Mrs. Sutphen spread out a crumpled sheet of note paper before us
on which was written something in a trembling scrawl. "For
instance, here's a letter I received only yesterday."

Kennedy glanced over it carefully. It was signed "A Friend," and
read:

"I have heard of your drug war in the newspapers and wish to help
you, only I don't dare to do so openly. But I can assure you that
if you will investigate what I am about to tell you, you will soon
be on the trail of those higher up in this terrible drug business.
There is a little center of the traffic on West 66th Street, just
off Broadway. I cannot tell you more, but if you can investigate
it, you will be doing more good than you can possibly realize now.
There is one girl there, whom they call 'Snowbird.' If you could
only get hold of her quietly and place her in a sanitarium you
might save her yet."

Craig was more than ordinarily interested. "And the children--what
did you mean by that?"

"Why, it's literally true," asserted Mrs. Sutphen in a horrified
tone. "Some of the victims are actually school children. Up there
in 66th Street we have found a man named Armstrong, who seems to
be very friendly with this young girl whom they call 'Snowbird.'
Her real name, by the way, is Sawtelle, I believe. She can't be
over eighteen, a mere child, yet she's a slave to the stuff."

"Oh, then you have actually already acted on the hint in the
letter?" asked Craig.