Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1922-03-05

Il one hundred pounds. To get
the full thrilling effect it should, OF
course, be reviewed from the angle OF
You know Brunt He writes popu-
lar stories-creepy, pallid things
abrim with Shiny facts. If you relish
having your nerves laid bare by his
pitiless scalrel, then don't read this
tale-to the end. For there is Just
one bet that Theodore Brunt has over
looked.
Zomy Sal got her nickname one OF
the first nights she appeared at Lee
Hung's place. She was a hearty, ST.
lent young wonian-always silent. yet
merry withal. Somebody demanded
where she hailed from. She, great
buxom lass that she was. her cheeks
still rosy red from English sun and
fog, made answer. Her reply came
loudly during an unexpected pause In
the whirring oriental music.
'Zomerzet." she said. a wry twist
to her lips. "Zomerzet! Did'st ever
zee it? Nay. but I'd tell un-"
by gad.'' cried Lady Nell, shes
from Somerset. Who'll buy drink
for Somerset laSS?"
X X n r.
THE response was so uproarious
L that after this Lee Hung had
the performance repeated each time
an English ship came upriver. Thus
came Zomy Sal by her name. How
ever. she showed little liking for the
performance. and became more silent
/ than ever: the more silent she was.
the finer and heartier her warm smile.
From all this you might easily de-
duce that there was something moral
ly unsound in the air. Such might be
readily imagined-furtive women and
careless men, nuisances of evil, dim
lights and painted eyes. No, no!
Metonymy is dangerous; the appear
ance does not always spell the real
ity. The Reverend Mr.. Barham's
charming cherub. "who couldn't sit
down, for he hadn't de quoi." IL q
case in point.
Undoubtedly. Theodore Brunt could
write fearful and terrible rhap-
sody anent Lee Hung's place. stamp
ing Lady Nell with tragedy and SO
forth. Yet it was really not SO bad.
Perhaps you have never been in
Bangkok. Lee lungs English and
American Bar" was on the west bank
of the Menam river. down a bit from
the Tachin railway station. Thus.
you will observe that it was hearty
opposite the legations. customhouse
and wharves. A very convenient To-
cation in some ways-handy to the
shipping trade.
Lee Hung was a fiat-faced yellow
gentleman who regarded the Siamese
as barbarians. He catered only to
foreigners and wealthy Chinese-to
an expert Australian barmaid, and a
dozen girls who got a percentage
of the drinks. There were gam
bling rooms, over which Lee himself
presided, while Lady Nell had charge
of the dance hall.
Our blue-law enthusiasts would
think all the perfectly horrible.
was a handsome creature of thirty
odd-dark and dashing, abrim
with a reckless vitality, ever a gay
spendthrift Of her inner self. 1t Is
true that she smoked; SO do ladies'
1t is true that she drank sometimes;
so do ladies. There, however. the
comparison ends; for Lady Nell was
not a lady. and no man took her
name lightly.
In fact. you must not think evil
of Lady Nell or any of Lee lungs
girls. This was no place for COM
mon seamen, decadent artists or
vers librettists. One did not even
get drunk in this place. I have
said that Lee Hung was a gentle
man; also he was a peculiar man,
with extraordinary notions of hon.
or and pride. When no white Wis.,
itors were here his yellow friends
came and drank and INDUCED in
witty talk with the girls, and went
home happy. Honi soft!
NOW. there was one peculiar thing
~ about Lady Nell. When Of
ficers of coasters or merchant ves-
sells were in the bar she was ever
curious about other men in their
profession. Oftenest she would ask
II they knew a certain John Hanson.
an American, who had been mate in a
sydney Island trader ten years pre-
viously. One gathered vaguely that
she had known this Hanson.
She never got any news OF him.
however-that is, any definite news.
for no one In these parts knew or
ea-eA anything about the archipel-
axs. All they knew about was their
own little world. Once an officer
from a Fluviales boat spoke of a
Hanson in command of a Saigon river
steamer: but that Hanson was
black Dane. And once a Draw Scots
engineer knew of a John Hanson in
the Bombay trade who had died years
aeone, but this was vaguely said,
spoken only with desire to please.
And Zomy Sal said nothing at all.
She only sat and smiled and listened,
while slowly the English sun and fog
were driven out of her cheeks by the
Menam river mists.
One night two men came into the
English bar together. ordered ale ana
dronped into the settle by the fire.
MACE for a bit of private talk. This
was long before dancing hours
Zomy Sal was the only girl In Vle"'
and she was sitting over some sew
ing.
The two men were officers from a
Dutch packet in the stream. and they
talked in Hollandsch. After the ale
was gone they began to drink Hol-