Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1902-08-28

| yet, no sooner had he hurled his en-
envy to the floor. and found the coast
clear, than he started along the hall
way.
The numbers on the doors now
stood out plainly enough, thanks 10
the illumination afforded by the
flames, and he knew he was close 10
where Airline might be found.
He saw the door was closed.
1t gave him a shock--then she had
not escaped with the first-she must
still be within her room.
He pounced upon the knob and
turned it.
Horrors! There was no response
the door utterly refused to give
way, being locked within.
Charlie pounded with his fist upon
the panel.
open the door. Airline! Open, for
Gods sake! The hotel is on fire!"
Apparently he shouted loud enough
to arouse the dead, yet no answer
came from beyond.
Stuart knew of but one resource
left-it was desperate case, and re-
quired desperate remedy.
He raised his foot.
One mighty blow shivered the lock
as completely as though a battering
ram had been brought to bear against
| it.
The door few open
Nothing barred his progress now,
and with a bound the Briton was in
the room.
Airline lay upon a Turkish lounge
the crash of the door had done what
all else had failed to accomplish, for
she had just raised her head and was
staring at him with eyes dilating in
horror as they discovered the whirl-
ing clouds of smoke that curled' in
| after him.
Charlie ran to assist the girl to
her feet, at the same time calling:
THE hotel is on fire, but be brave,
and | will save you. if possible!"
His manner Gained her more than
all else.
| She looked into his face, and al
though her voice trembled. she kept
/ q bioNS llOhl ShN odlu.
81 trust you with my life, Charlie!
Tell me what to do, and God help us
both" ...
Brave little woman! That was what
| he thought her then and tE\re-he
had believed it on that former oc-
casion, when she wandered in the
dark Steen dungeons and passages,
and now it was made doubly sure.
1t would have been worth something
to Stuart at this critical juncture,
could he have become possessed of the
valuable information which the fallen
ogre had held regarding the ways and
means of reaching a fire escape.
AS 1t was, he found himself cast
upon his own resources and compelled
to make a virtue of necessity.
One thing was absolutely certain
he could not count on assistance. and
if they escaped 1t must be through his
persistent and determined work.
Then, again, he kept before his
mind the fact that escape must be
downward-that fight to the roof
would only render their immolation
| the HnOTe CeTIdlu
Each story they could descend
would take them nearer the street
and increase their chances of being
assisted through the mediHm of the
fire ladders
Charlie had taken his bearings
he knew the fire had not as yet spread
over the entire building, though the
smoke must have done so ere now.
The stairs he had assembled were
still free from flames, though this
could not long be said, as they were
in jeopardy.
Snatching up a cloak which he
found, he pressed it about Airline.
Some craze must have been running
riot in his veins at the time, for as
her sweet face came close to his own
he deliberately kissed her; nor did
she by look or word protest-there
was something almost holy IN the act
it was as though the man wished
her to know the great love that was
in his heart before they faced the
dreadful ordeal which might be their
destruction. AS though he might thus
seal his claim upon the woman he
adored, even though together they
were doomed to journey toward an
other world.
Come! Have courage, my darling,
he said.
Probably few men on earth have
been given so strange an opportunity
to declare their love. and under such
conditions who could envy Charlie
Stuart the brief spasm of delight
which he experienced, for the first
time he passed his arm about Arline's
waist with a sense of proprietorship
Love is a strong factor in the race
the girl might have been rendered
self alone face to face with the
threatening destruction, but with his
strong arm TO lean upon, and the
knowledge of his declared passion u
sustain her, she could meet the dread
issue with courage.
And it required all the nerve she
possessed to keep from screaming
avalanche of roaring fire at the farth
err end.
Charlie led her directly toward IL
yet she trusted him implicitiy-it was
a glorious symbol of the power he
was to exercise in all time to come
if so be they escaped with their lives
The stairs at last
Another minute and it might have
been too hazardous to attempt de
scent-but that small space Of time
has won kingdoms ere now.
Down one flight-that much was
saved them at any rate, even should