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MADAME V.'S STORY : THE
CHAPTER VII
DEVII/S AMBASSADOR
THE means by which Mr. Willis got into com-
munication with the author of this story is
as follows : He had become very friendly with
an official in the Straits Settlements, and being
aware of his intimate knowledge of the affairs
of the place, he explained to him that he
desired to do something to eheck the white
slave traffic. The gentleman was in sympathy
with this desire, and in pressing him to talk
of some of the facts in connection with this
matter which had come under his own ob-
servation, Mr. Willis put before him his duty
as a father who loves his own children, and
as a citizen who lights under the flag, and
begged him to speak openly. Mr. Willis's
friend was much impressed, and acknowledged
that hundreds perhaps thousands of innocent
girls were yearly decoyed to the East,
there to succumb inevitably to disease and
horrid deaths. He ended his sad recital,
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