respect. As the couple talked earnestly, the one so old, the other
so young in vice, I had to keep a tight rein on myself to prevent
my sympathy for the wretched girl getting the better of common
sense and kicking the older man out of doors.

Finally Armstrong rose to go, with a final imploring glance from
the girl. Obviously she had persuaded him to forage about to
secure the heroin, by hook or crook, now that the accustomed
source of supply was cut off so suddenly.

It was also really our first chance to study the girl carefully
under the light, for her entrance and exit the night before had
been so hurried that we had seen comparatively little of her.
Craig was watching her narrowly. Not only were the effects of the
drug plainly evident on her face, but it was apparent that the
snuffing the powdered tablets was destroying the bones in her
nose, through shrinkage of the blood vessels, as well as
undermining the nervous system and causing the brain to totter.

I was wondering whether Armstrong knew of any depot for the secret
distribution of the drug. I could not believe that Whitecap was
either the chief distributer or the financial head of the illegal
traffic. I wondered who indeed was the man higher up. Was he an
importer of the drug, or was he the representative of some
chemical company not averse to making an illegal dollar now and
then by dragging down his fellow man?

Kennedy and I were trying to act as if we were enjoying the
cabaret show and not too much interested in the little drama that
was being acted before us. I think little Miss Sawtelle noticed,