Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1908-07-29


quest? IN go because you wish it.
Alfred she said heartily.
Miss Hamilton entered, looking very
trim and fit in her cool. blue linen
gown, with hat. parasol and furbelow
in harmony. She acknowledged the
introduction prettily, bowling graceful
ly and taking Stella's hand.
Dear me, Miss Anthony. How do
you manage that exquisite complexion
in this heat and dust? And how can
you look so sweetly serene living here,
where everything is in such jum-
ble?" she ratified on after the first
words of greeting were past.
Stella blushed at the glib compli-
ments. She hated herself for doubt
ing Miss Hamilton's sincerity, and re-
piled hesitatingly.
Alfred came to her rescue. I'VE
shall start in few minutes. Will you
be ready and join US here? Well wait
for you
"Oh, are you going. out to view the
iron track with us, Miss Anthony?
How perfectly splendid. Get ready,
quick, there's a dear
The words were astonishing to Stel-
la. Why did this stranger speak as if
they had been friends for years? Stel-
la shot a glance at Alfred, but he gave
no sign of surprise.
In a vague, masculine way he tried
to send Stella an encouraging glance;
but he missed her eye as she stopped
to gather up wrappings and boxes, and
her wistful look from the doorway
was unanswered because Miss Hamil.
ton had impressed Alfred's eyes and
fingers to her service.
Dear me, Mr.. Vincent, One of my
shoe buttons is unfastened Will you
lend me your button-hooh? Oh, per.
haps you'll" She put out her pretty
foot.
Alfred was on his knee, back to
Stella, when she closed the door All
the way upstairs she thought of the
little scene below. Wide as was the
gulf that separated Sally B. from her
self, she knew the type Miss Hamilton
represented was farther removed.
The coaches arrived and they drove
eastward on the stage road till they
came opposite the selected spot, when
they alighted and climbed to the high.
er railroad grade.
Miss Hamilton took the center of
the stage quite naturally. She wished
to learn, took it for granted that AL
fred would be a willing teacher
Where in the world did you FIND
enough men? Now many have you
MIR. Vincent? A miilion?" She looked
up bewitchingly; and Alfred was not
| impervious to the subtle fiattery that
for the moment invested him with the
dignity of the owners and captains
of the road
He smiled. eve have just one two
hundred-and-fiftieth of that million,
| Miss Hamilton. We wish we had
| more. We're going to have mere, il
we have to steal them"
Miss Hamilton admired the con.
fidence in his words
We've more than 1000 horses and
carts; and 5000 order has just
been placed for more stock and tools"
Are men so hard to get?"
White men are. Cinnamon less
hard"
Why don't you use more China
men, then?" she asked, glancing down
from rock that jutted into the path
They're afraid of drill and powder"
Alfred replied to the question.
They were Oh the grade now, creep
ing around the shoulder CT Cape Horn.
Hundreds of feet above lowered
straight granite walls. Thousands of
feet below, sheer and jagged, the
walls met the foot of the opposite
mountain; and in the narrow, crooked
crack at the bottom the American
river seethed and tumbled it's tortu-
Gus way to the ocean.
AS they came to a point where the
stupendous scene opened fully before
them, Miss Hamilton's gay chatter
ceased. Men hushed their talk of
stocks and bonds, purchase and sale
Stella, too, forgot the blood and flame
in her attire, forgot even Alfred and
his bright companion.
This must be Ossa piled upon
Pelion,' Miss Hamilton said softly,
breaking the long silence She looked
up, and below, trying to measure the
diZzyirg depths.
How ever did they get here first?
And how did they dare insult that rock
monarch with POWDER Miss Ham
ilton's gaze crept up, and up, to the
sky-robed summit.
With ropes. They let men down
from the top, who picked out standing
room; and from that they worked
narrow path around TO the grade
Got plenty of engines, Crocker?"
one of the visitors asked.
six engines and over 100 cars"
Mr.. Croker replied proudly, "a1d as
many more ordered
THAT isn't beginning to enough.
You'll be dropping an engine or a car
over into that gulch every day"
Miss Hamilton closed her eyes and