This story deals with a rather sensitive subject, prostitution, but
there are no graphic descriptions, just a couple of references.

DARK SIDE OF THE CITY
by
Lynne C.

"I take back all I said, Little Joe," whispered Hoss. "Adam's
obviously up to summat. You was right, all along, sure enough. I know
I said it was wrong of us ta spy on him, but now I'm glad ya persuaded
me to do so. What d'ya think he's up ta, Hop Sing?"

The Chinese cook was too shocked and angry to say anything, for a few
minutes, and when he did speak, it was in his native tongue.

"Aw, Hop Sing, you don't really know what Adam's doing yet, so there's
no need to be that hard on him. He's probably only satisfying a normal
man's needs, after all. He doesn't deserve to be killed, just for
doing that," said Little Joe, the only Cartwright who could understand
what the cook was saying. "I'm sure there's a reasonable explanation.
What do you think we should do, now, Hoss?"

"I ain't that sure, little brother, and what do you know about a man's
needs?" said Hoss; glad that it was dark enough, so that Joe couldn't
see that he was blushing. "I guess we should jest stay here and wait
`til he comes outta there, and then go ask him what he's up to."

"I think we should go and get Pa," said Joe, giggling. "That'd teach
ole bossy boots Adam a lesson, if Pa was out here and caught his
eldest son leaving a brothel. I don't think even Adam, with all his
college education, could talk his way out of that one."

"That don't seem fair, Little Joe," said Hoss.

"Does to me," said Joe. "All I did was try and peep through a window
into one of those joints, and Adam threatened to tell Pa, if he caught
me doing so, again. He ain't nothing but a hypocrite, cos he's just
walked in there, bold as brass."

"Mistah Adam grown man, Little Joe not, that's difference," said Hop
Sing. "But Hop Sing still angry with Mistah Adam. He tell Hop Sing
that he do not like to see young girls exploited, in such places, and
now he is in one, himself. When I told you and Mistah Adam about my
cousin's daughter and how he worry that she may be in such a place, he
said it was wrong. I am disappointed in Mistah Adam."

"Aw, don't take on so, Hop Sing," said Hoss. "Mebbe Adam's only gone
in there cos he's tryin' ta find Su Lee."

"I don't think so, Hoss," said Joe. "Hop Sing's relatives already
checked this end of the street and found out that Su Lee wasn't here,
so there was no need for Adam to be down this way, unless he's using
the services of one of the girls. I think we should either get Pa, or
go in, ourselves, and get him outta there."

"Adam would skin us alive if we barged in while he's doin' whatever
he's doin' in there," said Hoss. "It's best that we just wait fer him."

"Well, I hope he don't take that long with whatever he's doing, as if
Pa's meeting finishes, and he gets back to the hotel and we're not
there, he's gonna throw a hissy. You know how he said that he didn't
want me wandering about late at night? He keeps telling us that San
Francisco isn't the Ponderosa, like we don't know that."

"Pa meant he didn't want you wanderin' about on yer own, Little Joe,"
said Hoss. "He'll be all right about it, iffen he knows you're with
me, sure enough. He knows that we wanted ta help Hop Sing find Su Lee.
Anyway, I don't think we should jest go and leave Adam here, alone."

"But he isn't alone, brother, is he?" said Joe, giggling again.

"You know what I mean, Joe. He ain't with any of his family."

"We wait for Mistah Adam," said Hop Sing. "We wait and we find out why
he here," and the cook made himself as comfortable as he could,
amongst the crates and baskets that were piled up in front of them.

Inside the building that Hoss, Joe and Hop Sing were keeping an eye
on, Adam was posing as a customer. It was true that Hop Sing's
relatives had already made enquiries and were pretty sure that Su Lee,
the thirteen-year-old daughter of another of Hop Sing's cousins, was
not there. However, a friend of Adam's from his college days, Dan
Truman, had told Adam that when he'd been to the house, earlier that
day, there were some more girls just arriving. Dan knew that Adam was
looking for Su Lee, who had been kidnapped almost as soon as the ship
that had brought her and her family from China, had docked.

"Of course I can't be sure that Su Lee was one of them, Adam," said
Dan, as they enjoyed a drink together, in a downtown bar. "I mean, I
only caught a glimpse of them, but they were all very young and they
looked frightened. I doubt if any of them was there because they
wanted to be. Now, as you well know, I'm not averse to visiting such
establishments, but I have my standards and I don't hold with young
girls being forced to work there. If I were you, I'd pay the Gilded
Lily a visit."

"I think I will," said Adam. "Trouble is, Hop Sing and my brothers
aren't back at the hotel yet, and I'd prefer to know where they are,
before I take off, again. We decided we could cover more ground, if we
split up, so I haven't seen them all day. Oh well, I'll just go and
check out the Gilded Lily and then I'll go back to our hotel. Thanks
for the tip off, Dan, we must have dinner together, before we head
back to the Ponderosa."

"That will be nice, Adam, I'll look forward to it."

Adam said goodbye to Dan and headed off for the Gilded Lily, unaware
that Hoss, Joe and Hop Sing were following him. He knocked at the door
and was ushered inside by a smiling doorman, who led him into a dimly
lit room, which had settees, covered in brightly coloured satin
material, against three of the walls, and a large, low table in the
middle of the floor. On this table there were several bowls filled
with nuts and various dried fruits and some bottles of wine and beer,
plus a large jug of water.

"Please, take seat, have drink, relax, your hostess will be with you
shortly," said the man, bowing low, as he left the room.

"Thank you," said Adam, and he sat down, but did not have a drink, as
he wanted to have his wits about him.

He didn't have to wait for long and a very elegantly attired lady
glided into the room. It was hard to determine her age, as she was
wearing a lot of make up, but she was definitely much older than the
girl Adam was looking for.

"Good evening, honourable gentleman," she said, placing her hands
together, as if in prayer, and bowing low. " My name is Mia and I am
so happy to see you here tonight. Please tell me what you would like
and I will do all in my power to see that your wishes are fulfilled.
Here at the Gilded Lily, our only aim is to bring you pleasure."

"Thank you ma'am," said Adam, adopting the manners and tone of a young
man about town. "I've been in the city for a while, now, and I'm
rather tired with what's on offer at most of the establishments on the
waterfront. I'm looking for some new, young blood, if you know what I
mean? Can you help me?"

"Of course we can help you, sir, although the cost will be quite a bit
more. We have just had some new arrivals, fresh off the boat from
China. I will see that one of them is sent to your room."

"I hope they've at least had a bath, first. Those ships are not known
for their hygiene. And the cost is irrelevant, as long as I get what I
want. Would it be possible for me to see all the new girls and choose
one?"

"The girls in this establishment are always very clean, sir, and yes,
of course you can make your own selection. I will go and arrange
things for you. Please excuse me," and she bowed, again, and left the
room.

Adam poured himself out a glass of water and waited. Another man was
led into the room, but he soon left again, when a young woman came to
collect him.
Eventually, Mia returned and ushered in five girls. Adam was shocked
to see how young they were and how scared they looked. He found it
extremely difficult to maintain the façade of the type of man who
would want to take advantage of such a young girl.
He stood up and walked along the line, as if he was a general
inspecting the troops.
He asked each of them what their name was and the third one in the
line whispered, "Su Lee."

He didn't choose Su Lee, straight away, but spoke to all of them, and
then pointed at her.

"I want that one," he said. "Come on girl, let's go. I'm eager to have
some fun."

As the girl appeared to be reluctant to go with him, he grabbed hold
of her hand and led her away.

"It's all right," he whispered. "I'm not going to hurt you, I've come
to help you. Just do as I say."

Mia showed Adam and Su Lee to a room, at the back of the house, on the
ground floor.

"If there is anything else you need, please ring the bell and I will
return," said Mia, before she left.

"Thank you, but I am sure we will be fine," said Adam, giving her what
he hoped was a lascivious look.

As soon as Adam and Su Lee were alone, Adam dropped the charade he'd
been playing, and gently led the young girl over to a chair.

"Sit down, here, and please listen to me," he said. "I am not going to
hurt you, I have come to take you back to your family. I am a friend
of your father's cousin, Hop Sing. He works for my father on our
ranch, the Ponderosa."

At the mention of the name of the ranch, Su Lee looked up at Adam. She
obviously recognised it.

"You from Ponderosa? You help Su Lee?"

"Yes, my name is Adam Cartwright. We have been helping Hop Sing to
find you, ever since your father came to our hotel and told him you
were missing."

Adam went over to the window and looked out.

"Perfect, we can climb out and go down the alleyway. We can be back at
the hotel where I am staying with my family, before these people
realise we are gone."

Adam locked the door of the room and then opened the window.

"Come on, let me help you," and he picked Su Lee up and set her down
on the window ledge. "All you have to do is drop down to the ground,
it's not very far."

The young girl just sat on the ledge, too terrified to move. All that
had happened to her, in such a short time, had taken its toll, and she
found herself paralysed with fear.
Adam tried to coax her, but in the end, he climbed out, first, and
then lifted her down. She was such a tiny thing that he was able to
carry her, easily, and he was making his way round to the front of the
building, when he almost collided with Hoss. His big, younger brother
had grown impatient with waiting and decided it was time for some action.

"I'm gonna go and check out the back of the place, in case we havta
force our way in," he told Joe and Hop Sing. "You stay here, and keep
an eye out for Adam."

When he saw his brother, with Su Lee in his arms, Hoss found it hard
not to shout out with joy.

"You found her, Adam," he said. "Well done, and there was me thinkin'
you was jest havin' some fun."

"Thanks, brother. Did you honestly think that I would frequent a place
that kidnaps little girls and treats them like slaves?"

"No, I guess not, but I sure did wonder, fer a minute or two. Little
Joe, Hop Sing and me followed ya here, and we couldn't understand why
you were goin' in. This place had already bin checked out and we
didn't think Su Lee was here."

"I know that, but then I met up with my college pal, Dan, and he told
me he'd been here when some new girls had arrived, so I came to see
for myself. I would have told you what I was doing, but I didn't know
where you were."

"Little Joe seemed ta think you might be in some kinda trouble and
persuaded me and Hop Sing to come after you."

As they were talking, the two brothers made their way back to where
Joe and Hop Sing were waiting for them.

"Mistah Adam, thank you, you have found Su Lee," and then Hop Sing
lapsed into his native tongue, as he addressed the young girl. "I tell
her we take her to her family. We go now, please. Su Lee need her
parents, she very scared."

Joe came and stood next to Adam and added his congratulations.

"Great job, brother."

"Thanks, little buddy. Of course Hop Sing, we will go right now," and
Adam passed the girl to Hoss and then hailed a cab.

They were soon at the hotel, where Su Lee's distraught parents were
waiting. Her father ran over to them and took his daughter from Hoss,
who had cradled her in his arms, on the trip back. The girl seemed to
sense that Hoss was a friend, and like so many injured or sick
animals, before her, realised that Hoss represented a safe haven.
Ben was also there, anxious to know about the girl's welfare, but
concerned about his sons, too.

"Thank goodness you are all okay," he said, when they entered the
lobby. "I thought I told you not to venture out, after dark, Joseph."

"It's all right, Pa, we were all together," said Adam. "Joe didn't
leave Hoss' side the whole time we were out."

"That's the truth, Pa, sure enough," said Hoss. "He stuck closer to me
than a flea on a hound dog."

"Well, I'm glad about that," said Ben. "When I got back from my
meeting, and none of you were here, I was really worried. I feared
that you might have got yourself shanghaied, Little Joe. As I keep
telling you boys,"

"We know, Pa, this isn't the Ponderosa," said Adam, Hoss and Little
Joe, in unison, interrupting their father.

Ben did inform the police what was going on at the Gilded Lily and was
told that his complaint would be investigated. However, what was going
on there, was only the tip of the iceberg. There was just too much
corruption and not enough lawmen to stop it.
When it was time for the Cartwrights and Hop Sing to return to the
ranch, Su Lee and her parents accompanied them. They were able to find
work in Virginia City, and were happier living there, rather than
staying in San Francisco, which was always going to give Su Lee
nightmares, after her terrifying experience.

THE END
Little Joe forever
Lynne
August 5th 2005

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