The Detroit times., 1909-05-01
THE Man
Who Stole
The Earth"
CHAPTER Lxlv.-tcsn.lnusd.)
By ". Holt Whits. =

CHAPTER lxlv.-(Continueo
tie brseed himself and walked to
the companion-way. He tottersd
rather than walked down the steps
and passed into the saioon. II was
empty.
Walking over to the bar he poured
himself out a stiff glass OF whisky.
drained IL to the dregs. and then went
quickly up on deck again.
BY now he was clear-headed enough
| to see that every mans attention was
conferred on the airship. which lowered
slight elevation.
feeling OF security that ne sat down
under one of the covered seats and
took out the wireless. He did not
look az the people on deck or AZ the
airship overhead. He more or less
gazed steadily into the little glass
opening on the lid OF the instrument.
Soon his attention was rewarded BY
a succession Of faint flashes In the
code which he had now come to I'M
derstand 80 well.
| All the flashes said were:
Jump now and bring the instru-
ment."
Bellingham. with a little sigh, got
up from his seat. and instincuveiy
there came into his mind words writ
ten for a far greater occasion. They
were TO the effect that II was not for
him 10 reason why, but merely for him
10 do or die.
But with a little laugh 10 himself.
he hoped that II would be a leap for
life rather than leap for death.
He pushed the wireless inte-the
breast OF his coat. and Ibuttoned It
over the little box. Then. walking to
the side, he lifted one OF the life belts
from its place. and. before any one
could call out or stop him. he had run
up to the paddle-box and vaulted over
the side.
The cry OF Man overboard." sound
ed rather ironically in his ears. and
then what came to pass happened 81
swiftly that, in thinking of II after
ward. he could scarcely call all the
incidents to mind
Although the life-belt Was securely
Rugged In his left arm. he went right
under the water. and the chill and the
shock OF IL almost knocked the life
out of him.
He came to the surface. blew the
water out OF his mouth. aud instinc-
lively ducked his head under the life
| belt so that II cncircled him.
And almost az the same moment re
felt a shadow overhead. nearu the Miss
OF a body swooping into the water.
and then felt a hand grip him by the
collar
| A moment later he was dragged on
board the "Di," and as he la. painting
and shivering In the little ship he saw
the faces Of Strong and Arbuthnot gaz-
/ ing down on him.
Arbuthnot stopped. pushed the neck
of a flask between his lips, and then
they went UP.
The contents OF the flask instantly
reviving him. he pulled himself up tc
his knees and looked over the side to
see the steamship beneath them rapid
lily growing dim. Even then they were
! go far away they could hear no hubbuh
from the vessels decks.
He lay back again and listened to
|, the steady whirr OF the DIS pro.
rellers. Strong came over to him ana
kneeled by his side and took his hand.
YOU have done Jolly we'll. old man,
he said. You are a brick"
II am thinking was think
halted Bellingham.
YES. know" said Strong. You
we're thinking-you were thinking OF
Dora. You see, my dear chap. think
| ing OF Diana gives me considerable
| intuition In such matters"
| Bellingham lay back while Strong
piled rugs over him. He was very
tired. Until that moment he had not
had time to realize how far he had
travelled and how much he had done
on such a small amount of sleep.
Better get a nap" said Strong.
"You need not weary yourself In the
least You will be back in Bomberg
soon"