Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-09-16
CONTINUED Prom FIrsL PaE.

Continued From First Page
his hand. He told them he
had got out Of District Cen
eral only eight days earlier.
He had gone in voluntarily
to get through the pain
full days Of withdrawal from
the drug. He claimed he had
Just come in to watch television.
They strongly suspected he was
there to buy dope. A fit subject
to take back to District General
this time under compulsion?
Sure. but they had no pickup
order.
IF you bring that child here
again, we'll lock you up" De-
tective Panetta warned him.
The detectives went to the
Northwest section, then. An
"agent" told them the other
addict they sought might be a
peddler, doing business around
Eleventh and p streets. They
cruised through the rain.
Nothing.
Pickup Order Checked
They looked at the address on
the pickup order-in the 1900
block Of Corcoran street NV.
Might as well try there"
And now they were looking
at a young colored girl. She
couldn't have been taller than
four feet nine. The long
sleeved shirt she was wearing
as a pajama top hung loosely
on her frail body. Below the
black pajama pants, her legs
were spindly.
She ran back to the big dou-
BILE bed and jumped in. pulling
a quilt up about her.
Who are you?" Detective
Panetta asked.
She murmured name. Well
call her Clara.
What are you doing here?
Where's Eddie?"
Eddie Thorpe, 20, Of the
Corcoran street address. was the
name on the pickup order.
Il stay here sometimes. I
don't know where Eddie is"
Her voice was a murmur. De-
tective Holcomb switched off the
radio.
you take dope?"
She shook her head, looked
angrily away.
Roll up your sleeves"
Tell-Tale Scars
And then the two detectives
saw the scars - jagged, dark
marks insidethestick-like arms.
They looked at each other
and nodded.
You'd better get dressed.
We're going to take you to the
hospital"
Detective Panetta's voice was
gentler now.
THE girl gazed up at them and
tears came.
Il don't want to go to the
. hospital. I'm all right. haven't
taken anything since April"
Detective Holcomb looked more
closely at the scars.
Now, kid" he said. You've
still got scahs. They're fresh.
Where have you been getting
the stuff"
Her lips frightened.
"All right. Get dressed"
The detectives heard footsteps
on the stairs, Detective Holcomb
loosened his gun in its holster
and flung open the door.
A colored man the detectives
recognized as a shoplifter-addict
peered in and began to back
away.
Just came to get my cap."I
he muttered.
1t was NV about 1870 am.
"You came to buy. didn't your
"Oh no." he protested. lust
to get my cap-a black one"
you came to get a cap, all
right" Detective Panetta OBJ
served. "A cap of heroin."
Addict Won't Talk
The addict wasn't giving. They
waved him to a chair.
Detective Panetta decided to
go outside and take a look. He
came back with another colored
man.
He had seen the man a few
doors away, just standing on the
street. and on bunch had asked
him. How much stuff are you
uSing?" It was a shot in the
dark, but it worked. The man
humlLCeu ne TOOK dope.
When Detective Panetta
brought him into the room. the
most recent arrival exchanged
glances with the other night
visitor. Obviously. he had been
waiting for him downstairs. He
too. was told to sit down.
The girl sat hunched in a
chair. Suddenly she clapped a
hand over her mouth and fled
to the bathroom. She returned
a few minutes later, looking
shaken. 1t seemed as much a
symptom Of withdrawal from
narcotics as the hand plucking