The San Francisco call., 1908-10-18

Ing billboards lent color to the scene.
Innumerable pushcart venders, barkers
for countless penny shows blended their
cries with the persistent sound of phon-
ograph music from saloons and places
Of entertainment
Milly was reminded of the glorious
red letter day when Miss OStayge had
taken the stage children to Couey ISL
and-that never to be forgotten heaven
of all joys. She quite forgot her smart
ing shoulder and the terrors that lurked
before and behind her. and began to
enjoy herself When the car stopped
and some one descended she obeyed
the impulse and stepped to the street.
Before the pawnshop windows she
paused entranced. Such accumulations
of marvellous Jewels dazzled her vision.
She walked on, frankly interested in
everything. People turned and stared
at her, but she was used to that. Her
trail, childish beauty. contrasted with
the theatrical headgear and fiashy coat,
always attracted attention. Occasion
ally some one flung a word at her
Pipe the kid" or, Where to, sis?' She
smiled shyly and moved on.
A whtf of warm air from the quick
ly opened door of a stand up restau-
rant reminded her that she was hun
cry. All at once she felt very lonely
and rather frightened She became
aware of hard, coarse faces about her
and certain subtle element of threat
in the air. "reminiscences Of many
Tneiodramas, each stocked to overflow
ing with sensational scenes. came to
her mind. Her imagination conceived
a new and awful menace at every turn,
and to cap the climax her eye rested
upon the illumined street sign of the
lamp, "Pell street, Bowery" The Bow
cry? In how many thrillers had this
locality figured, and always as a back
ground to crime. murder, torture in
dens, awful plots, heartless kidnapings.
brutal beatings. relieved only by the
usual dance hall scene and a spiel"
That was probably going on in the
places from which the phonOgraph
strains issued. She must escape; she
must take car and go back again
But to her frightened mind that meant
an inevitable encounter with Aunt
Esther.
drunken sailor lurched against her
and muttered a curse as he staggered
away. Milly bolted down the side
street. A strange smell greeted her
nostrils-the scent of Chinatown, an
aroma made of incense, sandal, curious
foods and cedar packing boxes MiIly
stopped short. Decorated balconies.
with twisted dragons and bulging Ian
terms. hung above her. Store windows
showed heaped silks and embroideries.
ivory carvings and heavy black carved
furniture. About her silent footed
dark clad Chinese skunk about their
business. Milly stopped short, her
hand to her heart. Memories OF Mora,
Queen of the Hatchet Men," flashed be-
fore her. This was the worst of ALL
Even in the theater she had been NOR
tally afraid of the Chinese "supers"
employed to give realism to the play
and here she was surrounded by them
Back of her she heard the stumbling
steps of the drunken sailor. In every
door and every shop were slant eyed,
impassive Chinese. With q gasp she
hurried on and paused. uncertain, near
street lamp. Its light cleaned upon
the golden cross at her throat with a
sudden sparkle From a dark alley
entrance man emerged and stood
looking at her. AS she started on he
came close. He was a heavily set, i'll
favored negro Milly looked UP. hesi-
tated again. and half turned to retrace
her steps. The man reached forth a
giant paw and whirled her about.
"Unhand me, villainr
In her blind terror the familiar
words seemed TO speak themselves.
hand closed over her mouth and,
struggling vainly. she felt herself
dragged backward. Then the violent
hand released her and she sank to the
yes, the hero-and the villain was
running to the mouth of the alley. A
lady in furs bent down and raised her
to her feet Milly trembled and painted
Historically.
The hero swore mot policeman
in sight! Confound it-but I'll report
this"
Milly caught her breath. My pre-
servers" she gasped.
What" exclaimed the hero. whats
that?'
'I am per-soo-edI You will protect
me?" sobbed Mi1ly, the mechanism of
habit sending the words to her con-
vulsed lips
What in the worldt cried the lady.
Milly burst into frantic tears of re-
lief. The lady in furs gathered her In
her arms.
Come. dearie, it's ell right now.
Don't be frightened. Well take you
home"
"Oh, no-o-o-o" shrieked Milly.
Gertrude said the hero, Tets go
into the restaurant up here. It's a very
decent p1ace-Sort of show kitchen for
tourists and Summing parties It's
between hours now, we can be quiet
there. Here, let me carry her, poor
little kid"
A moment later the odd group en-
tered a shining, tiled entrance and as
cended broad staircase to a large
room, paneled. decorated and gilded in