The Detroit times., 1909-05-28
The Man
Who Stole
The Earth"
By W. Holt Whits
CHAPTER LxVi.-tcon.inued).

CHAPTER LxVi.-(Continued)
Each of them carried rife, and as
the horsemen came up with a clat-
ter, Strong, Arthbuthnot and Churs-
ton, as had been arranged, fired into
the breasts OF the animals. The horses
dropped.
What followed was quick and horri.
BILE. A second discharge OF the rides
settled the endorsed men,
Half dozen citizens stood on the
pavement. paralyzed with fear
Two men In civilian dress dashed
forward revolvers IN their hands.
These were the police. whom Strong
had expected.
They came on only TO die
Strong had reckoned the Cossacks
OF the vanguard would. upon hearing
the apfeaF. make back for the sleigh.
And in this he was right.
But he had counted on the Victor"
10 settle them. and the shooting from
the Victor was sure.
But not so sure as IL might have
been. Only two of the three men
dropped.
The third, a great man on a great
horse. swooped round the corner OF
the Di. and spear in hand. swept down
on Strong.
The man was right upon him, but
Strong Strengthened himself, and
bringing the muzzle OF his rife up
sharply. caught the horse under the
nose. The beast reared and gave a
great jump.
Arbuthnot and Churston dealt with
the man.
Quick as thought, Strong glanced
about him. The way was clear.
Into the Dr." he yelled. And.
hurting their rifles in ahead Of them,
Chprston and Arbuthnot jumped like
wild cats into the little airship.
II was Strong who rushed to the
sleigh where the children SAT, in their
white fvrs, looking like so many white
mice, not terrif1ed-Strong thanked
heaven for that-but only wide-eyed
aud wondering.
The nurse in charge OF them had
spread out her arms as hen spreads
her wings to cover her chicks.
Strong's only thought was for the
boy.
He reached forward and picked the
child UP and caught him to him.
The child cried out and doubled his
fists. and with his tiny strength beat
at Strong's face savagely.
While the child was still IN his arms
Strong heard warning shout from
the "Di," and whipped round In time
TO behold another man hard upon him.
His rife, of course, he had thrown
away, and he had only one arm with
which to defend himself. But as the
man came on he lodged and dealt him
a swinging blow behind the ear.
Huge as the man was, he fell like
a log beneath Strong's blow.
And a moment later Strong was In
the "Di," and the "Di" was flying up.
The Victor" followed, and Strong
steered alongside the bigger airship.
HIS face was white to the lips as
he held the struggling child from him
and reached out to Miss Hunt
This" he said in choked voice,
must be your work"
And he placed the boy in her arms.
He was OF no mind TO remain near
the earth. He had no desire TO be-
hold the frenzy OF the people or the
terror OF the children whom he had
robbed Of their brother.
For the first time in his life he was
entirely shaken out OF himself He
was indeed half-hysterical. He sat
down in the stern OF the Victor and
bowed his face In his hand and cried
like a child.
The boy was TO some extent com
forted in Miss Hunts arms, and chung
TO her, sobbing.
The men gathered forward. dazed
and somewhat scared at what they had
done.
After Ave minutes or so Strong rails
ed his head. and. openly and unasham.
ed. wiped away his own hysterical
tears.
He had come back to his-ewH- quiet
self again
ITO Ne Continued.l