The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1923-02-26

cost a penny extra 10 SO into the
inner room Tor adults only went
In when I was ~ and was greatly
disappointed"
The conversation passed 60 Nicer
brooks new music for a light opsra
which StarnhcFg described as the leg
chorus Nasty suggestions were
made about Meerhrook. tho every
body seemed 10 like him. Then |
found that Sadie was describing 10
mo process invented by Madame
de Louviers for the curing OF chinny
chlna
My dear" shs whispered. SITS per.
'octly wonderful No straps. no
masks; Just a little pettins ana pat.
ting. and a cream that smells like
heaven" She fingered the slight
Fuckers over her Jaw. 1T does proy
or one no"
l was feeling more az home. stran-
berg was siill talking 70 me In his
heavy way, while Julian from time 20
time flung me soft glance that ex-
pressed admiration, II was very re.
assuring. Suddenly Sadie leaned for.
ward and said. In low voice. Il
say II isn't late Let's have a Whit"
There was moment Of silence
and everybody looked at little shy
~oh. ! don't know" said Tho Won.
an
Come on. said Sadie.
Good idoa,- said Arr Mo-.
Bill Gordon protested. begging Us
not 70 b. damned fools. This ssamsd
10 infiRne The Woman. shut uni"
she said. bru,aiiy. '-rhls IL my fiat
isn't ~ Get out II you don't like it
She struck gong a whispered
word 10 sui. and in a moment tho
negrcas returned with a tray on
which stood a lamp. dorm little
pipoA and a gray substance In a
bowl nm Gordon protested again.
To my surprise. Julian intorfcred
Don't DO absurd. BIN. Il Isn't
dope
Cant sc, II nowadays." Erowiod
Sadie, "stili. opium's better than
nothing"
a thrill ran thru mo. I was going
10 smoke opium Julian murmurcd,
Don't smoke Il. Little Bear. II you
don't want to-
Sadie overheard him and cried out
Little Bear he calls her his LATHE
Bear"
We'll. Ursula means little bear
haid Julian. hlunhinx. Everybody
laughed. and Arr a Mo asked whoth-
or no might snuggie up against tho
warm fur Of the little bear. Hence.
forth I was called Little Bear. and /,
took me some time TO get used TO the
poor jokos that WIRE made over the
spelling OF tho word bear"
The eight Of US disposed ourselves
TO smoke. BIll Gordon. having 70.
fused 20 take part, was given tho
job Of making the piila
The pipes were loaded. tho light
WAS dimmsd
Don't pull too fast" saId Julian.
Very slowly, Breathe in thru the
mouth and breathe out thru your
nose. There. not 80 fast. That's
right"
shut up," said Tho Woman, in a
hushed voice, and by degrees the
movements on the dlvans ceaaed
There WAS no rustIing Of skirtA Only
regular breathing could h. heard a.
they composed themselves into qui-
etude. Julian had laid his cheek on
my shoulder. and could Just sec
him, his eyes half open under ycincd
eyelids. He frightened me. Could he
be asleep already For I felt nothing
at all. so logged him with my
elbow. He smiled and whispered:
what's the matter. Little Bcar7
Do YOU want TO s;op9"
no. I'm frightened. but want TO
80 on just to SEQ what It's like"
"oh. do shut up!g aaid The Won
nm again. YEARLY.
II took three pipes To affect me nj
all. and even so ! was wmkeful, high |
" conscious OF what was goIny on.
ART a Mo lay in the arms Of Ida |
Quin. check TO cheek and pipes
One could sec hardly any
smoke. but only haze, II seemed |
to go on for long time. Nothing
happened except that now and then
q hand rose languIdly into the haze.
moving It's pipe l had vision of
BIZ Gordon getting UP then and sub |
shutting another pipe. He seemed
rather larger than before. but beyond
that ] felt nothing. Time began to
grow immaterial. felt n little cold. |
] did not want TO move. A vague |
dream formed In my mind. was !
asleep?
II was very silent everywhere now.
Probably II was very late. three or
four In the morning. In my half
sleep i realized that Stranborg was |
holding my arm above the elbow. I !
lay almost on his shoulder. When |
realized this my energy returned: |
struggled. After a time he opened |
pearly-gray eyes and with difficulty |
whispered: II shn'n't hurt you, Lit |
Tie Bear.s ! don't know whyI ceased |
to struggle, unless | was too supde-
lied a little later | observed Julian,
He was 30 affected that had to
take his arm and put It about me.
AZ 1t fell Imply ! grew frightened |
and staggered UP from the box couch. |
The room was very dim as swayed |
into the middle Of It, among forms
,qually dim. Only Bill Gordon had |
fallen asleep. with his head against
The divan. As saw him, 40 fair. 30 |
round. no healthy. was ashamed OF
my association with those dim bodies
ying on the touches. bodies that
ireamt. that for moment had os-
capped ordinary life. ~ was terrible.
they lay 80 still, n little pale, their
mouths open. breathing fast. They
lid not look happy, for their features
were n little wary
Julian! Suppose he'd ovcrdonc III
Suppose he wa8 dendl dragged him
ip by the shoulders. He stared ut
no, blinking. but he was not quite