"Could the finger prints of an ape be detected from those
of a man?"
"Probably, because the ape's would be far simpler than
those of the higher organism."
"But a cross between an ape and a man might show the
characteristics of either progenitor?" continued Tarzan.
"Yes, I should think likely," responded the official; "but
the science has not progressed sufficiently to render it exact
enough in such matters. I should hate to trust its findings
further than to differentiate between individuals. There it is
absolute. No two people born into the world probably have ever
had identical lines upon all their digits. It is very doubtful if
any single fingerprint will ever be exactly duplicated by any
finger other than the one which originally made it."
"Does the comparison require much time or labor?" asked D'Arnot.
"Ordinarily but a few moments, if the impressions are distinct."
D'Arnot drew a little black book from his pocket and commenced
turning the pages.
Tarzan looked at the book in surprise. How did D'Arnot
come to have his book?
Presently D'Arnot stopped at a page on which were five
tiny little smudges.
He handed the open book to the policeman.
"Are these imprints similar to mine or Monsieur Tarzan's
or can you say that they are identical with either?"
The officer drew a powerful glass from his desk and
examined all three specimens carefully, making notations
meanwhile upon a pad of paper.
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