Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1908-11-12

road viii delay them; I'm glad 0:
that"
But it hasn't. Those people arc
rushing right along. regardless of
Uncle Sans disapproval."
Our folks. surprised those U. P.
chaps some, l 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
Humboldt Wells? They're poor cal
culators."
There's a secret about that, sir.
Did Mr.. Croker never tell you of Mr..
Gregory's understudy?"
"Understudy? What of him?"
Last autumn, when our people were
pegging along near Winnemucca, a
stranger came to Gregory wishing to
study r%ailroading at its latest and
best; said he was contemplating an
Oregon enterprise; completely fooled
the old man."
Fooled Gregory" The judges laugh
shook him as a craft tossed by a high
wind.
"Yes, sir. The fellow was a U. P.
spy. He went back by way of San
Francisco and the Isthmus, and told
his people WI couldn't get to Salt
Lake before II. You should have
heard Gregory's remarks. Good for
indigestion"
But how came the spy to be so out
of reckoning?" asked the Judge, grin.
ming appreciatively.
Based 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 a modern Pharaoh"
by hockey! 1t was lucky for us, that
brag Durrant made
"Durrant?" Alfred questioned alb.
sently. His mind was wandering with
Stella in the past, her memory wildly
aroused by Mrs. Harmon's description
OF her protegee.
Yes. Didn't you hear of it? Vice
President Durrant of the Union Pacific
telegraphed Stanford this: If we lay
any track on your grading Wen pay
you for your grading. If you lay any
on ours we won't charge you a cent
Wen 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."
1T would be like spiking down silver
track" Alfred said wonderingly.
You bet! But we're making rail
road for 1000 years! Every mile we
build now will in time pay for Tsthmus-
packed iron-yes, for silver track"
Alfred nodded, but was silent.
Toy, v~elvet-footed, and exquisite in
his walters garb, came to the door.
"Missee Harmon likee see Judge,
Mistee Vincen' in palah," he said
softly.
The judge rose slowly and Tipped
the cigar ashes from his coat. Good
bye, comfort. Come on, boy. Shes the
general, you know"
In the parlor Alfred was barely in.
troduced to the other guests when
through the hall archway Miss An
thony appeared, He stopped in the
middle of a speech and stared open
mouthed. 1t was Stella!
He took a 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
unnoticed. He took shelter behind a
pillar and covertly followed her move.
ments.
She was taller than before, he
thought; and she carried herself regal.
ly. Her gown was white; and save
the crimson o dropping from her
hair, 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 this
way and that to make her replies, Al.
fred fancied she sent a fleeing glance
his way. But before there was time
for further speculation, dinner was
announced; and in the slight confusion
finding partners, Esther, passing,
looked at him without recognition.
(To BE CONTINUED.)
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