The Forrest City times., 1908-10-30

Put 1t hasn't. Those people ars rushing right along. regardless O | Uncle Sans disapprovsl."
 Our folks surprised those U. P ! chaps some, I expect, when we caught | up with their west section of grade. What possessed the Union Pacific peo- | pie to begin grading as far west as l Humboldt Wells? They're poor cal. cElators." ,"
 There's a secret about that. sir. | Did MT. Crocker never tell you of MT. | Gregory's understudy?" 1 "Understudy? What of him?"
 Last autumn. when our people were i begging along near Winnemucca. a ! stranger came to Gregory wishing to study railroading at it's latest and ! best; said he was contemplating an ] Oregon enterprise; completely fooled ! the old man"
 Fooled Gregory" The judges laugh shook him as craft tossed by a high wind.
 Yes sir The fellow was [. P. ] SPY. He went back by way of San ! Francisco and the Isthmus. and told his people We couldn't get to Salt Lake before T. You should have heard Gregory's remarks. Good for indigestion. a
 But how came the spy to be so out Uf reckoning?' asked the judge. grin. ming aRpreciatively.
 Passed his calculations on the Pal isade tunnel. That would have taken a good year"
 And our folks changed their minds and walked around it. Bully! What does Gregory say now?"
 "Oh. that's history to him. He's busy driving his white men and Chinese like modern Pharaoh"
 By hokey! It was lucky for US, that brag Durrant made"
 +Durrant?" Alfred questioned ab sently. His mind was wandering with Stella in the past, her memory yividly aroused by Mrs. Harmon's description of her protegee.
 Yes Didn't you hear of t? Vice President Durrant of the Union Pacific telegraphed Stanford this: If we lay any track on your grading we'll pay you for your grading. If you lay any on ours We won't charge you a cent Well get them on that deal
 Yes. sir; and it's lucky for us that ownership terminates where the Iron meets instead of where the grades meet" ."
 Iron. That's the keynote. I wish We could act on Gregory's wish and get iron out across the Isthmus"
 It would be like spiking down silver track, Alfred said wonderingly.
 You bet, But we're making rail. road for 1.ooo years Every mile we build now will in time pay for Isthmus- packed iron-yes, for silver track
 Alfred nodded, but was silent.
 Toy, yelvet-footed, and exquisite In his walters garb. came to the door. aMissee Harmon likee sse judge. Mistee Vincen' in pa1ah," ss said softly
 The judge rose slowly and fi2red the cigar ashes from his coat. Good bye, comfort Come on, boy. Shes th. general, you know
 In the parlor Alfred was barely tn troduced to the other guests when through the hall archway Miss An thony appeared. He stopped in the middle of speech and stared open mouthed. It was Stella.
 He took quick step forward. but halted. This was not his Stella She dwelt only in memory, in the far. fra. grant mountains His long, fruitless search for her flashed upon him. his months, years of longing Surely she had not wished to be found. He looked again at the stately woman before him. No, no; this was not his Stella.
 Esther's entrance had immediately focused attention Alfred was glad that his perturbation had thus gone unnotieed. He took shelter behind a pillar and eeYertly followed her move ments.
 She was taller than before. hs thought; and she carried herself regal. ". Her gown was white; and save me crimson rose dropping from her halr, the rich dress was relieved only by a string of priceless pearls. the most beautiful Alfred had ever seen.
 Guests went forward to meet her. till she was encircled. Turning thi. way and that to make her replies. Al. fred fancied she sent a fieeting glance his way But before there vas time Tor further speculation din-ar vas announced; and in the slight confusion of finding partners, Esther passing looked at him without recognition.
 (TO BE CONTINUEDp