The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1914-09-10
CHAPTER XII.
}okN Caldwell, London.

v 0t IAd OhfN" buiAlh
that he had been lost wander
ing finally into the dOuar Of
Kadour ben Saden. who had
escorted him back to Bou Saada.
As soon a. possible he bads the good
officer adisu and FASTENED back into
the town, At the native inn he had
learned through Kadour ben Sadeu a
piece Of interesting information. 1t
told Of a black bearded white man
who went always disguised as an
Arab. For d time be had nursed a
broken wrist More recently be had
been away from Boa Saada, but now
he was back. and TarZan knew his
place OF c~oncealment 1t was for there
he headed.
Through narrow alleys, black as
Erebus, he groped and then up a rick
ETY. stairway, ut the end Of which were
a closed door and a tiny, unglazed win
dow. The window was high under the
low caves of the mud building. Tar
Fan could Just reach the sill. He rails
ed himself slowly until his eyes topped
it. The room within was lighted. and
at Il table sat Rokor and GernOis.
Gernos was speaking
"Rokon, you are a devil" be was
saying. You have bounded me until
l have lost the last shred of my honor.
You have driven me 70 murder, for the
blood Of that man Tarzan is on my
hands. II 1t were not that that other
devfl's spawn, Paulvitch, still knew my
secret l shoIld kill you here tonight
with my bare hands"
Rokofr laughed. "You would not DO
that, my dear lieutenant" he said
THE moment l am reported dead by
assassination that dear Alexis will for
ward to the minister OF war full proof
of the affair you 50 ardently long to
conceal, and, further, will charge you
with my murder. Come, be sensible,
| I'm your best friend. Have l not pro
tected your honor as though 1t were
my own
Gernois sneered and spat out an oath.
"Just one more little payment" con
tinued Rokofr, land the papers l wish
and you have my word Of honor that l
shall never ask another cen from you
or further information"
And q good reason why" growled
Gernois. What you ask win take my
last cent and the only valuable military
secret l hold. You ought to be pay
Ing me for the information instead OF
taking both 1t and money too"
81 am paying you by keeping q still
tongue in my head" retorted Rokor.
"But let's have done Will you or will
you not? give you three minutes to
decide. II you are not agreeable shall
send a note to your eOmmandant to-
night that will end In the degradation
that Dreyfus suffered-the only differ
ence being that he did not deserve It"
For q moment Gernois sat with bow
ed head. At length he arose. He drew
two pieces Of paper from his blouse.
Here" he said hopelessly. II had
them ready. for | knew that there
could be but one outcome" He held
them toward the Russian.
Rokof's cruel face lighted In ma
lignant gloating. He seized the bits OF
paper.
"You have done well. Gernois." he
said. 81 shall not trouble you again
unless you happen to accumulate some
more money or information" and be
grinned
"You never shall again. you dog-'
Kissed Gernois. The next time | shall
kill you. | came near doing it tonight.
For an hour | sat with these two
pieces Of paper on my table before me
ere | came here; beside them lay my
loaded revolver. | was trying to de-
eide which | should bring. Next time
the choice shall be easier. for | already
have decided. You had a close call to-
night. Rokofr. Do not tempt fate a
second time"
Then GernOis rose to leave TarZan
barely had time to drop TO the land
ing and shrink back into the shadows
on the far side Of the door. Even then
he scarcely hoped to elude detection.
The landing was very small, and
. though he fattened himself against
the wall at it's far edge he was scarce
~ more than a foot from the doorway
Almost Immediately it opened. and
Gernois stepped out. Rokoff was be
hind him. Neither spoke. Gernois
had taken perhaps three steps down
the stairway when he halted and half
turned. al though to retrace his steps.
TaZan knew that discovery would
be inevitable. Rokof still TODD on
the threshold a foot from him. but he
was looking In the opposite direction.
toward Gernois. Then the officer evil
IDENTITY re~considered his decision and
resumed his downward course. Tar
Zan could hear Rokofrs sigh Of relief.
A moment later the Russian went back
into the room and closed the door.
Tarzan waited until Gernois had had
time to get well out of hearing. then
he pushed open the door and stepped
into the room- He was on top Of Ro-