The Washington times., 1904-12-18

ward lIrrent OF people again. Without
seeming To notice the negro as he pass
cd The second time. he carelessly took
the card thaC was handed him. Ten
steps away he inspected st. in the
same handwriting that appeared on the
first card THE Green Door" was iu-
scrlbed upon IL. Three or four cards
were tossed TO the pavement by pedes-
tTiaus both following and leading him.
These fell blank side mp. Rudolf turn
I'd then, over. Every one bore the
printed legend of the dental "parloTs.'
The Quest On.
Rarely did the arch sprite Adventure
need 10 beckOn twice TO Rudolf Steiner.
Iis true follower. But twice IL had
been done and the quest was on
Rudolf walked slowly back 10 where
the giant negro stood by the case of
rattling teeth. This time as he passed
he received no card. In spite Of his
gaudy and ridiculous garb the Ethio-
plan displayed natural bdTbaric dig
nifty as he stood. Offering the cards
sauvely 40 some, allowing others 10 pass
unmolested. Every half minute he
chanted a harsh, unintelligible phrase
akin 10 the jabber of car conductors
and grand opera. And not only did ne
withhold card this time. but il seem
ed 10 Rudolf that he received from the
shining and massive black couutenance
look OF cold, almost contrmptuous
disdaln.
The look stung the adventurer. He
read ia IL "a silent accusation that he
had been found wanting Whatever the
mysterious written words on the cards
might mean, the black had selected him
twice from the throns for their recip-
ient, and now seemed 10 have con-
demned him as deficient in the Wit ana
spirit 10 engage the enigma.
Standing aside from the rush. the
young man made "a rapid estimate OF
the building IN which he conceived that
hls adventure must lie Five stories
high ia rose. A small restaurant occu-
pied the basement The first h0or now
closed, seemed To house millinery or
furs. The second floor, by the winkiug
electric letters. was the dentists. Above
this a polyglot babel of signs struggled
10 indicate the abndes OF Lalmists. dress
makers. musicians. and doctors Still
higher up drapcd curtains ana milk bot
Ties white on the window sils pro-
claimed the regions Of domesticity
Knock at the Door.
After concluding his survey Rudolf
walked briskly up the high flight OF
stone steps into the house. Up the ear
peted stairway he continued: and at
its head paused. The hallway there was
dimiy lighted by two pale Jets of gas
one fun 20 his right, the other nearer.
20 his left He looked toward the
nearer light and saw. within its wan
halo. "a GTeeH door. For one moment he
/ hesitatedi then he seemed To see the
contumeiious sneer of the African Jug
gler Of cards, and then he walked
straight 10 the green door and knocked
against il.
Moments like those that passed before
his knock was answered measure the
quick breath of the true adventure.
What might not be behind those green
panels! Gamesters AT play: cunning
rOgues batting their traps with subtle
skill; beauty in love with courage. and
thus planning to be sought by il; dan
ger. death. love, disappointment. ridicule
any OF these might respond 10 thar
temerarious rap.
4 faint rustic was heard inside and
the door slowly opened. A girl not vet
twenty stood there, white-faced and tot
tering. She loOsed the knob and swayed
weakly, cropping with one hand. Rudolf
caught her and laid her on faded
couch that stood against the wall. lie
closed the door and took "A swift glance
around the room by the light OF a flick
ering gas jet. Neat but extreme pow
erty was the story that he read.
The girl lay stiiK as II IN a faint. Ru-
dolf looked around the room excitedly
for a barrel. People must be rolled upon