The Elbert County tribune., 1902-10-09

trade, even II tncy 90 not Ut timeS
even create the opportunity.
Ten men could not have kept our
Charlie from pushing In.
He shouted that he was 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 her.
So up he bounded, three steps at
time.
One thing he must remember-the
Windsor was famous as 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 t.4y
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, shrieklng
their appalling distress.
It was a terrifying picture.
There were comical elements In
jected into 1t. OF course. but no one
had the heart to laugh.
Charlie knew in his heart 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
Hre-mostly helpless women, en-
ployes or guests. who had been Wow
ing the parade from the upper win
dows.
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 1t all like spectres.
Charlie was somewhat out of breath
as a result of his steady climb. but
otherwise in good physical condition.
He had the number of Arline's
rooms well in his mind--the house
had been crowded, and these were the
best at her service, though the clerk
had promised her a suite near the
McKinleys after that day.
What IL he could have made mis-
take in any way? The wretched con-
sequences almost parasyzed him to
even think of II.
Eagerly he had scanned each flying
or crouching female figure he met, in
the hope that he might thus discover
the one he sought.
But as yet he had not found her.
Even in that smoke-laden atmos-
phere he knew he could not mistake
her figure. while one note from her
voice must have thrilled him through
and through.
ITO be continucd)