Chicago world. (Chicago, Ill.) 1918-????, 1949-11-19
THE VICTIM
by
ROBERT MACK MORRIS

lv1ous to its strange song. They
went to Dorchester street. then
turned north, to the big grey stone
house near '62nd street.
Gladys place was situated on
the third floor, taking up the en-
tire flat. She did good business
renting couples beds in which to
spend the night as guests. To
the right people she sold morphine
shots, cocaine, and a few REFERS.
She was reluctant to handle mari.
juanas for the simple reason that
they were not strong enough to
render most of her customers the
immediate sensations they quested.
With them you had to smoke more
than one, for more than one or
two times. Several boys and girls
usually motivated her dealing with
the stuff in the first place,
James was the second visit he
had made. The first time he was
there he was totally unaware as
to what went on until Mable
Stuart put him hep. That was
weeks ago; still he recalled read
lily the funny feeling he acquired
from merely being in the place,
smelling the -oddaroma of the
thick, grey smoke. Railways caus-
ed him to breathe it deeper and
deeper, regardlessfh how sternly he
attempted not to.
Now, however, the big living
room smelt fresh. The air was
clear. There was the faintest scent
OF deadly tobacco. The rest of the
room sme1t wonderfully of some
sweet perfume.
Gladys made them comfortable.
She seated the three of them in
a row on the studio couch. For
herself she pulled up. straight
chair. This she parked in front
of them and talked for a long time
before finally getting around to
asking their purpose for coming.
The patronizin- gerowd didn't usu-
ally show up till late in the evening.
It was out of order that these
three should be here 50 early in
the afternoon. School was still in
procession, or would be five min
uteS fro mnoW, when the luncheon
hour ended. In all, she was out
right suspicious.
Arlene, the redhead showed her
the little packet Of tightly rolled |
REFERS, explaining she ha d |
brought them because the Pander |
couldn't come. Right away Gladys |
convinced herself that they were
all right JoeS; otherwise the Pan |
der certainly would not have trust |
ed them.
She was inanifestfully thankful. |
In appreciation she prepared each |
OF them drink. James accepted |
with small degree Of eagerness, |
combined with curiosity. He SIP
ped his slowly.s 1t was gin. But |
1t was good gin. He drank it |
alacrltlouslessly, perhaps endeav-
orlng to fool himself. However.
ne did a poor job of convincing |
anyone that he didn't like it.
Scotty was different. He had |
drunk jim before. He drank it |
many times ere now. If il made |
him high, he swallowed It with |
the expressed purpose of getting |
high.
Arlene was the same, in this |
respect. Only, she downed the |
stuff as readily as though it was |
sWeeten water. She evinced no
pretexts for doing 50, and when
she telt the mood" coming on.
she readied herself further by
ightlng a weed and putting on it
with that certain puff all smokers
employed. Afterward she wanted
. lie down, to sleep it off, but
suddenly something seized her.
Whatever it was, choked that de-
sire Out OF her. She felt strangely
wild, torrid. An odd emotion stir
req her body. Like blazing torch
passion burned deep inside her.
- o'eO'ihS her body into a state of
motions promptly by the force Of
cataleptic trance.
Failing upon Scotty, she pleaded
to him to take her. Te James it
was kind Of frightening. She wae
as another person, this was like
another world. But Scotty under.
stood. Scotty was an old hand
at this sore of thing. He knew
exactly what to do. And he didn't
hesitate doing it.
HE staggered to his feet, pulling
her ND GLADYS LET +l,o