The Detroit times., 1909-05-03
THE Man
Who Stole
The Earth"
CHAPTER Undetermined
By ". Holt Whife

| ChAPTER lEIV.-(C ontinucd)
Tney were back in Bonberg and in
the palace by nightfall, asd then
Strong listened intently and with a
serious face to Bellinghams story
| At the end Of IL he got up and said
Il Will go back to the balloon
ground and hustle things dp. ! dol I
intend to lose any time would
rather have my new-founG kingdom
vanish away from me than fail Miss
Hunt at this moment. She has be-
Eayed like perfect heroine, and
. should be the meanest man on earth
| II | were 10 leave her now"
Bellingham insisted on accompany
irg Strong anu ArbuthnuI 10 the-bal-
loon ground. Here, thanks 10 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 heinz carried IN
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 it better" Strong ex-
piained To Bellingham, ito have one
ready for patrol duty. Cur present
trip will mean an absence from BON
terg. not only of the Victor but of
the Di, 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
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 it is 3afe'" asked
Bellingham.
Perfectly" said Strong. Hertz
has been invaluable. have got about
me now some score OF young officers.
who. ! think | 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.
IL IL 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 II is just as we'll to give pee
ple a choice"
Langley. in jean overals 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 bird said
Langley as he wiped MS forehead
with bit o.. waste. What propose
TO DO, he went ON. is TO lake her up.
sec how she goes, make a trip round
tie town. and come back. And then,
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 50
about his work. and in very few
minutes Langley had his crew OF Bal
fanian officers aboard.
Strong left the ordering OF things to
Wildney. thinking It best that he
should get his hand in in the way of
commanding while he could
great crowd gathered round Tine
state as the last preparations were
made for her ascent The engineers
and workmen gathered about her. and
those officers who bad sworn allesi-
aDce To Strong grouped themselves
near the new Dictator.
When all was ready Langley nodded
10 StronS. climbed>a5oard % he State
and said
Let her go"
The two or three handrcd men as
semb,ed drew in their breath as the
pfopellers on the upright abafts began
Ia Yhizz, and they sighed %ith great
r, lief as The State" slowly lifted her
self from the sround.
She sailed up Ike bird, but