The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-04-22

foolish freak when he was at college;
for having read DeQuincey's descr1p-
tion Of his dreams and sensations, he
had drenched his tobacco with laudanum
in an attempt to produce the same eff
fects. He found, as so many more have
done, that the praetic is easier to at
tain than to get rid of, and for many
years he continued to be a slave to the
drug, an object Of mingled horror and
pity to his friends and relatives. / can
see him now, with yellow, pasty face,
dropping lids and pin-point pupils, all
huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin
Of noble man.
One night-it was in June, 'S9-there
came ring to my bell, about the hour
when a man gives his first yawn and
chances at the clock. I sat up in my
chair, and my wife laid her needle-work
down in her lap and made a little face
of disappointment.
GA patient' said she. "You III have
to go out. ~
groaned, for was newly como back
from a weary day.
We heard the door open, a few hur-
ried words, and then quick steps upon
the inoleun. Our own door few open,
and lady, clad in some dark colored
stuff, with a black veil, entered the
room.
''You will excuse my calling so Late"
che began, and then, suddenly losing
her self -control, she ran forward, threw
her arms about my wife's neck and
sobbed upon her shoulder. fOh, I m
in such trouble!' she cried; IT do
SO want a little help
veil, Tits Kate Whitley Ii y How W you you
startled me, Kate! I had not an idea
who you were when you came in.''
'I didn't know what to do, so
came straight to you. That was always
the way. Folk who were in grief came
to my wife like birds to lighthouse.
cit was very sweet Of you to come.
Now, you must have some wine and
water, and sit here comfortably and
tell us all about it. Or should you
rather that I sent James off to bed?'
cob, no, no! I want the doctor 8
advice and help, too. It's about lisa.
He has not been homo for two days.
am so frightened about him!'
1t was not the first time that she had
spoken to us Of her husband 3 trouble,
to me as doctor, to my wife as an old
friend and school companion. We
soothed and comforted her by such
words as we could find. Did she know
where her husband was7 Was it pos
herr
It seemed that it was. She had the
surest information that of late he had
when the fit was on him, made use Of al
opium den in tho farthest east of the
city. Hitherto his orgies had always
been confined to one day, and he had
come back, twitching and shattered, in
been upon him eight and forty hours
and he lay there, doubtless among the
dregs of the docks. breathing in the
poison or sleeping off the effects. There
he was to be found, she was sure Of it
at the "Bar Of Gold,'' in Upper Swan
dam Lane. But what was she to do
How could Make she be9 y0Vng and su tni
place and pluck her hus band out from
among the ruffians who surrounded
him7
There was the case, and Of cours4
there was but one way out of it. Nigh
I not escort her to this places Ant
she come at ala T was Isa Whitney
medical adviser, and as such had in
flueuce over him. I could manage i
better if were alone. I promised he
on my word that I would send hin
homo in a cab within two hours if h.
were indeed at the address which sh
had given me. And so in ten minute
tingroona behind me and was speeding
eastward in hanson on strange CT
rand, as it seemed to me at the time
tho the future only could show hoy
strange it was to be.
But there was no great difficulty i
the first stage Of my adventure. Uppe
Swandam Lane is vile alley lurkin
behind the high wharves which line tn
north side of the river to the east Q
London bridge. Between a slopshop an
a. ginshop, approached by steep high
Of steps leading down to q black ga
like the mouth Of cave, I found tn
den Of which I was in search. Orde
Snr INV Il 70 T +
steps, worn hollow in the center by tn
ceaseless tread Of drunken feet, and b
/ the light Of Pickering oil-lamp abov
the door, I found the latch and mad
my. way into a long, low room, thic
and heavy with the brown opium smok
and terraced with wooden berths, l1k
che forecastle Of an emigrant ship
Thru the gloom one could dimly cate
. glimpse Of bodies lying in strane
fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bel
knees, heads thrown back and chin
pointing upward, with here and there
dark, lack-luster eye turned upon tt
newcomer. Out of the black shadov
there glimmered little red circles
light, now bright, now faint, as tt
burning poison waxed or waned in IL
bowls Of the metal pipes. The most Ia
silent, but some muttered to themselve
and others talked together in a strane
low, monotonous voice, their convers
ton coming IN guShes, and then su
denly failing off into silence, each mu1
bling out his own thoughts, and payil
little heed to the words Of his neighbc
At the farther end was a small brazi
of burning charcoal, beside which on
three-legged wooden stool there sat
tall, thin old man, with his jaw resin
upon his two fists, and his elbows up
his knees, staring into the fire.
AS / entered, a sallow Malay &
tendant had hurried up with pipe f
me and supply Of the drug, beckonil
me to an empty berth. ~
,tay, ea said you rh n1ee is not ff fSmS
mine here. Mr.. lisa Whitney, and 1 wi
to SPEAK with him.
There was movement and an e
clamation from my right and, peeri
thru the gloom, I saw Whitney, pa
haggard and unkempt, staring out
me. ~. ID .-# e..
"My Godl It's Watson,'' said l
He was in pitiable state of reactit
with every nerve in a twitter. 81 Sc
Watson, what o 'clock is it7'' r. =
fNearly IL. -
COZ what day." >
nOf Friday, June 1872
|. ''Good heavensl I thought it "
Il Wednesday. It is Wednesday. WI
4 d'you want to brighten chap for
/ He sank his face onto his arms, a
[ began to sob in high treble key.
II tell you that it is Friday, m,
d. VO1,r 1uifa hac haan WAITING fhio r.