Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-09-06
WHEN Numa had retr,

|
| WHEN Numa had retreated few
w yards, the ape-man called back
to the girl in perfect German: care
you badly hurt?"
81 think not" she replied. "But
can't pull my foot from under my
horse"
"Try again." commanded Tarzan
81 don't know how long l can hold
Numa."
The girl struggled frantically, but
at last she sank back upon an elbow
"It's impossible" she called tc
him.
Tarzan backed slowly until he was
again beside the horse; then he
reached down and grasped the sad,
dle-girth, which was still intact
Then with one hand he raised the
carcass from the ground. The girI
freed herself and rose to her feet.
"You can walk ?" asked Tarzan.
"Yes," she said. "My leg is numb;
but it doesn't seem to be hurt"
"Goodw commented the ape-man
Back slowly away behind me-make
no sudden movements. l don't think
he will charge"
With the utmost deliberation the
two backed toward the bush. Numa
stood for moment growing; then
he followed them, slowly. Tarzan
wondered if he would come beyond
his kill, or if he would stop there.
If he followed them beyond, they
could look for a charge; and if Numa
charged it was very likely that he
would get one of them. When the
lion reached the carcass of the horse,
Tarzan stopped, and so did Numa,
as Tarzan bad thought that he
would, and the ape-man waited to
see what the lion would do next.
Numa eyed them for a moment,
snarled angrily and then looked down
at the meat. Presently he crouched
upon his kill and resumed feeding.
The girl breathed deep sigh of
relief as she and the ape-man re-
sumed their slow retreat, with only
an occasional glance from the lion,
and when at last they reached the
bush and had turned and entered it,
she felt a sudden giddiness over
whelm her, so that she staggered
and would have fallen had Tarzan
not caught her. 1t was only a mo-
ment before she regained her self
control.
81 could not help it," she said in
half-apology. 81 was so close to
death, such horrible death, it un-
nerved me for an instant; but Pm
all right now. How can 1 ever thank
you? 1t was so wonderful: you
didn't seem to fear the frightful
creature in the least; yet he was
afraid of you. Who are you?"
"He knows me-" replied Tarzan
grimly. That is why he fears me-"
He was standing facing the girl
now, and for the first time he had
ance to look at her squarely and
ely. She was very beautiful
that was undeniable; but Tarzan
realized her beauty only in subcon-
scious way. 1t was superficial; it did
not color her soul, which must be
black as sin. She was German--a
German spy. He hated her, and de-
sired only to compass her destruc-
ton; but he would choose the man.
ner, Sc that it would work most
grievously against the enemy cause.
He saw her naked breast where
Numa had torn her clothing from
her, and dangling there against the
soft, white flesh he saw that which
brought a sudden scowl of surprise
and anger to his face-the diamond
studded golden locket of his youth,
the love-token that had been stolen
from the breast of his murdered
mate by Schneider the Hun. The
girl saw the scowl but did not inter-
pret it correctly. Tarzan grasped
her roughly by the arm.
"Where did you get this?" he de-
manded as he tore the bauble from
her.
The girl drew herself to her full
height. Take your hand from me-"
she ordered. But the ape-man paid
no attention.
ANSWER mel" he snapped. "Where
did you get this 2"
"What is it to you?" she coun-
tered.
at is mine," he replied. "Tell me
who gave it to you, or I will throw
you back to Numa."
"You would do that?"
"Why not?" he queried. "You are
spy, and spies must die if they are
caught"
"You are going to kill me, then?"
81 was going to take you to head
quarters. They would dispose of
you there; but Numa can do it quite
as effectually. Which do you pre-
fer?"
"Hauptmann Fritz Schneider gave
it to me-" she said.
Headquarters it will be, then,"
said Tarzan. "Cofne."
The girl moved at his side through
the bush, and all the time her mind
worked quickly. They were moving
east, which suited her, and as long
as they continued to move east. she