The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1919-12-19

black shadows at the far end of the
long vault. Once again came the ape
man, and this time there came with
him fifty fighting men, turned porters
for love of the only creature in the
world who might command of their
fierce and naughty natures such mental
service. Fifty-two more ingots passed
out of the vaults, making the total
of one hundred which Tarzan intend
ed taking away with him.
As the last of the Waziri filed from
the chamber, Tarzan turned back for a
last glimpse of the fabulous wealth
upon which his two inroads had made
no appreciate impression. His mind
reverted to that first occc sion upon
which he had entered 8the treasure
vault, coming upon it by chance as he
fled from the pits beneath the temple.
where he had been hidden by La, the
high priestess of the Sun 'Vorshipers
He recalled the scene within the
temple when he had lain stretched
upon the sacrificial altar, while La,
with high-raised dagger, stood above
him, and the rows of priests and
priestesses awaited, in the ecstatic
hysteria of fanaticism, the first gush
of their victims warm blood, that they
might fill their golden goblets and
drink to the glory OF their Flaming
God.
The brutal and bloody interruption
by Tha, the mad priest, passed wildly
before the ape-man's recOllective eye,
! the flight of the votaries before the in
sane blood lust of the hideous crea-
ture, the brutal attack upon La, and
his own part in the grim tragedy when
| he had battled with the Infatuated
| Oparian and left him dead at the feet
of the priestess he would have pro-
| famed.
This and much more passed through
Tarzan's memory as he stood gazing
at the long tiers of dull-yellow metal.
He wondered If La still ruled in the
temples of the ruined city whose
crumbling walls rose upon the very
foundations about him. Had she final
ly been forced into union with one
of her grOtesque priests? 1t seemed
hideous fate, indeed, for one so beau
tiful. With shake of his head, Tar
zan stepped to the flickerii candle,
extinguished its feeble rays and
turned toward the exit.
Behind him the spy waited for him
to be gone. He had learned the secret
| for which he had come. and now he
could return at his leisure to his wait
ing followers, bring them to the treas
ure vault and carry away all the gold
that they could stagger under.
The Waziri had reached the outer
end of the tunnel. and were winding
upward toward the fresh air and the
welcome starlight of the kopje's sum-
nit, before Tarzan shook off the de-
tanning hand of revere and started
slowly after them.
Once again, and, he thought, for the
last time, he closed the massive door
Of the treasure room. In the darkness
behind him Werper rose and stretched
his cramped muscles. He stretched
forth hand and lovingly caressed a
golden ingot on the nearest tier. He
IdISeu II from IT'S llIllutllloIlul IeStllS
place and weighed it in his hands. He
clutched it to his bosom in an ecstasy
Of avarice.
Tarzan dreamed of the happy home
coming which lay before him, of dear
arms about his neck, and a soft cheek
pressed to his; but there rose to dispel
that dream. the memory of the old
witch-doctor and his warning.
And then. in the span of few brief
seconds, the hopes of both these men
were shattered. The one forgot even
his greed in the panic of terror-the
other was plunged into total forgetful-
ness of the past by jagged fragment
Of rock which gashed deep cut upon
his head.