The Detroit times., 1909-01-19
THE Man
Who Stole
The Earth"
By NJ. Holt Whife.
CHAPTER Liv.-(Continued.)

And by a majority they had come 10
the conclusion that Strong meant 10
make for the United States. Wonder
full as were his airShips they said. this
arch-pirate oil the air had realized at
last that the game was up SO far as
Europe was concerned; that 1t was i'm
possible for him to continue his strug-
Gle because the civilized states OF the
eastern hemisphere were to regard
him as an outlaw.
Moreover. they argued that this as
founding hooligan OF the skies was an
astute man OF business and that he
was evidently making for the United
States of America with view to com.
ing to terms with the government at
Washington on a guarantee that his
personal safety would he respected.
They were confident Strong meant to
place his airships at the disposal of
the American war department.
When he came to this Strong was
so tickled that he laughed aloud. and
the bartender lounged across the mar.
BILE slab and asked him In English II
he were reading OF the exploits OF Mr..
Strong
Strong nodded, and said that he was.
addng that Mr.. Strong appeared to
be person with a sense OF humor.
Perhaps" said the bartender. II
tell you, Paris has gone crazy about
him. | do not know which is the
bigger hero Of the two Mr.. Strong or
the king. OF Bahama. Anyway. | can
assure you OF one thlng-that they
would much rather Mr. Strong were
on the side OF France than up against
them. He seems TO be able 10 scare
people pretty considerably.
Strong stroked his little fiaxen mus
tache thoughtfully. and hoped that IL
might cling sufficiently tenaciously to
mis- upper lip To prevent any possible
chance Of his being recognized, for
he saw that weird and rather painful
wood-cuts of his face had been called
in TO illustrate the sensational 90
counts OF the days doings.
Having finished his cocktail, No
strolled out and made for telephone
exchange which he knew was situated
on the other side of the street.
At the exchange he rang up the
Grand hotel and asked II the king ~
Bahama were in He was answered
courteously enough that his majesty
bad left about an hour before, and was
believed 20 be dining at the Balkanian
LEGATION
St.ung congratulated himself upon
this stroke OF luck. and witbsur-far.
thu hesitation he walled around the
corner TO the hotel His passage
across the courtyard was scarcely
noted. and the gorgeous majordomo
who stood at the top OF the steps
bowed tremendously as he entered
lie turned TO the inquiry Office and
asked. easily enough-though at the
samc time he felt that hundred eyes
were cndeavorng TO probe his secrets
and discover his, Identity whether
tie king were az hAme. and the reply
was tho same as that which he re-
ceived when. few minutes before.
hc had rung up on the telephone
THAT Is tiresOme " he said The
princess. has she also gone OUT"
To this. however the reply was in
The negative. and Strong thereupon re-
qGested paper and pencil that he
might write hcr a note
He simply scrawled: do not on
any account be alarmed or show any
nervousness But I am here, and II
you can spare me few moments
should be grateful beg the privi.
lege OF little interview for the sake
OF your safety and for mine"
Ito Ne COntinued.B