The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1909-05-01
"The Man
Who Stole
The Earth"
CHAPTER LxIv.-(contInued)
By W. Holt White

| SE'rF - IN INiN."\O~Uts"oSo
Tney were back in Bomberg and in
the palace by nightfall. and theI
Strong listened intently and with 9
serious face TO Bellingham's story.
AT the end of II he got up and said
Il will go back to the balloon
ground and hustle things up. l don't
intend to lose any time. would
rather have my new-found kingdom
vanish away from me than fail Miss
Hunt at this moment. She has be-
kRXed like perfect heroine, and
should be the meanest man on earth
il were to leave her now
Bellingham insisted on accompany
irg Strong and Arbuthnot to the bal
loon ground. Here, thanks TO Langley
the place was as light as day, for
great arc lamps suspended on wires
between tall poles illuminated the en-
tire field.
Work. indeed. was being carried on
both by day and by night. Strong was
OF no mind to let the Prussians get
ahead OF him In the building of their
airships. One aircraft, indeed, had
been already completed and stood on
her rests beside the Victor" and the
two airships were SO alike IL was hard
to distinguish one from the other.
Il thought IL BETTER" Strong ex-
planned to Bellingham, TO have one
ready for patrol duty. Cur present
trip will mean an absence from Bonn
berg, not only of the Victor but OF
the d. and while we are away ons
will have to mount guard over the
town. | am sorry to say am not
even now so popular as | thought I
should be-"
He smiled a little grimly to himself.
when do you start?" asked Belling-
ham.
My dear fellow" said Strong, did
you ever know me let the grass grow
under my feet? We are of tonight.
"You are sure II Is safe2" asked
Bellingham.
Perfectly" said Strong. Hertz
has been Invaluable. | have got about
me now some score Of young officers,
who. -thinl; may boast, are quite
devoted. At least they are gentlemen
and perfectly straight and honorable.
Wildney will take charge Of the new
airship. which we have christened
The State
Rather a good name, think, that.
1t is something like backing a horse
both ways. II suggests an empire or
q republic, just as you please. And
with the present condition of public
opinion it is just as we'll TO give pee
ple choice"
Langley, in jean overalls and grimy
face and spectacles misty from sweat.
ambled up at this particular moment
rs she going up all right?" asked
Strong.
She is going up like a Bird said
Langley as he wiped his forehead
with bit OF waste. What / propose
TO do" he went on, lis to take her up,
sec how she goes, make trip round
the town. and come back. And them"
he added. looking at Strong keenly.
IL shall have to return to my work.
We have got to get the other airships
ready as quickly as we can
NO ST. Petersburg for YOU. said
Strong.
NO ST. Petersburg for me- said
Langley, until | am finished here
Strong nodded, and let Langley go
about his work, and In very few
minutes Langley had his crew Of Bal
kanian officers aboard.
Strong left the ordering of things to
Wildney, thinking 10 best that he
should get his hand in in the way OF
commanding while he could.
A great crowd gathered round The
State" as the last preparations were
made for her ascent: The engineers
end workmen gathered about her, and
those officers who had sworn allegi-
ance to Strong grouped themselves
near the new Dictator.
When all was ready Langley nodded
to Strong. climbed aboard The State"
and said:
Let her go!"
The two or three hundred men as
sombled drew In their breath as the
propellers on the upright shafts began
to whizz, and they sighed With great
r. lief as THE State" slowly lifted her
self from the ground.
She sailed up like a bird. but
Strong's face betrayed no emotion. He
was conscious that at the moment the
newly airship had lifted for
her first trip the eyes Of every man
present were turned upon him. and
his dramatic spirit prompted him to
assume a mask of complete indiffer-
enoe.
They watched THE State go up
into night and disappear, and then
Strong. Bellingham and Ar5uthnot fell
into a desultory chat as they waited
for her TO come back.
ITO he Conttuued.D