The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1914-04-16

"A himself slowly until his eyes topped
a. The room within was lighted. and
- table sat Rokoff and Gernois.
Gernois was speaking.
"Rokoff, you are a devil!' he was
saving. "You have bounded me until
have lost the last shred of my honor.
You have driven me to murder, for the
blood of that man Tarzan is on my
hands. II 1t were not that that other
devils spawn. Paulvitch, still knew my
secret should kill You here tonight
with my bare hands"
Rokoff laughed. "You would not do
that. my dear lieutenant" he said.
"The moment / am reported dead by
assassination that dear Alexis will for
ward to the minister of war full proof
Of the affair you so ardently long to
conceal, and, further, will charge you
with my murder. Come. be sensible.
am your best friend. Have not pro-
tected your honor as though it were
my own?'
Gernois sneered and spat out an oath.
"Just one more little payment" con-
tinued Rokoff, "and the papers wish
and you have my word Of honor that
shall never ask another cent from you
or further information"
"And good reason why" growled
Gernois. "What you ask will take my
last cent and the only valuable military
secret hold. You ought to be pay
ing me for the information instead of
taking both it and money too"
81 am paying you by keeping still
tongue In my head" retorted Rokoff.
"But let's have done. Will you or will
you not? ] give you three minutes to
decide. If you are not agreeable shall
send note to your commandant to-.
night that will end in the degradation
that Dreyfus suffered-the only differ
ence being that he did not deserve it."
For moment Gernois sat with bow
ed head. At length he arose. He drew
two pieces Of paper from his blouse.
"Here," he said hopelessly. 81 had
them ready. for I knew that there
could be but one outcome" He held
them toward the Russian.
Rokoff'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 he
grinned
'sYou never shall again, you dogw
Kissed Gernois. 1.-THE next time shall
kill you. / came near doing 1t tonight.
For an hour I sat with these two
pieces Of paper on my table before me
ere / came here; beside them lay my
loaded revolver. l was trying to de-
eide which should bring. Next time
the choice shall be easier, for / already
have decided. You had close call to-
night, Rokoff. Do not tempt fate
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 foot from the doorway.
Almost Immediately 1t opened, and
Gernois stepped out. Rokof was be-
hind him. Neither spoke. Gernois
had taken perhaps three steps down
the stairway when he halted and half
turned, as though to retrace his steps.
Tarzan knew that discovery would
be inevitable. Rokon still stood on
the threshold foot from him. but he
was looking In the opposite direction.
toward Gernois. Then the officer evil
IDENTIFY reconsidered his decision and
resumed his downward course. Tar
Fan could hear Rokoffs 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-
kor before the man could rise from
the chair where he sat scanning the
paper Gernois had given him. AS his
eyes turned and fell upon the ape
mans face his own went livid
"what do you want?" whispered Ro-
koff, for the look in the ape-man's eyes
frightened him. "Have you come to
kill me? You do not dare They would
guillotine you. You do not dare kill
me-"
II dare kill you, Rokoff." replied
Tarzan, "for no one knows that you
are here or that am here. and Paul
witch would tell them that it was Ger
nois. heard you tell Gernois so. But
that would not influence me. Rokon.
I would not care who knew that had
killed you. The pleasure Of killing you
would more than compensate for any
punishment they might infict upon me.
You are the most despicable cur Of a
coward. Rokoff. have ever heard Of.
You should be killed. I should love to
kill YOU" and Tarzan approached
/, closer to the man. 8. g
Rokofrs nerves were keyed to the