The Democrat-sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1906-1935, 1908-04-02

ly and taking Stellas hand.
Dear me, Miss Anthony! How dc
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 a jun
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 Hamllton's sincerity, and re-
piled hesitatingly.
Alfred came to her rescue. 1--WE
shall start in few minutes VIII you
be ready and join us here? Well walt
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 II
they had been friends for years? Stel
la shot glance at Alfred, but he gave
no sign of surprise.
In 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. VIII you
lend me your button-hook? oh, per
haps you'll" She put out her pretty
foot.
Stella, when she closed the door All
the way upstairs she thought of the
little scene below. Wide as was the
gull 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,
Mr. Vincent? million?" 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. "We have just one two
hundred d-and-fiftieth of that million,
Miss Hamilton. We wish we had
more. We're going to have more, if
we have to steal them"
Miss Hamilton admired the con-
fidence in his words
We've more than 1000 horses and
carts; and $25 200 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, them" she asked, glancing down
from rock that jutted into the path.
They're afraid of drill and powder, y
Alfred replied to the question.
They were on the grade now, creep
ing around the shoulder of 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 its tortu-
GUS way to the ocean.
AS they came to 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.
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
dizzying 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 a
narrow path around to the grade"
Got plenty of engines, Crocker?"
one of the visitors asked.
six engines and over 100 cars"
Mr. Crocker replied proudly, "and 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
shivered "Oh, how terrifying"
''Mr. Crocker forgot TO mention our
powder car" Alfred added.
Powder carr" she repeated, Sure.
ly Pluto and Proserpina will arrive to-
gether when powder rattles over this
hot, rocky spot. Do you think it is
so very far to-to-Tartarus?" She
said.
But you never heard of a powder
car like ours; it is iron-doored and rub.
ber-tired" Alfred explained. And
we're surely deceiying their majestles
of hades, since the work at Summit
tunnel goes on ceaselessly, eating our
right of way six feet a day and night,
through the heart of the Sierras."
"Oh, yesl Uncle Charley's very
iubilant about that tunnel-indeed,
about the splendid way all the work
goes on"