The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1908-05-20
CHAPTER xIV.-(c0ntInusd.J

/. III Listen. old chap. lie SAID
III sitting down beside Bellipg-
ham AGAR. Ito what have 10
say. and try TO keep that sleek anu
LAZY head OF yours awake while | tell
you what's afoot.
How many more times he said.
apparently 10 Arbuthnot SHAH
have TO recite the wondrous tale OF
which | am the noble hero? | VIII
do II once more Tor Bellingham's SAKE
but after that Will leave the nara
tive TO you
He turned again to Bellingham ana
began rapidly 10 recount the proceed
lngs OF the past three days.
Belingham listened with an almost
vapid smile. once he was sufficiently
startled 10 nearly lose his eyeglass.
but he restrained the inclination TO
raise mis- eyebrows. and retained his
monocle.
When Sucng had concluded his
tale. points OF which he emphasized by
banging his fists on the yeranda steps.
Bellingham turned 10 him with a
bland countenance.
Hang it," he said. Il might have
been shot In my little bed"
There was not much fear or that,
CID fellow" said Strong, "or ! would
rot have left you here. There's much
more likely 10 be a rumpus tonight.
However, you will have Arbuthnot for
n,panion. and II you want 10 ny,
there is the car"
What about food?" asked Boiling
ham, Il am dashed hungry. you
know"
Hang on DIT longer. said
Strong. while Arbuthnot forages IN
Maidenhead He has got 10 drive me
there TO the station. because am OF 10
town. Now you quite understand that
you fellows have got 10 wait here TIL
| send you a wire. unless you are com
PEELED to clear out?'
Bellingham nodded, Anything To
please you" he said, but hurry up
with some grub"
Bless you. my child" said Strong.
laughing. and he laid his great brown
hand on the sleek head. Then he
called to Arbuthnot and together they
walked To the car.
When they reached the station,
Strong found that, as luck would nave
1t. he had only Ave minutes In which
10 wait for train. Arbuthnot went
on 10 the platform with him. and to-
gether they walked TO the far end CT II.
Look here, old man." said Arbuth-
not you know perfectly we'll | WILL
do anything you ask, but IL your aer-
onautic majesty will kindly vouchsafe
TO tell me when you propose 10 return
either here or 70 oxford | should be
infinitely obliged"
That" said Strong. is precisely
what cannot tell you. | have no
idea whether | shall manage TO get
back here or whether | shall go 20
Oxford direct In any case, do no;
wait after o'clock tomorrow morn
ing. In the meantime, go through the
whole place and collect every scrap
OF paper Remember 10 look for
| Langley's drawings and specifications
They are the things | must not miss
Then on the top shelf over his bottles
YOU VIII find four little contrivances
that look rather like little phono-
graphs Whatever you do. do not for
get them.
That is another of his patent In
ventlons which is Just as wonderful
as the airship. and II We lose II We
may be landed in deuce OF hole.
is that ALP" asked Arbuthnot, a
triie ironically.
But Strong was in too earnest a
mood to perceive the irony. Yes
that is ALL" he said. except II be
as cheerful as you can in my absence
| And for heavens sake take poor Bel
| 1fpnhaVo haqk Soma food -
The train came roaring into the sta
ton, and Strong babe good-by to Ar
J buthnot. IF | do not see you at the
bungalow he called from the window
as the train moved out again, IL vii
see you at Oxford later So long"
so long" called Arbuthnot AND
thus the Man Who Stole the Eartf
and his aide-de-camp parted for 8
while
The first thing Strong did as the