Rocky Ford enterprise., 1902-10-24
osssr,sA. iso,. Street and Smith. Nsv Ysss.

WsS." "Ov. Jeeks Htdou'." "1iss Cspstss." stA
caosrisAa lsoi. Street and Smith. Nsv Yssh.
CHATTER xv.-tCoa,inu.d.)
The idea which he had conceived to
the effect that the chances might be
better in the rear Of the hotel as com
pared with the sides facing upon the
thoroughfares was at least reason
able. :
He believed some unseen hand guild
cd him, and there was certain bold
confidence In his intrepid heart that
all would yet be well-nll must be
well, since Airline loved him. Heaven
could not be SO cruel as to give him
this Heeting glimpse into paradise.
Just as Moses was allowed to look
over into the Promised Land, anu
then snatch him away forever.
Il was this positive belief In ulti'
mate escape that bore him up 30 Wen.
that kept his brain as clear as q bell.
and prevented confusion OF IDEAS
such as must have proven fatal TO
his chances.
The two fugitives ran the gauntlet
In safety. although there was time
when Charlie began to fear their prog.
ress would be cut OF. so fercely dii
the savage flames roll along.
Luckily an opening occurred.
through which he rushed. half bearing
Airline.
To retreat meant destruction. NJ
nI
now wrs to push grimiy on.
One thing favored them-close 10
the FIRE the smoke was not 30 SUMO
cating-ln some of tho corrldors IL
wis so dense that many poor. bewii-
dcrcd, wandering souls must have
been nsphyxiated long before the hre
reached them.
Charile's frkt hope was to ind some
stairway designed for the help. II saeh
existed, through which tho neEy
strcamcrs had not been drawn.
He saw many roofs here and there.
some towering buildings. and n thou
sand heads In places Of vantage. whers
tho whole dread Bpeeiacle could be OBJ
served.
lie faw where chance offered. VI
one could but reach the next lower
floor. but II was no; open to thein
here.
Quick ns n nash he aaricd Into an
adjoining room: IL had two beds In
Il. and from these he whipped the
sheets.
Tho sheets. torn lcnEthwiss and
fha. IA
pose he had In View.
Even while he was ripping them In
broad strips and kno,t!ng them to-
gethcr. Stuart kept watch and ward
over tho flames.
Again he looked down: everything
appeared fayorablc-at least. there was
AZ yet no Sign OF flames bursting out
below him.
How fur!ousiy &C workcd.-how with
ollnchcd teeth hc tcB;ei each knott
That rude ropc was TO bear n burden
that was very precious TO him. and he
did no; mean It SHOULD bc,ray him.
It was all dono In an Incredibly
short time. though doubtless under
such fearful strain IL tccmcd houTA
TO those whore lives and future happl'
ness hung b. thread. as It were.
Charlie kno;,cd ono end around Ar
llnc. while her eyes iosicd into hls
with bravery lie would never. never
forget.
She knew ihIa desperate move OF
his was tho only hope they had.
So shc shut her teeth hard together
ard crushed down the wall that nut.
tered In her ihroat-;hn womaniy fear
OF facing peril. such as men can hard.
ly appreciate.
whilehc worked in this way Charlie
was busy explaining to Airline. "a sim.
ply .. words could do. what her part
wa to DC.
i;evei To his dying day would Char.
lIeforE,t how she lool:cd into his eyes
MS she crouchcd there on the broad
sill of the wlndcw. and gave him even
n plteous smile meant to be cncour.
ngin..
Then she wnE gone! ..
He thought his heart had broken.
such was the wrench II received when
she passed from his sight, and ho re.
allied that she hung there in midair
with only frnil Bheotci rope between
herself and eternity.
Then elapsed n few seconds that
seemed years.
Never had he experienced more
radical sensation of extreme Joy than
when there came three quick tugs Mt
the rope. the signal she was to give
when she had secured n lodgment on
the window sill below. and desired
more line in order to enter.
Quickly he allowed II to slip through
his fingers so that she might release
herself from the moose ere he made the
attempt to descend.
The flames were now driving along
the corridor. and 1t seemed as though
they would reach the open window ere
another minute had elapsed.
To a man OF Stuart's build and ath.
letic qualities 1t was n mere bagntelle
to accomplish this feat; his only dan.
ger seemed to lie in fracture of the
rope.
Like magic he dropped down and
arrived opposite the window.
A pair Of arms shot out and seized
him: Airline was on the watch and
much distressed lest something should
happen to him.
I And Charlie was thankful enough to