San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1926-04-25
The Married Life Of
Helen and Warren
A. Limehouse Adventure
!. By MABEL HERBERT URNER
IMEHOusE at night!

I IMEHOUSE at night!
II Limehousei The Chinatown O
London. The sinister slum-land O
romance and crime.
Alone on the bus-top, Helen thrilled
with her daring,
Warren need never know. Dining
at the Conservative Club with Sill
Charles Dring, he had left her to 8
dreary evening.
Out on their balcony, as she stood
gazing down the Embankment, had
come the impulse for this adventurous
night ride.
The sluggish black Thames with its
mist-blurred lights had suggested
"Limehouse Nights" The under
world. Life along the wharves.
Miles from their exclusive White.
hall Court. But her guide-book was
explicit as to bus routes. Number u
would take her. A two-hour ride
there and back.
Why not? Their last week in Lon
don, and still Warren had not found
time for the long-promised trip to
Limehouse.
At least she could see the streets
from the safe security of the bus top.
Now, half an hour later, she was
on 49," rumblins down the Strand.
On through Fleet street, up Ludgate
Hill, past ST. Pauls.
Further on the great wholesale dis
trict, now black and grim.
At last Whitechapel-of "Jack-the-
Ripper" fame. The beginning of the
Sums.
Pubs" at every corner, crowded to
the doors. Shabby groups on the side
walks, garrulous over mugs Of ale.
Fried fish shops. The rancid odor
of cheap grease. Coffee stalls. Jellied
eel bars. Cory meat stalls-dubious
purplish cuts.
MUCH ATMOSPHERE.
Then the street market. Barrows Of
fruit, vegetables, kippers, saucepans,
boots, old clothes.
Each stand with its Pickering
naptha flare. The odors, the shouts,
the shuffling feet.
Pettieoat Lane, Last year Warren
had brought her this far-to the IA
nous Sunday Market. But from
here on lay the unknown!
On and on, the streets more sordid.
More pubs" More odorous fish
shops.
Bakeries-soggy, grease-soaked pas
try. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. collins
and dusty wax wreaths.
A barrel-organ. Unkempt, anaemie
children dancing under a street lamp.
sordid, sagging houses cluttered
with signs.
Bed and Breakfast 2&e. Ladies and
Gents Wardrobes Bought. Umbrella
Hospital. Maternity Home. Sea,
mems Rest. Monty's Eel Supper Bar.
Midwife. Old Ship Tavern. The
Spotted Dog.
SIS it much further to Limehouse?-
Helen asked the conductor when he
came up to collect fare.
'Lime'ouse? You're in Lime'ouss
now, miss. What part d'you want?
You won't see nothin' from a bus. Got
to walk through to Pennyfield."
"Oh, / wouldn't think of getting
off! I'm going back on this bus"
This bus don't so back, miss. Last
trip tonight. Get one at the top"
When further on he shouted, Last
stop" reluctantly Helen climbed down.
A GOOD ESCORT.
"Your bus1l be along shortly, miss.
But if you want to see Hme'ouse,
there's bobby. He'll take you on
his beat"
Before she could protest, he was
consulting the robust policeman.
"Yes, miss, I'm maxim my rounds
now. Want to come along? / can't
90 off my beat-but can take you
through Pennyfield."
Helen besitated. To be escorted
through Chinatown by a big, stalwart
officer. Why not.
"The things we regret are not
what we do, but what we fail to do"
Opportunities missed Curious she
should think of that now.
How long viii it take?" timor-
ously.
"We'lI be back ere at 'alf past
nine" consulting a fat nickel watch.
Her quiet. VERY well, belied the
turmoil within.
At the first corner. they turned
into dark, narrow side-street.
No shops here. Rows of drab
houses. The small, one-story brick
Of the London poor. One window to
each-feebly lit.
mostly dock 'ands live along ere. "
volunteered her guide. Quiet enough.
Limc'ouse amt what IL used to be-"
Another turn. Old warehouses.
Pungent odors. The acrid tang of the
East.
Pennyfield at last. The Limehouse
OF Limehouse Nights"
Here the pallid blue lighks-the