The Detroit times., 1909-02-25
The Nj an
Who Stole
The Earth"
CHAPTER Lx-(contlnued.)
BY W. Holt Whits.

AS he stood on the threshold he
called Silence" And IL was in COM
pletc silence that he walked across
the chamber and, without either glanc-
ing to the right or to the left. mounted
the steps OF the throne.
There he faced about and cried
Gentlemen, this is sedition. Sedi
| ton, | am informed. in this country
as in any other. can be punished heav-
| lily. but | am above all laws. III !
so choose. sedition in Bahama and
against me can be punished with
Death"
| He deliberately directed his gaze on
Schaur, and the little mans eyes fell
away from his. The mayor sat down,
huddled heap. in his seat.
There was a pause. and Strong seat
ed himself on the throne. He crushed
down his anger, so that his voice when
he spoke was silky. almost persuasive.
Il could" he said. do with YOU ger
tlemen entirely as wish. You may
consider that | am defenseless, but
that is not so. | am possessed OF moro
power than any human being can boast
at the present moment. And | assure
you that what you are now doing is
extraordinarily foolish. Only yester-
day | told you that would be master
in my own house. This is my own
house
Yet, contrary TO my wishes and
against my orders. there are several
here for the unlawful purpose-the
Jaw Is mine-to consider how you MAJ
best deal with the stranger who has
forced himself into the position Of
your dictator.
I'm this you are not only unwise,
but, TO my mind. also disnonorable.
You must be conscious OF the fact
that on Tuesday last | treated YOU As
gentlemen. left you on the tacit I'M
Outstanding that as you would wish
me TO deal by you so you would deal
by me. What do find?
THAT upon the first opportunity
that presents itself you oppose your.
self to my authority; that you take
upon yourself TO speak for a people
which | have already claimed for my
own. and for people who from hence
forth will have no other arbiter of
their destinies than myself.
You do not seem TO realize that the
times are extremely difficult TO deal
with: that, thanks to the obstinacy Of
your old ruler, this country is faced
with the antagonism of every other
state in Europe. But with that antag-
onism | am perfectly prepared to deal.
Il only ask to be trusted.
But you decline TO trust me. Tho
army has given me its confidence. The
PEOPLE believe that can guarantee
their safety and their peace. You
alone, at the instance of one miserable
little man speak plainly and have
TO hesitation I'm pointing out to you
the figure of NJ. Schaur-presume 10
question my authority and my ability
TO guide you.
1T was because | saw plainly that
In crisis such as this the security Of
this country must depend on me alone
that dissolved you yesterday.
Your presence here tonight is
therefore reasonable. and were OF
mind TO deal with the matter as in my
heart | believe IL should he dealt with.
should have not the faintest scruple
in ordering every single man of you
to he hung as high as Hamen.
II am alone. You are gathered here
in opposition to me. and you may
think that force OF numbers may
Cverwhelm me. In that you are
wrong
Indeed. see. looking about me.
that you are already repenting OF your
foolhardiness. Not one. of you can.
alone or in the company OF his fel.
lows. withstand me. am defenseless
and yet armed.
"If you had among YOU a single
spark of real manhood you could pull
me from my place: but you have noe
n could condescend. | would defy
you to do me any injury. But such
defiance Is unnecessary.
IL have beaten you. and II would be
rot only to your advantage. nut To your
credit IL you were TO recognize my
mastery.
Il use no menace. but a, the same
time. merely for the sake OF enforcing
my argument. I would point out that
my airship Is overhead. and that the
troops OF the nation which you pretend
TO represent not only read. but are
willing to obey my orders. 7 have but
to lift my little finger and all OF you
would meet with the fate that you
most Justly deserve. Bra I despise ~
adopt course such as that. You
have your own system OF voting. and
viii allow you to vote.
Ito Re Coufinued.D
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