Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-10-15

BY SIR ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE.
Mystery Of the Man With the Twisted Lip.

lisa Whitney. brother of the late Elias
Whitney, d. D.. principal or the Iheoiosi-
cal College of St. Georges, was much ad-
dicted to opium. The habit grew upon MIN,
as 1 understand from some foolish freak
when he was at college; for having read De
ouincey's description of his dreams and
sensations. he had drenched his tobacco
with laudanum In attempt to produce the
same effects. He found as so many more
have done, that the practice 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. 1 can see him now.
with yellow, pasty face dropping lids and
pin-point pupils. all huddled in chair, the
wreck and ruin of noble man.
One night-it was In June, 'S0-there came
ring to my bell, about the hour when
man gives his first yawn and glances at the
clock. l sat up In my chair, and my wife
laid her needle-work down in her lap and
made little face of disappointment.
"A patientT" said she. You'll have to go
out"
1 groaned for was newly come back
from a weary day.
we heard the door open, q few hurried
words and then quick steps upon the limo
leum. Our own door new open and a lady
clad in some dark-colored stuff with q
black veil, entered the room
GU VIII excuse my calling so late,"
she began, and then suddenly losing her
self-control she ran forward. threw her
arms about my wife's neck and sobbed
upon her shoulder. "Oh. I'm in such
troubled" she cried; Il do so want little
help"
81, Why" said my wife. pulling UP her veil.
ut Is Kate Whitney. How you startled me
Kate! 1 had not an idea who you were
when you came in"
Il didn't know what to do, so 1 came
straight to you That was always the
way. Folk who were in grief came to INV
wife like birds to a lighthouse
1T 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 1 sent
James off to bed?"
'Oh. no, no! 1 want the DOCTORS advice.
and help. too. It's about lisa. He has not
been home for two days l am so fright
ened about him.
1t was not the first time that she had
spoken to us of her husbands 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 ind. Did she know where her hus-
band was? Was II possible that we could
bring him back TO her?
II seemed that it was. She had the Surest
information that of late he had when the
fit was on him, made use of an opium den
In the farthest east of the city. Hitherto
his orgies had always been confined to one
day, and he had come back twitching and
shattered, In the evening. But now the
spell had 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 1t,
at the Bar of Cold" in Upper Swandam
lane. But what was she to do? How could
she, young and tinid woman, make her
a nd nj IN har hIIQ-
band out from among the ruff1ans who sur
rounded him?
There was the case, and of course there
was but one way out of 1t. Might l not
escort her to this place? And then, as
second thought, why should she come at
all? l was lisa Whitney's medical adviser.
and as such / had influence over him.
could manage 1t better If l were alone. /
promised her on my word that I would
send him home in cab within two hours
IL he were indeed at the address which she
had given me. And so in ten minutes l
had left my armchair and CHEEKY sitting
room behind me, and was speeding east
ward in a hanson on strange errand, as
II seemed to me at the time, though the
future only could show how strange II was
TO be-
But there was no great difficulty in the
first stage of my adventure. Upper Swan
dam lane Is a vile alley lurking behind the
high wharves which line the north side of
the river to the east of London bridge Be
tween a slop shop and gin shop, approach
ed by a steep flight of steps leading down
to black gap like the mouth of cave.
found the den of which l was In search
Ordering my cab to wait, l passed down
the steps, worn hollow In the center by the
ceaseless tread of drunken feet. and by the
light OF Pickering oil lamp above the
door found the latch, and made my way
into a long. low room, thick and heavy
with the brown opium smoke. and terraced
with wooden berths, like the forecastle of
an emigrant ship.
t1a e-INn If,,o1ty trf1
a glimpse of bodies lying in strange fan
tastfc poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees,
heads thrown back and chins pointing up
ward, with here and there a dark. lack
luster eye turned upon the newcomer. Out
of the black shadows there glimmered lit
tie red circles Of light now bright now
faint, the burning poison waxed or
waned in the bowls of the metal pipes.
The most lay silent, but some muttered to
themselves, and others talked together in
a strange, low, monotonous voice, their
conversation coming in gushes, and then
suddenly failing off into silence, each num-
bling out his own thoughts. and paying lit
tie heed to the words of his neighbor. At
the farther end was a small braZier of
burning charcoal, beside which on three
legged wooden stool there sat tall thin
old man. with his jaw resting upon his
two fists. and his elbows upon his knees
staring into the fire
AS I entered, a sallow Malay attendant
had hurried up with pipe for me and
SSNAASA+AAiS
empty berth.
Thank you 1 have not come to stay"
said /. There is a friend of mine here,
Mr.. lisa Whitney, and 1 wish to speak with
him."
There was movement. and an exclama-
ton from my right and, peering through
the gloom, l saw Whitney. pale. haggard
and unkempt. staring out at me.
My Godi It's Watson" said he. He was
in a pitiable state of reaction, with every
nerve IN a twitter. Il say, Watson. what
o'clock is it?'
Nearly IL"
"Of what day?"
"Of Friday, June 49,
Good heavens! I thought IT was We'd
nesday. What d'you want to frighten
chap for?" He sank his face onto his arms
and began to sob in a high treble key.
II tell you it is Friday, man. Your wife
has been waiting this two days for you.
You should be ashamed of YOURSELF
so am. But you've got mixed. Watson.
for 1 have only been here few hours.
three pipes. four pipes-I forget how many.
But I'll go home with you. l wouldn't
brighten Kate-poor little Kate. Give me
your hand Have a cab?
Yes, 1 have one waiting"
Then / shall go in 1t. But I must owe
something. Find what I owe. Watson. I
am all OFF color. I can do nothing for my
self"