criminals in New York! The moisture oozed again to
Jimmie Dale's forehead. God, if he could get that letter before it was
opened--before they KNEW! If he could only get the chance to fight for
it--against ANY odds! Life! Life was a pitiful consideration against the
alternative that faced him now!

From the Blue Dragon to Chang Foo's was not far; and Jimmie Dale covered
the distance in well under five minutes. Chang Foo's was just a tea
merchant's shop, innocuous and innocent enough in its appearance,
blandly so indeed, and that was all--outwardly; but Jimmie Dale, as he
reached his destination, experienced the first sensation of uplift he
had known that night, and this from what, apparently, did not in the
least seem like a contributing cause.

"Luck! The blessed luck of it!" he muttered grimly, as he surveyed
the sight-seeing car drawn up at the curb, and watched the passengers
crowding out of it to the ground. "It wouldn't have been as easy to fool
old Chang as it was that fellow back at the Dragon--and, besides, if I
can work it, there's a better chance this way of getting out alive."

The guide was marshalling his "gapers"--some two dozen in all, men and
women. Jimmie Dale unostentatiously fell in at the rear; and, the guide
leading, the little crowd passed into the tea merchant's shop. Chang
Foo, a wizened, wrinkled-faced little Celestial, oily, suave, greeted
them with profuse bows, chattering the while volubly in Chinese.

The guide made the introduction with an all-embracing sweep of his hand.

"Chang Foo--ladies and gentlemen," he announced; then held up his hand
for silence. "Ladies and gentlemen," he said impressively, "this is one
of the most notorious, if not THE most notorious dive in Chinatown, and
it is only through special arrangement with the authorities and at great
expense that the company is able exclusively to gain an entree here for
its patrons. You will see here the real life of the Chinese, and in half
an hour you will get what few would get in a lifetime spent in China
itself. You will see the Chinese children dance and perform; the Chinese
women at their household tasks; the joss, the shrine of his hallowed
ancestors, at which Chang Foo here worships; and you will enter the most
famous opium den in the United States. Now, if you will all keep close
together, we will make a start."

In spite of his desperate situation, Jimmie Dale smiled a little
whimsically. Yes; they would see it all--UP