Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-05-16

he begged them TO bring the ape home that
he might have him for playfelow. Tar
zan would not have been averse to this
plan; hut Lady Greystoke was Mortified at
the very thought OF It.
| Jack pleaded with his mother, but all un.
availlngly. She was obdurate, and at last
the lad appeared to acduiesce In his moth-
| er's decision that the ape must be returned
to Africa and the boy to school, from which
he had been absent upon a vacation.
He did not attempt to visit Pauvitch's
room again that day, but instead busied
| himself In other ways. He had always
been well supplied with money, SO that
when necessity demanded he had no diff
Guilty In collecting several hundred pounds.
Some of this money he invested in varl-
Gus strange purchases which he managed
to smuggle into the house undetected when
he returned late In the afternon.
The next morning, after giving his father
time to precede him and conclude his busl-
ness with Paulvltch the lad hastened to
| the Russians room. knowing nothing of
| the mans true character, the boy dared
not take him fully into his confidence for
fear that the old fellow would not only re-
fuse him aid but would report the whole
affair to his father.
Instead, he simply asked permission to
take Ajax to Dover He explained that
II would relieve the old man of tiresome
journey, as we'll ,as placing a number Of
| pounds In his pocket for the lad purposed
paying the Russian we'll.
You see," he went on, there will be no
| danger of detection since 1 am supposed
| to be leaving on an afternoon train for
| school. Instead, 1 will come here after
| they've left me on the train. Then l can
take Ajax to Dover you see, and arrive at
school only a day late. No one will be the
| wiser no harm will be done, and l shall
have had an extra day with Ajax before
lose him forever"
The plan fitted perfectly with that which
| PanlyltCh had in mind Had ha known
what further the boy contemplated he
| would doubtless have entirely abandoned
his own scheme of revenge and aided whole
heartedly in the contamination Of the lads.
Which would have been better for Paul
witch could he have read the future but a
| few short hours ahead.
That afternoon Lord and Lady Grey
| stoke bade their son good-by and saw him
safely settled In n frst-class compartment
of the railway carriage that would set him
down Mt school in few hours. No sooner
had they left him. however. than he gath
cred his bags together, descended from the
compartment and sought a cabstand out
| side the station. Here he engaged cabby
to take him to the Russians address.
! It was dusk when he arrived He found
Paulvitch awaiting him. The man was
pacing the floor nervously.
| The ape tied with stout cord to
the bed It was the first time that Jack
had ever seen Ajax thus secured.
| he looked QuesJlOnlnBly at PaulVltCn
| The man mumblingly explained that he be-
| lieved the animal had guessed that he was
| to be sent away, and that he feared he
would attempt to escape,
Paulvitch carried another piece of cord
| In his hand. There was a moose in one end
| of 1t which he was continually playing
with He walked back and forth, UP and
| down the room. His pockmarked features
were working horribly as he talked silently
to himself. The boy had never seen him
| thus-it made him uneasy.
At last PRulvitch stopped on the oppo-
site side of the room far from the ape.
Come here" he said to the lad II will
| show you how to secure the ape should he
| show signs of rebellion during the trip"
The lad laughed. ut will not be neces-
| sary," he replied. Ajax will do whatever
| tell him to do"
The old man stamped his foot angrlly.
Come here, tell you" he repeated. IF
you do not do as 1 say you shall not ac-
company the ape to Dover-I will take no
chances upon his escaping"
Still smiling. the lad crossed the room
and stood before the Russ.
Turn around, with your back toward
me-" directed the latter, 80 1 can show
you how 20 bind him quickly"
The boy did as he was bid, placing his
hands behind him when Paulvitch told him
to do so. Instantly the old man slipped
the running moose over one of the lads
wrists, took a couple of half bitches about
Tho moment that the boy was secured
the attitude of the man changed. With
an angry oath he wheeled his prisoner
about, trpped him. and hurled him violent
ly to the floor, leaping upon his breast
he fell. From the bed the ape growled and
struggled with his bonds.
The boy did not cry out-a trait inherited
from his savage SIRE whom long years in
the jungle following the death Of his fos-
ter-mother, Kala, the great ape. had taught
that there was none to come to the succor
of the fallen.
Paulvitch's fingers sought the lads
throat He grinned down horribly into
the face of his victim.
"Your father ruined me-" he mumbled
This will pay him. He will think that the
ape did IT, 1 will tell him the ape did II.
That / left him alone for a few minutes
and that you sneaked in and the ape
killed you will throw your body upon
the bed after have choked the life out OF
you, and when bring your father he will
see the ape squatting over IT," and the
twisted fend cackled in gloating laughter.
His fingers closed upon the boys throat.
Behind them the growing Of the mad
dened beast reverberated against the walls
of the little room. The boy paled but no
other sign OF fear or panic showed upon
his countenance. He was the son OF Tar
zan. The fingers frightened their grip upon
his throat. 1t was with difficulty that he
breathed-gaspingly
that held him. Turning. he wrapped the
cord about his hands, as a man might have
done, and surged heavily backward. The
great muscles stood out beneath his shaggy
hide
There was a rending as OF splintered
wood-the cord held. but a portion of the
footboard OF the bed came away.
At the sound Paulvitch looked up. His
hldeous face went white in terror-the ape
was free
With a single bound the creature was
upon him. The man shrieked. The brute
wrenched him from the body OF the boy.
Great fingers sank into his Aesh. Yellow
fangs gaped close to his throat-he strug-
gled, futilely-and then they closed. and
the soul OF Alexis Paulvitch passed into
the keeping OF the demons who had long
been awaiting II.
The boy struggled 10 his feet. assisted
by Akut For two hours under his in
structions. the ape worked upon the knots
that secured his friends wrists. Finally
they gave up their secret, and the boy was