opps, left out the critical inc dph:
;-----
org 0100h
table:
db....

;-----
org ELSEWHERE:
;-----
display_line_R2:
mov a,r2
mov b,#9
mul a,b
mov dph,a
mov dpl,b
inc dph ;left this out (for 0100h table)
call search_table
ret
;-----
org 0100h
table:
db....;-----

duh