The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-03-13
CHAPTER VII THE DOPE PEND

CHAPTER III
 THE DOPE PEND The man looked thinner and more i'll than ever. but not in anyway abashed
 Sorry I didn't snow up at your lit- tie part vat the Bath Club. guy nor, Pact is. ,I was i'll and couldn't comer' I'm sorry said Jun Dalton, eyeing the other keenly. He mad his own sus- picions as to what had really hapA pened. The yellowish tint on the thin, drawn face-the trembling hands-the strange look in the pupil of the eyes these were familiar symptoms of the drug fiend. Where's the suit you were going to get out of pawn with the money that gave you?' went on Jim.
 T lost the money. guvnori"
 You mean you drank it-spent 1t on drink or drugsly said Jim quietly, scorn in his voice. "Opium.'' said the down and-outer, frankly deciding suddenly that candor was the better part. Tt did me for two days and nights in Chinese opium den."
 And now-Y' inquired Jim tenta- lively
 "Oh. now" the other shrugged his shoulders-"now there isn't anything left except the riverl'' Maudin tears sprank to the mans eyes.
 Jim. however. was not at all inn rressed. He had met this unstable type before. and he gauged the shal : lowness of their emotions. Aloud he remarked indifferently:
 You wouldn't be suSn a tremendous loss to humanity. after all.' truculent look crept to the down. and outer's face.
 q would There's someone that'ud miss me. sure enoueh--if you'll only
 gimme her address" Are you referring to your wife?' said Jim.
 The other nodded. You said she was on the stage in
 London
 "She is-but I don't know that I'd
 be justified in letting you know her
 whereabouts" Jim's tones were scarce ly flattering as he eyed the shabby figure.
 "Oh, come on. guv'nor Lucvs mighty fond of me, Just tell me the theatre where her show is on"' Perhaps, reflected Jim. it might be well to concede with this request? This actress woman evidently was keen tc meet her ne'er-do.. well husband. By her visit down to Surrey she had proved that fact And meeting with the real Jim Dal- ton would cure any romantic longings that might still finger in her heart. Moreover. no doubt she was in touch with Shirley-and would communicate to the young girl her previous mis- take.
 She's playing at the Colladium- maybe the doorkeeper will give you her home address" Jim thrust a coir into the mans hand. And for heavens sake, try to look little smarter be. | fore you go to see her-or your wift will surely get shock" l At half past seven that evening, Lu. cille Derange sat before a modest mea' 1 in her tiny flat preparatory to depar l ture for the theatre. 1 Once more she was feeling blue-- ' and very lonely. Her thoughts wert winging back to the old days in Africs those days when she had been il love.
 1 She failed to hear the door bell ring and the sound of Mrs. Pitts admittint 1 some one to the flat. ! It was only when the sitting room | door opened and tall. slouchy figur' 1 stood directly before her that sh' looked up.
 l Her gaze widened. She sprang quick l ly to her feet and packed away to wards the window as though she ha' seen a ghost. She tired to speak. bu 1 from her dry lips nLt sound woult come.
 .Lucye said the stranger, softly ingratiatingly. Lucy. don't you know me?'
 He took a step towards her, holdint | out hls hands.
 | "Lucyr' Reproach was in his voice his eyes Lucy. what sSrt of wei come Is this for man who's Deel ! hungering and thirstipg for sight Q you these last three years?" He flunl l his hair back off his forehead wit the old gesture that she knew so wei revealing the Jagged scar. "Luc,
 aren't you going to say you're gia | to see me-? T She found her voice at last.
 Tt wouldn't be the truth-Jim. l The down-and-ou scowied-an II when he scowled his whole apear Il ance was rather terrifying. But Lu T cille wasn't in the least afraid. Sh knew this man too well--and all Ill Il weaknesses.
 1 How. did you find out where \ stayed?' inquired Lucille.
 T "Oh. I met a rich johnny down b Il the Embankment-the down. and-oute I thought it well to omit the circum stances of their meeting. when he ha \ tried to rob the said "Jonnhy" and ha ;. been ignominiously caught-"when h \ heard my name was Dalton, he aske Il at once If knew you. Curious, wasn' Il it?"
 "what did he look like?' asked Lu | ellie.
 "A good looking fellow-somethin I after my own style" Hero the prodi gal puffed out his sunked chest 'No'