The Detroit times., 1909-06-14
The Man
Who Stole
The Earth"
By W. Holt Whife
CHAPTER LxAI4i--tceatiaued-9

CAAPTEH- lxNIll--tcoa tiaued-} -
Then, under Strong's directions,
they went on To explain that it would
be necessary for them 10 watch the
ascent from there, because not one
tI5he OF the population of 'Bomberg
could possibly hope TO see anything Of
the ascent from the balloon ground II.
self.
Having seen 10 this. Strong next
turned his attention 10 the ordering OF
the troops. The army on the frontier
he did not disturb, but the balloon
ground. lest in their eagerness to see
the atrships the populace should az
tempt 10 break through the barriers.
Twenty thousand men We're, at 10
O'Clock in the morning. to be marshal
ed on the plain at the west OF the
town, where was to be conducted the
most remarkable review ever conceiy-
ed in a soldiers mind.
For the saluting base was 10 be not
a royal standard but an airship, sta
toned sufficiently close 10 the earth
20 enable every soldier marching past
10 clearly behold the face OF his Die
tator.
From the hustle OF all this business.
Strong turned away TO a sadder task
the almost hopeless attempt to com.
municate with Miss Hunt by wireless.
Two full hours he spent that night
between / / and O'Clock in the morn
ing ticking busily away query after
query TO Paris But no answer came.
and his heart grew fearful for what
might be Dianas fate
He was, indeed, of half mind To
make a rapid descent upon Paris, but
he saw that his approach would newt
ably be known, and that. with such a
crafty enemy TO deal with as the
! fugitive king. Diana would be placed
/ beyond the possibility Of even his dis
covering her
Moreover. he had the utmost faith IN
Miss Hunt. as he had every right 10
do. so he was content 10 wait another
twenty.four hours Should he not hear
| from her by then. he decided. 1t would
be time 10 act.
In spite Of his anxiety. ne slept well,
and, rising early on the morrow, be-
gan shortly after O'Clock to deal with
! "A mass Of business that demanded his
attention.
This occupied him until II o'clock,
when he walked down 10 the forecourt.
where a glittering staff waited TO re.
ccive him.
With the exception Of Hertz, he was
practically without a personal friend
as he mounted his horse for the ride
/ TO the balloon ground. Four Of the
Englishmen were with the airships
and General Martcl was with the
troops outside the city
In spite OF the proclamation urging
them TO concentrate upon the Morning
Hills. the press Of people in the streets
was great
For the first time since he had en-
tered Romberg, Strong was cheercd by
lthc people themselves. And he was
icbeered not halfheartily. but with
vrt-at -fcrvor- Fircy-nati begun to-rec'
ognize az last that he was man la
whom they could put their trust.
| The notice OF the public holiday had
been short. but none the ,ess attempts
/ 9f decoration mad been made IN nearly
every street and the long thorough
fare leading from the palace TO the
ministry was gay with flags and buni
| ing as Strong clattered down the hill
with his 1ngling retinue trotting be
| hind him.
From the ministry square To the bal
loon ground itself the road was kept
by mounted troops. while round tht
! barriers ~ the ground the infantry
we're hard put TO IT TO keep the peo
pie back.
ITO he continued1