The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1909-05-24
The Man
Who Stole
4 The Earth"
BY W. Holt Whits
CHAPTER LxvI.-(continued.)

kept them at a little distance above
the long main road which. Just outside
Moscow. was thick with motor cars
band sleighs. tor on Sunday all Moscow
that can afford TO drive takes an air.
ing on the long. broad road that lier
between the city OF the churches and
srimy 1Ner.
And the effect OF the presence OF the
airships was electrical. Strong WAS
vastly amused. although be had the
grace to be ashamed at the unkindness
of his humor After all. ii is not good
To see the panic OF a people. and the
people beneath him were certainly in
a panic now
Strong. indeed. grew angry as he OF
served the panic becoming cowardfs.
Motor cars and sleighs had wheeled
about and were making for the city
helter-skelter. and SO fast and furious
| IL did the different vehicles drive un-
der the impulse OF fear that the road
became TANNED with scurrying horses
and hooting motors, and there began
series OF accidents.
Now, Strong. 10 the best OF his lights.
made war legitimately, and he had no
desire 10 see lives lost and injury
befall those with whom he had no
quarrel.
Therefore he ordered the Victor
! 10 be nut up. and, followed oy the d.
left the course Of the main road.
| This move OF his 10 great extent
allayed the panic. and, calling the peo'
pie whom his mere presence had terri
| lied all manner OF cPavens. strong
sailed on toward the summit or the
city.
The Victor was now travelling slow
liz. and as he passed over the great
wall from which Ivan the Terrible
used 10 watch the most fiendish exc
BUTTONS known TO history, Strong
! looked westward across the plain
+ over which Napoleon had tralled MS
broken army while Moscow was aiisnt,
/ strong was gigantic in his vanity
end perfectly natural In his concert
burning the city will avail them
nothing on this OCCASION he reflected
nor will the passage from MOSCOW
| ha marked by the bitterness or Napo-
Icons when | return 10 claim the Guy
as my own. 49, 9TH
He was sitting apart from the oth,
or men dreaming Of the accumnia.eu
,,o,yar which would shortly become MS
Whom his gaze looked downward ana
lighted accidentally on the glass OF
| the wireless instrument. He was as
,no,sbad and for a moment slightly
! Sisturhed To see faint sparks oeiseath
He took up the instrument ana
Glanced into il. but the only message
which he could decipher was: are
vou there? Are you there? Are you
there" repeated again and again with
the species OF impatient monCtony
| that marks a man trying TO make MIN
self heard on the telephone after the
exchange has cut him OF.
Instantly he licked back an answer
and then he received the astounding
news that the fugitive King OF BAL
! kama mad raided Bomberg by mo'or
! car. and was even then in the mouse
OF Brandt. the ex-premier.
Surely thought Strong 10 hlnise"'
'the hanging of Schaur should nave
been sufficient warning. "an see
there will be more gallows' work wheh
/ | get back to Bomberg.
II was Wildney who was working
the instrument. and the next rev sen
fences served 10 reassure strong mat
peace still reigned In the town.
He licked instructions to Wildney ID
briefly inform him. OF everything that
had come TO pass since the KING had
taken advantage of his ABSENCE ana
in a few minutes he was In posses
sion OF the Incidents which had mark
ed the night before in Bomberg
Then Wildney inquired what shoaia
be done with the king Did strong
wish h.u arrested or deported'
But Strong licked:
Neither. Leave him where he Is.
He can DC no harm. Let him walt uh-
til | return. | am coming back at
once.
I then inquired.
Miss Hunt is WE'LL Strong answer
ed. snd shut off the instrument.
The other men in the Victor had
Leen ,ookine at him with wondering
faces-faces that plainly asked wheth'
or al were we'll In Bomberg.
Strong made haste To explain. but
first ordered Pelham to forge ahead
fu!i speed.
And what Of Arbuthnot and the
DIP inquired Pelham.
Never mind them" said strong
"'rLey will have to look after them
selves. They may be late. but that
is matter OF small Importance now
that we have the state"
Strong signalled across to Arbuth-
not In the "Di." urging him to make
what speed he could. and then he
leaned back again to formulate COM
Portable little plan how he would heap
Goals of fire upon the kings head when
he had secured his majesty.
Then his mind wandered to the com
ing struggle, and at the thought OF the
Russian army hanging on Balkania's
frontier he grew suddenly angry with
himself COR having dealt 80 lightly
with the government in st. PEERS
burg.