Idaho Springs siftings., 1902-10-11


touched the scene, and transformed it
in twinkling.
Smoke already oozed from several
openings, proving to Charlie that his
hopes of the fire being trif1ing were
groundless.
1t was most serious.
The holocaust of the Partisan
Charlie Bazaar was about to be repeat
ed in New York; and that st. Pat
rick's day would be marked as the
most grewsome Gotham had ever
known.
Charlie now had a better chance to
push ahead.
Already he feared he had delayed
too long
There were many people and much
excitement in the side street, but it
was of course not to be compared
with the avenue where the crowds
had gathered to witness the parade.
Straight to the door Charlie
dashed.
A man stood there endeavoring to
keep out those who had no business
inside, for it is well known that dar-
ing thieves will take advantage of
such occasions to ply their nefarious
trade, even if they do not at times
even create the opportunity.
Ten men could not have kept our
Charlie from pushing in.
He shouted that he was a guest,
and then rushed inside; nor did the
man, after one look at his haggard
face, attempt to say him nay.
Charlie avoided the office, where
men swarmed, and orders were shout
ed that could never be obeyed.
His business was aloft.
She was there exposed to a fright
full death, and he felt that he lived
but to save herl
So up he bounded three steps at
time.
One thing he must remember-the
Windsor was famous as a caravan
sary where a stranger might easily
lose himself in the many passages.
To do so now would be indeed fatal
to all his hopes.
He found smoke everywhere, and
even fancied he could hear the crack
ling of flames, though the whole place
was in such a turmoil that one could
not be sure of this.
He also met numerous persons, fly
ing this way and that, maddened with
fear
Some hardly knew whittier they
went, and appealed frantically to this
cool-headed man beseeching him, for
heavens sake, to tell them where the
stairs could be found
Nor did he fail to direct them, every
one. even while he pushed on to the
next flight.
Up. up. he went, still finding smoke
circling along the halls, through
which women staggered, shrieking
their appalling distress
1t was a terrifying picture.
There were comical elements in
jected into it, of course, but no one
had the heart to laugh.
Charlie knew in his heart a dread
full calamity was impending-nothing
short of a miracle could save the
great structure now, and the days of
miracles appear to be past.
Perhaps scores of human lives
would be sacrificed to the demon of
fire-mostly helpless women, en-
ployes or guests, who had been view
ing the parade from the upper win
dQws.
The mere fact that such a draught
passed through the halls from these
open windows would hasten the total
demolition of the whole structure and
make it more certain.
Had Charlie no sacred duty of his
own to perform, he would have gladly
devoted all of his time toward effect
ing the rescue of these terrified girls.
As it was, he could only think of
Airline.
Her lovely face was before his eyes
and seemed to plead with him to
make haste.
The smoke was growing even more
dense, and he had to push close to
the doors to distinguish the numbers,
in order to make sure that he was on
the right floor.
At last this knowledge came to
him.
The opportunity was in his grasp.
Here the same conditions seemed to
abound-.there was smoke in plenty,
frenzied maids and flying figures
darting through it all like spectres.
Charlie was somewhat out of breath
as a result of his steady climb, but
otherwise in good nhvsica1 condition