Marble Hill press., 1902-08-20

correct, OF II be had deceived himself.
There was great relief when he
found that passage led on directly
toward the quarter where relisi
seemed 70 hold out hope. b
The smoke filled Il almost to susfo.
Gallon, and his heart miueaye him a.
20 eaueht q iieetine glimpse Of 4 Iurld
glow through the haze. that warned
him the ilre demon wAs working even
IN this quarter. sparlng nothing.
The smoke grew more dense--ls
seemed TO almost parhlyro his very
brain; his eyes smarted and burned
e. though scared with rod,hot irons:
bis senses reeled. yet. with the inlom.
table pluck Of q true soldier. he
pressed grimiy on. sheltering Airline
a. wen AZ he could with the cloak she
were. and which proved q bleasia, IA
more ways than had entered into his
reasoning At the time hs nrut claspod
Il about her. M
Every yard which they covered
brought them closer to their goal,
where doubtless friendly hands waited
70 bear them down 10 safety.
This was the hope that sustained
Charlie IN the midst Of all this des-
perate ordeal-that m oasis lay be
yond, the pure air Of heaven awaited
them, once they passed the barrier.
He was weak and totterins himself.
from the effect OF his oxertions and
the pungent smoke, that many times
overcomes daring Gre laddies as they
venture tribe 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 fercely 10 his
heart she lay passive.
Rtaggerlng alone like drunken
man, Charlie endeavored to pass the
Rubieou-that SPOT where the suilen
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 nght come TO naughty
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.
"0h. Charlie, what shall dor she
cried. in her wild alarm and distress,
for the sea Of fame appeared 50 very
close that II seemed as though the
dread crisis were upon them.
"Flyl ny! Yonder lies safetyly 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 herel"
she sobbed. bending down 10 put her
arms about his neck.
"You mustl There Is no hope for
mel n can will crawl on; but you
--must-go! God forbid we should
both perish here! Kiss me, Airline,
and gol"
mo. mol could mott Do not ask
mel"
1T is my desire; make haste Or
Oh, Heavenl It is even now too latel"
as tongue Of fame shot across the
passage beyond.
Airline gave shrek.
She frightened her hold upon him;
desperation gave her strength, for abe
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 q rush and a
roar, the abyss OF fire swallowed up
the spot where Charlie had been over.
come.
Still she dragged him along. Love
gave her a 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 went.
Ahl we're those shouts just ahead?
She shrieked 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 flremen, who picked both OF
them up in kindly arms and bore
them into the fresh air.
Two hours later Charlie, sadly de.
morallzed 30 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 room In q 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 80 severely as her lover, but 70
Charles ravished eyes she had never
looked 30 charming % when she held
out both hands to him, while blushes
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 q proprietary right.
II echo your words. my darling;
and | venture to say | am the only
man In New York to whom that fear.
ful fire brought good luck" =,
sAh! but you richly earned all that
and more you who fought % des-
perately to save me. Where would 4
be now only for you? Oh. Charliei"
bursting into food of tears, as she
remembered how he had swept into
her room and taken possession OF her,
leading her through devious ways at
last to safety and life.
"And who was 1t dragged me away
from the hungry NAV Of the flames
when they seemed sure of their prey?
All. my dear girl. the honors are pret-
ty nearly even, 1t seems to me! We
belong to each other. and Heaven give