The Lamar register., 1902-07-30

rupted by loud ana excited voices
from the corridor.
Could this have aught to do with
the anticipated coming of the enemies
for whom Jones looked? If the count
and his rabble had invaded the hotel
and were searching for him, they
would no doubt discover him in time.
Just when he had figured this out
some one pounded vigorously on his
door and shouted in French:
1.-THE house is on fire. save yourself.
monsieur"
Then Merrick threw aside the mac
tion that had been weighing him
down-when necessity demanded
prompt movement he would be found
in the van.
He snatched the door open.
Some smoke drifted in promptly
at least there was good evidence to
prove the presence of fire.
All the while pandemonium was in
creasing. shrieks and shrill French
exclamations joining with gruffer
male voices in mad chorus.
Come" said Merrick. this looks
serious. | shall have to take a hand in
the game"
He was very cool, perhaps because
he was brave and sensible. and had
fought for his very life with the fire
demon ere now.
The holocaust of a previous year.
when scores of Partisan society lead
er perished in the awful Charity Ba-
zaar conhagration. was fresh in the
minds OF these frightened people, and
added to their terror.
Merrick calmly locked Jones apart
ment and put the key in his pocket.
The smoke was becoming thicker.
and figure after figure went lurching
and plunging toward the stairs, where
possible safety lay.
Merrick could easily have made his
escape, but somehow this thought did
not seem to have presented itself 20
him while there were still others in
danger.
Some heroic souls at such times al
ways think for those whom fright
has rendered incapable of using their
own bairns-a fact that does human
nature credit.
He entered upon a systematic ex
animation of each room. and managed
to start several upon the road to
safety.
1t was work that just suited his
nature-he delighted in cheating the
fire demon out of his contemplated
victims. for he and the monster were
old enemies.
Rapidly. then. he made the tour of
the floor. and left not room un
searched.
This had taken time. and the smoke
had gathered in almost suffocating
clouds. SO that Merrick on his way to
the stairs. ran zigzag across the hall.
back and forth. in order that he might
not miss any unfortunate one who
should have sunk down overpowered
by the choking fumes.
That was happy thought, an in
spiration born of genius. and all his
life Mark Merriok found cause to
bless the moment in which he had
conceived such master stroke.
For he had not covered more than
half the distance when he came upon
one such unfortunate lying in a heap
and almost helpless.
1t was impossiblbe to see. but Mer-
rick put down his hands and immedi-
ately felt the face and long hair of
a woman.
She Immediately caught hold of
but was too weak.
Can you walk" he shouted in
French.
ALAS. l have sprained my ankle.
fear" came the reply close to his
ear.
Merrick did not hesitate.
He knew there was only one way
to get her to place of safety, and
that was by carrying her.
So without a word of apology he
suddenly swept her up in his arms,
and was thankful to discover that she
turned out to be rather diminutive in
size-a woman of perhaps a hundred
pounds.
Put your arms around my neck"
he said.
The noise below was still fearful,
but she heard him evidently, for she
obeyed without hesitation.
Thus he proceeded toward the stair
way.
Apparently they were the last ones
on that floor, all the others having
made good their escape.
An unpleasant surprise awaited
Merrick. for, upon reaching the stair
way, he found that the fire was there
ahead of him.
Some men would have been demora
lized, but with him opposition only
served to arouse new thoughts and
plans.
He remembered there was a second
stairway. used by the domestics per-
haps-this might offer him the safety
tho fret refueed