The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1920-07-20
.OC ETERAGIC sINABUC
CHAPTER VIII.
Tho Drug Syndicate


garet Haley was aroused by her
maid--the latter but half awake
and sitting up In bed and switchin.
on the lamp. she looked at the card
which tho servant had brought her.
and read tho following:
CHIEF INSPECTOR KERRY.
c. ID.
New Scotland Yard. n. w. I.
Five minutes later Margaret en-.
tered her little consulting room.
Kcrry's fierce eyes spariied appre-
ciativeiy as his glance rested on the
tall figure arrayed In wooden
dressing gown.
Good morning. Inspector" she
said composcdiy. Il was expecting
you"
Really. missr@' Kerry stared Gu.
rtousiy. Then you know what I've
come about7"
II think 70. In n about--sir
Lucien Pyne?" 4.
"weli." replied Kerry. -it concerns
him. certainly. I've been In commu.
nication by telephone with Hinkcs.
Mr.. Monte Twins butler. and from
him I learned that you were profess
sionaily attending Mrs. Irwin
IL was not her regular medical
adviser. but"
Margaret hesitated. Eiancing rap
idly at the inspector. and then down
at the writing table before which she
was seated.
Kerry was watching her intsntiy.
There's something underlying the
case that I don't understand. miss.
look 10 you TO put me wise"
She turned 10 him impulsively.
Il will tell you all know. inspcc-
tor" sho naId.
Good raped Kerry. Now
you have knowrs Mrs. Monte Irwin
for some timer"
For about two years. met her
at Rrd Cross concert al which she
sang"
DO you think sho loved her hus-
handY"
Il know she DID,
-slr Lucienf"
-sir Lucien belonged 20 = set Of
which Rita had been q member dur
ing her stage career. think--he
admired her. But she did not care
for him In tho icast---in that way"
Then In what way did she care
for himy" raped Kerry.
"wcIl---now we are coming 10 the
point" Momcntarfiy she hesitated.
then: They were both addicted
to drugs
"EhY" Kerry's eyes grew hard
and fierce In q moment What
drugs7'
IAN sorts OF drugs Shortly. AFTER
became acquainted with Rita Irwin
I learned that shc was q victim Of
tho drug habit. and tried to cure
her. I regret TO say that ! failed
At that timc she had acquired n
taste for opium"
Her husband. take It. was
ignorant OF all this7-
II believe he wa& ouentin-Mr.
Gray-had no idea OF II either"
Then II was Sir Lucicn Pyne who
was In her confidence In the mat
teri"
Margaret nodded slowly. stiil tap
ping the blotting pad
He used 20 accompany her 20
places where drugs could be OBJ
tanned. and on several occasions-I
cannot say how many--I believe he
went with her to some den in China
town"
AIR said Kerry. And now.
where did sho get these drugs'"
IL have said that shall be frank. :"
Margaret replied
"In my opinion she obtained them
from HANNAH"
"Kazmahr' shouted Kerry. TEX
cuse me. miss. but l see Two been
wearing biinkcrs without knowing III
Kaxmah's was dopcshop7'
THAT has been my belief for a
long time. inspector. may add
that have never been able TO obtain
shred OF evidence TO prove IT,"
Inspector Kerry was writing his
shoulders exci,edly. ibid you ever
visit Kaxmah7" he asked.
Eyes. I asked Rita Irwin TO take
me. but she refused. and ! could see
that tho request embarrassed her.
so I went alone"
"Dcscribe exactly what took
place"
Margaret Haley described a typ
ical seance Mt Kaxmah's. In con.
clusion:
As I camc away" she said. II
bought a bottle OF every kind Of per
fumc on sale. some OF the incense.
and also box OF sweetmeat: but
they all proved to be perfectly harm
less. analysed them
Kerry's eyes glistened with admir-
alton.
I'VE could do with you at the
Yard. miss" he said. Excuse me
for saying So And what leads you
to suppose. Miss HALEY. that this
HANNAH dealt in drugs7'
well. you see. Rita Irwin was
always going there to buy perfumes.
and she frequently sent her maid as
we'll"
"But" Kerry stared-"you. say
that the perfume was harmless"
THAT which was sold to casual
visitors was harmless. Inspector.
But strongly suspect that regular
clients were supplied with something
quite different. You see. ! know no
fewer than 30 unfortunate women in
the West End OF London alone who
are simply helpless slaves to various
drugs. and think II more than n
coincidence that upon their dressing
tables have almost invariably found
ono or more OF Kazmah's peculiar
antique TASKS"
Chief Inspector Kcrry's Jaw mus
cles portruded conspicuously.
you speak of patients?" he asked.
Margaret nodded her head.
when n woman becomes addicted
TO the drug habit" she explained,
"she shuns her regular medical ad-
wiser. I have many patients who