Idaho Springs siftings., 1902-10-18
CHAPTER XIV.
When Charlie Kissed


eous progress while this mad en-
counter took place, and already their
red tongues leaped into view at the
further end of the corridor.
Charlie was painting like a hunted
stag, hardly able to catch his breath
in that smoke-burdened atmosphere
yet, no sooner had he hurled his en-
emy 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 TO
the illumination afforded by the
flames, and he knew he was close TO
where Airline might be found.
He saw the door was closed.
It 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.
Horrorsi 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, Arlinei Open, for
Gods sakel The hotel is on firel"
Apparently he shouted loud enough
to arouse the dead, yet no answer
came from beyond.
Stuart knew of but one resource
left-it was a desperate case, and re-
quired desperate remedy.
He raised his foot.
Ono xx,ierh4xr 1,Invv fba Iooly
as completely as though a battering
ram had been brought to bear against
it.
The door flew 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 l will save you. if possiblel"
His manner calmed her more than
all else.
She looked into his face, and al
though her voice trembled, she kept
brave front as she said:
81 trust you with my life, Charlie,
Tell me what to do, and God help us
both!"
Brave little womani That was what
he thought her then and there-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 it 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 it must be through his
PNA anu dClCi WOAh
Then, again, he kept before his
mind the fact that escape must be
downward-that flight to the roof
would only render their immolation
the more certain.
Each story they could descend
would take them nearer the street
and increase their chances of being
assisted through the medium 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 ascended 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