The Detroit times., 1909-02-05
THE Man
Who Stole NJ
The Earth"
By W. Holt Whits.
CHAPTER LyI-tContinued }

Victor" said Strong.
So. Langley put alongside the Victor,
where Strong ordered Arbuthnot and
Wiidney TO take their places In the
Di.
Then he shouted "Bomberg." and the
two airships swung east and raced
across Paris.
Strong was greatly worried about
Diana. lie recognized II had been be-
ycnd his power 10 make arrangements
for her safe keeping. or even 10 have
her movements reported TO him. His
one hope lay in the old nurse, Felice,
and he wondered II he were right 10
indulge In such gamble.
He saw, however, that there was no
need for immediate action. He had
left Diana sufficiently cheered ana
strengthened TO endure for several
days, and. in the meantime, he could
dctach Bellingham or even Miss Hunt
from Vienna TO keep watch over Diana.
After all, her fate depended upon
the larger issue, and II was the larger
issue toward which he was now max
ing.
The time was about 10 O'Clock, and
Strong estimated that IL all went wei
with both the Victor and the Di they
would make Bomberg about in the
afternoon.
And, fortunately, all went well. The
| wcrld streamcd away beneath them.
| They crossed the borders OF France,
scurried over the southern portion Of
| Germany, plunged across Austria. and
as the autumn afternoon was drawing
! 10 its close the towers OF Bomberg and
the hills beyond the city rushed up at
them from the east.
! Strong set the Victor over the min
istry and bade Langley call UP NJ
| Stalvan on the wireless.
AS Langley licked away Strong
made rapid inspection OF the city
through his glasses. and even in the
little while he had been absent great
deal seemed to have been done.
The three army corps which had
been called into the field TO meet the
forces OF Sylvania were encamped on
the northern side OF the town. Tho
debris in the streets had been clear
ed away, trans were running up the
long main thoroughfare as was their
wont. and the people appeared TO be
conducting their ordinary business
amid the wrecked streets.
| True, as the airshtp shot over the
city there arose from the people OF
the town a murmur which. even though
1t drifted up but family, Strong took
as a murmur or reclamation.
AT any rate. the attitude OF the peo-
plo in the streets below was vastly
different from what II had been on his
previous visit. There arose no panic
and no disorder. The crowds were
simply curious.
In other respects, too. Strong noted
that the town had been reduced to
comparative order. The roads were
well patrolled by troops. and the peo-
pie were apparently following their
customary ayocations.
There was scarcely time for him to
note all these satisfactory signs when
an answer came to the instrument on
the Victor, and Langley rapidly trans
lated 10 him the message that M.
Stalyan. in the name OF the Balkanian
people, welcomed his return. Repre-
sentatives were prepared to acknowl-
edge him as dictator Of the country 3
destinies.
|
strument himself and asked II M. Stall
van were prepared to receive an en-
tirely private and confidential com
mIpieation.
The answer was Yes"
Thereupon Strong Informed NJ. Stall
van that he thanked him for the great
efforts which he had made for the re-
storation OF peace in his absence. and
that he desired to express to him his
ereat admiration for the spirit In which
M. Staivan had complied with the stip-
ulations which Strong had made.
He then went on to ask In what
manner NJ. Stalvan advised him to AS
sumo active control of Bahama, be-
cause 1t was obvious that, although the
air might be means OF mastering a
people. one could not dictate the al
fairs OF q nation from an altitude or
several thousand feet.
The response to this was that M.
Stalvan pledged his word as a gentle
man that IL Strong would descend at
the ministry his personal safety would
be guaranteed, and that he should en-
ter into possession OF the palace
which had been forsalten by the fugl'
tive king.