The Detroit times., 1909-02-06
"The Man
Who Stole
The Earth"
BY W. Holt Wh,fe.


must Turk in Strongs mind a certain
amount OF suspicion, the old premier
fastened to assure the returned cor
queTer that he recognized. II anything
should befall him, his friends and
his followers would take vengeance
on the outrage.
Strong, therefore. gave certain In
structions To Langley as To the man
ner in which he should proceed when
he had left him, AMI ordering Wildney
out of the hi, took his place In the
smaller craft with Arbuthnot.
They then went down 10 the open
space before the chamber OF deputies
ia which Strong had made SO dramatic
an entry TWO days before,
The great space was deserted save
! for the Gordon OF troops. which seemed
10 have maintained the same station
which they had occupied on the pre-
ceding Tuesday.
Strong left Arbuthnot in the Di, AM
then. on the steps OF the chamber Of
deputies. awaited the approach OF NJ
Stalvan.
The old man. who was now even
older than he had been before. came
al a brisk pace across the square.
waggng his white beard on his chest
and making little gestures OF welcome
10 Strong as he approached him.
Quite naturally and simply, Strong
walked down the steps OF the chamber
and said 10 the premier:
M. Stalvan. allow me TO tell You
| how glad | am to meet the foremost
minister of my state"
1A1 oil
almost In two with delight.
Your majesty" he asked, regards
me as such?"
Believe me-" said Strong. that I
do. On every side | can observe evil
dence of the manner In which you
have kept your trust, and although
prudence dictates that | should leave
( the Victor overhead, | feel ! should be
safe even To the extent OF delivering
myself defenseless into your hands"
Tears started into the premier's
eyes He had served his country
through love, and the departed king
through fear Never in the long SER
vice OF his state had II been his priv
I ilege To enjoy such courtesy or such
touching kindness. And this from
the man who had taken life after life,
and who had laid waste the city which
he had spent SO many laborious years
I III building up.
He fell upon one knee and clutched
StrOngs hand
IL only the people" ne cried could
see your majesty as | see you. there
would not be murmur against You
ascending TO the throne"
40 ht "a al 4
man under the elbows, lifted him up,
and smiled AT him little sadly.
M Stalyan." he said, you must
learn | cannot 6nd il in my heart As
q man 10 desire this sort OF homage
from you. Al the same time. shall
be Il far more real ruler OF Bahama
than ever was the man who required
you To bow the knee.
And now" he added, we must get
to business. imagine that there Is
Il great deal to attend to"
Nj. Stalvan shrugged his shoulders
in feeble way
AS far as | can see" he said, with
4 rather wry smile. we have business
with all the world. Russia since yes
tcrday has been pressing us on the
cast France sipee yoH left Parts this
morning has been cabling insulting
messages, Germanys attitude, frank
ly confess. | cannot understand. As
Tor Austria----" NJ. Stalvan once more
shrugged his shoulders.
Strong laughed lightly and boy
ishly.
And an excellent thing, too" he
said After all. 1t is in reality--if one
has any business in one-Just as sin
i pie TO deal with nations as it is 70
zeal with the minor things of life"
"Mr Strong said NJ. Stalvan, III
that is the case, [ can only feel the
more thankful for your return We
will get To business at once My cot
leagues, the other ministers. are wait
ing for You in my house, and, believe
ne. YOU will And them just as easy 10
deal with as am
Strong proceeded to walk across the
square but It occurred TO him thGt
during his stay in Bomberg ne woul4
need at least one OF the men whom h >
had brought with him. Arbuthnot was
the man he would have selected for
his companion. but should there arise
Z any emergency OF dif1cult sort. Ar
buthnot would be best fitted to graphic
with Il, and, therefore. he could not
be spared TO leave the Victor.
As Strong walked across to the min.
istry he paused To tell Arbuthnot 10
go UP to the Victor and bring Belline-
liam down, for at least Bellingham
was a cheerful soul with a keen sense
Of humor, and It seemed TO Strong
that the events OF the next few days
would, If he were TO be comparatively
happy, necessitate a companion who
would be able TO enjoy the many hu.
mors OF the situation
Arbuthnot looked a. Strong and
asked him plainly, in English, If 1t
were safe TO leave him. Strong knew
that NJ. Stalvan understood English.
and therefore, with a little wave OF
his hand, he turned to the premier
land said:
II am perfectly safe in the hands of
NJ. Stalvan.'
Arbuthnot bowed to the aged pre-
mier and straightway put the hi IN
motion. while Strong and NJ. Stalvan
walked across TO the ministry. which
still bore many signs OF the bad bat
tering which the king of Bahama 5
guns had given II two DAYS before.
10 he Continued.)
BEST SOLDIERS COME
FROM FARM, HE SAYS
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