Mexico Missouri message., 1908-09-03

rushing right along. regardless OK
Uncle Sans disapproval."
"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
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 himT'
Last autumn, when our people were
pegglng along near Winnemucca,
stranger came TO Gregory wishing TO
study railroadlng 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 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 we 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 II. 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! II 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 this Union Pacific
telegraphed Stanford this: II we lay
any track on your grading wen pay
you for your grading. II you lay any
on ours We won't charge you 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. 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 Isthmus
packed iron-yes. for silver track"
Alfred nodded. but was silent.
Toy, velvet.footed. and exquisite II
his walters garb, came to the door
"MIssee Harmon likee see Judge
Mistee Vincen' in pa'lah," he salt
softly.
The Judge rose slowly and hlppet
the cigar ashes from his coat. Good
bye, comfort. Come on. boy. She's tn,
general, you know"
In the parlor Alfred was barely in
troduced to the other guests whel
through the hall archway Miss An
thony appeared. He stopped In tn
/ middle OF a speech and stared open
l mouthed. II was Stella!
| He took a quick step forward, bu
1 halted. This was not his Stella. Sh
/ dwelt only In memory, in the far, fra
grant mountains. His long, fruitles
search for her flashed upon him, hi
II months, years Of longing. Surely sh
had not wished TO be found. He locke
again at the stately woman before hin
1 No, no; this was not his Stella.
Esther's entrance had immediatel
focused attention. Alfred was gla
that his perturbation had thus gon
unnoticed. He took shelter behind
| pillar and covertly followed her NOV,
ments.
She was taller than before, h
| thought; and she carried herself rega
ly. Her gown was white; and saw
the crimson rose dropping from he
hair, the rich dress was relieved onl
Is. by a string OF priceless pearls. tn
he most beautiful Alfred had ever seen.
d; Guests went forward to meet he
he till she was enclrcled. Turning tn
way and that to make her replies, A
&c. fred fancied she sent Heetlng glanC
nd his way. But before there was tin
for further speculation, dinner va
announced; and In the slight confusio
81 Of finding partners. Esther, passla
tn looked at him without recognition.
TX Cro BE CoNTINUED)