Brent released his grip and leaping to his feet rushed back through the hallway, and up the stairs. A door of thick planking stopped him and upon a hasp he saw a heavy padlock. Jerking the gun from his belt, he placed the muzzle against the lock and pulled the trigger. There was a deafening explosion and the padlock flew open and swung upon its staple.
Dashing into the room, Brent s.n.a.t.c.hed Snowdrift into his arms, and rushed down the stairs. Pausing at the window Claw had smashed, he stood the girl upon her feet, and knocking the remaining gla.s.s from the sash with the b.u.t.t of the gun, he grabbed one of the screaming girls and pitched her into the big snowdrift that ranged along the whole length of the burning building.
It was light as day, now, the flames were leaping high above the roof at the front, and already tongues of red were showing around the doorway at the head of the stairs. A great crowd had collected, and at the sight of the girl"s form hurtling through the air, they surged to the spot.
Spurts of smoke and tiny jet-like flames were finding their way through the cracks of the floor. Brent realized there was no time to lose, and seizing another girl, he pitched her out. Then he took them as they came--big ones and little ones, fully dressed and half dressed, screaming, fighting, struggling to get away--or to be taken next, he pitched them out until only Snowdrift remained.
Lifting her to the window, he told her to jump, and watched to see her light safely in the snow.
Smoke was pouring through the fast widening cracks in the floor. Brent leaped to the window sill. As he stood poised, a section of the floor between himself and Claw dropped through, and a rush of flames shot upward. Suddenly he saw Claw"s arms thrash wildly: "My Gawd!" the man shrieked, "My back"s broke! I"m burnin" up!" The whole floor let go and a furnace of overpowering flame rushed upward as he jumped--almost into the waiting arms of Camillo Bill.
"It"s Ace-In-The-Hole, all right!" yelled the big man, as he grasped Brent"s shoulders, and rocked him back and forth, "An" by G.o.d! _He"s as good a man as he ever was!_"
"Where"s Kitty?" asked Brent, when he could get his breath. "I saw her go down. She stopped Claw"s bullet that was meant for me! And I saw you carry her out!"
"Kitty"s all right," whispered Camillo Bill in his ear, and Brent glanced quickly into the man"s shining eyes. "Jest nicked in the shoulder--an" say--I"ve always wanted her--but she wouldn"t have me--but--now you"re out of the way--I told her all over again how I stood--an" _d.a.m.ned if she didn"t take me_!"
THE END