The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-04-22
ADVENTURE vi.
The Man With the Twisted Lip

foolish freak when he was at college; |
for having read DeQuincey's descrlp-
ton 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 practice is easier to at
tain than to get rid of, and for many
years he continued to be slave to the
drug, an object Of mingled horror and
pity to his friends and relatives. I can
see him now, with yellow, pasty face,
dropping lids and pin-point pupils, all
of a noble man.
One night-it was in June, 'S9-thero
came a ring to my bell, about the hour
when a man gives his first yawn and
glances at the clock. I sat up in my
chair, and my wife laid her needle-work
down in her lap and made little face
of disappointment.
GA patient' said she. "You II have
to go out
groaned, for was newly come back
from a weary day.
We heard the door open, few hur-
ried words, and then quick steps upon
the linoleum. Our own door few open,
and lady, clad in some dark colored
stuff, with q 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. "Oh, m
in such tr S:at} ~, she cried; IT do
"Why,' said my wife, pulling up her
veil, Otis Kate Whitney. How you
startled me, Kate I had not an idea
who you were when you came in
81 didn't know what to do, SO I
came straight to you. That was always
the way. Folk WI no were in grief came
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 sent James off to bed9'
"Qh, no, no! want the DOCTORS
advice and help, too. It's about lisa.
am so frightened about him!'
It was not the first time that she had
spoken to us Of her husband 8 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 vast Was, it pos
sible that we could bring him back to
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 an
opium den in the farthest east of the
city Hitherto his orgies had always
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 it.
at the "Bar Of Gold,' in Upper Swan:
dam Lane. But what was she to dof
How could she, a young and timid
woman, make her way into such g
place and pluck her husband out from
among the rufians who surrounded
him7
There was the case, and of course
! not escort her to this place9 Ani
then, as a second thought, why should
she come at all7 I was Isa Whitney
medical adviser, and as such had in
fuence. over him. I could manage i
better If I were alone. | promised he
homo in. cab within two hours if h,
were indeed at the address which sh
had given me. And so in ten minute
had left my armchair and CHEEKY sit
tingToom behind me and was speedin,
eastward in hanson on a strange CT
rand, as it seemed to me at the time
strange it was to be.
But there was no great difficulty i
the first stage of my adventure. Uppe
Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurkin
behind the high wharves which line tn
north side of the river to the east 0
London bridge. Between slopshop an
Of steps leading down to a black ga
like the mouth Of cave, found tn
den Of which I was in search. Orde:
ing my cab to wait, passed down til
steps, worn hollow in the center by til
ceaseless tread Of drunken feet, and b
tho light Of a Pickering oil-lamp aboy
the door, I found the latch and mad
my way into long, low room, THO
and heavy with the brown opium smok
and terraced with wooden berths, liz
the forecastle Of an emigrant ship
Thru the gloom one could dimly cate
fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bel
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 IL
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 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 neighbe
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 resti1
upon his two fists, and his elbows up
his knees, staring into the fire.
AS entered, a sallow Malay +:
me and supply Of the drug, beckoni
me to an empty berth.
stay said I. "There is friend
mine here. Mr.. Isa Whitney, and 1 wi
to SPEAK with him.
There was movement and an {
clamation from my right and, peeri
thru the gloom, I saw Whitney, pa
haggard and unkempt, staring out
HMy Godl It's Watson, said
He was in pitiable state of reactis
with every nerve in q twitter tI 8,
Watson, what o 'elock is itS'
sNearly ILL.,
'tOf what day9'' s
"Of Friday, June 1872
|, "Good heavensi ! thought it v
3 Wednesday,. It is Wednesday. WI
h d'you want to brighten chap for
.b He sank his face onto his arms, a
began to sob in a high treble key.
Is ~ tell you that it is Friday, nj