The Coalville times. [volume] (Coalville, Utah) 1894-1923, 1903-05-08
Copyright 1901. Stree. and smith. New York.
CHAPTER XIV.
a Battle OF Giants.

plunge through space II the worst
came.
They were crazod for the time be.
ing and could not be- blamed.
Many precious life went out that
fatal day. that might have been saved
by the exercise Of a little judgment
and GOODNESS: for Of all the attributes
which mortal man inhcrlts or ac.
quires these prove the richest legacy
in such time Of actual panic
Having taken his bearings. and
discovered which way the numbers
ran, Charlie started upon what he Dee.
lieved was the last leg OF his course.
Now he must speedily realize the
worst; n he came upon Arllne's rooms
and found thcm empty hc would
know she was somewhere about tho
intricate passages lost and facing
death, as when ne llrst found her.
What a trayosty OF fate such
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 shrleks; already
the greedy fire fiend had cut OF many
from escape and ycarned to encom.
pass their destruction
Some doors were closed. but tho
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 n lady, richly attlred.
bending over an open trunk. evidently
seeking TO lay hold Of her precious
Jewel boxes ere flying.
Mayhap they cost her what al the
Jewels from Cleopatra's day to this
could not replace-llfe.
Once a woman had seized upon him
--crazod by fear. she clutched him as
a drowning man might straw.
Charlie could not have his mission
1eopardized by such detention-he
was compelled to break away. shout.
ing at tho same time for her to 80 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 we're making hideous
headway and presently the entire
building would be a charnal house.
All obstacles had thus far been
overcome by his iron wlll-determin.
cd TO reach and save airline, he had
swept them aside as the March wind
wh.rls the dust out OF It's path.
But the end was not.
Ono barrier remained.
Charlie suspected 4 not until the
thing burst upon him. sudden and un.
expected as lightning from the clear
sky overhead.
Again n detnining hand.
This time II brought his forward
movement 10 complete stop. and
he realized there was something moro
serious In the detention than when
the poor groveling chambermaid had
clutoued his knees.
II wac 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, frantIcaly chung to
him.
ITO the stairs or the fire escaped
let gol" shouted Charlie, and when
the other laughed with deyillsh gloo
in his ear Stuart turned his head to
see close 10 his own the face OF the
bogus Capt Brand. transformed by
passion into the countenance OF
hOnd.
Was II accident or deep design that
brought Macauley to this floor OF the
hotel at such traglcal moment?
When Charlie felt that grip on his
arm and looked into the maddened
orbs OF the ogre. he seemed TO realize
that a great crisis in his life had
arrived.
The stake was Arline's lose.
This man might be- Innocent or
guilty OF murderous design. hut ap-
pearances were nightly against him.
His manner indicated as plainly as
words: This far shall you come and
no farther"
Instinct warned Charlie to prepare
for the worst, TO throw himself into n
position that was aggressive even
while defensive.
Il was a wise precaution for tho
other, even while he continued ~
glare malevolently into his face, sud.
denly threw himself upon Stuart
AS he expected Charlie found Ma.
cauley man gifted with tremendous
muscular power. Like trained ath.
letes, the two men whired around.
each seeking the downfall OF the
other.
To Charlie each second meant
closer approach OF doom, while with
the other the passage Of time brought
savage satisfaction. as his base plans
grew nearer realization.
Charlie retracted step mastering
every atom of power In his muscular
frame for the storm which he meant
to spring upon the already gloating
enemy.
Macauley was drunk with the sue
cfa that had seemed 70 be already
within bis grasp,
ne thu could be taken on his
gusrl. onf once an retreat complete
rout must follow
So sudden was the attack, so over.
waelming IN It's resistless energy that
the ogre fell back ~ confusion, harl.
ly knowing Just how 10 meet so
strange a rally.
And Stuart followed Il up-he knew
full well that what was worth doing
a. al xyaa worth doInr well