The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1910-02-17
and crowns and specious promises
of painless" operations.

down Il block. recrossed and joined the
upward current of people again. With
out seeming to notice the negro as he
passed the second time he carelessly
took the card that was handed him.
Ten steps away he inspected it. In
the same handwriting that appeared
Oh the first card The Green Door"
was inscribed upon it. Three or four
cards were tossed to the pavement by
both following and leading
him. These fell blank side up. Ru-
dolf turned them over Every one bore
the printed legend of the dental par
lors."
Rarely did the arch sprite adventure
need to beckon twice to Rudolf Stein
er. his true follower. But twice it had
been done. and the quest was on.
Rudolf walked slowly back to 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 barbaric dig
nifty as he stood. offering the cards
suavely to some. allowing others to
pass unmolested. Every half minute
be chanted harsh. unintelligible
phrase akin to the jabber of car con-
ductors and grand opera. And not
only did he withhold card this time.
but it seemed to Rudolf that he receiv.
ed from the shining and massive black
countenance Il look Of cold, almost con-
temptuous disdain.
The look stung the adventurer. He
read in it silent accusation that he
had been found wanting. Whatever
the mysterious written words on the
cards might mean, the black had Sc
lected him twice from the throng for
their recipient and now seemed to have
condemned him as deficient in the wit
and spirit to engage the enigma.
Standing aside from the rush, the
young man made a rapid estimate Of
the building in which he conceived
that his adventure must lie Five sto-
ries high it rose A small restaurant
occupied the basement.
The first floor. now closed, seemed
to house millinery or furs. The Sec
ond floor. by the winking electric let
ters. was the dentists. Above this a
polyglot babel Of signs struggled to in
dicate the abodes of palmists. dress
makers. musicians and doctors. Still
higher up draped curtains and milk
hotties white on the window sills pro-
claimed the regions of domesticity.
After concluding his survey Rudolf
walked briskly up the high flight Of
stoue steps into the house. Up two
flights of the carpeted stairway he
continued and at its top paused. The
hallway there was dim!y lighted by
two pale jets of gas, one far to his
right. the other nearer to his left. He
locked toward the nearer light and
saw within it's wan halo a green door.
seemed to see the contumelious sneer
of the African juggler of cards. and
then he walked straight to the green
door and knocked against 1t.
Moments like those that passed be-
fore his knock was answered measure
the quick breath of 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 it. dan
ger. death. love, disappointment. ridi
cule-any of these might respond te
| that temerarious rap.
A faint rustic was heard inside, and
the door slowly opened. A girl not yet
twenty stood there white faced ant
tottering. She loosed the knob and
swayed weakly. cropping with one
| hand. Rudolf caught her and laid he,
| on a faded couch that stood agains
| the wall. He closed the door and tool
swift glance around the room by thu
| light of Pickering gas jet. Neat bu
extreme poverty was the story that HI
read.
The girl lay still as If in faint
Rudolf looked around the room excit
edly for a barrel. People must bt
rolled upon a barrel whO-no. no; tha
was for drowned persons. He begar
to fan her with his hat. That wa:
successful, for he struck her nose will
the brim of his derby. and she opened
her eyes. And then the young maj
saw that hers. indeed. was the on'
missing face from his hearts CALLER!
of intimate portraits. The frank gra.
eyes. the little nose, turning peril!
outward: the chestnut hair. curtin.
like the tendrils of a pea vine. seemed
the right end and reward of all hi
wonderful adventures. But the fac
was woefully thin and pale.
The girl looked at him calmly ant
then smiled.
"Fainted. didn't IL" she asked weak
ly. "Well. who wouldn't? You tr,
going without anything to eat TO
three days and seer'
"Himmelv exclaimed Rudolf, jump
ing up. "Wait till come back"
He dashed out the green door an
down the stairs. In twenty minute
he was back again. kicking at til
door with his toe for her to open II
With both arms he hugged an ARA
of wares from the grocery and tn
restaurant On the table he laid ther
bread and butter. cold meats. cakes
pies. pickles. oysters, roasted CHECKER
a bottle of milk and one of redhot te:
"This is ridiculous" said Rudol
th,uStar;nolv ..to % without eatin&
You must quit making election bet
Of this kind. Supper is ready" Fl
helped her to chair at the table an
asked. "Is there cup for the tea
"On the shelf by the window" sll
answered. When he turned agai