Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-08-16

Copyright 1913. by Robert w. Chambers
AS I entered the alley the bells OF
the dim city tolled for the passing
night. Far in the maze of flthy
lanes and mist-choked streets a po-
liceman whistled; heard the distant
din of an elevated rushing through
the fog, which rolled from river to
river, heavy, sitting.
In the gloom of the alley shadowy
form passed. All around me the va
Dor became tainted with opium and
a flare of yellow light streamed out
from an opening door. There was
momentary murmur of voices, the
soft shuttle of felt-shod feet, the
rustic of silken sleeves. "A paillteu
paper lantern swung from the door
way. dipped and disappeared. i
heard the deadened slam of the door
and the black night yelled my eyes
again.
raised my eyes to the dark house
before me where from rusting pal
cony a sign hung low above the door
way:
"This was her house." l said aloud
to myself; but l passed on TO the
next house Before | could ma the
handle, the door flew open anu "a, !,
heard McManus' angry below; CIT
1 hell outer here, yer dope suckln
~ani" and a Chinaman was hustled
INTO the area, fleeing like an infuriat-
cd ape. o,,,noad
room and took a chair at table
beside the wall. Two young men
sitting there said, Hello, JIM!
Good evenin'." said McManus,
leaning over the bar. did you =, see
me givin' de bounce to Wah-Ho
"Yes." said, when did he come
back?" IL
an he give me de ha-ha' SO ChhrleS
trun him down."
One of the young men at the tapie
beside me looked up from the Welsh-
rabbit he was eating and called LOT
ale. McManus brought 1t himself
a trimming pewter mug. Then ne
bawled for Charley to take my or
der.
Lynde. of the Herald, advised me
to try a rabbit, and Penlow, of the
Tribune spoke well of the chops, so
| left it to Charley and he retired,
whistling, ooh / don't know!'
TITS wonder to me-" said, hang
ing my wet macintosh on peg and
kicking off my overshoes. its a
wonder to me that Wah-Wo was
discharged by the court"
There was no evidence 10 nolu
him." observed Lynde.
Penlow lighted his pipe and rat
tied his mug on the table.
mo evidence" | repeated; do you
fellows doubt that Wah-Wo did it?"
81 suppose he did" said Penlow;
sit was my scoop, too"
eve may scoop yet" said Lynde,
"the mans bound to be caught"
Gents" began McManus. ''youse
is dead off. Wah-Wo amt in it,"
he said contemptuously; II give him
dc t'row-down-fur why?-fur be-
cause I don't give de glad hand to no
dope suckin' chink. But he didn't do
no dirt to the gal whut youse gents
was stuck on--he amt that kind! He
give me de laugh an / trowed him
down. see? An I won't do a ting
but push his face in. See?'
well, Mac" said Lynde, whats
your theory? You know as much
about it as anybody. The girl came
in here every night, didn't she? Peo-
pie say she lived alone, but, OF
wanted it. What's your idea, Mac?''
McManus looked out of the win
dow and drummed on the bar with
the blade of his oyster knife.
AS / was eating in silence, think
ing of Wah-Wo and the dead girl,
Cath ess of the Consolidated Press
came In looking cold and ill, and we
hastily made room for him at our
table.
"you're SICK" said Lynde sharply,
you ought to be in bed"
I'm ali right" said Caithness,
glaHctng at us with his large dark
eyes; MAC, get me something hot"
7 Turned again to the chops, scarce
iy listening to the voices beside me,
for [ was thinking again of the dead
girl.
had no doubt that WahWo had
killed her. Again and again l had
seen his eyes fastened upon her as
she SAT chatting with us, here at this
table. The motive was clear to me
/ had spoken of this to the others
but they laughed at me. The district
attorney took no stock in 1t, either.
How could anybody but a China
man, crazed with jealousy and opium
harm the child? For she was a mere
child. this pallid victim whose soul
had mounted to the judgment seat
from the filth of New York's China
town.
Pale, slim, childish. she had never
haunted Chinese resorts nor, to my
knowledge, had she ever touched
needle to flame. She had Stunned
the women of the quarter. ] seldom
saw her speak to any man except
the reporters and newspaper artists
who came to McManus's for a mid
night chop or rarebit
Her acpaintanc with us had beer
open and guileless. She chatted with
us about our business, discussed the
latest police shakeup or the newest
Tammany scandal, and glided away
into the street again followed by hei
dog.
Her dogi
A great hulking brute, with sombre
eyes apd low hanging Jowl-a crea'