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WHITE SLAVES OF NEW ORLEANS

NIGHT HAUNTS OF PARIS

VICE RACKETS OF SOHO

LADIES OF THE RED LAMP

COPYRIGHT 1952

R. & L. LOCKER

Printed in U. S. A.

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Chapter One

Pick-Up Girl

THERE WAS a puzzling expression on Helen's face as she deftly,

though rather unskillfully, applied her make-up. Truth to tell, she

was not very accustomed to make-up, save for a little powder and

lipstick. But tonight was to be an "event"-she hoped-and there-

fore she was determined to make the most of herself.

She was dressed in her very best frock, one that clung somewhat

closely to her youthful figure and showed it up to the best of its

advantage. Despite her youth-she was only sixteen-she was no

longer the lanky, colt-like creature she had been during her school-

days. She had developed rather quickly, and looked much more

mature than she really was.

She was rather pretty, too, although in a somewhat "cheap" kind

of way. Her hair was fair and waved in an elongated "bob;" her

eyes were blueish-gray and large; her nose straight; and her lips

full and generous. There seemed to be a hint of slumbering, as yet

unawakened, passion in her appearance.

Her face was slightly flushed as she surveyed herself in the

mirror in her bedroom. Even now she was hesitating slightly at the

prospect of what she had determined to do. She had thought it

over for a long time, for it had not been easy to come to a decision.

It had been Mary Donan who had put the idea into her head.

Mary was a year older than Helen and had been at school with

her, in the North-country town in which they both lived. Two

years ago, Mary had left school, but she and Helen had kept up

their acquaintance, for they lived not far from each other.

In those two years, however, Mary had acquired a knowledge of

life far in excess of her age. Locally she was said to be "fast," and

it was certainly true that she was rarely seen in the town except

in the company of men much older than herself. She went to

dances with them, and patronized the best hotels which were far

out of the reach of the finances of the other girls whom Helen

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