The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-02-14
LEE HING'S GIRL.
nWhat time isit sinr9n

Dawn was Just breaking outside, and the
smokers in Sam Sings Doyers street joint
had reached that somnolent, semi-con-
scious condition which is the greatest fas-
cination of opium smoking; when all the
worry, burdens and passions of life are
obliterated from the brain, and calm,
peaceful, dreamy content fills the whole
being; when it is unalloyed happiness to
lie upon the hard bunk and dreamily gaze
at the tiny fame of the opium lamp,
mechanically putting cigarette and
conyersing in low, sleepy tones; when a
half-defned feeling pervades the over
powered brain that it would be so pleasant
never TO be disturbed from this sweet state:
when the snowy, barred bosom on which
the head Is resting kindles no more feeling
than the carpeted wooden head-rests;
when human being, no matter how de-
PRAYED. comes nearest to the feeling:
"Peace on earth, good will toward men"
''What time is it, Sing?"
The question came from a da-k-haired
young girl, one of party of four who had
been smoking since the early evening. Al
though it was bitter cold outside, the
workingmen on the nearby Bowery sour
rying along rubbing their ears, Sings
stove, the eloseness of the room and the
dense fumes of the drug had combined
10 make 1t uncomfortably warm in
the joint, and the young girl
had removed her dress and her
companions their coats and vests.
being clustered about the opium layout In
the usual dishabille. The girl was about
20years old. OF slight bat superb figure.
very pretty, with dark eyes and mass of
black hair that tumbled over her naked
shoulders in rich profusion. The men
were of familiar class, handsome, we'll
groomed fellows. known to Inspector
Byrne's men as expert "handshakers.
Five minutes to 6" answered the slick
looking Chinaman, as he appeared in the
doorway.
AS late as that?" asked the girl in
dreamy surprise. Then she aroused her
self with an effort, and said:
Come, let me up, Frank. I've got TO
60"
The smoker who had been doing the
cooking tor the party, lying with his head
pillowed on her bosom. opened his eyes.
and with "Going, Name? Won't Won
have another pipe?" sat mp to let her slip
OFF the bunk, took her head-rest, closed
his eyes, and was Off again to his biissful
browsing.
The girl went 20 the sink and BY
liberal application Of cold water from the
faucet frightened up bit. She neatly
coiled her wealth of hair, slipped on her
clothing, put on iaunty hat, and then
nudged her companions:
well, IN going. Good-by."
$50 long, Name. See you tonight"
murmured the sleeping trio, who wouldn't
have disturbed themselves if Uncle Josh
Hay seed, Of Eeubenville, had come TO
Tloye RS street shaking $1,000 ut them to
take chance in their prize lottery.
Go ID by. Mamie" said Sing. as he I'M
boltec the door for the girl. you come
back T.. night?"
MAY be. think 80 see my mamma
today. Long time no See" answered
Mamie. who, from constant association,
had. ike he other girls of the neighbor-
hood, fall IN into the habit of talking
pigeon Eng lIsh TO the Cinnamon. Good
by"
She passe i down the rickety stairs, shiy-
ering as she ,ltruck the cold air Entering
the side roOnl of = saloon few doors away
she found Sc yerat young men stretched
out in various attitudes upon chairs and
tables. noisily sleeping off their libations.
Going up TO the Understanding one Of the
lot she shook hi n sharply.
"'Chuck'i oh uck Wake up
I'm! UNI l'hat's all right" snored
aud groaned the sleeper, who. stretched
out on two chair.' was eclipsinc all the
others in tho variety and volume of noise
emitted from gapina; mouths.
"Get up, Chuck like good fellow"
entreated the girl. Il want You TO so an
errsnd for me "
I'm! I'm! That's all right" was re-
peated.
No shaking she could administer elected
any other reply, aud she was about TO cry
for yexation when the door from the saloon
opened and the barL-eeper, who had been
awakened from his own nap. appeared.
"What the DEVILS 81 this ~ he growled
In the deepest Of basso profundo.
"Oh, Billy, l need Chuck and I can't
wake him up"
"Ge; up. you bum prizadghter. " yelled
the barkeeper. What d we take this forr
A lodging-housef
tim! I'm! That's al right" volun-
teered the sleeper.
Its all right, Is it2' was the growl.
"Weu. wen see if it is.n
Here he yanked the chair from under
the sleeper's head and it came down with
bang that drew Il shrek from the girl and
awakened the others.
uni Uml That's all right" came
from the floor.
Can't hurt bum pr!redghter," senten-
tiously remarked the barkeeper, after a
number of well-placed kicks had no other
result than to draw forth . series Of grunts.
I'm see what hath can do. That's the
only thing on earth he is afraid Of
He got s bottle of settler water from the
bar and dexterously directed the stream
upon the sleeper's face. Il worked to a
charm. Up sprang Chuck and seeing
the bottle IN the harkceper's hands. he
sprang for a chair, ana the dealer IN
poison lodged just in time 90 lct the chair
90 through the glass Of the partition.
Yer rel-uo,ed lush, " yelled the thor
ouChly awakened boxer IS he jumped for
another chair, what tell Is this Yer tryln'
10 give mefh
But the girl caught hold Of him in time
10 prevent any further damage.
Don't. 'Chuck.'" she SAID, KS my
fault. wanted you waACi up 70 80 on al
errSnd for me"
"Errand9" repeated "Chuck." Not On
yer life, SAYS Mary" Here he wiped the
wafer from his face with q suspicious
looking handkerchief ia Ike - take 4
tail out Of tha. rei-ncsed bum there con-
tnGc,. he, gs be giarei al the bartender,
Who was FlVsGiiv booking at the wrecksl,c.
Now, don't 'ChucG, ." SAID the .siri; 1T
a. farrtE f4tttvs 81