Idaho Springs siftings., 1902-10-25
CHAPTER XVI.
At Last.

AT Last.
Charlie had conceived a plan which,
while it offered certain chances of sue
cess, at the same time entailed CON
tinued risk
There was a wing where the fire did
not as yet appear to have secured a
foothold.
If they could but reach that section,
flames, apparently, their escape was
almost certainty.
Accordingly Charles first action,
after taking Airline in his arms, was
to ascertain whether his surmise were
correct, or if he had deceived himself.
There was great relief when he
found that passage led off directly
toward the quarter where relief
seemed to hold out hope.
The smoke filled it almost to suffo-
cation, and his heart misgave him as
he caught a fieeting glimpse of a lurid
glow through the haze, that warned
him the fire demon was working even
inNthis quarter. sparing nothing.
The smoke grew more dense-it
seemed to almost paralyze his very
brain; his eyes smarted and burned
as though scared with red-hot irons;
his senses reeled, yet, with the indom-
liable pluck of a true soldier, he
pressed grimly on, sheltering Airline
as well as he could with the cloak she
wore. and which proved blessing in
more ways than had entered into his
reasoning at the time he first clasped
it about her.
Every yard which they covered
brought them closer to their goal,
where doubtless friendly hands waited
to bear them down to safety.
This was the hope that sustained
Charlie in the midst of all this des-
perate ordeal-that an oasis lay be-
yond. the pure air of heaven awaited
them, once they passed the barrier.
He was weak and tottering himself
from the effect of his exertions and
the pungent smoke, that many times
overcomes daring fire laddies as they
venture a trifie too far-and. yet he
thought only of Airline, thought she
must be in a condition of collapse.
Nothing else could have possessed
him to suddenly snatch her up in his
arms and stagger on through the
binding, choking smoke.
AT first she struggled, but when
he pressed her more fiercely to his
heart she lay passive.
Staggering alone like a drunken
man, Charlie endeavored to pass the
Rubicon-that spot where the sullen
glow was now continuous, and in
which he was presently to be engulfed.
Just at the critical spot, where the
flames were bearing down along an
other passage, he sank heavily to the
floor.
Was this the end?
Had his brave fight come to nauCht?
In that dread moment, when defeat
stared him in the face, his heart al
most broke.
Airline had meanwhile struggled out
of his arms, for she had gone down
with him
''Oh, Charlie, what shall 1 do?" she
cried, in her wild alarm and distress.
for the sea of flame appeared so very
close that it seemed as though the
dread crisis were upon them.
Ely! fly! Yonder lies safety" he
cried, trying to get upon his knees,
only to fall back He had sheltered
her at the expense of his own strength,
and now must pay the penalty.
But you-I can't leave you here!"
she sobbed, bending down to put her
arms about his neck.
'You must! There is no hope for
mel If can 1 will crawl on; tut you
-must-gol God forbid we should
both perish here! Kiss me, Airline,
and gol"
mo. mol could not! Do not ask
mel"
ut is my desire; make haste Or
oh, Heaveni it is even now too latei"
as a tongue of fame shot across the
passage beyond.
Airline gave a Shrek.
She frightened her hold upon i'm;
desperation gave her strength. for she