The Return of Tarzan

air on

ed the Countess de Cou

hat is it that is magnificent?" and the count bent his eyes i

calling with admiration those stupendous skyscrapers, as they call them, of New York," and the fair countess settled herself m

that three days out from New York his countess should suddenly have realized a

" he said. "I think that I shall hunt up some others who may be eq

oman, smiling, "but as I am equally bored I can forgive you

slyly to the figure of a tall young man s

" she breath

assionately in love with the one that fate and her titled Russian father had selected for her. However, simply because she was surprised into a tiny exclamation of approval at sight of a splendid young stranger it must not be in

to leave the deck. The Countess de Coude beckoned to

Monsieur Tarzan, of Afr

ht the girl, but now her inter

hought but for the strangely guilty glance that one of them shot in his direction. They reminded Tarzan of melodramatic villains he had seen at the theaters in Paris.

ast few weeks of his life. Time and again he had wondered if he had acted wisely in renouncing his birthright to a man to whom he owed nothing. It is true that he liked Clayton, but-ah, but that was not the questio

t within the little railway station in the far Wisconsin woods. To him her happiness was the first consideration of all, and his brie

ton once he had been stripped of both his title and his estates never for once occurred to Tarzan, for he credited to others the same honest loyalty that was so inherent a quality in himself. N

boyhood; the cruel, fierce jungle in which he had spent twenty of his twenty-two years. But who or what of all the myriad jungle life would there be to w

wn tribe would extend the

ongenial warmth of companionship. And in the same ratio had it made any other life distasteful to him. It was difficult to imagine a world without a friend-without a living

rds. Presently one of them rose to leave, and then another approached, and Tarzan could see that he courteously offered to fill the vacant

ehind him. Aside from the man who had but just entered the game Tarzan knew the name of but one of the other players. It was he who sat opposite the new player, Count Raoul de

. Tarzan saw him turn and glance furtively about the room, but his eyes did not rest for a sufficient time upon the mirror to note the reflection of Ta

to the count's pocket. The man remained standing where he could watch the Frenchman's cards. Tarzan wa

om him who had last joined the game, and then Tarzan saw the fellow back of the count's chair

sional card sharp I had not been so rea

d the two other player

s face we

?" he cried. "Do you k

last time, to one who cheats

the man full in the mouth with his open palm

France." "If I am mistaken," said the accuser, "I shall gladly apologize; but before I do so

turned to sneak from the room, but to his annoyance

n brusquely, attempti

" said

med the other petulantly. "

there is a matter in here that yo

bout and, grasping him by the collar of his coat, escorted him back to the table, struggling, cursing, and striking in futile remonstrance. It was Nikolas Ro

g, stood looking expectantly at the count. Several other passengers had

he count. "Gentlemen, I implo

idiculous." This fro

tion is quite serious," insisted the accuser. And then, as the others still hesitated to do

"I will submit to a search on

count. The cards are in his pocke

behold a very well-built young man urging a resis

he ran his hand into his pocket. As he did so tense silence reigned in the little group. The

f mortification suffused his face. Expressions of pity and contempt ti

cards were in his pocket. They were placed there without his knowledge as he sat at play. From where I sat in that chair yonder I saw the ref

d from Tarzan to th

ikolas!" he

accuser, and eyed him

ut your beard. It quite disguises you, Paulvitch.

monsieur?" asked Tarzan. "T

exonerated from the charge. The less we have to do with such fellows, the better. But, monsieur, how can I thank you for the great kindn

rom the smoking-room. Just as he was leaving, Rokoff turned to Tarzan. "Monsieur

, bowing to the count,

ount

AN C.

me, for I can assure him that he has won the enmity of two of the most u

rzan with a quiet smile, "yet I am still alive and unworried. I th

emy today who never forgets and never forgives, and in whose malignant brain there are always hatching new atrocities to perpetrate upon t

folded note upon the floor that had evidently be

TAR

e that you acted in ignorance and without any intention to offend a stranger. For this reason I shall gladly permit you to offer an a

you will see the wisdom of

espect

AS RO

his lips for a moment, then he promptly drop

Countess de Coude was

sked. "You have been as glum as coul

is on board. Di

s impossible, Raoul. It cannot be.

uch longer. No, not even for you. Sooner or later I shall turn him over to the authorities. In fact, I am half minded to explain

t with bowed head upon a divan. "Do not do that. Remember your promise to me.

d countenance for some time before he spoke, as though he would wrest from

d all claim upon your love, loyalty, or respect. He is a menace to your life and honor,

hemently. "I believe that I hate him as much as yo

t had happened in the smoking-room. "Had it not been for this utter stranger, they had succeeded, for who would have accepted my unsupported word against the damning evidence of t

asked the countess,

you know

A steward pointe

t he was a celebrit

ad pointed out the handsome Monsieur Tarzan to her. Perhaps she flushed the least little bit, for was not the count, her husb