Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-08-06
TIE RETURN OF TARZAN
BY EDGAR RICE BURROUGHS
AUTHOR FaTARzA O
AUTHOR OF "TARzAN OF THE APEs'


} unless we are picked up within day or
} two. That there is little hope OF that
! Is evidenced by the fact that during all
the days we have drifted we have seen
no sail. nor the faintest smudge Of smoke
upon the horizon.
There might be a chance II we had
food, but without food there Is none.
There remains for us, then, but one Of
two alternatives, and we must choose
at once. Either we must all die together
within a few days, or one must be sacri-
/ feed that the others may live DO you
quite clearly grasp my meaning?"
Jane Porter who had overheard, was
horrihed II the proposition had come
from the poor ignorant sailor. she might
possibly have not been SO surprised; but
that II should come from one who posed
! as a man OF culture and refinement, from
a gentleman, she could scarcely credit
1t is better that we die together, then"
said Clayton.
That Is fda the majority to decide"
replied Monsieur Thuran. "As only one
OF us three will be the object Of sacrifice.
we shall decide Miss Porter is not
interested, since she will be in no
danger"
How shall we know VINO Is to be
nrst?' asked Spider
ut may be fairly fixed by lot" replied
Monsieur Thuran "t have number of
franc pieces in my pocket. we can |
choose a certain date from among them |
the one to draw this date first from |
beneath n piece of cloth will be the first"
"I shall have nothing to do with any
such dlabolcal plan" muttered Clayton; |
even yet land may be sighted or a
ship appear-in time"
you will do as the majority decide.
or YOU will be the first without the
formality OF drawing lots" said Monsieur
Thuran, threutenlngly "Come, let us
vote on tho plan; 1 for one am in favor
of 1t. How about you, Spider?"
And l." replied the sailor.
ut Is the will of the majority" an
nounced Monsieur Thuran, land now let
us lose no time In drawing lots. 1t is as
fair for one as for another. That three
may live. one OF us must die perhaps a
few hours sooner than otherwise"
Then he began his preparations for tho
lottery of death, while Jane Porter sat
wlde-eyed and Mortified at thought of the
thing that she was about to witness.
Monsieur Thuran spread his coat upon
the bottom Of the boat, and then from
handful Of money he selected six franc
pieces. The other two men bent close
above him as he inspected them. Finally
he handed them all to Clayton.
Look at them carefully" he Raid.
"The oldest date is eighteen-seventy-fv
and there is only one of that year"
Clayton and the sailor inspected each
coin To them there seemed not the
slightest difference that could be detected
other than the dates. They were quite
satisfied Had they known that Mon
sieur Thuran's past experience as n card
sharp had trained his sense of touch to
SO fine point that he could almost diff
ferentlate between cards by the mere
feel of them, they would scarcely have
felt that the plan was so entirely fair.
The 1875 piece was hair thinner than the
other coins but neither Clayton nor
Spider could have detected 1t without the
aid OF mlcrometer.
In what order shall we draw" asked
Monsieur ThurHn. knowing from past eX- I
perience that the majority of men al O
wnys prefer last chance in lottery ,
where the single prize is some distasteful
thing-there is always the chance and i
tho hope that another will draw It first i
Monsieur Thuran, for reasons of his own n
preferred to draw first IL the drawing
should happen to require a second ad-
venture beneath the coat t
And so when Spider elected to draw last ! b
ne graciously offered to take the first
chance himself. His hand was under
he coat for but a moment, yet those q
luick, deft fingers had felt of each coin. d
C.
When he brought forth his hand 1t con-
aimed an 1888 franc piece. Then Clayton n
lrew. Jane Porter leaned forward with n II
ense and Mortified expression on her face u
is the hand of the man she was to marry IL
,roped about beneath the coat Presently 81
le withdrew 1t, franc piece lying in the
'alm, For an instant he dared not look, I;
'ut Monsieur Thuran. who had leaned 81
nearer to see the date, exclaimed that T
lie was safe. Ie
Jane Porter sank weak and trembling n
against the side of the boat She felt st
lick and dizzy. And now, If Spider should .,
lot draw the 1875 piece she must endure .,
he whole horrd thing again. a. a.
The sailor already had his hand be- =,
eath the coat. Great beads of sweat cl
we're standing upon his brow He m
rembled as though with fit of arue is
Aloud he cursed himself for having taken Ii
he last draw. for now his chances for
scape were but three to one, whereas
lonsieur Thuran's had been five to one 81
nd Clayton's four to one o.
The Russian was very patient, and did -,
ot hurry the man, for he knew that he ~ ~
imself was quite safe whether the 1s75 ,a
iece came out this time or not When 80 80
he sailor withdrew his hand and looked 90 90
I the piece OF money within, he dropped tb
lintlng to the bottom of the boat Both -,
layton and Monsieur Thuran hastened ba
'eakly to examine the coin, which had -. o
oiled from the mans hand and law " "
eside him. 1t was not dated 1875. The ooSS
eactlon from the state of fear he had on
cen in had overcome Spider quite as ef- eH
eetually as though he had drawn the va
lted piece. va va
But now the whole proceeding must he ~
one through again. Once more the ~
ussian drew forth harmless coin. Jane .r
orter closed her eyes as Clayton reached l.,
eneath the coat Spider bent, wide-eved 20
ward the hand that was to decide his 20
.te' Tor whatever luck was Clayton's on wo
lis last draw, the opposite would he w., w.
nder's. th'
Then William Cecil Clayton. Lord Grew %,
oke. removed his hand from beneath he
e coat, and with a coin tight pressed f,g