Part 16 (2/2)
”Just one more little payment,” continued Rokoff, ”and the papers I wish, and you have my word of honor that I shall never ask another cent froood reason why,” growled Gernois ”What you ask will take my last cent, and the only valuableboth it and ue in my head,” retorted Rokoff ”But let's have done Will you, or will you not? I give you three reeable I shall send a note to your coradation that Dreyfus suffered--the only difference being that he did not deserve it”
For a th he arose He dreo pieces of paper from his blouse
”Here,” he said hopelessly ”I had them ready, for I knew that there could be but one outcome” He held thehted inHe seized the bits of paper
”You have done well, Gernois,” he said ”I shall not trouble you again--unless you happen to accurinned
”You never shall again, you dog!” hissed Gernois ”The next tiht For an hour I sat with these two pieces of paper on my table before me ere I ca to decide which I should bring Next time the choice shall be easier, for I already have decided You had a close call tonight, Rokoff; do not tempt fate a second time”
Then Gernois rose to leave Tarzan barely had ti and shrink back into the shadows on the far side of the door
Even then he scarcely hoped to elude detection The landing was very sainst the wall at its far edge he was scarcely more than a foot from the doorway Almost immediately it opened, and Gernois stepped out Rokoff was behind him Neither spoke Gernois had taken perhaps three steps down the stairhen he halted and half turned, as though to retrace his steps
Tarzan knew that discovery would be inevitable Rokoff still stood on the threshold a foot fro in the opposite direction, toward Gernois Then the officer evidently reconsidered his decision, and resuh of relief A moment later the Russian went back into the room and closed the door
Tarzan waited until Gernois had had ti, then he pushed open the door and stepped into the room He was on top of Rokoff before thethe paper Gernois had given him As his eyes turned and fell upon the ape-asped
”I,” replied Tarzan
”What do you want?” whispered Rokoff, for the look in the ape-htened him ”Have you couillotine you You do not dare kill me”
”I dare kill you, Rokoff,” replied Tarzan, ”for no one knows that you are here or that I am here, and Paulvitch would tell them that it was Gernois I heard you tell Gernois so But that would not influence me, Rokoff I would not care who knew that I had killed you; the pleasure of killing you would ht inflict upon me You are the most despicable cur of a coward, Rokoff, I have ever heard of You should be killed I should love to kill you,” and Tarzan approached closer to thepoint With a shriek he sprang toward an adjoining room, but the ape-man was upon his back while his leap was yet but half coreat coward squealed like a stuck pig, until Tarzan had shut off his wind Then the ape- hiled futilely--he was like a babe in the rasp of Tarzan of the Apes
Tarzan sat hier of thehe released his hold upon his throat When the Russian's coughing spell had abated Tarzan spoke to hi of death,” he said ”But I shall not kill--this tiood woreat ave birth to you But I shall spare you only this once on her account Should I ever learn that you have again annoyed her or her husband--should you ever annoy ain--should I hear that you have returned to France or to any French possession, I shall make itI coht” Then he turned to the table, on which the two pieces of paper still lay As he picked theasped in horror
Tarzan examined both the check and the other He was amazed at the information the latter contained Rokoff had partially read it, but Tarzan knew that no one could reures it held which made it of real value to an enemy of France
”These will interest the chief of staff,” he said, as he slipped theroaned He did not dare curse aloud
The next iers
As he had ridden past the hotel Lieutenant Gernois was standing on the veranda As his eyes discovered Tarzan he hite as chalk The ape- not occurred, but he could not avoid it He saluted the officer as he rode past Mechanically Gernois returned the salute, but those terrible, wide eyes followed the horseh a dead host
At Sidi Aissa Tarzan met a French officer hom he had become acquainted on the occasion of his recent sojourn in the town
”You left Bou Saada early?” questioned the officer ”Then you have not heard about poor Gernois”
”He was the last man I saw as I rode away,” replied Tarzan ”What about hiht o'clock this iers There he found that he would have a two days' wait before he could catch a shi+p bound for Cape Town
He occupied his ti out a full report of his mission The secret papers he had taken from Rokoff he did not inclose, for he did not dare trust them out of his own possession until he had been authorized to turn theent, or himself return to Paris with them