The Detroit times., 1908-11-30
"1he e4an Who Stole The Earth
By w. Holt White

took Langley's hama ana shooh
warmly
That is about the nearest squeak
We ever had" he said. Langley,
you're brick. Very few men would
have been SO self-saoritcing AS I'D
come back for lame duck Ike NE.
Ycr are a real. live hero. my boy, ana
heaven bless you for IL. When reiga
In Bahama will strike a medal equiv
alent To the Victoria Cross. and you
shall be the first 10 have one
"Oh. rats" said Langley. shortly.
And now" said Strong. I'VE have
got - make up our minds what we are
going TO do with those gentlemen
down below. Personally. hardly
think II was playing the game, though
certainly | deserved all | got. for tax
ing no precautions. IL has been an
excellent lesson. You may bet that
IL Will be long time before despisc
the enemy again
Don't you think" said Langley.
that We had better put back for Aero
while there is time. before more dam
age Is donc?"
Not before have had a smack AZ
some OF those beggars below said
Strong.
What about the Hohenzollern?"
asked Arbuthnot.
Out OF the question. unfortunately
| gave my word to leave her alone. but
mere is nothing To project the other
fellows. | don't think in our present
| condition we had better 60 far out OF
our course. Let us stand from the
coast and take iwhat comes en- pas
sent"
Langley brought the two airships
round and put for the distant shore.
The Victor was sadly hampered by
the wounded Di but none the less
they made good speed.
Ahead of them was giant battle
ship rolling slowly with the tide
Three thousand feet" said Strong,
lis rather too far to make sure or
dropping ones shell straight
Look here said Langley. Il don't
| like TO dispute your authority, but |
may tell you, regretfully. but respect
fully. that unless you take me from
the charge OF the Victor by force.
will never consent to go down while
We are in this condition.
"All right" said Strong. have II
your own way, but keep as dead over
the battleship below as you can"
Langley was so accurate In his cal
culations that plumb-linc dropped
from the Victor's side must have fal-
len on To the bridge OF the battleship
beneath them.
II was then that Strong. setting his
mouth. picked up two OF the larger
shells and dropped them one after the
other full and square on To the battle
ships decks.
An immense cloud OF smoke spurted
mp and mercifully hid from them the
sight Of their own handiwork. But
they could hear the long grinding
wrench OF timber and steel torn asund-
er ard the sharp cries OF stricken men.
Langley put the Victor ahead again
after few moments. When the
smoke had rolled away little they
could see that the battleship was IN
sore straits. Men looking no larger
than the size OF ants Wee swarming
on her decks busy at the davits or
such boats as had not been splintered
into matchwood.
Good heavens" said Bellingham,
she's going down by the stern
He was greatly agitated. and Strong
put his hand on his shoulder TO con-
sole him.
Bellingham, however. declined to be
comforted,
This is 4 hideous business" he said.
But Strong, whose face wore about
as much pity or remorse or kindness
as the countenance of the Sphinx.
merely shrugged his shoulders.
tContinu~d w~dr--day
During the last 10 years there has
been great expansion In the value
OF the foreign trade oil Brazil.