Marble Hill press., 1902-08-20

ClIAPrER xv.-lcan,,...a

The idea which he had conceived 10
ne enect that the chances might be
oeIIsr IN the rear Of the hotel q eom,
pared With the aIdea facing upon the
able.
| he believed some unseen hand guild.
"a him, and there was certain bold
'onndenoe in hiA intrepid heart that
vi would yet be well--alI must be
wen. since airline loved him. Heaven
could not be so cruel as 70 give him
this heeting glimpse into paradise,
Just as Moses waa allowed 10 look
over into the Promised Land, and
then snatch him away forever
| II was this positive belief IN ultl.
mate escape that bore him up 10 well.
that kept his brain as clear as a bell,
and prevented confusion OF Ideas
such ms must have proven fatal to
his chances.
The two fugitiyea ran the gauntlet
In safety. although there was time
when Charlie began to fear their prog
reas would be cut OF. so fiereely dii
the savage flames roll along.
Luckily an opening occurred.
through which he rushed. half bearing
airline. 4.
TO retreat meant destruction, as
he well knew, and their only hope
now was to push grimly on.
One thing favored them-close TO
tho Gre the smoke was not 50 suffo-
catlng-ln some Of tho corridors II
was 30 dense that many poor, bewil'
dered, wandering souls must have
been asphyxiated long before the fire
reached them.
Charlie's frst hope was to End some
stairway designed for the help. II such
existed. through which the fery
streamers had not been drawn,
He saw many roofs here and there.
some towering buildings. and thou.
sand heads In places Of vantage. where
the whole dread spectacle could be OBJ
served.
He saw where a chance offered. II
one could but reach the next lower
foor. but It was not open to them
here.
Quick as fash he darted into an
adjoining room: Il had two beds In
II. and from these he whipped the
sheets.
The aheets. torn iengthwlse and
knotted together. would serve the pur.
pose he had In view.
Even while he was ripping them in
broad strIps and knotting them TO-
gether. Stuart kept watch and ward
over the flames.
Again he looked down; everything
appeared favorable--at least. there was
a. yet no sign Of flames bursting out
below him.
How furiously ne workedl-how with
clInched teeth he tested each knot!
That rude rope was to bear burden
that was very precious to him, and he
did not mean It should betray him.
II was all done in an Incredibly
short time. though doubtless under
such q fearful strain II seemed houra
to those whose lives and future happi-
ness hung by a thread. asst we're.
Charlie knotted one end around Ar
line. while her eyes looked into his
with a bravery he would never, never
forget.
She knew this desperate move Of
his was the only hope they had.
SO she shut her teeth hard together
and crushed down the wall that fut-
tered in her .throat--ths womanly fear
of facing peril. such as men can hard
ly appreciate.
whilehe worked In this way Charlie
was busy explaining to airline. as sim
ply as words could do, what her part
was to be. +
Never to his dying day would Char
lieforget how she looked into bis eyes
as she crouched there on the broad
sill of the window. and gave him even
piteous smile meant to be encour-
aging.
Then she was gone!
He thought his heart had broken,
such was the wrench 1t received when
she passed from his sight,. and he re.
allied that she hung there In midair
with only a frail sheeted rope between
herself and eternity.
Then elapsed a few seconds that
seemed years.
Never had he experienced a more
radical sensation OF extreme Joy than
when there came three quick tugs at
the rope, the signal she was to give
when she had secured a lodgment on
the window sill below, and desired
more line in order to enter.
Quickly he allowed II to slip through
his fingers 30 that she might release
herself from the moose ere he made the
attempt to descend.
The flames we're now driving along
the corridor, and It seemed as though
they would reach the open window ere
another minute had elapsed.
TO a man of Etuart's build and ath-
letlc qualities 1t was mere bagatelle
to accomplish this feat; his only dan
ger seemed to lie In fracture of the
rope.
Like magic he dropped down and
arrived opposite the window.
A pair Of arms shot out and seized
him: airline was on the watch and
much distressed lest something should
happen to him.
And Charlie was thankful enough to
crawl In through that blessed window;
his first act was to take her 70 his
heart and exciainl;
God bless you for a brave girl!
Keep up your spirits and we VIII
ehsat the old monster yet"
She answered him with rare LOOK
Of confidence and trust that made MIN
stronger than ever in the resolution
Ia dare all for her sake.
What advantage had been gained
They we're one flight nearer me
earth. but the danger still menaced;
this floor, like all others, was sven
over to the riotous flames, ana % nAa
Mere meant the same inevitable emu.
Charlie did not mean to stay.
Given time. he might have found or
constructed rope by means OF Whlsh
he would have lowered airline to the
ground. -..,o,. ~.