The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1909-05-24
The Man
Who Stole
The Earth"
By ". Holt Whife r
CHAPTER Lxvl.-(continued.)

Strong put the airships down and
kept them at little distance above
the long main road which, just outside
Moscow. was thick with motor cars
and sleighs. tor on Sunday all Moscow
that can AFFORD TO drive takes an air.
ing on the long. broad road that lies
between the city OF the churches and
grimy Tyer
And the effect OF the presence OF the
airships was electrical. Strong WAS
vastly amused. although he had the
grace to be ashamed at the unkindness
OF his humor. After all, il is not good
10 see the panic OF people. and the
people beneath him were certainly In
| a panic new.
Strong. indeed, grew angry as he OF
served the panic becoming cowardly.
Motor cars and sleighs had wheeled
about and were making for the city
helter-skelter. and SO fast and furious
| ~ did the different vehicles drive un'
der the impulse of fear that the road
became TANNED with scurrying horses
and hooting motors, and there began
series OF accidents.
Now. Strong. TO the best OF his lights.
made war legiumately, and he had no
desire 10 see lives lost and injury
befall those with whom he had no
quarrel
Therefore he ordered the Victor
TO be put up. and followed by the d.
/ left the course OF the main road.
This move OF his TO great extent
a
pIe whom his mere presence had terri
| ned all manner or cravens. STRONG
sailed on toward the summit OF the
city
The Victor was now travelling slow
!lv and as he passed over the great
wall from which Ivan the Terrible
used To watch the most fendish exc
eutions known TO history Strong
| looked westward across the plain
/ over which Napoleon had trailed his
! broken army while Moscow was alight.
Strong was gigantic In his vanity
end nerfectly natural in his conceit.
! BURNING the city will avail them
nothing on this occasion" he reflected,
nor will the passage from Moscow.
be marked by the bitterness OF Napo
CONS when | return TO claim the city
as my own. ~
Ha was sitting apart from the oth-
ar men dreaming OF the accumulated
newer which would shortly become MS
when his gaze looked downward ana
aliehted accidentally on the glass Oh
the wireless instrument. He was as
toptshed and for a moment sHghtIy
I disturbed 10 see faint sparks 9ei.eath
the glass and
He took up the instrument ana
glanced into it, but the only message.
which he could decipher was Are
Won there? Are you there! Are you
there" repeated again and again Win
the snectes OF impatient monctony
that marks a man trying To make hlm-
self heard ON the telephone after me
exchange has cut him on.
INSTANTLY he licked back an answer,
and Their he received the astounding
news that the fugitive King OF Bal
kama mad raided Bomberg by mo'cr
car. and was even then IN the house
OF Brandt. the ex-premier.
Surely" thought Strong TO himself,
"the hanging OF Schaur should nave
been sufficient warning. can see
there witt be more gallews. work when
get back TO Bomberg.
II was Wildney who was working
the instrument, and the next Few sen
fences served to reassure Strong tDat
peace still reigned In the town.
He licked instructions to Wildney 10
briefly inform him, OF everything mat
had come to pass since the king nai
taken advantage OF his absence ana
in a few minutes he was In posses
sion OF the incidents which had mark
ed the night before IN Bomherg.
.s.1 hnt al
be done with the king. Did Strong
wish HIM arrested or deporteG
But S,rcng licked.
Neither Leave him where lie Is.
He can Dc no harm. Let him wait un-
iii | return. | am coming back at
once"
And what OF Miss Hunt?" Wildney
then inquired.
Miss. HINT So WELL" Styong answer.
ed: end shut off the instrument.
-tphe other men In the Victor had
been looking at him with wondering
iaces-faces that plainly asked wheth-
or su were well In Bomberg
Strong made haste to explain. but
! frst ordered Pelham to forge ahead
fu!i speed.
And what OF Arbuthnot and the
"Di?' inquired Pelham.
Never mind them" said Strong.
"Tkey will have to look after them
selves. They may be late, hut that
is a matter OF small Importance now
that we have the State"
Strong signalled across to Arbuth-
not In the "Di." urging him to make
what speed he could. and then he
leaned back again 20 formulate n conf
Portable little plan how he would heap
Goals of fire upon the, kings head when
he had secured his majesty.
Then his mind wandered to the com
ing struggle. and at the thought OF the
Russian army hanging on Balkania' 3
frontier he grew suddenly angry with
himself Cor having dealt SO lightly
with the government In ST. PEERS
burg.
Ito BE Coptibued.Ss