The American Marquis by Nick Carter — page 65: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE AMERICAN MARQUIS. 61 ‘¢ Fire! fire!’ came a widden. hoarse cry. Clinton shook himself, as if to throw off the sea of passion in which he had been plunged. More cries, and a confused sound of hurrying feet. Clinton listened. Probably the hotel was on fire. Well,” he smiled, grimly, “« fate points the way. Let the fire come. 1 will wait for it.” He sat down by the window, and calmly looked ott: The red flames must have already burst out. Clinton could see crowds of people, in night raiment, hurrying to and fro on the lawn in front. here seemed to be few or no facilities for meeting the fire-fiend. Kvery man giving vain orders, every woman and child screaming. Mothers crying for children, given in charge of hired nurses; children crying for nurses. Panic and confusion. Clinton smiled bitterly, and never moved. Then a ‘ten-— der thought filled his heart. ‘““Ah, Grace, my darling! You will never know that my last thoughts were of you. Would I could have lived to make you happy! But that may not be. Fate has other- wise ordained. My blessing be with you, and may you. live Ah! but will she live? Great Heaven! she, too, isin danger! Dog that you are! Besotted in self! Calmly talking of dying when she may be in all the agonies of fear and danger!” It may be believed that Clinton did not sit still and deliver this apostrophe to himself. The moment the thought of danger came to him, he sprang from his seat, and plunged down stairs. hrough flames, smoke, and burning timbers, he rushed. He knew her rooms well. He must first 20 out in order _ to reach them. Out he darted into the night air; into the pandemo- nium there. Nothing of this did he see or feel. Fiercely on he flew to the stair-way leading to her rooms. ‘Ah, D’Iberri! have you seen Grace?” It was Alphonse. comicbooks ( & @ } m