Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-07-13
CHAPTER XI
The Sentence of Death

But it was an hour before the kin,
re-cntcred the apartment and in tn,
meantime the ape-man had occupied
himself in examining the carvings upol
the walls and the numerous specimens
of the hGndicraft Of I'aI-ui- DOMAIN ar.
tisanS which combined to impart an at.
moSphere of richness and luxury to tn,
APARTMENT.
The limestone of the country, close
grained and of marble whiteness, yet
worked with comparative ease will
crude implements, had been wrought by
cunning craftsmen into bowls and urns
and vases of considerable grace anG
beauty. Into the carved designs oi
many of these virgin gold had been ham :
mercd, presenting tho effect of rich
and magnificent cloisonne. 4 barbarian
himself, the art of barbarians had al
ways appealed to the ape man, to whom
they represented natural expression
of mans love of the beautiful to even
greater extent than the studied and
artificial efforts of civilization. Here
was the real art of old masters, the
other the cheap imitation of the
chrome,
1t was while he was thus plcasur-
ably engaged that Ko-tan returned. As
Tarzan, attracted by the movement of the
hangings through which the king en-
tered, turned and fnced him he was
almost shocked by the remarkable al
teration of the kings appearance. His
face was livid; his hands tremblcd as
with palsy, and his eyes were wide as
with fright. His appearance was one
apparently of a combination Of consum-
ing anger and withering fear. Tarzan
looked at him questiOningly.
You have had bad news, Ko- tan?"
he asked.
The king mumblcd an unintclligiblc
reply. Behind there throngcd into the
apartment so great Il number of war
riors that they chOkcd the entrance
way. Tho king looked apprehensively
to right and left. He cast terrified
glanccS at the ape man and then rais-
ing his face and turning his eyes up
ward he cried: "Jad- ben Ohio be my
witness that I do not this thing of my
own accord" There was moments
silence which was again broken by Ko-
tan. Seize him." he cried to the
warriors about him, "for Lu don, the
high priest, swears that hc is an i'm
poStOr.'
To have offered armed resistance to
this great cOncOurse of warriors in the
very heart of the palace of their king
would have been worse than fatal.
Already Tarzan had come far by his
wits and now that within few hours
he had had his hopes and his suspicious
partially verified by the vague admis-
sions of O-lo-a he was impressed with
the necessity of inviting no mortal risk
that he could avoid.
stop !" he cried, raising his palm
against them. "What is the meaning
Of this?'
"Lu- don claims he has proof that
you are not the son of Jad ben Otho,"
replied KO-tan. 'lIe demands that you |
be brought to the thrOnerOOm to face |
your nCcusers. If you are what you
claim to be none knows better than you |
that you need have no fear in acqui- !
eScing to his demands, but remember |
always that in such matters the high |
priest commands the King and that |
am only the bearer of these commands, |
not their author
Tarzan saw that KO-tan was not en-
Iircly convinced of his duplicity, as was |
evidenced by his palpablc design to play |
safe.
Let not your warriors seize me-"
nc said to Ko-tun, "lest Jad ben Otho,
mlStaking their intention, strike them
lead The effect of his words was i'm
mediate upon the men In the front rank
Df those who faced him, each seeming
suddenly to acquire new mOdCsty that
him to self -ellacemcnt behind
hose directly In his rear--a modesty
hat became rapidly contagious.
CONTINUED SsMoRRow