The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-06-16
| NIcGt Mir. lii.

SNODpeu Ut Allo .AAANA tSo Il AONAAo shat it was a large chemist shop
 : handed the letter over to the young man behind the counter, who disappeared through an inner door and then beckoned to us inside and a saIiling.-very. well -dreesed man greets us.
 I recognized him in a moment He was n yellow skinned man, Japanese or Chinese q didn't know which at sight but afterwards I soon found ouD. whom l had often seen at the flat.
 He bowed politely and handed me and my companion a small cardboard box, and l knew what it contain ed.
 Now please, now!" I want some now!" said my companion, his face looking horrible a sort of yellow. ashen color that 1t was. His words came hoarse and rusty and every muscle in his face was twitching: his neck was jerking, and as a glass was placed before him his hands were so shalSy that he had to take it between them both to get it to his mouth.
 But the mctamorphosis. the change came. In q few seconds he was him self. and taking up his precious parcel he left the shop parlor.
 Later on l shall tell who he was. how ] found out, and why he shot himself. shudder even now as I think of the tragedy that occurred to one of the most brilliant intellects of the day. and how indirectly I was connected with it from my first m eet- ing in the shop parlor with my China man. Mir. Lit.
 After the man who had come with me from Mrs. Babyncton's flat had Mr. II l,g 70 put two large boxes into the cab which I had waiting.
 Mir. Lit insisted on shaking hands with me before I left, and I had q curious sort sof feeling which I can only describe as a slimy sensation when his hands touched mine. and he look in his eyes made me shud- da<.
 But I shook off the feeling. and was soon back at the flat with my precious cargo.
 stayed at the flat tiII quite late hat night, losing a lot of money at cards and then after a meal at a heighboring restaurant-more supper han dinner-I took a cab home feel ns worn out, my nerves all a iangle. The cocaine was beginning 10 tell on ny system already to such an extent hat unless I was constantly takin, it suffered intensely.
 I shall never forget that night, Tor when I got home and walked into he sitting room there was my friend Sarah my dear. true friend as I know he was dead! She had long suffer d from a wcakness of the heart. but had not expected her end to be as Fudden as this.
 She must have died suddenly and quietly for there was a smile on her lace. And I thank God now she did lie before she saw to what depths I sank.
 With her death and burial and Eood influence that might have been pver me had gone. and I knew then continually grew to be more reclx- ess than ever; for when I was by myself black thoughts would crowd n on me, and so I was seldom home xcept to slecp-to sleep until the wful craving overpowered me again. nd drove me out 10 the usual wild Khirl of excitement.
 \ Curt Note From The Bank.
 This, of course. could not-1ast for ver. and one morning received q ote from my bank saying that my ccount was overdrawn and that no nore checks would be cashcd.
 I had barely a penny in the house, ff no tUta1ne. tore OH To the earest pawn shop, pledged some ny jewels. and was away at once for Irs. Bayneton's flat.
 And during the day, to her and Hrs. Merryon-oh. how I curse that vornan nowl I told her of my roubles, how was overdrawn at the 'anks and how I had practically no honey at all, and what was to do? '1 suppose I'd better pawn every hing I've got, and. when that's all pent there's always r1he river. isn't here? I can ren1enrbsr saying.
 "Oh. nonsense! Don't be down earted. We1l find something for ou to do."
 It was Mrs. Babyneton who said hat, and the very next day began Q be initiated into the behind the cenes'' of the cocaine trade.
 Tho rsmihcations of the ganE-foS eafly 1t was nothing else-who pom |ered to this awful vice. thereby, of ourse making hugo profits. were ronderfu1 and widespread the heads f the whole scheme being Mrs. Bay |eton ana IAt. q half-bred Chinaman. vher Vast meets West the results re not always pleasant. and regret abIe as it ss to state that Lit had Fhite food in his veins, it is none se 1ess Spe.
 Mrs. t2yneton it was who had 7ppTied the money for the starting the business, and Lit was the gent who procured the drug. He was
 fuIly-crualtfed chemist. so that he ouId obtain his supplies without uestfons being asked. if only he were rnicfently dscreet. And it was from fs aeuuine pharmacy that the Vic ,ria-street flat was supplied twice or nree times weekly with the drug hich used to fetch.
 Nrs, Merryton was the decoy duck.
 was she who introduced me and thers to cocaine habit, thinking us kelly to prove lucrative victims. She as paid a handsome commission on acfr new visitor she brought to the at, and consider that the soul of Yfs rnorstrous woman is blasted in se sight of God surely as are the bu1s Of those monsters who deal in haf is known as the white slave