The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1909-01-20
THE Man
Who Stole
The Earth"
CHAPTER Llv.-tcontinued.)

/oTOuB lHeu III II tisdicNtc anu 'oe
down on the lounge. and ages seemed
TO pass before the brass-buttoned
page-boy returned with the request
that he would go upstairs.
Fortunately for Strong. he had never
made the Grand his quarters during
his spasmodic visits TO Paris. but he
was rather disconnected when he saw
the lift attendant cycling him atten-
lively. He looked at the man coldly
and the man looked away. And Strong
recognized him as one OF the portcrs
who had known him at the Scribe.
The kings rooms were on the third
floor looking on 10 the Boulevard des
Caput ines. and Strong was shown into
T, the sitting.room. stiiiy magnificent
and exceedingly hotel-like In its
luxury.
Two or three minutes passed before
the door leading from another room
opened and Diana came In. Her race
was waite and her eyes shone like
stars. Ii was obvious that since she
had left Bomberg the could have slept
hut little. and that she had suffered
much For there were about here
eyes and mouth little lines OF anxiety
and pain which had no right 10 be
there.
She came running up 10 Strong
much as child runs 10 meet an elder,
and Strong opening his arms she fell
into them and let her head fall against
his breast.
Strong held her To him very tight.
| iy and was greatly moved, for II was
tire first time that he had ever seen
Diana betray any great emotion. II
was the first time that he had really
seen her shaken out OF her customary
brave. high spirits and slightly cynical
| flppancy
He held her 10 him, and he felt her
shaking with sobs. He pressed her
head little closer TO him with his
hand and let her weep as she would.
By-an-by. when she had grown calmer,
he wiped her tears away with his
handkerchief and led her TO a sofa
Then, bidding her be seated, he sat
down beside her, still holding her
against him
And soon she seemed to gain a lit
tie OF Strongs unfailing strength.
Soon, indeed, she was smiling as he
chaffed her very kindly In low voice
about the troubles of the times.
She hung on To his hand and looked
at him as child might look
You cannot think she said. how
horrible II has all been. | seem -
have lived through succession ot
Nightmares. And II I did not feel that
were really In duty bound TO stay
with my father | would not remain
minute in this hotel. AS IL is. am
afraid To do SO"
She looked at him In a pleading way
and her eyes began TO contract with
pain again.
And YOU" she cried. you have no
right TO be here. My father is dining
at The Legation, but | do not know
when he will return fancy it will
not be till very late, for there are all
kinds of things on foot, and know
sometime tonight there is to be a
big meeting, when everything will be
discussed, for papa Is to see the presi-
dent tomorrow. But still there is AL
ways the chance that he may come
back sooner than | expect him, or Ll,d-
wig. who will hardly be summoned to
the council, might return alone, and
then, and them
And then, my dear" said Strong,
caught and held captive, and possibly
guillotined. and heaven knows what"
He patted her head with great ten.
derness
DO not worry your silly little pate
about that. he said 1t would not
matter to me If were taken ten times
over. | hold the upper hand. and,
after all, there Is always a way Of es-
cape. | do not suppose they would
consider my life was as valuable as
the lives Of the citizens OF Paris. and
II" he continued. his voice growing
little harsh. there is any nonsense
OF that description. Paris will be-
treated even as Bomberg was"
NO. no." cried Diana. Not that.
cannot bear that"
Dearest" said Strong. Il do not
mean TO DE unkind do not mean 10
laugh at you. | simply want to pre-
sent to you an argument. Would you
rather bear that or bear the loss OF
me"
1t is all so horrible" said Diana.
Il do not know. | cannot think about
It,
Strong looked at her In rather a
troubled way.
My dear little girl. he said, 'if you
are going TO be SO distressed and I'M
happy as all this | shall have to take
you away | cannot let you stay here
to be worried and harassed In this
manner cannot leave you a victim
10 the awful anxiety which you seem
to endure.