The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1909-05-22
The Man
Who Stole
The Earth"
By ". Holt White
CHAPTER LxvI.

With q brutality unworthy OF the
distinguished officer who perpetrated
IL. Miss Hunt had been hurried out
or the fort OF ST Peter and ST. Paul
without a word OF explanation: and
To be hidden suddenly To enter
three-horse sleigh with an officer for
companion sand handful OF Cos
sacks for escort was sufficient TO break
down the nerve OF most women.
And Miss Hunt. as matter OF fact,
throughout the drive sat SO numb
with cold and with fear that even
when 81 Petersburg was left behind
she kept her eyes tightly closed. dread
ing. indeed, to look ahead lest she
should see the beginning OF the end.
IL was a shock. therefore. when as
the sleigh came 10 standstill she
opened her eyes and saw Bellingham
rushing across the snow toward her.
And her heart leaped with Joy when.
instinctiveiy glancing up. she caught
sight or the lowering Victor.
To Bellingham. as he seized her
hands, she said. in dull voice: What
does IL mean
IL means that you are free-as free
as am" said Bellingham
So exhausted was she that she gave
little sigh and sank back into the
sleigh again. And she sat there, un'
able 10 move. but Bellingham put his
arm about her and lifted her TO her
feet. and then half carried her 10 the
"Di"
When she was in the airshlp the
"Di" went up. and she sat for some
minutes shivering and sobbing. She
could scarcely realize what had come
10 pass.
Strong. ordering both airships 10
turn about. instinctively glanced away
from the "Di." He felt little sorry
for Bellingham. and for Miss Hunt
that IL was necessary for them 10 car
ry-AFbHthHet- aboard
But. after all. he reflected 10 him.
self. YOU cannot expect TO go love
making in the piping times OF war
and this is most decidedly war.
HIS first impulse was 10 make
straight back 10 Bomberg but as the
Victor" and the Dir rushed south
west and St Petersburg grew dim
behind them. he reflected that he could
make his visit To Russia useful II he
could produce still greater effect
upon the Russian people.
So he turned TO Pelham and order
ed him To steer due south Pelham
looked al him in some wonder. but
obeyed: and Strong thinking 1t better
To make his object clear. explained
the motive for his change OF course.
st Petersburg he said. address
ing all the men in the Victor, is the
chief city OF the Russian state. Mos
COW is the chief city OF the Russian
people. We have done good work in
ST. Petersburg. The heads OF the Rus
sian state will now think twice. imag-
inc. before they set their armies on
the march against Bahama.
The lesson intended 10 read TO
them was that shall defend Bahama
BY tact. but that II they violate the
frontiers OF ny new Kingdom. | shall
lay St Petersburg In ruins.
News, however. travels very slowly
In this country he continued. the
more slowly because the press Is prac-
tically In the hands OF the government,
and II St Petersburg can prevent IL,
Moscow will not learn much OF what
has happened this morning.
And so we will go 10 Moscow. We
will give the people there a little
ocular demonstration Of what we are
able 10 do. and. II possible. inform
them OF what has happened at ST.
Petersburg this morning"
The men nodded at him, and Strong
fell into silence again. turning over
In his mind the different means where
by he could increase the force OF the
lesson he desired to teach Moscow.
II was bitterly cold. the wind sweep
ing in no half-hearted way from the
north over the endless snow plains be-
reath them. Only here and there 4
pine forest sprang up to relieve the
dead monotony OF the snow-covered
rairie land.
Strong did rot travel too fast. be-
cause he desired TO reach Moscow At
bout z O'Clock. an hour at which he
knew most OF the population would be
abroad bent on their Sunday pleasures.
Presently they passed over Tver. ana
Strong slackened speed still more ID
Jet the presence OF the airships SINK
into the minds of the workers OF That
And then they went south again.
Soon the minarets and gilded domes
~ Moscow's Asiatlc-looking churches
,eeped above the horizon.
Ito re voprtru~d.D