The Holly chieftain., 1902-08-01

2 "
aise = woman Of perhaps hundred
pounds.
Pm. your arm. around my neck" /"
he said.
The noise below waS still fearful.
but she heard him evidently, for she
obeyed without hesitation.
Thus he proceeded toward the stair
way.
Apparently they were the last ones
on that door. all the Others having
made good their escape
An unpleasant surprise awaited
Merrick, for. upon reaching the stair
way, he found that the fire was there
ahead Of him.
Some men would have been demora-
liked. but with him opposition only
served to arouse new thoughts and
plans.
He remembered there was second
stairway. used by the domestics per-
haps-this might offer him the safety
the 6rst refused.
So he turned and made for 1t as
only desperate man could do.
Save yourself. monsieur" cried the
one whom he clasped In his arms NO
doubt fearing lest in endeavoring to
rescue her he would be lost: but Mer-
rick never dreamed OF SO base an ac-
tion-since fortune had thus thrown
them together. one would not escape
without the other.
So down the narrow stairway they
went, hope gaining new ground in his
soul, though the smoke was just as
dense here as elsewhere.
He could hear the firemen now, and
with their coming a chance arose that
the building might yet be saved.
Without warning he found further
progress cut of by sudden burst Of
flames below.
To retreat was to invite disaster.
and Merrick was man who knew
what 1t was to take heroic measures
when surrounded by peril.
Releasing his burden for a moment
he tied handkerchief over his mouth,
then slipped OF his coat and fastened
it as well about her head as he could
under the circumstances when hands
had to do double duty. since eyes
smarting with the smoke, were of no
avail.
He did not make the dash without
some exercise of judgment In the prem
ises-the firemen had started to
throw water below, and it was his
hope to profit by this.
Again snatching up his burden, Mer-
rick continued his downward plunge.
1t was all over In few seconds
in running the gauntlet of fire he had
his hair singed little, but by good
luck the stream of water drenched
them both. so that their garments re-
sisted the heat.
And the gallant members Of the
Partisan fire department who had
dragged their hose up the stairs in
order to fight the fre demon in hi.
lair. were doubtless amazed to sudden.
ly see dripping figure without a coat
and carrying q muffied burden in his
arms, come staggering out of the
flames toward them.
At least they were now safe.
Down below Merrick found great
crowd gathered-it was about settled
that the hotel would be saved. SO that
men who had been frantic with fright
above began to laugh and joke over
their unbecoming attire, and tell Of the
numberless lives they had saved by
shouting the alarm 80 bravely-it Is
astonishing how many unrecognixed
heroes there are In this world.
Merrick, quite exhausted, handed
his burden to large man, who bustled
around as though he were physician.
The. lady had quietly tainted during
that last rush into the IRE.
He did not think 1t even worth his
while to look at. her face, but this
could be excused when his condition
was taken into consideration.
kindly bring me my coat again"
was all he said, as he fell into chair.
BY degrees he recovered his breath,
and began to feel something like him.
self when the physician once more ap-
peared with his coat, which became
necessary in the frosty night air.
Merrick went outside to observe
the scene from that quarter, where
excitement still reigned.
And at this very moment in the
room where the refugees were quar-
tered. Little Miss Millions, seated upon
the floor like an eastern princess, al
belt a sadly bedraggled one, was
looking eagerly At q knotted cambric
handkerchief she held, and pressing to
her lips that portion where in . DELI
cate red scroll could be plainly traced