Idaho Springs siftings., 1902-10-18
A Battle OF GIANTS

plunge through space ii the worst
came
They were crazed for the time be-
ing and could not be blamed
Many a precious life went out that
fatal day, that might have been saved
by the exercise of a little judgment
and coolness; for of all the attributes
which mortal man inherits or ac-
quires these prove the richest legacy
in such a time of actual panic.
Having taken his bearings, and
discovered which way the numbers
ran, Charlie started upon what he be-
lieved was the last leg of his course.
Now he must speedily realize the
worst; if he came upon Arline's rooms
and found them empty, he would
know she was somewhere about the
intricate passages, lost and facing
death, as when he first found her.
What a travesty of fate such
thing would be.
Tragedies were being enacted with
in those walls, that had many times
echoed with the sounds of gayety,
and now rang with shrieks; already
the greedy fire fiend had cut off many
from escape, and yearned to encom-
pass their destruction.
Some doors were closed, but the
majority stood gaping wide open,
whence the terrified occupants had
fed just as they were.
In passing one of these Charlie had
a glimpse of a lady, richly attired,
bending over an open trunk, evidently
seeking to lay hold of her precious
jewel boxes ere flying.
Mayhap they cost her what all the
jewels from Cleopatras day to this
could not replace-life.
Once a woman had seized upon him
-crazed by fear. she clutched him as
a drowning man might a straw.
Charlie could not have his mission
jeopardized by such detention-he
was compelled to break away, shout
ing at the same time for her to go to
the stairs and descend while the
chance remained. God only knew
how long this golden opportunity
might be held out to them, for the
greedy flames were making hideous
headway and presently the entire
building would be a charnal house.
AL obstacles had thus far been
overcome by his iron will-determin-
ed to reach and save Airline, he had
swept them aside as the March wind
whirls the dust out of its path.
But the end was not.
One barrier remained
Charlie suspected It not until the
thing burst upon him, sudden and un-
expected as lightning from the clear
sky overhead.
Again a OBTAINING hand.
This time it brought his forward
movement to a complete stop, and
he realized there was something more
serious in the detention than when
the poor groveling chambermaid had
clutched his knees.
1t was a man; through the haze he
had seen his presence without pay
ing the least attention % him, and
now the fellow, probably as terrified
as the women. frantically clung to
him.
ITO the stairs or the fire escaped
let go!" shouted Charlie, and when
the other laughed with devilish glee
in his ear Stuart turned his head to
see close to his own the face of the
bogus Capt Brand, transformed by
passion into the countenance of a
fiend.
Was it accident or deep design that
brought Macauley to this floor of the
hotel at such a tragical moment?
When Charlie felt that grip on his
arm and looked into the maddened
orbs of the ogre, he seemed to realize
that a great crisis in his life had
arrived.
The stake was Arline's love.
This man might be innocent or
guilty of murderous design, but ap-
pearances were nightly against him.
His manner indicated as plainly as
words; This far shall you come and
no farther"
Instinct warned Charlie to prepare
for the worst, to throw himself into
position that was aggressive even
while defensive.
1t was a wise precaution, for the
other, even while he continued to
glare malevolently into his face, sud
denly threw himself upon Stuart
AS he expected, Charlie found Ma
cauley a man gifted with tremendous
muscular power. Like trained ath
letes, the two men whirled around,
each seeking the downfall of the