The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1909-06-19
The Man
Who Stole
The Earth"
CHAPTER LxvIlI.-tcOntInued.)
By ". Holt Whits

CHAPTEH LxVlii.-(Continued
In the presence OF a danger greater
than the Prussian government" hal
ever been forced 10 face before Strone
guessed pretty shrewdly That the So
eial Democratic organs, utterly re
CARELESS OF the cause of .heir country
would not scruple 10 use the oppor'
tunity OF making themselves felt.
And that would be an additional
thorn in the side OF the kaiser. and the
more thorns that Strong could plant
there the better he would be pleased.
In a quarter of an hours time the
four airships were over Potsdam. Then
Strong halted 10 make an investigation
Of what was happening below.
From all quarters came the sounds
Of bugles. and II was apparent that
the troops were being rapidly moved
from their barracks and massed In the
streets and squares.
In front OF the palace. sitting stolld
and silent on their horses. were the
white-coated troopers OF the guard,
while regiment after regiment OF blue
coated infantry were massed in al
most every street. For the Potsdam
garrison was a strong one,
All this hustle and movement ana
preparation rather amused Strong than
displeased him. He knew how utterly
impotcnt were the forces paraded be-
meath HIM, and his only disquieting
thought was that the kaiser might De
sufficiently obstinate 20 necessitate
the massacre of brave men. This,
however. he was determined TO pre-
vent II by any means he could do so.
Therefore, picking up the wireless In.
strument once more he proceeded
again 10 tick.tack inquiries 10 the
Chancellerie.
His ticking met with prompt re-
Spouse. and he was assured. upon his
asking II. that he was practically IN
direct communication with the en-
peror himself.
"You will be good enough" he rap
ped. ito inform his majesty that DE-
sire the garrison OF Potsdam 10 De
withdrawn forthwith"
He uttered no threats rs 10 what
would happen II his instructions were
not oteved. He realized that II Is
always the weaker way 10 give rea-
sons when one issues command.
The answer came: His majesty de-
clines 10 do anything OF the sort.
Strong licked back: His majesty
Is exceedingly foolish. and have no
hesitation in telling him Of the fact
trust his majesty will see that II Is
utterly useless 70 deny me. and that 10
dispute my authority will simply re-
suit in disaster for the troops
There was no answer.
But Strong anxious lest he should
give the impression that ne was In any
wav hesitating. continued his mono
logue as follows:
so long as II Is possible for me
to do so shall respect the lives NJ
the kaiser's soldiers and subjects IN
general. but as Il is absolutely neces-
: sarv for me TO enter into possession
Of Potsdam before dark. I shall I'M
medlatelv proceed To demolish all the
various buildings. which. | presume
his majesty would prefer 70 keep IN
tact"
IT NAV add" he licked on. that the
demolition Of buildings will continue
until such time as I receive informa-
ton from his majesty that he has had
enough Of the fruits Of his ohstinacy.
( n occurred 70 Strong. Immediately
fter- he had licked this message, that
fear on the part OF the operators az
/ the instrument and those or the ON
GERS charged with the duty or trans
hitting his messages 10 the palace
might result In the softening of his
words. and 90 he demanded 10 know
whether his messages were being re-
heated word for word as he raped
them out 20 the kaiser himself
! On this score he was very promptly
assured bv the chancellor himself, anil
Strong INDUCED In a small chuckle. in
asmuch as he was pleased 10 think
that he was In n position 10 he I'M
nudent 70 emnerors.
Once more. before he proceeded -
action he demanded II the kaiser had
any reply 20 make.
THE instrument remained silent.
So. ordering rhe state" and The
"princess" 70 remain with he "Di, he
himself proceeded IN me Victor"
across Sarssouci park 70 the famous
windmill. the miller Of which dehed
even the great Frederick himself.
ITO Re confinuedJ