The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1909-06-19
The Man X ~
Who Stole
The Earth"
CHAPTER Lxvlii.-(continued.)
By W. Holt Whits


In the presence OF danger greater
than the Prussian government had
\ ever been forced 10 face before Strong
guessed pretty shrewdly that the SO
/ cial Democratic organs. utterly re-
| CARELESS OF the cause of their country
would not scruple to use the oppor
tunity OF making themselves felt
And that would be an additional
thorn I'm the side OF the kaiser. and the
more thorns that Strong could plant
there the better he would be pleased
In n quarter OF an hours time the
four airships were over Potsdam Then
Strong halted To make an investigation
OF what was happening below.
From all quarters came the sounds
OF bugles. and II was apparent that
the troops were being rapidly moved
from their barracks and mnssed In the
streets and squares.
In front OF the palace. sitting stolid
and silent on their horses. were the
white-coated troopers of the guard
while regiment after regiment Of blue
coated infantry were massed in al
most every street For the Potsdam
garrison was a strong one
All llllS anu movement anu
preparation rather amused Strong than
displeased him. He knew how utterly
impotent were the forces paraded be
meath him. and his only disquieting
thought was that the kaiser might BE-
sufficiently obstinate 70 necessitate
the massacre OF brave men. This.
however. he was determined 70 pre-
vent II by any means he could do 80.
Therefore. picking up the wireless In
strument once more. he proceeded.
again 20 tick-tack inquiries TO the
Chancellerie
His ticking met with a prompt re-
Spouse. and he was assured. upon his
asking II, that he was practically In
direct com muiication with the EN-
peror himself
you will be good enough" he rap
ped. "to inform his majesty that | de
sire the garrison ~ Potsdam to be
withdrawn forthwith"
He uttered no threats rs 10 what
would happen II his instructions were
not Oheyed He realized that II is
always the weaker way TO give rea-
sons when one issues q command
The answer came: His majesty de-
eiines te=de anything of the sort.
Strong licked back; "Elis majesty
IS exceedingly foolish and have no
hesitation In telling him ~ the fact.
7 trust his majesty will sec that II Is
utterly useless TO deny ne. and that o
dispute my authority viii simply re-
suit In disaster for the troops"
There was no answer
But Strong. ANXIOUS lesr he should
give The impression that ne was in any
way resiiating. continued his mono
logue as follows:
$50 long as Il Is possible for me
70 do so I shall respect the lives OF
the kaiser's soldiers and subjects In
general. but as II Is absolutely neces.
sarv for me 70 enter into possession
OF Potsdam before dark. | shall i'm
mediatelv proceed 10 demolish all the
various buildings. which, I presume.
his majesty would prefer 10 keep In
tact"
II NAV add" he licked on. that the
demolition of buildings will continue
until such time as ! receive informa-
ton from his majesty that he has had
enough Of the fruits Of his obstinacy.
II occurred TO Strong. Immediately
after he had licked this message, that
fear IN the part OF the operators at
the instrument and those OF the ON
GERS charged with the duty OF trans
hitting his messages 10 the palace
might result in the softening Of his
words. and so he demanded to know
whether his messages were being re.
heated word for word AZ he raped
them out to the kaiser himself.
ON this score he was very promptly
assured by the chancellor himself ana
Strong INDUCED in a small chuckle. IN
asmuch as he was pleased To thihN
that he was In a position to be I'M
pudent 10 emperors.
Once more. before he proceeded 70
action. he demanded If the kaiser mad
anv reply TO make.
The instrument remained silent
So. ordering the state and the
princess" 20 remain with he "Di. ne
himself proceeded in the Victor
across Sanssouci park 10 the famous
windmill the miller Of which deheo
even the great Frederick himself.
(To Be Continued,