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Hauptmann Fritz Schneider, who was either her confederate, her sweetheart, or
both, and there, too, would be Tarzan's precious locket.
He found the hotel at last, a low, two-storied building with a veranda. There were
lights on both floors and people, mostly officers, could be seen within. The ape-
man considered entering and inquiring for those he sought; but his better
judgment finally prompted him to reconnoiter first. Passing around the building
he looked into all the lighted rooms on the first floor and, seeing neither of those
for whom he had come, he swung lightly to the roof of the veranda and continued
his investigations through windows of the second story.
At one corner of the hotel in a rear room the blinds were drawn; but he heard
voices within and once he saw a figure silhouetted momentarily against the blind.
It appeared to be the figure of a woman; but it was gone so quickly that he could
not be sure. Tarzan crept close to the window and listened. Yes, there was a
woman there and a man--he heard distinctly the tones of their voices although he
could overhear no words, as they seemed to be whispering.
The adjoining room was dark. Tarzan tried the window and found it unlatched.
All was quiet within. He raised the sash and listened again--still silence. Placing a
leg over the sill he slipped within and hurriedly glanced about. The room was
vacant. Crossing to the door he opened it and looked out into the hall. There was
no one there, either, and he stepped out and approached the door of the adjoining
room where the man and woman were.
Pressing close to the door he listened. Now he distinguished words, for the two
had raised their voices as though in argument. The woman was speaking.
"
I have brought the locket," she said, "as was agreed upon between you and
General Kraut, as my identification. I carry no other credentials. This was to be
enough. You have nothing to do but give me the papers and let me go."
The man replied in so low a tone that Tarzan could not catch the words and then
the woman spoke again--a note of scorn and perhaps a little of fear in her voice.
"You would not dare, Hauptmann Schneider," she said, and then: "Do not touch
me! Take your hands from me!"
It was then that Tarzan of the Apes opened the door and stepped into the room.
What he saw was a huge, bull-necked German officer with one arm about the
waist of Fraulein Bertha Kircher and a hand upon her forehead pushing her head
back as he tried to kiss her on the mouth. The girl was struggling against the
great brute; but her efforts were futile. Slowly the man's lips were coming closer
to hers and slowly, step by step, she was being carried backward.
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