The Coalville times. [volume] (Coalville, Utah) 1894-1923, 1903-05-08
When Charlie Kissed Hel

The flames had been making hid
oous progress while this mad en-
counter took place. and already their
rcd tongues leapod into view at the
further end of the corridor
Charlie was painting like a hunted
stag. hardly able to catch his breath
la that smokc.hurdonod atmosphere
yet. no sooner had he hurled his en-
envy To the floor. and found the coast
clear. than ho started along the hall
way.
Tho numbers on the doors now
stood out plainly enough. thanks 10
tho illumination Afforded by tho
flames. and he knew he was close 10
whore airline might be found.
lie saw the door was closed.
II gave him a shock-thcn she had
not escaped with tho drst.-sho must
still be within her room.
He pouncod upon the knob and
turned Il.
Horrorsl There was no response
the door utterly refused TO give
way, being locked within.
Charlie pounded with his nst upon
the panel.
open the door. Arllnol open, for
Gods sakoi The hotel is on lre!"
Apparently he shouted loud enough
TO arouse the dead. yet no answer
came from beyond.
Stuart knew Of but one resource
left-it was a desperate case. and re-
qulred a desperate remedy.
He raised his foot.
One mighty blow shlyored tho lock
as completely as though a batterlns
ram had been brought TO bear against
It,
The door few open
Nothing barred his progress now,
and with a bound the Briton was in
the room.
Airline lay upon Turkish lounge
the crash of the door had done what
all else had failed to accomplish, for
she had just raised her head and was
staring at him with eyes dilatlng In
horror as they discovered the whirl
ing clouds OF smoke that curled In
after him.
Charlie ran TO assist the girl e
her feet, at the same time calling:
"The hotel is on FIRE, but be brave
and | viii save you. II possiblel"
His manner Gained her more THAI
all else.
She looked into his face. and al
though her voice trembled. she KEEP
brave front as she said:
Il trust you with my life. Charlie
Tell me what TO do, and God help u
. both"
Brave llttlowomanl That was wha
he thought her then and there-h
had believed II on that former oC
caslon. when she wandered in tn
dark Steen dungeons and passages
and now II was made doubly sure.
II would have been worth somethln
TO Stuart at this critical juncturC
could he have become possessed OF tn
2 valuable information which the falle
= ogre had held regarding the ways an
J means OF reaching a FIRE escape.
As Il was, he found himself cas-
D upon his own resources and compelle
to make a virtue Of necessity.
one thing was absolutely certain
a he could not count on assistance. an
g II they escaped It must be through hi
o persistent and determined work.
o Then, again. he kept before hi
y mind the fact that escape must b
n downward-that flight TO the roc
would only render their lmmolatlo
l the more certain.
Q Each story they could descen
I Nal a..
3 and increase their chances OF beln
d assisted through the medium OF III
9 fire ladders.
d Charlie had taken his bearings
he knew the FIRE had not as yet spren
over the entire building. though n
" smoke must have done 80 ere now.
D. The stairs he had assembled wei
l. still free from flames, though tn
. could not long be said. as they wei
d in jeopardy.
Snatchlng up n cloak which I
e found. he pressed It about Arlln
a Some craze must have been runniT
n riot In his veins at the time for I
her sweet face came close 20 his ov
10 he deliberately kissed her; nor d
NAN ny AhhN VI MhAh NAhAfAA AANl
" was something almost holy IN the n
1T was as though the man wish'
A. her to know the great love that wi
is In his heart before they faced Il
b. dreadful ordeal which might be the
d. destruction. As though he might tn
.e seal his claim upon the woman
adored, even though together tn,
were doomed TO journey toward q
h other world
u Come! Have courage. my darling
rs he said,
Probably few men on earth ha
~ been given 30 strange an opportunl
ar 20 declare their love. and under SUI
ne conditions who could envy Char
" Stuart the brief spasm OF delig
which he experienced, for the fr
o. time he passed his arm about Arlin,
~ waist with a sense Of proprletorsh
Love Is n strong factor in the ra
Ia the girl might have been render
% frantic with fear had she found h
self alone face TO face with 4
'r- threatening destruction, but with I
't strong arm TO lean upon, and I
~ knowledge Of his declared passion
SO sustain her, she could meet the DIRE
issue with courage.
,W And II rpouIrod ali the nerva q