The Detroit times., 1909-07-20
The Man
Who Stole
The Earth"
By W. Holt Whits
CHAPTER LxxI.-(contlnued.)

CHAPTER Lxxl.-(Contlnued.)
He had calculated the matter al
most to a nicely, and saw that he vas
suls when at last he had the great
world-nations at HIS feet IL instead OF
abusing his tremendous powers. ne
were TO guide the countries gently
lite the path which he would have
! item follow.
And. after all, he only made war to
achieve peace. He meant 10 march
ste adfastly on from Arfnageddon TO
the millennium.
Ii was with this great thought in
mind and the cherished hope that IN
his work for the worlds welfare he
would. while life lasted, have Diana
beside him both to guide him and In
spire him, that he put the airships up
for the final struggle.
AS the Victor rose slowly and ma
iestically he looked across the city To
where the lights Of the palace shone
in the distance, and on the balcony
he deserted through his glasses sol
itary and wistful figure pressing
against the parapet.
Ii was Diana.
He had now to map out and issue to
the commanders OF the different ar
ships the stations at which they
should keep during the night. and the
tactics which they should follow in
the morning.
Unfortunately, owing 10 lack OF
scouts, Strong was unable 20 move far
| from Bomberg, for he knew that he
would be dealing with the most mas
terly tacticians OF the kaiser's army
and, even X II delayed him In coming
10 grips with the enemy. he saw tina;
! IL was very doubtful IL the kaiser
would descend on Bomberg from Der
/ lin.
Strong therefore ordered all lighti
! TO be nut out and the airsnips to keel
station at IN elevation OF 10000 Feet
directly over the city.
The "Di" he detached. ordering he
70 sail at top speed in a circle round
the city at a distance Of so miles.
In this way ne hoped he might by
chance detect the approach OF tho
kaiser's ai-ships. though he realized
that the odds were against him.
At 6 o'clock the dawn was only De
ginning TO show up, and strong estl
mated that even IL all had gone wei
the German feet could not come vi
with Bomberg before another hour
and that did not provide for any de
tour which the kaiser might make II
arder 10 plan a surprise. On the otnel
hand. he knew that the kaiser woulf
rather hasten than delay, in order. 4
tr0gsibfe. 10 come upon Strong before
il was fully light.
Awaiting the kaiser's Air-Fleet.
He made every preparation that he
possibly could for the safety OF tn
| town. All the available reserves weie
mobilized, and while half were sent &c
ioin the army on the northern frontier
the other half we're utilized for police
purposes.
By this time Strong had not the
slightest fear of any revolt breaking
out The hold which he had upon
the people was by now too great 10.
that butte looked for joyful turmoil
and excitement.
Though Bellingham, Arbuthnot ana
HIS other immediate friends knew ol
his purpose in meeting the kaiser on
as equal a footing as he could, STRONG
was careful not to let his decision
become public He knew that douDl
would be reused in the peoples mind
| Ar he were t. announce the fact that
he proposed to surrender acme OF Ms
advantages.
He had every confidence In the kan
sers good faith. aud still more conn
dence i'm the kaiser's good sense. And
II seemed % him idle 10 suppose tina
should HIS imperial majesty's airships
meet with disaster. the emperor would
pile defeat upon defeat BY seeking e
retrieve misfortunes In the air by I
debacle on land.
Ito he Continued.)