The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-01-13

beside me looked up from the welsh
rarebit he was eating and called for his
ale. McManus brought ii himself, a
brimming pewter mug, and wiped his
hands on his blue apron. Then he
bawled for Charley TO take my order.
Sure" said Charley, coming in from
the street, where he had been patiently
waiting for a scrap, and he lenncd with
both fists on the table and winked
pleasantly at the company. Lynde, OF
the Herald, advised me TO try a rare
bit, and Penlow, of the Tribune, spoke
well of the chops, so left 1t to Charley,
and he retired to the grill, whistling
"Oh. That Funny Feeling!"
"It's a wonder to me-" / said, hang
ing my wet macintosh on peg and
kicking Off my oyershoes, sits won
der TO me that Wah-Wo was dis
charged"
There was no evidence to hold him."
observed Lynde, after a moments ST.
lence.
Penlow lighted his pipe and ratified
his mug on the table.
mo evidence?" / repeated. "Do you
fellows doubt that Wah-Wo did it?"
II suppose he did," said Pen,ow; "it
was my scoop, too"
"We may scoop yet said Lynde:
"the mans bound TO be caught. What
did they do with that young tough
from Hell's Kitchen?"'
''Sheehan? Oh, his alibi is good"
said Penlow. "Mac, fill her up, will
your"
McManus replenished the pewter and
stood for moment beside us as if un-
decided.
Gents" began McMasus, 'youse Is
dead off-excuse ME-" He shifted his
toothpick and rubbed his thumb On the
polished bar.
-Wah-Wo amt in it," he said, con-
temptuously; IL give him de t'row-
down, fur why?-fur because l don't
give de glad hand to no dope-suclSin'
-yap-an. he's i1py. But he didn't do
no dirt to de gal what youse gents was
stuck on-he amt that kind! He give
me the laugh, an t'rowed him down,
see?"
But" said Penlow, "her dog flew at
him when he went to the house. Ker-
rigan, you know-'Happy Days Mike
said that Wah-Wo tried to cut girl in
Doyer street"
IL don't think" said McManus, scorn-
fully. "Kerrigan's a stuff"
''Well, Mac" said Lynde, whats
your theory? You know as much about
it as anybody. The girl came in here
every night, didn't she?"
people say that she lived alone; but,
Of course, she had company when she
wanted it. What's your idea, Mac?"
McManus looked out of the window
and drummed on the bar with the blade
of his oyster knife. Charley, clad in
\ blue-checked jumper, arrived with
some chops and ale. i unfolded my
napkin and began my supper.
For awhile ate in silence, thinking
OF Wah-Wo and the dead girl.
Caithness, of the Consolidated Press.
came in, looking cold and i'll, and we
hastily made room for him ut our
table.
you're SICK" said Lynde, sharply;
you ought To be In bed. / wouldn't
assign Dana's cat il he looked like that"
I'm all right" said Caithness, glanc-
ing at us with his large, dark eyes.
cMac, get me something hot"
/ swallowed my ale and turned again
to the chops. scarcely listening to the
hum of voices beside me, for i was
thinking again of the dead girl, and my
hands itched to grip the yellow throat
of Wah-Wo.
For 1 had no doubt that he had killed
her. Again and again L had seen his
eyes fastened upon her as she sat chat
ting with us here at this very table.
There was that In his eyes which told
me plainly enough he loved her. So
the motive was clear TO me-jealousy.
I had spoken of this to the others, but
they laughed at me. The district at
torney took no stock in II, either, and
the result was the discharge of Wah
Wo.
How could any but Chinaman,
srazcd with jealousy and opium, harm
the child? For she was n mere child,
this pale-faced victim whose soul hnd
mounted 10 the judgment seat from the
filth of Chinatown.
Her name was Lily White--she was
known as White lii in Chinatown.
Pale, slim, childish, depraved, she had
never haunted Chinese resorts, nor. to
my knowledge, had she ever touched
dope to flame. She had Stunned the
women of the quarter. seldom saw
her speak 20 any man except the re-
porters and newspaper artists who
came TO McNlanus' for a midnight chop
or rarebit.
Her acquaintance with us had been
open and guileless. She chntted with
us about our business, discussed the
lntest police shake-up or the newest
Tammany scandal. gave us her views
on politics and the city hail and glided
away into the street again, followed
by her dog Her dog! a great hulk
ing brute, black as night. with sombcr
eyes and low-hanging jowl-a creature
silent. unmoyed, except when she bent
her pale face 10 his car and whispered.
Then, and then only, he would rise,
ehuffiing from the sawdust floor undcr