The Detroit times., 1909-06-26
The Man
Who Stole
The Earth"
CHAPTER LxIx-(contlnued.)
By ". Holt Whtt.

CHAPTER lxIx.-(contlnued.)
Il am very much obliged to YOU Cor
following out the instructions OF h.
majesty The emperor I am indeed SO
gratiiied that | scarcely like TO doubt
that. everything is not as 1t should be
However. as | am not here as a guest
/ in time OF peace, but as an enemy in
tune OF war, you VIII understand that
: before | go any further desire 20
have the premises searched from roof
20 cellar"
| The man made q low bow. possibly
Ito cover his disgust, but he said moth
ing except that II Mr. Strong would
be good enough TO Issue his instruc.
lions he would be pleased to do al
he could
Strong thereupon ordered Capt. Ter
mat and Capt Wetter to follow the
butler and make complete search Of
the building.
While they were away he sat down
and talked easily and almost jauntily
Of the days doings and the prospects
OF the morrow.
After half an hour Zormat and Wet
ter returned. and saluting. reported
that having entered every apartment
ia the building between roof-tree and
foundation. they could find nothing
aHiss and nothing suspicious
Upon this Strong expressed himself
satisfied, and ordered dinner 10 be
SERVED. hut first he went up 10 The
really splendid room which had been
prepared for him and removed as best
~ could the stains Of the days work.
a - OH no. ha
As he entered the dining room
Strong had one unworthy and short.
lived fear lest the food which was be.
ing served might be poisoned But he
reflected instantly that whatever
faults he might possess, the kaiser at
least was not poisoner.
SO he sal down in confidence ami
glanced at the faces OF the three OIL
GERS who were with him and apparent
~ they. too. had had some such sus-
picion as had foated across the mind
of Strong, for they looked doubtfully
at their soup and waited until Strong
had taken several spoonfuls before
they fell to themselves.
The dinner was indeed excellent.
being both elaborate and we'll served.
The wine also was good so that
when dessert came Strong and the
Balkanian officers were al in quite
Eangnne and contented frame OF
mind
Even after this, however Strong de-
cided il would be unwise to relinquish
any precautions, and In this he cOnsid-
cred he was fully justified. inasmuch
as he was practically in the enemy's
camp. although truce might have
been temporarily declared
He therefore allotted the room on
either side Of him TO two Of the Off
GERS, while the third he posted on duty
in the corridor His own room was
directly over the portico. so that
Churston In the "Di" was immediately
/ beneath
For once in his life Strong. partly
with an eye TO effect, resolved not 20
take any part in the nights vigil. He
divided the watches equally between
the three Balkanian officers and
ChurstOn Two OF the men were TO
remain on duty-one In the nj" AMI
one i'm the pavilion-till three. when
the other two men We're TO relieve
them.
So the nl8ht was spent, and in the
morning Strong rose refreshed and
considerably relieved IN mind that no
incident had disturbed his peace.
81 20 O'Clock ne got into communi-
cation with the Chancellerie by wire
Jess. and extended n polite invitation
10 The kaiser 20 lunch with him at
midday
To This he received a curt intima.
ton that his majesty could not p0ssi
{Iy accept an invitation of So insulting
a kind
ITO lie CnnflnnrhI