Evening Republican, Volume 23, Number 81, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 April 1920 — TARZAN AND THE Jewels of Opar [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

TARZAN AND THE Jewels of Opar

By EDGAR RICE BURROUGHS

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SYNOPSISCHAPTER I—Hid In* la the Jungl# after ktilln* his captain la a fit of broodIn* madness, Ltout. Albert Werper. Belgian officer, ie captured by Achmet Zek, Arab elave raider, wbo spares Wa propoaia to him a eobeme to kidnap Jane, wtfa *f Taraan (Laord Oreyatoke) end sail her Into aUrery. Werper accept*. CHAPTER IL—Poato* aa Julea Fteooutt. French traveler, Werper la hospitably received by the Oreyatoke*. He barna 7 blahoet la In financial atraita and plana an expedition to the treaaure vault* of Opar to procure *old. Werper inform* Achmet Z»k of the opportunity^to eel** Lady Oreyatoke, and follows Taraan to lean the aecret of Oner CHAPTER lll.—Bpyln* on Ttmui, Werper sees him load hie black* vrtth cold from the treaaure chamber of the Bun Worshiper*. A convulsion of Nature oaueea the collapee of the vault lmprlaonln* both men. CHAPTER IV.—Werper recovers from the shock and Undine Taraan apparently dead he loaves him. Soaking a way to safety Weiner la eetsed by prleeta of th* Flamln* God, a decenerate race. He la about to be offered up aa a sacrifice when the ceremonies are interrupted by the appearance of a hunger-maddened Hon. CHAPTER V.—Believing Taraan dead hie black follower* return home with the gold. Achmet Zek. acting on Werper'* information, has attacked the Oreyatoke ssidff-badift sfiasw'utffi ant, to severely wounded but recover* •hd follows the rimers.

CHAPTER VI. Th* Jewel-Room of Opar. For Borne time Tarzan lay where he *liad fallen upon the floor of the treasure chamber beneath the rained walls of Opar. He lay as one dead; but he was not dead. At length he stirred. Slowly he rose to a sitting posture — listening. No sound reacbecT to the burled depths of his sepulcher. He staggered to hts feet and groped his way among the tiers of Ingots. What was he? Where was he? His head ached; but he felt no ill effects from the blow that had felled him. The accident he did not recall, nor did be recall aught of what had led np to It „ He let hlB bands grope unfamlliarly over his limbs, his torso, and his head. He felt of the quiver at his back, the knife In hla loin cloth. Something struggled for recognition within his brain. Ah! he had It There was something missing. He crawled about upon the floor, feeling with hla hands for the thing that instinct warned him waa gone. At last he found It —the heavy war spear that In past years had formed so Important a feature of his dally life, almost of his very existence. Tarzan was sure that there was another and more lovely world than that which wa* confined to the darkness of the four stone walls surrounding him. He continued fils search and as ljuf found the doorway leading Inward beneath the city and the temple. This he followed, most Incautiously. He came to the stone steps leading upward to the higher level. He ascended them and coutinued onward toward the well, blundering on through the darkness as though he were transversfng an open plain under the brilliance of a noonday sun. and suddenly there happened that which had to happen under the circumstances of hts rash advance. He reached the brink of the well, stepped outward Into space, lunged forward and shot downward Into the inky depths below. Still clutching his spear, he struck the water and sank beneath Its surface, plumbing* the depths. The fall had not injured him, and when he rose to the surface lie shook the water from his eyes and found that he could see. Tarzan gazed about him. On the level with the surface of the water he saw a large opening in the Hank and slimy wall. He swam to it and drew himself ont upon the wet floor of a tunnel. Along this he passed; but now he went warily, for Tarzan of the Apes was learning. The unexpected pit had taught him care in the traversing of dark passageways—he needed no second lesson. For a long distance the passage went straight as an arrow. The foot of a stairway ended it. Dp this he made hla way. It turned . back , and forth many times, leading, at hist, into a , n«n circular chamber. Cariosity prompted the ape-man to investigate his surroundings. Several OMtnl-bound, copper-studded chests constituted the sole furniture of the round room. Tarzan let his hands nip over these. He frit of the copper studs he pulled upon the hinges and at last by chance he raised the cover of one. An exclamation of delight broke from his Ups at sight of the pretty con tents. Gleaming and glistening In the gnbdned light of the chamber lay a great tray full of brilliant stones. Tarurn, reverted to the primitive by his had no conception of the fabulous value at his find. To him they ware but pretty pebbles. He plunged hla It« nk In them and let the priceless g—■« ffltw through his fin-

gers. He went to others of the chests, only to find still further stores of precious stones. Nearly all were cut, and from these he gathered n handful and filled the pouch which dangled at his aide —the uncut stones he tossed back into the chests. Unwittingly, the ape man had stumbled upon the forgotten Jewel room of Opar. Tiring at last of this diversion. Tarzan took up his way along the corridor which led upward from the jewel room by a steep Incline. The tunnel led him nearer and nearer to the surface, ending finally In a low-celled room, lighter than any that he had as' yet discovered. Above him an opening in the celling at the upper end of a flight of concrete steps revealed a brilliant sunliT scene. Tarzan viewed the vine-covered columns in mild wonderment. There was a tantalizing suggestion always present In Ills mind that something was eluding him —that he should know many things which lie did not know. Hla earnest cogitation was rudely interrupted by a thunderous roar from the opening above him. Following the roar came the cries and screams of men and women. Tarzan grasped his spear more firmly and ascended the steps. A strange sight met his eyes as he emerged from '.he semidnrkness of the cellar to the brLUiant light of the temple. The creatures he saw before him he recognized for *what they were —men and women, and A huge lion. The men and women were scuttling for the of the exits. The lion stood upon ths body of one who had been less fortunate than the others. He was in the center of the temple. -Directly before Tarzan, a woman stood beside a block of stone. Upon the top of the stone lay stretched a man. and as the ape-man watched the scene, he saw the lion glare terribly at the two who remained within the temple. Another thunderous roar broke from the savage throat, the woman screamed and swooned across the body of the man stretched prostrate upon the stone altar before her. Werper, helpless upon the altar, saw the great carnivore preparing to leap upon him. He saw’ the sudden change in the beast’s expression as his eyes wandered to something beyond the altar and out of the Belgian’s view. He saw the formidable creature rise to a standing position. A figure darted past Werper. He saw a mighty arm upraised, nud a stout spear sho6t forward toward the lion to bury Itself in the broad chest. He saw the lion snapping and tearing the weapon’s shaft, and he saw, wonder of wonders! the naked giant who had hurled the missile charging upon the great beast, only a long knife ready to meet those ferocious fangs and talons. v ~ By a quick side step. Tarzan eluded the first swinging clutch of the lion’s paws. Darting to the beast’s side, he leaped upon the tawny back. His arms encircled the maned neck, his teeth sank deep into the brute’s flesh. Roaring, leaping, rolling and struggling, the giant cat attempted to dislodge this savage enemy, and all the while one great, brown fist was driving a long keen blade repeatedly Into the beast's side. During the battle. La regained consciousness. Spellbound, Ashe stood above her victim watching the spectacle. At last Tamm's knife found the great heart, and with a final, spasmodic struggle the lion rolled over upon the marble floor, dead. Leaping to his feet the conqueror placed-a foot upon the carcass of his kill, raised his face toward the heavens and gave voice to so hideous a cry that both La and Werper trembled as It reverberated through the temple. Then the ape-man turned, and Wer-, per recognized him as the man he had left for dead In the treasure room. Werper was astounded. Could this creature be the same dignified Englishman who Tiad entertained hito so graciously in his luxurious African, home? Could this wild beast, with blazing eyes, and bloody countenance, be at Hie same time a man? Could the horrid victory cry he had but just heard have been formed In human tfcroatt „ La was studying the ape-man’s features. Slowly her large eyes opened very wide. Taraan 1” she exclaimed, and then, in the vernacular of the great apes which constant association with Hie anthropoids had rendered the common language Of the Oneriensi “Yon have ' . ."TT’’ r " " " . '

•atT lira. am* tin** tD« mandates of her religion, waiting, always waiting for Tarzan —for her Tarzan. She has taken no mute, for In j nil the world there was hut one with whom La would mate. And now you have come back! Tell ine, O Tarzan. that It is for me you have returned." Werper listened to the unintelligible jnrgon. He looked from La to Tiirznn. Would the ' latter understand this strange tongue? To the Belgian’s surprise. the Knglfahmau answered In a language evidently Identical to hers. “Tarzan,’' he repeated, musingly. “Tnrznn. The name sounds familiar." “It Is your name—you are Tarzan,” cried La. “I am Tarzan?*’ The ape-man shrugged. “Well, it Is a good name — I km>w no other, so I will keep It; hut I do not know you. I did not come hither, for you. Why I came, Ido not know at all; neither do I know from whence I came. Can you tell me?” . La shook her head. “I never knew," she replied. Tarzan turned toward Werper and put the same question to him; but in the language of the great apes. The Belgian shook his head. “I do not understand that language,” he said In French. Without effort, and apparently without realizing that he made the change, Tarzan repeated his question UF French. Werper suddenly came to a full realization of the magnitude of the Injury of which Tarzan was a victim. The man had lost his memory—no longer could he recollect past events. The Belgian was upon tRb point of enlightening him, when It-suddenly occurred to him that by keeping Tarzan in ignorance, for a time at least, of his true identity, It might be possible to turn the ape-man’s misfortune to his own advantage. “I cannot tell you from whence you came,” he said; “but this I can tell you—ls we do not get out of this horrible place we shall both be slain upon this bloody altar. The woman was about to 'plunge her knife into my heart when the lion interrupted the fiendish ritual. Come f Let us find a way out of their damnable temple.” Tarzan turned again toward La, ... “Why.” he asked, “would you-have killed this man.? Are you hungry?” The high priestess cried out In disgust, raised her slender arm, and pointed toward the sun. “We were offering up his soul as a gift to the Flaming God," she said. Tarzan looked puzzled. He was again an ape, and apes do not understand such matters as souls and Flaming Gods. “Do you wish to die?" he asked Werper. The Belgian assured him, with tears in his eyes, that he did not wish to die. “Vgry well, then; you shall not,’’ said Tarzan. “Come! We yIH go. This She would kill you and keep me for herself. It Is no place, anyway, for a Manganl. I should Bodti die, shut up behind these stone walls.” He turned toward La. '“We are going now,” he said. The woman rushed forward and seized the ape-man’s hands in hers. “Do not leave me!” she cried. “Stay and you shall be high priest. La loves you. All Opar shall be yours. Stay, Tarzan of the Apes, and let love reward you.” The ape-man pushed the kneeling woman aside. “Tarzan does not desire you,” he said, simply, and stepping to Werper’s side he cut the Belgian’s bonds nnd motioned him to follow. Panting—her face convulsed with rage, La sprang to her feet. “Stay, you shall!” she screamed, "La will have you—lTshe cannot have you alive, she will have you dead,” and raising her face to the sun she gave voice to the same hideous shriek that Werper had heard once before and Tarzan many times. In answer to her cry a babel of voices broke from the surrounding chambers and corridors. “Come, guardian priests!” she cried. “The infidels have profaned the holiest of the holies. Come! Strike terror to their hearts; defend La and her altar; wash clean the temple with the blood of the polluters!” Tarzan understood, though Werper did not. The former glanced at the Belgian and saw that he was unarmed. Stepping quickly to La’s side the apeman seized her in his strong arms and though she fought with all the mad savagery of a demon, he soon disarmed her, handing her long, sacrificial knife to Werper. “You will need this,” he said, and then from each doorway a horde of the monstrous, little men of Opar streamed Into the temple. They were armed with bludgeons and knives, and fortified In their courage by fanatical hate and frenzy. Weeper was terrified. Tarzan stood eyeing the foe In proud disdain. Slowly he advanced toward the exit he had chosen to utilize in making his way from the temple. A burly priest barred his way. Behind the first was a score of others. Tarzan swung his heavy spear, clublike, down upon the, skull of the priest. The fellow collapsed, bis bead crushed. Again and again the Weapon fell as Tarzan made his way slowly toward the doorway. Werper pressed close behind, casting backward (fiances to* the shrieking, dancing mob menacing their rear. He held the sacrificial knife ready to strike whoever might come within its reach; bat none came. For a time he wondered that they should so bravely battle with the giant ape-man, yet hesitate to rush Open him, who was relatively so week. 'Taraan had re&ched the doorway over the corpses of all that had stood to dispute Os way before Werper massed at the reason for his Immuni-

ty. Tne pnenia roarer u.c saennoni knife I Willingly would they face death end welcome tt if it came while they defended their high priestess and her altar; hut evidently there were deaths, and deaths. Some strange superstition must surrofiud that polished blade, that no Opnrian cared to chance a death thrust from It, yet gladly rushed to the slaughter of the ape-man's flying spear. Once outside the tetople court, Werper communicated his discovery to Tarzan. The ape-man grinned, and let Werper go before him, brandishing the Jeweled and holy weapon. Like leaves before a gale, the Oparlans scattered in all directions and Tarzan and the Belgian found a clear passage through the corridors and chambers of the ancient temple. On the two went, chance leading them toward the broad avenue which lay between the stately piles of the half-rained edifices and the inner wall of the city. Great apes jabbered at them and menaced them, but Tarzan answered them after their own kind, giving back taunt for taunt, insult for Insult, challenge for challenge. Werper saw a hairy bull swing down from a broken column anfi advance. stiff-legged and bristling, toward the naked giant. The yellow fangs were bared, angry snarls and barkings rumbled threateningly through the thick and hanging lips. The Belgian watched his companion. To his horror, he saw the man stoop tintll his closed knuckles rested upon the ground as did those of the anthropoid. He saw him circle, stiff-

legged, about the circling ape. He heard the same bestial barkings and growllngs Issue from, the human throat that were coming from the mouth of the brute. Had his eyes been closed he could not have known but that two giant apes were bridling for combat. But there was no battle. It ended as the majority of such jungle encounters end—one of the boasters loses his nerve and becomes suddenly interested In a blowing leaf, a beetle, or the lice upon his hairy stomach. In this Instance it was the anthropoid that retired In stiff dignity to inspect an unhappy caterpillar, which he presently devoured. For a moment Tarzan seemed Inclined to pursue the argument He swaggered truculently, stuck out his chest, roared and advanced closer to the bull. It was with difficulty that Werper finally persuaded film to leave well enough alone and continue his way from the ancient city of the Sun Worshipers. The two searched for nearly an hour before they found the narrow exit through the Inner wall. From there the well-worn trail led them beyond the outer fortification to the desolate valley of Opar. Tarzan bad no idea, in so far as Werper could discover, as to where he was or whence he came. He wandered aimlessly about, searching for food, which he discovered beneath small rocks, or hiding in the shade of the scant brush which dotted the ground. The Belgian was horrified by the hideous menu of his companion. Beetles, rodents and caterpillars were devoured with seeming relish. Tarzan was indeed an ape again. At last Werper succeeded In leading his companion toward the distant hills which mark the northwestern boundary of the valley, and together the two set out in the direction of the Grey stoke bungalow. What purpose prompted the Belgian in leading the victim of his treachery and greed back toward his former h«pu» it is difficult to guess, unless it was that without Tarzan there could be no ransom for Tarzan’s wife. That right they camped in the valley beyond the hills, and as they sat before a little fire where cooked a wild pig that had fallen to one of Tarzaris arrows; the latter sat lost in speculation. He seemed continually to be trying to grasp some mental image which as constantly eluded him. At last he opened the leather pouch which hung at his side. From It he poured into the palm of his hand a quantity of glittering gems. The firelight playing upon them conjured 'a multitude of scintillating rays, aqd aa the wide eyes of the Belgian looked on in rapt fascination, the man’s expression at last acknowledged a tangible purpose in courting the society of the (TO BE CONTINUED.) Y. . ' . OLD, papers, 6c a bundle .at ths Republican office. ——

Let the Priceless Gems Filter Through His Fingers.

Saw Him Circle, Stiff-Legged, About the Circling Ape.