The Detroit times., 1909-01-25
THE Man
Who Stole
The Earth"
CHAPTER Lv.-(continued.)
BY ". Holt Whife.

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saying any word he kissed her very
tenderly.
Then he put her from him and pick
ed up the little wireless instrument
and walked quickly out OF the room.
The king. he judged. would ascend
by the lift. and he ran at top speed
down the corridor. Casting a quick
glance down the elevator shaft. he
saw that the lift was ascending and
30 he ran up the stairs as though he
were making for the floor above. AT
the break In the staircase he paused.
waited for the lift TO stop. and then
over Its gilded top watched the king
and Ludwig walk around the corner
and along the corridor TO the princess
rooms
No sooner had they disappeared
from view than Strong ran down the
stairs and called to the lift attendant.
But the lift was already shooting
down.
1t was now question Of whether
he had better walk down the three
flights of stairs that still interviewed
between himself and safety OF ring
for the lift. And fortunately he esti.
mated that It would be better for him
to trust TO the swiftness OF his own
legs
So he began to run down the stairs
very quickly but lightly, but he had
not gained the hrst floor before he
heard the bell In the elevator ringing
sharply and persistently. He guessed
what that meant and ran on.
AS he crossed the hall he heard the
tinkle OF the telephone bell In the por.
ter's lodge. and imagined, quite right
ly. that the bell was ringing on his &C.
count
At the foot OF the stairs he paused
for a moment and drew his cigarette
case from his pocket. II was a Ques-
ton OF seconds, but he knew that II
was better 10 leave the hotel with
some sang-froid than TO rush out OF
II at a speed which his necessity de-
manded.
He placed the cigarette between his
lips, but did not delay to light II. Then
he walked out Of the swing doors and
down the broad steps. The major do
mo who watched his exit bowed low
10 him.
The drivers OF the facres In the
courtyard raised their whips In polite
and silent invitation for him to take
a cab. But Strong, pausing In the
middle of the courtyard to pull out
his matchbox. merely shook his head.
But he never lit that particular Gig
arctic, for as the match fiickered In
the shelter of his hand he heard q
shout behind him. and, turning his
head quickly over his shoulder. saw
that In the hotel there had suddenly
arisen a great commotion and through
a little knot OF excited people the king
of Bahama was striding toward the
steps.
Then Strong cast aside his dignity,
and with the knowledge that II, even
In his unframed condition, he were
pitted In u quarter Of a mile race
against any man likely to pursue him
the victory would be his, he broke
into a double and dashed out\ OF the
courtyard into the Place de I0pera.
Fortunately for him, the rain had
to a great extent cleared, and the
streets were full Of people. 1t would
therefore have been folly on his part
TO continue running II was much
easier and far more simple to pull up
and lose himself In the crowd.
Beyond a few people who stared at
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any heed to his appearance and,
laughing little to himself. he strolled
on slowly to the Cafe de Paris.
AS he drew near to that famous es-
Establishment he became conscious he
was extremely hungry. and he de-
termined, however hot the pursuit
might be, that he would at least sat
isfy his inner man before be tackled
the serious business which lay before
him.
He therefore ordered for himself q
complete little dinner, and. as he sat
and ate at leisure. he pondered over
the events Of the day and the likely
events OF the immediate future.
Full well he saw that II would be i'm
possible for him to put into execution
his plan TO leave Paris by way of the
Eiffel Tower without returning to Pas.
sy, for the simple reason that It is
not allowable even to mad Englishmen
to wander through Paris In the fore
noon dressed In evening clothes.
(To BE ContinueA.l