me was no gentleman at all, but a deserter from the army as well

as a fugitive from civil justice. He had a police record in nearly

every country in Europe.

"The matter was hushed up by the authorities of the convent. Not

even my parents knew of it. But Nikolas met the man afterward, and

learned the whole story. Now he threatens to tell the count if I

do not do just as he wishes me to."

Tarzan laughed. "You are still but a little girl. The story that

you have told me cannot reflect in any way upon your reputation,

and were you not a little girl at heart you would know it. Go to

your husband tonight, and tell him the whole story, just as you

have told it to me. Unless I am much mistaken he will laugh at

you for your fears, and take immediate steps to put that precious

brother of yours in prison where he belongs."

"I only wish that I dared," she said; "but I am afraid. I learned

early to fear men. First my father, then Nikolas, then the fathers

in the convent. Nearly all my friends fear their husbands--why

should I not fear mine?"

"It does not seem right that women should fear men," said Tarzan,

an expression of puzzlement on his face. "I am better acquainted

with the jungle folk, and there it is more often the other way

around, except among the black men, and they to my mind are in

most

ways lower in the scale than the beasts. No, I cannot understand

why civilized women should fear men, the beings that are created

to protect them. I should hate to think that any woman feared me."

"I do not think that any woman would fear you, my friend," said Olga

de Coude softly. "I have known you but a short while, yet though

it may seem foolish to say it, you are the only man I have ever

known whom I think that I should never fear--it is strange, too, for

you are very strong. I wondered at the ease with which you handled

Nikolas and Paulvitch that night in my cabin. It was marvellous."

As Tarzan was leaving her a short time later he wondered a little

at the clinging pressure of her hand at parting, and the firm

insistence with which she exacted a promise from him that he would

call again on the morrow.

The memory of her half-veiled eyes and perfect lips as she had stood

smiling up into his face as he bade her good-by remained with him