Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1902-09-04
CHAPTER XVI.

There was a wing where the fire did
not as yet appear to have secured a
| foothold
II they could but reach that section,
which would be the last to feed the
flames, apparently, their escape was
almost certainty.
Accordingly Charles first action,
after taking Airline in his arms, was
to ascertain whether his surmise were
correct, or II he had deceived himself.
There was great relief when he
found that passage led off directly
toward the quarter where relief
seemed to hold out hope.
The smoke filled it almost to suffo
cation. and his. heart misgave him as
he caught fleeting glimpse OF lurid
glow through the haze. that warned
him the fire demon was working even
in this quarter, sparing nothing.
The smoke grew more dense--it
seemed to almost paralyze his very
! brain; his eyes smnrted and burned
as though scared with red-hot irons;
his senses reeled. yet, with the indom
liable pluck of true soldier. he
| pressed grimly on. sheltering Airline
as well as he could with the cloak she
wore, and which proved blessing in
more ways than had entered into his
| reasoning at the time he first clasped
| it about her.
Every yard which they covered
brought them closer to their goal.
where doubtless friendly hands waited
to bear them down to safety.
This was the hope that sustained
Charlie in the midst of all this des-
perate ordeal-that an oasis lay be-
yond, the pure air of heaven awaited
them, once they passed the barrier.
He was weak and tottering himself
from the effect of his exertions and
the pungent smoke. that many times
overcomes daring fire laddies as they
| venture a trihe too far-and yet he
thought only of Airline. thought she
must be in condition of collapse.
Nothing else could have possessed
him to suddenly snatch her up in his
arms and stagger on through the
binding, choking smoke.
At first she struggled, but when
he pressed her more fiercely to his
heart she lay passive.
Staggering alone like a drunken
man, Charlie endeavored to pass the
| Rubicon-that SPOT where the sullen
glow was now continuous, and in
which he was presently to be engulfed.
Just at the critical spot. where the
flames were bearing down along an
other passage, he sank heavily to the
floor.
Was this the end?
Had his brave fight come to naught?
In that dread moment, when defeat
stared him in the face, his heart al
most broke.
Airline had meanwhile struggled out
Of his arms. for she had gone down
with him.
"Oh, Charlie, what shall do?" she
cried. in her wild alarm and distress,
for the sea of fame appeared SO very
close that it seemed as though the
dread crisis were upon them.
Fly! fly! Yonder lies safety" he
cried. trying to get upon his knees,
only to fall back. He had sheltered
her at the expense of his own strength.
and now must pay the penalty.
But you'll can't leave you here"
she sobbed. bending down to put her
arms about his neck
"You must! There is no hope for
me! If can | will crawl on; but you
-must-go, God forbid we should
both perish here, Kiss me, Airline.
| and go,"
mo. mol could not! Do not ask
me-"
1T is my desire; make haste Or
| Oh, Heaven! 1t is even now too late!"
as a tongue of fame shot across the
passage beyond.
Airline gave a shrek.
| She frightened her hold upon him;
desperation gave her strength. for she
dragged the almost senseless man
along toward safety.
Guardian angels must have held
back those cruel fangs until they had
passed the fatal place. for hardly were
they beyond than. with a rush and
roar, the abyss of fire swallowed up
the spot where Charlie had been over
come.
Still she dragged him along Love
gave her power she had never known
before; under its magical influence
weaklings become strong as lions and
perform prodigies Of valor.
Through the smoke, almost over
powered by its awful fumes, she INT.
All were those shouts just aLsad :?
She shrieked aloud, and heard answer.
ing cries. CHEEKY cries that gave her
new hope, new ambition.
Then gigantic figures doomed up be-
yond, and Airline swooned at the feet
Of the firemen, who picked both OF
them up in kindly arms and bore
/ them into the fresh air.
Two hours later Charlie. sadly de-
moralized so far as looks went, with
bloodshot eyes. singed mustache, sans
portion of his eyebrows. and with
sundry burns upon face and hands,
yet bearing grim look of happiness
upon his countenance, knocked at the
door of a room in a neighboring hotel
and was admitted. by Arline's compan-
ion, whose temporary absence from
the Windsor hotel at the time of the
fire had possibly saved her life.
Airline lay upon lounge.
She. too. had suffered somewhat
from the terrible experience, although
not so severely as her lover. but to
Charles ravished eyes she had never
| looka an charming nc whom she hald
out both hands to him. while bushes
chased each other over face and neck.
/ God was indeed good to us, Charlie,
she said, after he had bent down and
deliberately kissed her with the air Of
one who holds proprietary right
| II echn YOUR words my darling.