The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1908-12-25
1.-The Nan Who Stole The Earth"
Bv w Holt White
By w. Holt Write

, 81 Diaua CudLcN ns piAsohois u
prisoner to her father. who. she was
slowly coming TO realize. had no claim
on her affections or her duty.
True. the king left her the little
wireless instrument. but that was not
for her sake. but for his. He knew
that should anything arise which.
would make negotiations Of the slight
est avail. he would be dependent on
Diana for the conduct OF them.
But Strong was not 10 know this.
and, with the exception OF the one
brief message. she received no news.
Apart from his ignorance, however,
Strong's hands were too full to deal
much in useless messages.
From her rooms at the back OF the
palace Diana could hear the noise OF
the conflict In the city. and as night
came she could clearly see the glare
which had followed the almost con.
slant EXPLOSIONS II was indeed
most horrible and hopeless situation
TO be in.
The only means OF assistance, the
only consolation that she could find
lay In prayer. And from time to time
she PRAYED a little.
Meantime the king had hedged hin
self about with an fey rage. II was
easy for him to see. as he paced about
the palace, that even his court was
no longer on his side. Only the say.
ageness OF his manner, indeed. pre-
vented active demonstration of the Ill
favcr in which he was now held
AS the night wore on he could sHe
defeat encompassing him on every
side, AMI he knew well enough that
he was a beaten man before he made
the sortie; but he decided for two
reasons on retaking the ministry
which had surrendered to Strong.
First he desired 70 gain breathing
space. and, second, he was planning n
certain way OF escape; for he could no
longer blink the fact that flight was
the only way which now was open t.
him.
II was, indeed, with this idea at the
back OF his mind that he had stipu-
lated with NJ. Stalvan in the battered
ministry that he should wait for an
other hour before finally surrenderiag
TO Strong. The modification which his
majesty suffered in making even this
stipulation was great-so great that
a little portion OF his brain seemed to
be becoming numb with sheer hate
and anger.
But he comforted himself In some
degree with the trite reflection tina,
''he who fights and runs away may live
TO fight another day" and he saw that,
even II he were compelled TO leave the
reins OF government to his enemy. at
least he would be free to intrigue, and
that so long as he retained breath he
would be able TO set Europe by the
ears and keep the world In a state 81
bewtlderment, unrest and war.
When, therefore, he came back from
the ministry he stalked straight I'D 20
Diana's room, ordering Ludwig TO fol-
low him. lie entered Diana's sitting
room without so much as the formality
OF a knock. He would not even have
ordered the guards TO withdraw bu;
for the necessity Of keeping what Re
had TO say between himself and his
daughter.
He spoke 10 her roughly, almost
coarsely. treating her as an enemy
rather than a girl Wild had sought to
do her best for him.
II should be fool" he said, ~
did not admit that for the time your
dear friend. Mr.. Strong, has triumphed.
Though ] come near 10 choking on tho
words. I have TO confess that Il is
necessary for me TO leave Bomberg."
Diana stared at him with a white
face and feverish eyes
But" the king went on. 1T will not
be by the way In which Mr.. Strong
hopes. for the war balloon, thank
heaven! n sufficiently far advanced for
us 10 make a flight before dawn And
the war balloon shall fly"
Diana stared at him in silence.
And Dianas silence nettled him.
You do not ask" he said You DO
rot care whittier we may be forced
TO go"
Il have nothing TO say" said Diana
81 presume. OF course" the king
Vent on, that you. with your wonder
ful sense OF duty, will see NJ TO &C.
company me- Even now I should be
regTetful 10 use force, but IL you will
not come with me voluntarily. then
shall be compelled 10 use other
means
tContfnuet Tomorrow