The Detroit times., 1909-01-04
THE Man
Who Stole
The Earth"
BY ". Holt White.
CHAPTER Lll.-(con,inued)

CHAPTER Lil.-(continued)
Il would like. NJ StalvaL." he sad.
TO have just one word with YOU.
So together the old man and the
young man walked across the cham
Der OF deputies. followed by Arbuth-
not.
Strongs exit was watched I'm the
same silence that had marked his en-.
trarce. Some or the men glarod al
him. some surveyed him suIlen'y
others watched him with a suspicion
OF admiration in their eyes
On the steps of tho chamber Strong
'urned and spoke to NJ. SJalyan hur
.iecly
First" be said, you Will put the
city I'm order as best you may So
long as there is no revolt against my
rule during my absence there viii be
no reprlsals on my part But II any
unruly members ~ the government
should take IT as maxim that when
The cats away the mice NAV play
lthey will ind il an extremely bad
proverb on which 10 found course Of
action Any liberties that are aiken
will be tIly dealt with ON my return.
How long shall be away IL Is not.
unfortunately possible for me 10 ia.
form YOU az the present moment. 1t
may be few hours. or II may be a
lev days In any case, | shall expect
implicit obedience from you ana the
other members OF the government 10
nv instructions by wireless.
Apart from the restoring OF the city
10 order. desire the whole OF the
army 10 ne modified and concentrated
on Bomberk
And representations made from
other powers must be referred u me,
and IL an answer Is pressed for. you
must reply that you can take no steps
till my return.
NJ. StslVaI bowed and sighed 1T
tie.
You impose on me a very heavy
task. monsieur" he sighed.
Not too heavy. ! am sure, said
Strong. for you 10 carry out. have
implicit confidence in you
Then he held out his hand, and NJ.
Stalvan. over whom he had already
exercised great influence, would
have raised il 10 his lips.
But this annoyed Strong greatly.
lie, US. NJ. Stalvan, have nothing OF
this sor'." he said Though ! may
be the ruler OF Bahama from this
moment at least you are man AMI
am a man. We can dispense with
formalities OF this description.
He grirped the premier's trembling
hand in his own great fist and walked
out into the sunshine. For II was al
ready breed day
ArbuthnCt and he climbed into Tie
"Di' and IA few seconds they were
alongside the Victor
Strong cot into the larger airship
without word. and, picking no his
glasses. proceeded 10 search for their
dirigible balloon. Langley pointed II
out to him in silence.
II had already risen TO the height
OF about 5000 feet. and thanks 10 a
strong eas:erly wind, was about ten
miles distant.
1t was not possible. even with Tie
aid OF glasses 10 make out what WAS
Happening ON board the balloon. and
tain instructions as to keeping the
DR. over Bomberg turned the Vic
tor" about and made after his disap-
pearing enemy
IL took them but short time 70
pick up the balloon. but in the in
terval Langley informed Strong Of all
that they had seen happen on the bar
loon ground.
or course II had not been possible
to overhear any conversation. but
when Strops heard the description 81
Diana's struggle with her father, the
blood surged up into his face
at least" he said TO himself i
will teach that scoundrel manners"
When they had come to within a
mile or so OF the balloon Strong real.
ICED that. although he held the upper
hand so far as mechanical advantage
went. that advantage availed him lit
tie. For, while he could sail round
the balloon. he could practically do
nothing to arrest her flight.
He put the Victor" down TO the air
ship's level. and set out for her al a
GOOD speed: but when they had core
within about five hundred yards OF
her. Strong could see the men busy At
her stern. and 10 his astonishmeut Oh.
served ihem bring the Maxim gun
around and train II on the Victor"
Then he took up the wireless instru-
ment aud called on the king 10 sur
render. 5ut he received no reply al all.
Diana sat amidships In the balloon.
with her lace buried In her hands.
Ludwig was AZ the steering geer.
and the king was aft experimenting
the training OF the Maxim.
But the menace OF the gun li1 not
disconcert Strong In the east Re
watched the loading OF the piece aud
watched the men making their ain!
more certain
He brought the Victor" down 10 4
rate OF Irogress no faster than that NJ
the balloon, and he got zigzagging in
her course IS best he could In ORDER 10
destroy the certainty 81 :he Maxim s
aim.
Il was then that Langley logged
chow.
Don't be a fool" ne said quickly.
Il - .