The Detroit times., 1909-05-28
THE Man
Who Stole
The Earth"
By W. Holt Whife
CHAPTER LxVI.-lcontlnued).

CHAPTER LXVI.-lContlnuedl
Each of them carried a rife. and as
the horsemen came up with a clat-
ter Strong, Arthbuthnot and Churs-
ton, as had been arranged. fired into
the breasts OF the animals. The horses
dropped.
What followed was quick and horri-
BILE A second discharge OF the rifles
settled the endorsed men,.
Halt uoZen cItIZens stood ON the
pavement, paralyZed with fear.
Two men in civilian dress dashed
forward revolvers in their hands.
These were the police, whom Strong
had expected.
They came on only to die.
Strong had reckoned the Cossacks
Of the vanguard would, upon hearing
the uproar. make back for the sleigh.
And in this he was right.
But he had counted on the Victor"
10 settle them. and the shooting from
the Victor was sure.
But not so sure as 1t might have
been. Only two of the three men
dropped.
The third, great man on a great
horse. swooped round the corner OF
the Di, and spear in hand. swept down
on Strong.
The man was right upon him, but
Strong Strengthened himself, and
bringing the muzzle of his rifle up
sharply. caught the horse under the
nose. The beast reared and gave a
great jump.
Arbuthnot and Churston dealt with
the man
Quick as thought, Strong glanced
about him. The way was clear.
Into the Di!" he yelled. And,
hurting their rifles in ahead of them,
Churston and Arbuthnot jumped like
wild cats into the little airship.
1t was Strong who rushed TO the
sleigh where the children sat, in their
white furs, looking like so many white
mice, not terrifed-Strong thanked
heaven for that--but only wide-eyed
and wondering.
The nurse in charge of them had
spread out her arms as a hen spreads
her wings to cover her chicks.
Strong's only thought was for the
boy.
He reached forward and picked the
child up and caught him to him.
The child cried out and doubled his
fists, and with his tiny strength beat
at Strong's face savagely.
While the child was still in his arms
Strong heard warning shout from
the DIT" and whipped round in time
to behold another man hard upon him.
His fifie-ef eeHfserA e-had- thFe~H
away and he had-only -one-ar with
which TO defend himself. But as the
man came on he lodged and dealt him
a swinging blow behind the ear.
Huge as the man was, he fell like
a log beneath Strong's blow.
And moment later Strong was Ia.
the "Di." and the Dir was flying up.
The Victor" followed, and Strong
steered alongside the bigger airship.
His face was white to the lips as
he held the struggling child from him
and reached out to Miss Hunt.
This" he said in choked voice,
must he your work
And he placed the boy in her arms.
He was of no mind to remain near
the earth. lie had no desire To be-
hold the frenzy of the people or the
terror of the children whom he had
robbed Of their brother.
For the first time in his life he was
entirely shaken out OF himself. He
was indeed halfhysterical He sat
down in the stern OF the Victor and
bowed his face in his hand and cried
like child.
The boy was TO some extent com.
forted In Miss Hunts arms. and chung
TO her, sobbing.
The men gathered forward, dazed
and somewhat scared at what they had
done.
- a - ...i,,,... go. 90, C,,ro.,,,~ t.
ed his head, and, openly and unasham-
ed. wiped away his own hysterical
tears
He had come back to his own quiet
self again
Gro Ire Continued.D
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