The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1914-01-20


way to avoid the duel. nor could
d'Arnot. to whom he had told the story.
The challenge was accepted. Pistols
were chosen as the weapons.
D'Arnot and Tarzan ware hrst upon
the field of honor. A moment later De
Coude. Monsieur Flaubert and q third
gentleman arrived. The last was intro
duced to D'Arnot and Tarzan; he was .
physician.
D'Arnot and Monsieur Fiaubert spoke
together In whispers for q brief time.
The Count de Coude and Tarxan stood
apart at opposite sides Of the Held.
Presently the seconds summoned them.
D'Arnot and Monsieur Flaubert had ex-
amined both pistols. The two men who
were to face each other moment .ater
stood silently while Monsieur Flaubert
reclted the conditions they were to. oh
serve.
phey were to stand back to back. At
a signal from Monsieur F1aubert they
were to walk In opposite directions.
their pistols hanging 'oy their sides.
D'Arnot was TO give tho Anal slgnai-
then they were to turn and hre at will
until one fell, or each had expended the
three shots allowed.
While Monsieur Flaubert spoke Tar
san selected q cigarette from his case
and lighted II. De Coude was the per-
sonifcation OF coolness-was he not the
best shot In France?
Presently Monsieur F'laubert nodded
to DArnot. and each man placsd his
principal In position.
Are YOU quite ready. gontbomen!''
asked Monsieur Flaubert.
Quite" replied De Couds.
Tarzan nodded. Monsieur Flaubsrt
gave the signal. He and DArnot
stepped back few PAGES to be out Of
the. line OF fire az the men paced aowly
ap&rt. Ski seven!> Eight! There
were tears In D'Arnotis eyes. He loved
Tarxan very much. Nine! Another
pace. and the poor lieutenant gave the
signal he 90 hated to give. TO MIN It
sounded the doom of his best friend.
Quickly Do Coude wheeled and fired.
Tarzan gave o little start. His pistol
still dangled at his side. De- Coude
hesitated. a. though waiting to see his
antagonist crumple to the ground. The
Frenchman was too experienced .
marksman not to know that he had
scored at hit. Still Tarsan made no
move to raise his pistol. De Coude
fred once more. but the attitude OF the
ape-man-the utter indifference that
was 30 apparent In every line OF the
nonchal..nt ease OF his giant figure. ana
the even. unruffled puffing Of his
cigarette-ihad disconnected the best
marksman In France. This time TARTAN
did not start. but again DE Couds knew
that he had hit.
Suddenly the explanation leaped to
his mind--his antagonist was cooliy tax
ing these terrific chances In the hope
that he would receive no staggering
wound from any OF DE Coude's three
shots. Then he would take his own
time about shooting De Coude down 90
liberately, coolly. and In cold blood. A
little SILVER ran up the Frenchmans
spine. 1t was hendish-diabolical. What
manner Of creature was this that could
stand complacently with two bullets In
him. waiting for the third?
And so De Coude took carefn Aim
this time, but his nerve was gone. and
he made clean miss. Not once had
Tarzan raised his pistol hand from
where II hung beside his leg.
For a moment the two stood looking
straight into each others eyes. On
Tarzan's face was a pathetic expression
OF disappointment. On De Coude's .
rapidly growing expression OF horror
yes, Of terror.
But Tarxan did not raise his pistol.
Instead, he advanced toward De Coude.
and when D'Arnot and Monsieur F9au-
bert, misinterpreting his intention. would
have rushed between them he raised
his left hand In n sign OF remonstran nee.
do not fear" he said to them. Il
shall not harm him."
1t was most unusual. but they halted.
Tarzan advanced until he was quite
close to De Coude.
"There must have been something
wrong with monsieur's pistol" he said.
"Or monsieur IL unstrung. Take mine.
monsieur, and try again. and Tarx1N
offered his pistol. butt foremost, to the
astonished De Coude.
"Mon Dieu! monsieur" cried the lat
ter Are you madT'
mo, my friend" replied the ape
man: hut ! deserve to die. 1t 10 the
only way In which may atone for the
wrong I have done q very good woman.
Take my pistol and do as bid"
1T would be murder" replied De
Coude. But what wrong did you do
my wife? She swOre to me that
II do not mean that" said Tarxan.
quickly. -"You saw all the wrong that
oaAsed botyoen N But that VA