The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1914-07-30

chair, where he sat Speculat-
ing on the numerous in
stances of human cruelty, self
ishness and spite that had fallen to his
lot to witness since that day in the jun
gle four years since that his eyes had
first fallen upon a human being other
than himself-the sleek. black Kulon-
ga. whose swift spear had that day
found the vitals of Kala. the great
she ape. and robbed the youth TarZan
of the only mother he had ever known.
He recalled the murder of King by
the rat faced Snipes; the abandonment
of Professor Porter and his party by
the mutineers of the Arrow; the cruel
ty of the black warriors and women of
Mbonga to their captives; the petty
j~ealousies Of the civil and military Off
GERS Of the west coast colony that
had afforded him his first introduc-
ton to the civilized world.
Mon Dieu!" he soliloquized. But
they are all alike-cheating, murder
ing, lying. fighting. and all for things
that the beasts of the jungle would
not deign to possess-money to pur-
chase the effeminate pleasures OF
weaklings. 1t is a silly world, an
idiotic world, and TarZan of the Apes
was a fool to %renounce the freedom
and the happiness of his jungle to
come into it,"
Presently as he sat there the sud
den feeling came yer him that eyes
were watching from behind. Tarzan
wheeled about so quickly that the Eyes
of the young woman who had been
surreptitiously regarding him had not
even time to drop before the gray
eyes Of the ape-man shot an inquiring
look straight into them. Then as they
fell TarZan saw a faint wave of Grim
son creep swiftly over the now half
averted face.
He smiled to himself at the result
Of his very uncivilized and %ungallant
action, for he had not lowered his w
eyes when they met those of the
young IN She was very young
and equally good to look upon. Fur
Their. there was something rather ia
miliar about her that set TarZan to
wondering where he had seen her be
fore. AS she walked away she raised
one hand to the black, waving mass at
the nape of her neck, Tarzan saw
upon a finger of this hand the ring of
strange workmanship that he had seen
upon the finger of the yelled woman a
short time before.
After dinner that evening TarZan
lolled lazily by the forward rail watch
ing the play Of the moonlight upon the
gently rolling waters. He was half
hidden by a davit. SO that two men
who approached along the deck did
not see him. and as they passed TarZan
caught enough of their conversation to
cause him to fall in behind them to
follow and learn what deviltry they
were up to-. He had recognized the
voice as that of ROkOff and had seen
that his companion was Paulvitch.
Tarzan had overheard but n few
words: "And If she screams you may
choke her until He kept the two
men in sight as they walked briskly
now along the deck. To the smoking
room he followed them, but they mere
" halted at the doorway long enough
apparently to assure themselves that
one whose whereabouts they wished
to establish was within.
Then they proceeded directly to the
6rst class cabins upon the promenade
deck. Here TarZan found greater diff
fculty in escaping detection. but he
managed to do so successfully. AS
they halted before one of the polished
hardwood doors TarZan slipped into
the shadow of Il passageway not a doZ-
en- feet from them.
To their knock a wOman's voice ask
ed in French. Who is it,"
ut is /. Olga-NikOlaS." was the an
swer in Rokoff's now familiar cultural.
"May | come in:'
"Why do you not cease prosecuting
me, Nikolas?" came the voice Of the
from beyond the thin panel.
81 have never harmed you"
Come, come. Olga" urged the man
in propitiatory tones. 81 but ask a half
dozen words with you. | shall MOI
harm you nor shall l enter your cabin.
but | cannot shout my message through
the door"
TarZan heard the catch click as it
was released from the inside. Rokof
was standing directly in front of the
door. Paulvitch had fattened himself
against the paneled wall of the CORR
dor beyond. The door opened. Rokofr
half entered the room and stood with
his back against the door. speaking in
a low whisper to the roman whom
Tarzan could not see Then TarZan
heard the woman's voice. level. but
loud enough to distinguish her words.
,"No. Nikolas." she was saying; ut Is
useless. Threaten as you will. l shall
never accede to your demands"
Tarzan saw Rokoff turn and nod to
Paulvitch. who sprang quickly toward
the doorway Of the cabin. rushing In