The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1909-05-21
The Man
Who Stole
The Earth"
By ". Holt White
CHAPTER Lxv.-(continued.)

CHAPTER Lxv.-(continued.)
The king was surprised at the COM
plete silence and the order in which
every one on the balloon ground
worked. There was no demonstration
Of any kind as the State" sailed up
into the breaking dawn.
The workmen merely rubbed their
hands on their overalls and turned 70
ether occupations.
:, The troops patrolling the ground
were so well disciplined that they con.
tented themselves by merely glancing
covertly at the rapidly ascending
State"
Langley turned again to the king
with rather ankind smile
Surely, your majesty must see by
this time that the game Is up" he
said: you are placing yourself In a
very invidious position. and really are
rendering yourself liable to arrest. |
should be sorry to take such a meas
ure as that without Mr.. Strong's in
structions; but / may inform you that
We are endeavoring 10 place ourselves
IN communication with him by wire
less now; and. IL | get any orders from
him as TO your fate. those orders will
be Immediately carried out
Personally" he continued. 'it
seems to me the height OF folly to al
low you TO endeavor TO foster discon-
tent in Bomberg. But. after ALL that
is not my business, and IL General
Martel, for old times sake, chooses to
hold his hand until he receives definite
instructions, he must not blame me
90 faf1 .ssI.
you.
However" he said. Il have the
power TO order you of the balloon
ground. and | must now request you
TO leave"
And his majesty seeing that ST.
lence was the better part OF dignity.
quietly walked away and followed by
Brandt, made for the car in which
Ludwig sat. stolid and sullen.
AS the king stepped into the motor
car he turned 10 his old premier.
1T seems to me-" he said TO him in
low voice. that my safety has been
practically guaranteed. | don't see
how they can get into communication
with Strong for some hours. and In the
meantime something may arise TO
give us help. In the interval. there.
fore. | will return to the house with
you"
The car drove away.
A few hours later, when the city
had awoke 10 It's full life, and the
newspapers with accounts OF his ma.
jesty's untimely return were being
sold at every corner the king had the
audacity to leave the shelter OF
| Brandt's house and drive slowly up
the main street toward the palace.
Even at that early hour-it was
scarcely past breakfast time-the
thoroughfare was thronged.
| Troops kept the roadway clear, and
behind the troops the people were
packed many deep.
But in spite of the thousands who
watched him go by the king passed
ND the long main street amid pro-
| found silence. No one cried out
against his presence; on the other
hand, no one welcomed him.
! The king peered quickly and sharp
| ly all about him, searching the faces
OF the people who are no longer his
people, as If he looked for friends.
But he found not one.
Therefore. with the idea OF search.
| ing out among the members of his
suspended chamber OF deputies those
men who might still be faithful 10 his
cause. he returned along the main
street and went again into Brandt s
house.
Gen. Martel, foreseeing trouble. had
closed the street to all traffic. For
two hundred yards on either side OF
Brandt's door the road was kept by
a squadron of cavalry.
And now that you are there" said
J Gen. Martel to himself, as he came
down TO personally superintend the
posting OF the troops. now you are
there, you may DIS well stay there
until Mr.. Strong returns.
lTo BE continssd-A