The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1920-08-27

Y STORY ; *: !,
(, the building in which he conceived
that his adventure must lie. Five
stories high Il rose. A small restau
rant occupied the basement.
|. The first floor. now closed. seemed
10 house millinery or furs. The sec
ond floor. by the winding electric
letters. was the dentists. Above
this a polyRiot babel OF signs strug
rled TO Indicate the abodes OF palm
lists. drensmakers. musicians and doc
tors. stili higher NJ drapcd curtains
and milk bottles white on tho win
dow stills proclaimed the regions Of
domesticity.
After concluding his survey Rudolf
walked briskiy up the high flight OF
stone steps into the house. Up two
flights Of the carpeted stairway he
continued: and NJ IT. top paused.
Tho hallway there was dimiy lighted
by two pale jets Of Eas-one far "a
his right. tho other nearer. 10 his
left. Ito looked toward the nearer
light and saw. within It's wan halo.
a green door. For one moment he
henitated: then no secme1 10 see the
oontumeilous rnoer OF tho African
juEEler OF cards. and then he walked
straight to the green door and
knocked against H.
Moments like those that paused be
fore his knock was answered meas.
ure the quick breath OF true sdvcn,
tur~ What might not be behind
those green paneln' Gamestern at
play; cunning roGues batting their
traps with subtle akin. beauty In
love with courage. and thus planning
TO be sought by Il. danger. death.
love. disappointment. ridieule - any
OF shose might respond to that tsmer-
uious rap.
A faint rustic was heard inside.
and tho door slowly opened A glrl
not yet 20 stood there. white faced
ana lettering. She loosed tho knob
and nwayed weakly. cropping with
one hand. Rudolf caught her and
laid her on q faded couch that stood
against the wall. lie closed thu door
and took . swift glance around tho
room BY the light OF q Pickering Gus
Yet. Neat. but extreme poverty was
the story that he read.
The girl lay stu. as II In . faint.
Rudolf looked around tho room ex.
cifcdiy foe a barrel. People must be
rolled upon a barr~l ~ho--no. no.
that was for drowned persons. lie
began to fan her with his hat That
was successful. for he struck her
noso with the brim Of his derby and
she opened her ayes. And then tho
young man saw that hers. indeed.
was tho one missing face from his
hearts gallery Of intimate portraits.
The frank. gray eyes. the little nose
turning p<rsiy upward. The chestnut
hair. curling like the teudrtis Of a
PEA vinr. seesned the right end and
reward OF all his wonderful sdven.
,urcs. hut tho face was wosfuily
thin and pale.
Ths sirl looked at him calmly. and
then smiled.
PAINTED. didn't ~ she asked.
weakly. We'll. who wouldn't, rou
try going without anything TO eat
for three days and sees
'fflmmeir' exclaimed Rudolf. Jump
Ing up. ~wait tii I come back"
lie dashed out the green door and
down the stairs. In 20 minutes he
vas back again. kicking at the door
with his toe for her to open L. With
both arms he hugxed an array Of
wares from the grocery and the req
,aurant. on the table he laid ihem---
bread and butter. cold meats. cakes.
pies. pickles. oysters. q roasted
chicken. . bottle Of milk and one OF
rcd.hot tea.
This IL ridiculous. said Rudolf.
biustrrinxiy. ITO go without eating.
You must ault making election bet.
Of this Kind suppar 10 ready" lie
helped her 10 a chair at tho table
and asked. "fs there a cup for the
tsaT" ION the shelf by the win.
dow she answrr~d When he turned
again with the cup he ssw her. with
eyes shining rspsurously. beginning
upon q huge AN pickle that she had
rooted out from the paper bags with
a woman's un~rring instinct. He
took u from her. isughlnrly. and
poured the cup fun Of milk. Drink
that first" he ordered. and then
you shah have some tea. and then a
chicken wing. II you are very good
you shall have pickle tomorrow.
And now. II you'ii allow me- 10 be
your guest we'll have supper"
He drew up the other chair. The
ira Hrfrhfeped The stxtsk r.r. mra