s.
Young men of the city, dressed well and apparently respectable, yet all
yielding to their passion for strong drink and the charms of lewdness
and indecency. A strange, wild gathering of all grades and conditions,
mingling in a disgraceful orgie which the pen refuses to depict. How
many stories of happy homes wrecked and broken could be related by these
painted lizards who now were swimming in this whirlpool of licentious
gratification! How many men, whose past careers of honor and reputation
had been thrown away, were here gathered in this brothel, participating
in so-called amusements, which a few years ago would have appalled them!
Ah, humanity is a strange study, and debased humanity the strangest and
saddest of them all.

[Illustration: Manning and his companion stood for some time gazing at
the scenes around them.]

The detective was aroused from his reflections by the voice of his
companion.

"What do you think of this?"

"I scarcely know," answered Manning, sadly. "I have seen much of the
under-current of social life, but this exceeds anything I have ever
before experienced."

"Oh, this is comparatively nothing," said the other. "Pleasure is the
ruling spirit now. You should be here some time when there is a fight,
and then you would think that hell was a reality, and these people
devils incarnate."

While they were thus conversing, the proprietor of the establishment,
Jerry Taylor, approached them, and respectfully saluting the officer,
whom he knew, said smilingly:

"Seein' the sights of the city, are you, lieutenant?"

"Well, yes, Jerry; that's part of our business. But we are looking for a
young man who was here a few days ago, and perhaps you can help us?"

"Well, if I can do anything for you I will," answered Jerry, who was a
tall, broad-shouldered, black-haired man, with flashing black eyes and a
somber mustache, which trailed below his chin. "Come over into the
wine-room, where we can talk. We can't do it here for the noise."

Accepting the suggestion, the three men walked across the room, and
entering a narrow doorway in one corner, were ushered into an apartment
which was designated as the "wine-room." This room was occupied by the
better dressed portion of the habitues of the place, and their
deportment was much more circumspect than those in the larger room
outside. Leading the way to a table in a retired corner of the room, the
proprietor requested them to be seated, while Manning cal