The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1909-04-24
"The Man
Who Stole
The Earth"
By W. Holt Whife.
CHAPTER LxIII.-(continued.)


The night was foggy. and the huge
porters. in their lorg white snocks
and leather girdles, crept noiselessly
across the flags OF the Douane in Their
] silent shoes
Two women prayed before the
gaudy little shrine, and half score
" passengers. who had evidently not
made the trip before, stood abJut, un.
easily wondering whether they would
! ever again see the passports which
they had surrendered to the officials.
But Mr.. George Napier knew that
he would get his at the door as he
passed out for the train; and, as his
name was shouted. he claimed his
own. and. with no further hindiancc.
walked by the sentries to his seat.
Presently the train moved or. and
Bellingham felt thankful that the
darkness OF the winter afternoon shut
out the dreary wastes of the snow
plains.
He arrived at st. Petersbure on.
Sunday and drove at once to the
Europe. through vast crowds OF SLOW
! ly strolling people iE the Balshan
Muscouwn and still greater crowds
along the Nevsky Prospect.
AT the hotel having handed hin
passport over TO the porter, IL tool,
another sleigh and drove direct TO
the American emOassy. where he
| hoped against hope that he might find
his old friend. Ridgley.
AS good luck would have 1t. Ridg.
| ley was in the embassy at the time,
and il was with lighter heat that
lhe moved up the corridor between
the famous stuffed bears.
| He was shown into a little ante.
room and there had TO wait for some
! time before Ridgley came quickly
through the door. Ridgley started
and uttered an ejaculation as he be-
held Bellingham. Then he stood for
moment staring a little blanEly at
his friend
Good heavens" he cried ~ last
What are you doing here? Is his a
little joke of yours. or what? | ex
rected to see Mr. Napier?"
II am he" said Bellingham,
shortly.
Ridgley whistled You don't meaa
| TO say. man" he said. that you have
/ had the audacity TO come through ST.
Petersburg OF another mans pas
port ?"
1T isn't another mans passport"
said Bellingham It's mine all right.
only. for the sake Cf convenience. !!
nave changed my name"
II should think you had said Ride
ley. And II would be distinctly M
pleasant for you il the Russian gov
eminent got wind III your presence
here Just now. Your fame has sprea :
abroad. and in spite OF the censor.
Ieople know a good deal abou, you. :"
THAT is exactly what tholgnt "
said Bellingham "and that is che very
,eason why | avoided the British eIl-
bassy-the more so because, as you
know. Strong is proving rather n
embarrassment To the British COVERT
ment than otherwise And II woulu
be really hardly decent for me To ask
assistance OF her smbassy's people
here"
True" said Ridgley, but why
, come to me?"
II will tell you, said BellinSham.
simply exactly what I want"
And then he outlined as briefly as
he could the story OF Miss Hunts dis.
appearance.
or course" aslG Bellinghaz, IN
conclusion, Il don't suppose that you
rave heard anything People Ion Z
hear much about such things "a these
even when they follow your profess
sion. But thought that at leaft You
might be able to ascertain something
for me. You see. II Is very important,
and | am very anxious"
tTo re ContiGued.)
] Lob IrInilnr dnne right IInues DrIuf-