an Wh

ts of Chinatown, but the ins and outs of New York; because he knows not only the wiles and weaknesses of Chinamen, the wiles and weaknesses of ugly souled guides (and of slum workers), but best of all, because he knows the several members of the New York police department who think they know their Chinatown. But like men who know less, Beefy Saul enjoys his sleep and naturally objects to being roused at three o'clock in the morning, even thou

he features before him, "it's a blasted outrage! Hello, Don, what in thunder b

s, his round sleepy face th

will, Beefy. I know it 's a darned

t up for another friend, he ain't mu

eefy, who 's down there so

ng the

afra

I suppose-don't know

een down there before-that he lit out again a little

the public at that time. But say, is there any special hurry? He's had

m, Beefy, a girl who is paying

et him then. I 'll be down in ten minutes

sufficient interest to make them pass unreckoned. But to sit here and wait, to sit here and watch the seconds wasted, to sit here and be conscious of each one of them as it bit, like a thieving wharf rat, into his dwindlin

most pushing the big man toward the c

he flare revealed Donaldson's eager eyes, his tense mouth. He carelessly snapped the burnt match to

rt-" suggested Don

een him-and was taking this method to hunt up an all-night opium joint. His experience made him constantly suspicious, but unlike the regular police, a suspicion with him remained a suspicion until proven. It never gained strength merely by being in his thought. At the end of f

idn't suspect

he matter with you t

t makes you t

in the corner and a tight chin by being left alone five

icious. It's only that I 've

ss pick

xt ten minutes he surprised Saul with his enthusiasm and loquacity. The latter having known him as a quiet and rather reserved fellow, finally decided

some rears of tottering tenements, to grease-fingered doors as impassive as the stolid faces of guards who drowsed behind them asleep to all save those who knew the deadly pass-word. Paradoxical doors which shut in, instead of out, danger! But Saul knew them and they knew Saul. He knew further the haun

from a guard to an obsequious servant. He opened the door and Saul strode across a narrow yard, stooping to brush beneath the stout clothes-line hung with blankets, an innocent appearing wash, which however served as an effective barrier to any one who might approach at a run. They entered the rear of a second

" deman

t their customers and through a sooted chimney the feeble light makes scarcely more than shadows in which it is very difficult to i

ngs on me, Tong," he war

aldson stood outside, dreading the call that should force him to look again. He was no man of the world and the reek of the place appalled him. Nothing he had ever read conveyed anything of the plain sordidness of it,-the unrelieved pall of it which burdened like the weary dead stretch of an alkali desert. The scene did not even become romantic to him, until glancing up, he saw above the irregular roof-tops, the sta

om his fingers. Donaldson breathed more freel

Now we 'll have a cup of tea with Chung and set him to work. It's a darned si

rned Donaldson. "I 've

morgues. Can't get used to 'em nohow. Get the creeps every time I step inside a morgue. But then I don't hanker after murder work

es?" inquired Donaldson, with a

en out

n't read the

three weeks, all within half a mil

side D

ome was near Riverside Drive. Ba

se?" he asked

case and if another one breaks, the

ealed a window filled with a medley of china, teas, silks, and joss

h gaudy Oriental colors and heavy with ebony furnishings. A group of three or four Chinamen sat at a small table soberly drinking their tea with the exaggerated innocence of those who have a deck of cards up their sleeves. The proprietor himself, fat as a butt

ing hot and glanced at his

of sleep. You can sit on here or you can hav

," nodded th

nk it will take?" as

ce-and then we might not find him if he's

naldson irritably. "Good

affectionately upon

ed earnestly. "Take my ad

I can waste

w or you 'll be having a

ed Donaldson. "I 've got

mine here and now, tha

common-sense brought

're right,"

wo addresses, one of the Waldorf a

ne of these places as so

ee l

, you un

hotel before going on to his own home. The

her a chance to thank you, I 'll bet y

in the morning. I reckon she 'll appreciat

n watched it melt down the dwindling vista until final