Rocky Ford enterprise., 1902-10-10

block from the hotel.
Great as was the excitement around
him. 1t seemed to be doubly intensi-
fed further along the line of march.
especially In front Of the hotel.
He saw the procession break at this
point-melt away as It were.
Men ran toward the hotel In squads.
waving their arms wildly.
Was 1t an opportunity to quench
the thirst that frequently burns Irish
throats on this glorious holiday?
Charlie knew OF yore all about
the battle of the Boyne. and how an
orange flag arouses the hatred of a
st. PatrIck's day parader even rs the
red flag stirs the maddened bull to
frenzy.
Had some bold and incautious soul
dared to invite immolation by thus
Haunting In their faces the color they
despised?
He supposed this must be the case.
To his surprise. however. the ex-
element spread-the crowd pressed
madly forward. mounted officers came
saliopins back. shouting out some
thing that at first he could not catch.
Never to his dying day would Char
lie Stuart forget the intense anxiety
OF that moment when he seemed to
feel as though the fate Of empires was
at stake-and then he heard distinctly
above the roar the stentorian voico OF
n leathern'lunsed officer:
Turn out! The avenue is impass-
able! The Windsor hotel is on fire.
| Turn OUT"
Doubtless that stentorian shout
sent shuddering chill to many n
heart when those who heard II gianc-
ed up at the massive pile and compre-
hended the hundreds of precious lives
that were endangered.
To none could II appeal with more
irresistible force than TO Charlie
Stuart.
AL his hopes ard ambitions on earth
were centercd thcre-the Hirl he
loved with heart and soul was far up
In the doomed structure. perhaps
op!aic. after a wnkcful night with an
aching brow.
Al frst his blood seemed CONCEAL.
cd into ice.
Then Il icapcd through his veins
like boiling lava. fresh from the
throat of vcsuvins.
Charlie did rot waste tlmo In re,
fcct!on.
Time was worth more than money
now. worth all the world to him.
Ho had ieapcd TO tho pavement
like a decrhound. and dashed toward
the hotel In great bounds.
Some men would have lost their
wits. but q, seemed that tho greater
tho emergency tho kccncr became his
mind.
Even as he ran and cibo~cd his
way through tho excited crowd with
irresistible force. he was mapping ou,
q plan OF cam. aiEn.
Really there seems no limit to tho
human mind-i,s capacity Is antaaish.
ins-it rises 10 meet ilc emergency
regardless Of what il needed.
Nos. even when thus fighting his
way through III. crowd. Charlie saw
the hopcicssncss of attempting To
reach the main entrance on the ave.
nur.
The space for half a block was
deasoiy packed with vhooplng mass
OF humanity z partly isnbucd with the
eager curiosity that always dis,ia.
suishes crowds the world. over. and a,
the same time a chisairous desire To
be Of use somehow.
II he desired 10 reach that door
he mus, pcsforcc walk over the heads
OF the packed crowd.
A better plan suggested itself.
lie remembered side cntranc.
which would admit him much more
easily.
Sou he sas a. the corner.
lie took oss look up and around.
The picture ~as impressed upon
the tablets OF his memory forever.
No longer were hsndkcrcaisfs and
green ribbons waving from the
numerous windows Of the hotel in.
stead. paaie-s,rictpn girls threw out
their arms sppcaiinsiy and shrisksd
In terror.
The wand Of an evil magician had
touched the scene. and transformed IL
in a tviakiins.
Smoke already ooscd from several
openings. proving to Charlie that his
hopes Of the are being uitiing were
gruundiess.
II was mos, serious.
The holosa aust of the parisian
Charlie Itasar was abou, to be repeat.
cd in New York: and that st. Pat.
riek's day would be marked as the
mos, srswsomc Gotham had ever
known.
Charlie now had a better chance 10
push ahead
Already he feared he had delayed
too long.
There were many people and much
eycitemen, in the side street. but IL
was of course not TO he compared
with the avenue where the crowds
had gathered to witness the parade.
Straight to the door Charlie
dashed.
a man stood there endeavprins TO
keep out those who had no business
inside. for Il is well known that dar.
ing thieves will take advantage OF
such occasions TO ply their nefarious
trade, even u 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 guest.
and then rushed inside: nor did the