The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1914-04-02

other swarthy plotter had entered and
was standing behind the counts chair.
Tarzan saw him turn end glance fur
lively about the room, but his eyes did
not rest for sufficient time upon the
mirror to note the reflection of Tar
zan's watchful eyes. Stealthily the
man withdrew something from his
pocket. Tarzan could not discern what
the object was, for the mans hand
covered it.
Slowly the hand approached the
count, and then, very deftly, the thing
that was in it was transferred to the
counts pocket. +. -. (.
The play went on for some ten min
utes after this until the count won
considerable wager from him who had
last joined the game, and then Tarzan
saw the fellow back of the counts
chair nod his head to his confederate.
Instantly the player arose and pointed
a finger at the count. + -.
HAD known that monsieur was a
professional card sharp had not been
so ready to be drawn into the game
he said. }%
Instantly the count and the two 9TH
er players were upon their feet.
Coude's face went white.
"What do you mean. sir?" he cried.
seDo you know to whom you speak 2"
II know that l speak for the last
time to one who cheats at cards." re-
piled the fellow.
The count leaned across the table
and struck the man full in the mouth
with his open palm, and then the 9TH
ers closed in between them.
'There is some mistake, sir" cried
one of the other players. "Why, this
is Count de Coude of France"
IF l am mistaken" said the accuser,
81 shall gladly apologize, but before l
do so first let monsieur lie cOmte ex-
plain the extra cards which saw him
drop into his side pocket
And then the man whom Tarzan had
seen drop them there turned to sneak
from the room, but found the exit bar
red by tall. gray eyed stranger.
With low oath he seized Tarzan to
push him to one side. The ape-man
but smiled as he twisted the big fell
low about and, grasping' him by the
collar of his coat, escorted him back
to the table. struggling. cursing and
striking in futile remOnStrance. 1t
was NikOlas RokOff's first experience
with the muscles that had brought
their savage owner victorious through
encounters with SAILOR, the tiger;
Numa, the lion, and TerkOz, the great
bull ape.
The man who had accused De Coude
and the two others who had been play
ing stood looking expectantly at the
count.
You have but to slip your hand in
the counts coat pocket" said the ac-
cuser. And then as the others hest
tated to do SO, Come; shall do it
myself If no other WILL" and he step
ped forward toward the count.
mo, monsieur" said De COude; Il
will submit to search only at the
hands of gentleman"
ut is unnecessary to search the
count. The cards are in his pocket. 1
myself saw them placed there"
All turned in surprise toward this
new speaker to behold a very well
built young man urging resisting
captive toward them by the scruff of
his neck.
at is conspiracy cried De Coude
angrily. ''There are no cards in my
coatw And with that he ran his hand
into his pocket. AS he did so tense 81
Ience reigned in the little group. The
count went dead white, and then very
slowly he withdrew his hand, and in
it were three cards.
He looked at them in mute and hor-
rified surprise. and slowly the red OF
modification suffused his face. Ex-
pressions of pity and contempt tnged
the features of those who looked on
at the death Of mans honor.
cit is conspiracy, monsieur. 1t
was the gray eyed stranger who spoke.
"Gentlemen.'' he continued. monsieur
lie comte did not know that those cards
were in his pocket. This person whom
I Just intercepted in an effort to es-
cape placed the cards there"
De COude had glanced from Tarzan
to the man in his grasp.
.Mon Dieu, NikOlas Rokoff" ne
cried. "You?"
i Then he turned to his accuser and
eyed him intently for moment.
"And you. monsieur. l did not rec
ognize you without your beard. lt
quite DISCUSSES you, Paulvitch. I see
it all now. It is quite clear. gentle
men," He turned to Tarzan. 3
"No, my friend" said the count
hastily. "It is personal matter, and
1 beg that you will let it drop. 1t Is
sufficient that have been exonerated
from the charge. The less we have to
do with such fellows the better. But.
monsieur, how can thank you for the
great kindness you have done me?
Permit me to offer you my card.
Tarzan had released Rokoff. who.
with his confederate, Paulvitch, had
fastened from the smoking room. just
as he was leaving, Rokof turned to
Tarzan. "Monsieur will have ample
opportunity to regret his interference
in the affairs of others"