The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1909-02-26
THE Man
Who Stole
The Earth"
CHAPTER Lx.-(continued.1
By ". Holt White.


III all of you were against ME when
| entered the chamber OF deputies, |
am confident that III a secret ballot the
majority would now be on my side.
Xou haye,-as all parliaments have.
your own whips and your own tell
ers. | bid you divide upon the sub
ject OF accepting or declining my die
tatorship once anG for all"
Strong resumed his seat, and the
hush was greater than before Even
TIE fiery httle Schaur did not rise.
There was no movement OF any kind
Strong, with eyes fixed upon the
great clock which hung on the ballus-
trade OF the gallery before him. allow.
&c a minute TO pass before he spoke
again. Then he asked
Are YOU dead men, or alive? Are
you about TO exert your influence
against me or not? | will give you an.
ether 80 seconds in which to come
tC your senses and finally make up
your minds one way or the other
But the silence remained unDrokeu.
SO deep, indeed, was the quiet that
Strong could hear the ticking of the
clock. Row after row OF deputies sat
with their eyes east down. Now and
again, one or another OF them glanced
across at the little man Schaur; but
he made no sign.
And so the 80 seconds were licked
away.
Then Strong rose again To his feet
end spoke in quieter tones than even
he had useh before.
Il must take your silence for an
swer" he said. Il must take IL that
you have surrendered Were ii my
wish, not a man OF you would go TO his
home this night. Did desire It, every
one OF you who has taken a part in
this reasonable assemblage would
have to answer for his part tomorrow.
But | should despise myself were | TO
take so small and mean an attitude.
Il decline to recognize that you can
harm me in the least. | simply bid
you go your ways. | believe that you
will do this without any coercion on
my part. but at any rate shall see 10
X that IL 1t be necessary to apply force,
force shall be applied. In the mean
time | will merely bid you goodnight.
and sincerely trust that, when a con-
stitutional form OF government has
been restored to this country, the cleo
tors will think better than to allow
me to behold your faces again
Without another word he walked
down the steps OF the throne and pro-
ceeded slowly across the chamber to
the open square.
Here, after having given a few brief
instructions TO Gen. Martel. he climbed
into the saddle ana rode back at a
quick trot TO the palace.
The effect OF Strong's address upon
the deputies was stunning-almost
hypnotic. Even when his presence
was withdrawn not single man dared
to raise his eyes. Each man crept away
In silence, with the knowledge that he
had been defeated.
Even the mayor. Schaur. said not a
word as he plucked Ludwig's arm in
the corridor and fastened down the
steps and home.
When he and the prince were safely
within doors, the little old man, hav-
ing TO some extent recovered from the
blow which he had received. did not
hesitate to let himself inyeigh holly
and passionately against the man who
had proved himself such an impossible
enemy to deal with.
Ludwig heard h4m moodily, and then
shrugged his shoulders.
AT least" he said, The is man.
Bah" cried the little mayor. Il
believe that you allow yourself to be
ny pnotized | cannot imagine in what
manner he is able TO sway the people
as he does II Is monstrous, II Is
ridiculous that one man should treat
the elect OF nation as so many chill
dren."
Nevertheless" put in Ludwig, "he
has done It."