The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1909-05-22
THE Man
Who Stole
The Earth"
By W. Holt Wh,fe
CHAPTER IxvI.

With brutality unworthy OF the
distinguished officer who perpetrated
II. Miss Hunt had been hurried out
OF the fort OF ST. Peter and ST Paul
without word OF explanation; and
TO be hidden suddenly To enter q
three-horse sleigh with an officer for
a companion and handful OF Cos
sacks for escort was sufficient to break
down the nerve OF most women.
And Miss Hunt. as a matter OF fact
! throughout the drive sat SO numb
with cold and with fear that even
when ST Petersburg was left behind
she kept her eyes tightly closed. dread
ing, indeed. TO look ahead lest she
should see the beginning OF the end.
II was a shock. therefore. when as
the sleigh came 10 standstill, she
opened her eyes and saw Bellingham
rushing across the snow toward her.
And her heart leaped with JOY when,
instinctively glancing up. she caught
sight OF the lowering Victor"
To Bellingham. as he seized her
hands. she said. in duh voice: What
does IL mean?"
1t means that you are free-as free
as am" said Bellingham.
So exhausted was she that she gave
a little sigh and sank back into the
sleigh again. And she sat there, un-
able TO move; but Bellingham put his
arm about her and lifted her 10 her
feet, and then half carried her to the
"Di"
When she was in the airship the
"Di" went up. and she sat for some
minutes shivering and sobbing. She
could scarcely realize what had come
70 pass.
Strong. ordering both airships TO
turn about. instinctively glanced away
from the "Di." He felt little sorry
tor Bellingham. and for Miss Hunt
that IL was necessary for them 10 car
~ Arbuthnot aboard.
But, after All, he reflected to him.
self. you cannot expect TO go love-
making In the piping times OF war
and this is most decidedly war.
His first impulse was To make
straight back 10 Bomberg. but as the
Victor" and the "Di" rushed south
west and St Petersburg grew dim
behind them, he reflected that he could
make his visit TO Russia useful II he
could produce a still greater effect
upon the Russian people.
So he turned 10 Pelham and order
( ed him 10 steer due south. Pelham
looked AT him in some wondery but
obeyed; and Strong thinking it better
To make his object clear. explained
the motive for his change OF course.
st Petersburg" he said address
1 ing all the men in the Victor. Is the
chief city OF the Russian state. Nos
] l., ~ al % ha I'm iaf =,
people. We have done good work IN
ST Petersburg. The heads OF the Rus.
sian state will now think twice. imag-
inc, before they set their armies on
the march against Bahama.
The lesson intended 10 read 20
: them was that shall defend Bahama
| by tact. but that II they violate the
frontiers OF my new Kingdom, | shall
| lay st. Petersburg IN ruins.
News. however. travels very slowly
in this country" he continued. the
more slowly because the press is prac-
tically in the hands OF the government
end. If St. Petersburg can prevent IL,
Moscow will not learn much OF what
has happened this morning.
And so we will go 10 Moscow. We
will give the people there little
ocular demonstration Of what we are
able TO do. and. II possible. inform
them OF what has happened at st
Petersburg this morning"
| The men nodded at him. and Strong
fell into silence again. turning over
| in his mind the different means where
| by he could increase the force OF the
lesson he desired TO teach Moscow.
II was bitterly cold. the wind sweep
ing in no half-hearted way from the
north over the endless snow-plains be
meath them. Only here and there q
pine forest sprang up TO relieve the
dead monotony OF the snow-covered
Irairie land.
Strong did not travel too fast, be
cause he desired 10 reach Moscow al
gbout O'Clock, an hour at which ne
knew most OF the population would be
abroad bent on their Sunday pleasures
Presently they passed over Tver, and
Strong slackened speed still more &c
let the presence OF the sirships SINK
into the minds Of the workers OF tha'
grimy city.
And then they went south again.
soon the minarets and gilded dome'
n, Noscow's Asiatic-looking churches
,eeped above the horizon.
ITO ne Conrsrw~d.b