Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1902-08-28
Copyright 1901. Street and Smith. New York,
CHAPTER XIV.
A Battle of Giants.

Some of the most frantic lowered
at the windows, as though ready to
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 little judgment
and GOODNESS; 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 ne first found her.
What a trayesty of fate such a
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 Cleopatra's 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
Roadway and presently the entire
building would be a charnal house
All obstacles had thus far been
overcome by his iron will--determin,
cd ~ raarh opd oaya wilma ba bod
swept them aside as the March wind
whirls the dust out of it's path.
But the end was not.
; One barrier remained.
Charlie suspected u 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 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 to him, and
now the fellow, probably as terrified
as the women, frantfcally chung to
him.
ITO the stairs or the fire escape!
let go!" shouted Charlie, and wheI
the other laughed with devilish gleC
in his ear Stuart turned his head Il
see close to his own the face of the
bogus Capt Brand, transformed by
passion into the countenance of {
tiend.
Was it accident or deep design thai
brought Macauley to this floor of thC
hotel at such a tragical moment?
When Charlie felt that grip on his
arm and looked into the maddeneC
orbs of the ogre, he seemed to realize
that a great crisis in his life haC
arrived.
The stake was Arline's love.
This man might be innocent o.
guilty of murderous design, but ap
pearances were nightly against him
His manner indicated as plainly al
words: This far shall you come ant
no farther"
Instinct warned Charlie to prepar
for the worst, to throw himself into I
position that was aggressive ever
while defensive.
It was a wise precaution, for tn,
other, even while he continued 4
glare malevolently into his face, sud
denly threw himself upon Stuart.
AS he expected, Charlie found Ma
cauley a man gifted with tremendou
muscular power. Like trained ath
letes, the two men whirled around
each seeking the downfall of tn,
other.
To Charlie each second meant {
closer approach of doom, while wit
the other the passage of time brough
savage satisfaction, as his base plan
grew nearer realization.
Charlie retracted a step mastering
every atom of power in his muscula
frame for the storm which he mean
TO spring upon the already gloatini
enemy.
Macauley was drunk with the sue
cess that had seemed to be alread,
within his grasp.
He thus could be taken off hi
guard, and once in retreat, complet
rout must follow.
So sudden was the attack, so over
whelming in its resistless energy tina
the ogre fell back in confusion, hard
ly knowing just how to meet ST
strange a rally.
And Stuart followed it up--he knew
full well that what was worth doinl
at all was worth doing well.
He was bent on ending the struggl
then and therein order to do 81
most effectively he let out still an
other kink, and surprised his enem.
with succession of tricks that com
pleted his utter decentralization.