Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-07-17

!ueraDie wager from him who bad ias,
tyineu tne game, and then Tarzan ss y,
s1 she Ielow back Of the Counts chair nod
MS head to his confederate. Instan,i,, ,S,.
player arose and pointed a finger AZ tbe
Count hser W the
aad l known that monsieur was a nro-
essional card sharp had not been so
said '"e ssihe' ne
Instantly the Count and the two othsr
players were upon their feet.
De Coude's face went white
what do you mean, sIr?'' ba crioa
10 30 you know to whom you speak?"
| know that speak, for the last t,,o
fellow. epieu the
Ihe Count leaned across the table and
sTuok the man full in the mouth with
nis open palm, and then the others closed
IN between them.
There is some mistake, sir, cried one
OF tne other players. why, this is Count
de Coude, of France"
IF am mistaken" said the accusor
shall gladly apologize; but before I
40 40 SO hrst let Monsieur lie Count explain
, ne extra cards which l saw him drop
into his side pocket"
And then the man whom Tarzan had
| seen drop them there turned To speaL
from the room, but to his annoyance I've
round the exit barred by tall, gray-eved
| stranger. soy eSeu
| Pardon" said the man, brusquely, at
tempting to pass to one side.
Walt" said Tarzan.
But why, monsieur?" exclaimed tho
other. petulantly. Permit me to pass
monsieur"
Wait" said Tarzan "I think that
there Is a matter in here that you may
doubtless be able to explain"
The fellow had lost his temper by this
time, and with low oath seized Tarzan
to push him to one side The ape-man
but smiled as he twisted the big fellow
about and, grasping him by the collar Of
his coat escorted him back to the table.
struggling, cursing and striking a futile
| remonstrance. 1t was Nikolas Rokoff's a
first experience with the muscles that had
| brought their savage owner victorious
| through encounters with 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. Several other passengers had
drawn toward the scene of the alterca-
ton and all awaited the denouement.
THE fellow is crazy" said the Count.
Gentlemen, 1 implore that one of you
search me-"
THE accusation is ridiculous" This
| from one OF the players.
You have but to slip your hand in the
Counts coat pocket and you will see that
the accusation is quite serious" insisted
the accuser And then, as the others
still hesitated to do so, Come, I shall
do 1t myself If no other will." and he
stepped toward the count.
| mo, monsieur" said De Coude "I
will submit to search only at the hands
of gentleman"
1T is unnecessary to search the Count.
The cards are in his pocket. l myself
saw them placed there"
All turned in surprise toward this new
speaker, to behold very well-built young
man urging a resisting captive toward
them by the scruff OF his neck.
TT Is conspiracy" cried De Coude
angrily. There are no cards in my
coat and with that he ran his hand
into his pocket. AS he did. so tense silence
reigned in the little group. The count
went dead white, and then very slowly
he withdrew his hand, and in 1t were
| three cards.
He looked at them in mute and horrI-
fed surprise, and slowly the red of NOR
tlfication suffused his face. Expressions
of pity and contempt tinged the features
of those who looked on at the death of a
mans honor.
1T is a conspiracy. monsieur" 1t was
the gray-eyed stranger who spoke
Gentlemen" he continued, Monsieur lie
| Count did not know that those cards were
in his pocket They were placed there
without his knowledge as he sat at play.
From whore sat in that chair yonder
saw the reflection of 1t all In the mirror
before me. This person whom I Just
intercepted in an effort to escape placed
| the cards In the Counts pocket"
| De Coude had glanced from Tarzan to
the man in his grasp,
Mon Dleu, Nlkolas!" he cried, your"
Then he turned to his accuser, and
eyed him intently for moment
"And you, monsieur. did not recognize
you without your beard. It quite dis
guises you. Paulvitch. I see it all now.
1t Is quite clear. gentlemen"
what shall we do with them. mon
sieur?" asked TarzRn. Turn them over
| to the captain?"
mo, my friend" said the Count hastily.
| ut is p n a matter, and l beg that
you va SUM- cop, 1t is sufficient that
I have bee. :, derated from the charge
| The less we ave to do with such fell
lows the beter5 But. monsieur, how
can thank yoa for the great kindness
you have done me? Permit me to offer
you my card, and should the time come
| L
| am yours TO command"
Tarzan had released Rokofr. who. with
his confederate, PaulYitch. had hastened
| from the smoking room. Just as he was
leaving Rokoff turned to Tarzan. Mon
| sieur will have ample opportunity to re-
gret his interference in the affairs or
others"
Tarzan smiled, and then. bowling to the
| Count, handed him his own card
The Count read:
M. JEAN c. TARTAN,
''Monsleur TarDan," he said, may in
deed wish that he had never befriended
me. for 1 can assure him that he has
won the enmity OF two OF the most un-
mitigated scoundrels in all Europe Avoid
| them, monsieur. by all means"
II have had more awe-inspirins enemies
my dear Count" replied TarSan. with
/ otilet smile, "yet 1 am still alive and
unworried. 1 think that neither OF these
two will ever find the means to harm
me-"
LET us hope not. monsieur" said Dc
| Coude. 'fbut yet It win do no harm 70
/ be on the alert. and to know that you
nave made at least one enemy today VINO
never forgets and never forgiYes ana IA
whose malignant brain there are Always
hatching new atrocities 70 perpetfate
upon those who have thwartsd Or otena-
| ed MIN. 10 say that Nikolas Rokon Is
/ davil would be 70 place a wanton affoht