South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-05-20

dentist 8 cards without reducing his
store. but tonight the African slip
ped one into his hand so defly that
he retained Il there smiling a little
at the successful feat.
When he had travelled a few
yards further he glanced al the card
indifferently. Surprised, he turned
Il over and looked again with IN
terest One side Of the card was
blank. on the other was written in
ink three words. The Green Door
And then Rudolf saw, three steps
in front OF him, a man throw down
he card the negro had given MN
as he passed. Rudolf picked It up.
Il was printed with the dentist S
name and address and the usual
schedule Of plate work" and bridge
work" and crowns" and specious
promises OF painless" operations.
The adventurous piano salesman
halted at the corner and considered.
Then he crossed the street, walked
down a block, recrossed and Joined
the upward current OF people again.
without seeming 20 notice the negro
as he passed the second time, he
carelessly took the card that was
handed him. Ten steps away he in
spected ii. In the same handwriting
that appeared on the first card The
Green Door" was inscribed upon it.
Three or four cards were tossed 70
the pavement by pedestrians both
following and leading him. These
fell blank side up. Rudolf turned
them over. Every one bore the
printed legend OF the dental par
lors."
Rarely did the arch sprite Adven-
ture need to beckon twice to Rudolf
Steiner, his true follower. But twice
it had been done, and the quest was
on.
Rudolf walked slowly back to
where the gaint negro stood by the
case OF rafting teeth. This time
as he passed he received no card.
In spite OF his gaudy and ridiculous
garb. the Ethiopian displayed a ma
tural barbaric dignity as he stood
Offering the cards suavely to some,
allowing others to pass unmolested.
Every half minute he chanted
harsh, unintelllgible phrase akin to
the tabber of car conductors and
grand opera. And not only did he
withhold a card this time, but 1t
seemed to Rudolf that he received
from the shining and massive black
countenance a look Of cold. almost
contemptuous disdain.
The look stung the adventurer. He
read in It 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 throng
for their recipientfh and now seem
ed to have condemned him as de-
ficient in the wit and spirit TO en-
gage the enigma.
Standing aside from the rush. the
young man made a rapid estimate
of the building in which he con-
ceived that his adventure must lie.
Five stories high II rose. A small
restaurant occupied the basement.
The first floor. now closed, seemed
to house millinery or furs. The
second floor. by the winking electric
letters. was the dentists. Above
this a polyglot babel of signs strug-
gled TO indicate the abodes Of palm
lists, dressmakers, musician and doc
tors. Still higher up draped cur
tains and milk bottles white on the
window stills proclaimed the regions
Of domesticity.
After concluding his survey Ru-
dolf walked brisgly up the high fight
OF stone steps into the house Up
two flights of the carpeted stairway
he continued; and at its top paused.
The hallway there was dimly lighted
by two pale Jets of gas-One far
to his right, the other nearer. TO his
left He looked toward the nearer
light and saw, within its wan halo,
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