Rocky Ford enterprise., 1902-10-24
CHAPTER XVI

| while II ohered certain chances OF sue
cess. at the same time entailed con
tinusd risk.
There was q wing where the hre dit
not as yet appear to have secured Z
foothold.
II they could but reach that section
which would be the last to feed the
flames. apparently. their escape wai
almost certainty.
Accordingly Charles hrst 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 on directly
toward the quarter where relief
seemed to hold out hope.
The smoke niied II almost to suifo'
cation. and his heart misgayo him as
he caught a fieeting glimpse Of lurid
glow through the haze. that warned
him tho fire demon was working even
In this quarter. sparinG nothing.
Tho smoke grew moro dense-it
seemed to almost paraiyxe his very
brain: his eyes smarted and burned
as though scared with red.hot irons:
his senses rceled. yet. with the indom.
liable pluck of n true soldier. he
pressed srimiy on. sheltering Airline
rs well as he could with the cloak she
wore. and which proved n blessing In
more ways than had entered into his
reasoning at the time ho first clasped
IL 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 orieai-:hat an oasis lay be.
yond. the pure air of heaven awaited
them. once they passed the barrier.
Hs was weak aad tottering himself.
from tho effect of hlS exertions and
tho pungent smoke. that many times
ovcrcomcs daring IRE iaddIes m they
venture n trifie too far-and yet hs
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
nrms and staggcr on through the
biladIng. choking smoke.
At first she struggled. but when
hc prcffei her more ficrccly to his
heart Ehc lay passive.
Staggering alone iiko a drunken
man. Charlie cndcavored to pass the
RubIcon-that SPOT whcro tho sullcn
glow wah now continuous. and In
which he was presently to bo cngulfcd.
Just Mt tho critical spot. where the
flames were bcarin. down alon. an.
other passage. ho sank heavily TO the
tioor.
Was this tho crd7
Had his brave fight come to nausht?
In thn, dread moment. when defeat
stared him In the face. his heart nj.
mes; broke.
Airline had meanwhile struggled out
OF his aTmN. for abe had gone down
with him.
"oh. Charlie. what shall do7" shc
cried. In her Wild alarm and distress.
for the sea OF flame appeared no very
close that Il Eecncd aA though the
dread crisis were upon them.
Fly. fy! Yondcr lies safety" ho
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 yoG-I can't leave you herc!"
shc HohSod. bending down to put her
arms about his neck.
''You must, There iE no hope for
me, II can will crawl on: but you
-muBt-Ho! God forbid We should
both perish here! Kiss me. airline.
and GOT
mo. mol could not! Do not ask
mc,"
'It is my desire: make haste Or
oh. Heaven. Il Is even now too lnte!"
M n tongue OF fame shot across the
passage beyond.
Airline gave n shrick.
She frightened her hold upon him:
desperation gave her strength. for she
dragged the almost scnsclcss man
along toward safety.
Guardian angels must have held
back thosc cruel fanss until they had
passed the fatal place, for hardly were
they beyond than. with "a rush and n
roar. the abyss OF FIRE swallowed up
the spot where Charlie had been over
come.
Still sho dragged him along. Love
gave her power she had never known
before: under its magical influence
weakliBgs become strong as lions and
perform prodigics OF valor.
Through the smoke. almost over.
powered by Its awful fumes. she went.
All, were those shouts just ahead?
She shrieled aloud. and heard answer.
ing cries. CHEEKY cries that gave her
new hope. new ambition.
Then gigantic figures loomed up be-
yond, and airline swooned at the feet
OF the fircmen. who picked both of
them UP in kindly arms and bore
them into the fresh air.
Two hours later Charlie. sadly dc.
moraliEed so far as looks went, with
bloodshot eyes, singed mustache. sans
a 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 room in 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