The Detroit times., 1909-06-14
THE Man
Who Stole
The Earth"
By ". Holt Whts

CHAPTEH LxViii.-(continued.)
Then, under Strong's directions.
they went on to explain that II would
be necessary for them to watch tins
ascent from there, because not one
1.-THE of the population of Bomberg
could possibly hope TO see anything CT
the ascent from the balloon ground IT.
self.
Having seen TO this, Strong next
turned his attention 10 the ordering or
the troops. The army on the frontier
he did not disturb, but the balloon
ground. lest in their eagerness 10 see
the arships the populace should az
tempt TO break through the barriers
Twenty thousand men were, at ~
o'clock in the morning, 10 be marshal
ed on the plain at the west OF the
town, where was TO be conducted the
most remarkable review ever conceiy-
ed tit soldiers mind.
| For the saluting base was 10 be not
| a royal standard but an airship, sta
toned sufficiently close to the earth
TO enable every soldier marching past
| TO clearly behold the face OF his Die
tator.
! From the hustle OF all this business.
| strong turned away TO a sadder task
| the almost hopeless attempt 10 COM
municate with Miss Hunt by wireless.
Two full hours ne spent that night
| between II and l o'clock in the morn
ing ticking busily away query after
query to Paris But no answer came.
and his heart grew fearful for what
might be Diana's fate.
He vas. indeed. OF half a mind To
make a rapid descent upon Paris, but
he saw that his approach would newt.
ably be known and that. with such n
crafty enemy TO deal with as tho
fugitive king Diana would be placed
beyond the possibility OF even his dis
covering her
Moreover. he had the utmost faith in
Miss Hunt. as he had every right 10
do. so he was content 10 wait another
twenty.fOur hours. Should he not hear
from her by then he decided woaft
be time TO act
| In spite OF his anxiety, he slept well.
and. rising early on the morrow, be-
gan shortly after o'clock TO deal with
a mass OF business that demanded his
attention.
This occupied him until IL o'clock.
when he walked down 20 the forecourt.
where glittering staff waited TO re-
ceive him.
With the exception OF Hertz. he was
practically without n personal friend
as he mounted his horse for the ride
TO the balloon ground. Four OF the
EngIishmen were with the airships,
and General Martel was with the
troops outside the city.
In spite OF the proclamation urging
them TO concentrate upon the Morning
Hills. the press Of people in the streets
was great
For the first time since he had en-
tered Bomberg. Strong was cheered by
the people themselves. And he was
cheered not halfheartily. but with
great fervor They had begun 20 rec
ognlze at last that he was a man I'm
whom they could put their trust.
Tie notice Of the public holiday had
been short. but none the Jess attempts
AZ decoration had been made In nearly
every street and the long thorough
fare leading from the palace 10 tho
ministry was gay with flags and hunt.
ling as Strong ciattered down the hill
with his jingling retinue trotting be-
hind him
From tho ministry square to the bal.
loon ground itself the road was kept
by mounted troops. while round tho
barriers of the ground the infantry
were hard put 70 it to keep the peo-
pie back. g
Cro ne continued)