murders. The only effect upon him was
to throw deeper shadow upon a tenn
permanent never inclined to Hghtsome-
| ness. Only his sense of the picturesque
and strong dramatic feeling cast a halo
of romantic and artistic grace about the
occupation to which he was devoting all
the energies of brain and muscle. AS he
went along tonight he was revolving the
problem of the old Jews death, and yet
he was not insensible to the panorama of
night-life in Chicago as it unrolled be-
fore him. Every second door he passed
was that of a saloon from which came
the sound of cracked pianos and cracked
voices, and the echoes of drunken laugh
ter, and from the door of which stagger.
ed some sot to find a temporary refuge
in the gutter before being carted to
cell. Women-some withered and old
and carrying cans for beer; some young
and brazen-faced, just entering upon the
degradation of the pavement-jostled
him or flung him some Slangy greeting.
Now and then a sneaking figure slipped
down into basement, gave a signal, and
was admitted. 1t was the victim of the
opium-habit going to indulge in Chi
nese laundry in that dissipation which is
technically known on the Levee as chit
ting the pipe" Over the entrances to
other Easements glared the small red-it-
ten signs Ghe danger signal is forever the
favorite light of the sluns) advertising
"Good bed, 10 cents" If one were to
take peep beneath the sidewalk the in
terror would look like the hold of slave
trader-bunks piled one upon the other,
where tired tramps, thieves, and outcasts
were enjoying their brief respite from
the world. A policeman lazily swinging
his club and sauntering along was to be
kindly to Harry, for he knew all that
were on duty in this portion of Chicago,
and had recorded of them many an act
of bravery and gallantry. and occasion
ally one not so praiseworthy.
All was quiet on Sherman street, and
light was burning in the third-story
window, where Lazarus Stein lay dead.
Harry CROPPED his way up, and on the
second flight saw a flash as if a match
had been suddenly lit and extinguished.
He listened but heard nothing. He was
only halfway up when he brushed
against figure that was Strengthened
against the wall as if to avoid him.
| Quick as lightning he clutched at it, and
the next instant the two had stumbled,
and were struggling on the landing.
"Who are your cried Harry, as he
pinioned his prisoner. ''Speak or I'll
choke you"
"a friend, you FOOL gasped the other
accent. "Let me up, if you haven't
broken my back"
| Harry guided him downstairs, and un-
der street lamp. The stranger shook
him off angrily and with a mutterel
curse. But the reporter caughta glimpse
of his face, and it was as strongly mark
ed one as the one that lay dead up
stairs. The figure was understood and
wrapped in martial cloak; the hat, a
| SLOUGH, was drawn low on the brow, but
did not screen a pair of ferceiy-pene-
trating black eyes; the face was dark and
wrinkled, and wore a mustache and i'm
perial; the whole atmosphere of the per-
son was that of determination, passion,
and power. The stranger looked at the
boy who had grappled with him, and
seeing that he had fallen into the hands
neither of highwaynan nor an officer,
gave him a look of contempt, and with
a grunt expressive of supreme disgust he
turned and shambled off.
Harry looked up at the window of the
dead Jews room. He was used to decide
his course in a second. ''There is moth
ing more to do up there he said to him.
self; 1.-The old dead man will wait for me;
I'll shadow the old live one"
He buttoned his overcoat tightly about
him and started after the rapidly disap-
pearing figure. by Jove!" he exclaim-
ed; I'm in luck; my new friend is going
in my direction.