The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1909-06-07
The Man
Who Stole
The Earth"
By ". Holt White
CHAPTER LxvilI.-(continued.)

Strong nodded him his thanks, and
at that moment General Martel came
riding into the balloon ground.
The general drew near and saluted.
You have heard, of course, your
majesty" he said TO Strong. "of the
policy we pursued in regard to his late
majesty
Il have heard" said Strong, coldly,
"and confess | am not pleased IL was
mistake However, on that point /
will say nothing. although your error
| is likely TO cause me as infinite
amount CT pain
General Martel lifted his eyebrows
in surprise.
why 500" he asked.
Because" said Strong, shortly, st
compels me 10 go in search of him.
BY which road did he leave?"
| The general shrugged his shoulders
and looked vastly uneasy.
Upon my word. your majesty, he
said. Il cannot say"
! II presume" said Strong, you did
not even consider IL worth while 20
discover by which road the king left.
There indeed, your majesty" said
| General Martel. Il did wrong. ] con-
fess il. and am sorry. There should
however, be little difficulty in ascer'
tanning Only one OF two roads was
open TO him. In any case he must
have passed the outposts. | Will In
uuire at once by telegraph"
I'm the meantime" said Strong, an
grily. II have 10 stay here and walt.
us II so important as all that
asked General Martel.
Really, general" said Strong, :!
Think you are a fool. OF course. II
never occurred to you that the Prin-
lcess Diana Was in Paris?
THAT is true" said the general.
Land I deeply regret it, thought only
lof our troubles in Bomberg, and,
Heaven knows. they were great enough
lduring your absence.
Troubles born of foolish fear,
loried Strong. as he turned angrily
laway.
The general had sense enough to
see that his presence could lead 10 no
Igood and. climbing into the saddle
again he rode away TO make the neces-
sary inquiries.
While he was absent, Strong Arbuth-
not and the rest Of them obtained
what food they could from the COM
missariat tent and ate Z ravenously
las they crouched round the fire When
Inc had finished his decidedly simple
meal Strong was in a slightly more
amiable frame Of mind.
"I feel better now" he said. 80 far
as the inner man goes. but am
afraid that every second | shall fall
asleep. II this sort of thing goes on,
shall have TO prop my eyelids up
with matches
General Martel returned and report
ed that the king had left by the Croa'
tian road
| Strong thanked him ungraciously
enough and then. turning away. gave
certain orders regarding the care OF
| the Czareyitch who had been already
conveyed To the palace b. Miss Hunt
Next ne instructed Bellingham 20
take the Victor IN In daylight and
keen her there until he returned.
Nottingham received his 'instruc-
tons with apparent pleasure. although
as a matter Of fact. he would rather
have been al the palace.
Strong and ArOuthnot then got into
the hi and assembled az once.
II was a pitch dark NIGHT. ard "a
neither Of them knew the lie Of tho
land 60 the southwest Of the city they
had some little difficulty In picking
IN the road 10 Croatia.
They were. indeed. compelled %
use the seaFchlight 20 And Il at au,
and they had 90 keep the searchlish'
constantly playing to prevent their
wandering from tho straight way.
(To Ne Continuod.)