Willmar tribune., 1908-01-22
the performance repeated until the
smoker has had enough.

the performance repeated until the
smoker has had enough.
The second of these "joints" is pre-
sided over by person known az kid
Lee" a half breed Chinaman, who was
at one time valet to famous Yankee
jockey. Under his management this
place has become the rendezvous of
foreign crooks" and "grafters," pick.
pockets, touts and confidence men
This place is known to the fraternity
as the Dream Shop" and is run on q
slightly better plan than Chicks the
charge being $1.25. Partitions divide
the smokers, the surroundings also
are somewhat better, the walls clean.
er, and the paraphernalia of better
kind, and there are two exits for use
In case of emergency, unknown as yet
even to the habitues. A fair estimate
would show Lee to do q daily or
nightly business of some three hun
dred Shells" or 1915, for many OF
his customers call for second and
third 'shell of hop" Fifty per cent
of this is profit, and many of the
regulars" purchase opium for home
consumption.
The third of the cheaper Joints Is
found six doors further down, and
this time, instead of descending to the
basement, one ascends the stairs of a
comparatively lew house, the ground
floor being occupied by fried fish
shop. This place, known as Hop
Harbour" is exclusively used by OH
entails, and white man finds it ex.
ceedingly difficult to gain an entrance.
Each of these places has manager.
the Chinese syndicate which owns
them remaining in the background.
/ At Wong's there is no secret pass
word, no special knock is necessary
for almost the moment you approach
the door it opens, two Cinnamon in or.
binary clothes look you over, and, be.
ing satisfied, bow you to a Becord
door, which opens silently. The hall
is lighted by four large lamps bearing
red shades; the walls are covered
with Chinese hanging screens and or
naments, while red sign with black
lettering reads: Chinese Restaurant"
On the first floor to the right Of the
entrance hall. is a dining room con-
tanning eight tables. Chinese lanterns
hang from the ceiling; the decorations
are in red and black, and evea the
floor is painted black with a border,
of red around the room. Here come
any number of respectable people to
dine la Chinoise. They have not the
remotest idea. of what goes on above
the dining room floor, though others
use the restaurant only for blind,
and, later on, smoke a pill or two up
stairs 49, 20
You pay your bill, then ascend the
heavily carpeted stairway to the
rooms above. At the top of the first
flight, in small recess, sits a China
man spotlessly dressed in white. He
gives you keen glance and awaits
your pleasure. Il wish to rest awhile.
Loo; let me have q ROOM" Loo bows.
and an attendant comes forward and
leads the way into small but lux
uriously furnished apartment fitted up
40 O 0ACOPAA6-AOOAAs IAC OCU, however,
being a divan raised some six inches
from the floor. with a silk-covered
mattress and silk cushions, or a pil-
low. The attendant waits for further
orders. Bring me layout" With
| a bow the man departs, to return
with the paraphernalia. The tray is
| work of art, the stem is inlaid with
| ivory, and the ''shell" is q mollusc's.
"Shall cook for you, sir?" inquiries
the servant: but the visitor has been
there before, and requires no assist
| ance. Should the attendant be called
upon to do the necessary work" and
added fee of $1.25 is necessary. The
man then says: Zone guinea ($5.0O)
please" and, taking the money, leaves
the visitor to himself.
.,.. .. MAURICE VERNON.