The Detroit times., 1909-06-08
The Man
Who Stole
The Earth"
By w. Holt Whits
CHAPTER LxvllI.-(contInued.)

CHAPTER lNvlIl.-(Continueo
Every now and again they passed
over II patrol. and in the rays Of the
searchlight they could see the troopers
| rein In their horses and mechanically
salute as the Di passed overhead.
They went at as good speed as they
could make, which however, was not
much over fifty miles an hour, until
they came TO the frontier. Here the
road struggled up into the hills. and.
after that, lost itself In thick pine
woods. SO that they had TO drop to q
speed of about thirty miles an hour.
But when they had crossed the from
tier great open plain stretched before
them, and as the moon was now up.
they were enabled To put on speed To
about the extent OF 100 miles an hour.
They played the searchlight all
round them as they went, although. as
matter of fact, Strong saw clearly
enough that their very use OF 1t might
destroy his purpose. inasmuch as the
occupants OF the car they were seek
ing would probably be warned by its
light.
Arbuthnot. who had been making
certain calculations, then told Strong
that they must OF necessity be up with
the king of Bahama II they had not
already passed him. for the staff he
had stolen was nto q great one, and
even the furiously driving Ludwig
could not with any safety have made
more than between 80 and 40 miles an
hour along the rough road TO Croatia.
Strong, recognizing the force of this
argument. ordered Arbuthnot to put
out the searchlights.
THE best thing we can 10" he said,
lis 10 hang here until sun up. Theirs
is then just chance that we may
spy the car IT, as | imagine. his ma1es-
" is lying low till daybreak. But.
after all, 1t is chance. am afraid
the quarry has got clear away"
II was no wabout o'clock in the
morning, and Strong babe Arbuthnot
lie down 10 rest. saying that he would
call him at L. This at least gave them
two hours sleep apiece.
Arhuthnot srumbled In friendly
fashion at the arrangement, urging
that, as the control of things was
uder Strong, he was most I'm need or
the first sleep. Indeed. he had II In
his mind. that. should Strong be per-
suaded to sleep first. he would let him
sleep on until sunrise.
But Strong was quick enough to de-
tect that thought.
Eyes. my dear chap" he said, and
then out OF the kindness OF your heart
you would fail TO wake RE "a. Not
bit OF It, This is business. and
business is best left TO the selfish man.
You need not have the slightest fear
that | shall fail TO wake you at the
appointed time.
Arbuthnot laughed. pulled some rugs
about him. curled up on the deck OF
the "Di" and was instantly asleep.
Strong kept his lonely watch, now
and again turning on the searchlight
lest the flying king should b eseeking
to reap the advantage of the darkness.
But not a sign OF life in the plain
beneath him met his straining vision.
At he reused Arbuthnot and Law
down himself Before he did so. how.
ever. he warned Arbuthnot against the
use of the searchlight. saying that II
would be an easy matter 10 pick up the
king by daylight should he come from
his hiding-place before o'clock.
At 6 II was fairly light when Ar
buthnot reused Strong. but although
they made the best investigation they
could of the plains below them with
the glasses there was nothing sus-
picious to be seen.
Strong waited for another OF min
utes or so until the light was better,
in order that they might follow the
road at the greatest possible altitude
Then he put the airship full speed
ahead and within half an hour they
covered 002 miles.
But still there was nothing to be
seen Of the flying king.
Strong. therefore, checked the Dbl
and. turning TO Arbuthnot, said.
tTo BE Continued)