Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-05-15

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get his back against the door he could then
tap upon its base when surely he must be
| heard
The knocking was repeated a little louder,
and finally voice called, mfr. Jacki"
1t was one of the housemen-Mr. Moore
recognized the fellows voice. He came near
| to bursting a blood-vessel in an endeavor to
scream, Come in" through the Sitting
gag. After a moment the man knocked
| again, quite loudly, and again called the
boys name. Receiving no reply, he turned
the knob, and at the same instant sudden
recollection filled the tutor anew with numb
| ing terror--he had, himself, locked the door
behind him when he had entered the room
He heard the servant try the door sew
| eral times and then depart Upon which
| Mr. Moore swooned.
In the meantime Jack was enjoying to.
| the full the stolen pleasures of the music
| hall. Ho had reached that temple OF mirth
| just as AJax's act was commencing, and,
| having purchased a box seat was now
| leaning breathlessly over the rail watching
| every move of the great ape, his eyes wide
| in wonder.
| The trainer was not slow to note the
| boys handsome, eager face, and as one of
| Ajax's biggest hits consisted in an entry to
one or more boxes during his performance,
| ostensby in search of long-lost relative,
as the trainer explained, the man realized
| the effectiveness of sending him into the
| box with the handsome boy, who, doubtless,
| would be terror-strcken by proximity to the
| shaggy, powerful beast.
When the time came therefore, for the
ape to return from the wings in reply to
an encore the trainer directed its attention
| to the boy, who CHANGED to be the sole oc-
cupant of the box in which he sat.
| With a spring the huge anthropofd leaped
| from the stage to the boys side: but IL the
trs iner had looked for laughable scene
| o. fright he was mistaken. A broad smile
lighted the boys features as he laid his
| hand upon the shaggy arm of his visitor.
The ape, grasplng the boy by either shou-
| der, peered long and earnestly into his face,
| while the latter stroked his head and talked
| to him in a low voice.
| Never had Ajax devoted so long time
| to an examination of another as he did in
| this instance. He seemed troubled and not
| n little excited, jabbering and mumblng to
| the boy. and now caressing him the
trainer had never seen him caress a human
| being before. Presently he clambered over
| into the box with him and snuggled down
| close to the boys side.
| The audience was delighted but they
were still more delighted when the trainer,
the period of his act having elapsed at
| tempted to persuade Ajax to leave the box.
| The ape would not bulge,
The manager, becoming excited at the de-
| lay, urged the trainer to greater haste. but
| when the latter entered the box to drag
| away the reluctant Ajax he was met by
| barred fangs and menacing growls
| The audience was dellrlous with Joy
They cheered the ape. They cheered the
boy. and they hooted and jeered at the
| trainer and the manager. which luclSless
Individual had inadvertently shown himself
| and attempted to assist the trainer.
Finally. reduced to desperation. and real
izing that this show Of mutlny upon the
III tAFNT
| the animal worthless for exhibition pur-
poses in the future IL not Immediately sub
dued the trainer hastened to his dressing
room and procured a heavy whip.
with this he now returned to the box;
but when he had threatened Ajax with It
but once he found himself facing two in
furlated enemies instead of one, for the
boy leaped to his feet, and, seizing chair,
stood ready at the apes side to defend his
new-found friend. There was no longer
smile upon his handsome face. In his gray
eyes was an expression which gave the
trainer pause. and beside him stood the
giant anthropoid growing and ready.
What might have happened but for a
timely interruption may only be surmised
but that the trainer would have received
severe mauling If nothing more was
clearly indicated by the attitudes of the two
who faced him.
It was pale-faced houseman who rushed
into the Greystoke library to announce
that he had found Jacks door locked, and
had been able to obtain no response to his
repeated knocking other than a strange
tapping and the sound of what might have
been a body moving about upon the floor.
Four steps at a time John Clayton took
the stairs that led to the floor above. His
wife and the servant hurried after him.
Once he called his sons name in loud
voice; but, receiving no reply, he launched
his great weight backed by all the un-
diminished power of his giant muscles,
against the heavy door
With a swapping of iron hinges and a
splintering OF wood the obstacle burst in
ward
scious Mr. Moore, across whom 1t fell with
a resoundpg thud. Through the opening
leaped Tarzan. and a moment later the
room was flooded with light from half
dozen electric bulbs,
II was several minutes before the tutor
was discovered, so completely had the door
covered him: but finally he was dragged
forth, his gag and bonds cut away, and a
liberal application of cold water hastened
his recovery
''Where is Jack?" was John Clayton's
first question, and then: who did this?'
as the memory of Rokoff and the fear of
a second abduction seized him.
Slowly Mr.. Moore staggered to his feet
His gaze wandered about the room. Gradu-
ally he collected his scattered wits. The
details of his recent narrowing experience
returned TO him.
II tender my resignation. sir, to take
effect at once" were his first words you