The Red Cloud chief., 1902-07-25

avalanche Of roaring fire at the Earth
or end.
Charlie led her directly toward II.
yet she trusted him implicitiy-it was
a glorious symbol OF the power he
was to exercise in all time to come.
If so he they escaped with their lives.
The stairs at last.
Another minute and II might have
been too hazardous to attempt a de.
scent-but hat small space of timo
has won kingdoms ere now.
Down one fiight-that much was
saved them at any rate, even should
the worst happen
When they started upon the second
descent. II was like running the
gauntlet: fingers of fire stretched out
yearningly toward them, and one even
came SO close that Airline ~involuntar.
lily uttered a scream. thinking Char.
lie. who had thrust his body on that
side. was doomed.
This narrow escape told him that
1t would be utterly impossible to make
any further use of the stairway In
advancing their cause. since below 1t
was wreathed in flames.
Their only course was to retreat
from the fire as far as possible. and
there await rescue or provide for it
through their own ingenuity.
Still they heard the shrieks of fear.
distracted women, covering in cor.
ners or rushing wildly through the
corridors calling for the help that
could nev reach them.
Such a scene of horror must haunt
n while life lasts. so fraught with
human suffering and the utter ina.
bility to render aid.
He had not calculated wrongly;
while the smoke remained more dense
than ever, the danger of immediate
fire was not so great, although he saw
it pushing toward them from three
separate and distinct quarters, as
though closing in upon its victims.
An open window at the end OF the
hall was Charles objective point.
He had hopes of discovering there
the iron ladder that would enable
those who had the nerve to grasp its
ouiiuS W 'lop w Sdi'ty DtIOW.
Alas! disappointment awaited him.
keen and cutting, since there was no
such ven of escape provided in
this quarter.
II was a dizzy distance down to the
street, and only a maddened brain
could conceive the idea Of leaping out
into space.
Charlie leaned out to survey the
situation.
Immediately a car of warning arose
from thousands of throats below,
while arms waved him back, doubtless
under the belief that he meant to
take the mad plunge.
He was not quite reduced to such
an insane policy-his resources had
not yet been exhausted.
Charlie had his bearings now-he
remembered the lay of the land
surely there must be a better chance
of escape in the rear.
Turning into another corridor, which
led in the desired quarter, he pushed
on. Airline chung to his arm with
whitened face and eyes that reflected
the IoIIoI VI HeT SOUL, Out, IHdHk
Heaven! as yet her steps did not fal.
ter, nor did she give any signs of
collapse. while his great courage re.
NAMED to buoy her soul up.
The situation grew more intense
with every passing second, and Char
lie knew all too well that unless for
tune speedily gave them an opening
it would be too late, since the fire was
now sweeping with remorseless fury
over the main portion of the doomed
structure.
Charlie Stuart knew he had to solve
the profile moi his existence, as well
as that Of the gentle being who clung
so eagerly to his arm.
No mar was ever better equipped
for the fray.
He had everything TO urge him on
to superhuman efforts - Astounding
life, with all that means to n healthy
young man, and. besides. the knOwl-
edge that he was beloved by the girl
to whom his heart had gone out.
Yes. II ever a man had reason to
strive with might and main for vic
tory, 1t was Charlie Stuart.
Manfully he met the requisition.
ITO be continued.)