The Irish standard., 1908-04-25

hand and lowered his tone. Dearest,
l can't control my time. Mr.. Crocker
has requested me-that's command
Of course-to show Miss Hamilton
about, amuse her till we return"
"We?" questioned Stella wistfully,
dropping pearls and combs into her
pocket.
Yes; go back to Sacramento with
then tomorrow. To-day we are to go
over some of the grading. You must
go with US, though l shall have to pay
more attention to"
"oh, no! Don't ask me. I'd rather
stay"
stella, want you to meet these
people, wish to have them know you.
| They are men you must know and
meet often, if-if our hopes come true.
Besides, Miss Hamilton is the only
woman; the others are officials and
capitalists Mr.. Crocker is entertain.
ing. 1t will be much pleasanter for
her If you go. Will you?"
Stella hesitated. Not for the reason
that Alfred had asked her to. play
second fiddle" but because the vision
of a small woman in neat travelling
garb following Sally B. upstairs did
not increase Stellas confidence in her.
self. A sudden feeling that she sus.
pected was resentment astonished her.
She found herself angry because this
self-assured woman had invaded her
own domain. She took herself sharply
in hand. Was this the way she should
treat Alfred? Refuse his every re.
quest? 'I'll go because you wish 1t,
Alfred" she said heartily.
Miss Hamilton entered. looking very
trim and At in her cool, blue linen
gown, with hat, parasol and furbelow
in harmony. She acknowledged the
introduction prettily, bowing 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 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 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 IL
they had been friends for years? Stel.
la shot 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 stocped
to gather up wrappings and boxes, and
her wistful look from the doorway
was unanswered because Miss Hamil-
ton had impressed Alfreds eyes and
fingers to her service.
Dear me, Mr.. Vincent! One Of my
shoe buttons is unfastened. Will you
lend me your button-hook? 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
I 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 willing teacher.
Where in the world did you find
enough men? Now many have you,
: Mr.. Vincent? A million?" She looked
up bewitchingly; and Alfred was not
1mpervious to the subtle flattery that
for the moment invested him with the
dignity of the owners and captains
of the road.
He smiled. I'VE have just one two
hundred-and-fiftieth OF that million,
Miss Hamilton We wish we had
/ more. We're going to have more, IL
| we have to steal them"
Miss Hamilton admired the con-
f1dence in his words.
We've more than 1000 horses and
carts; and a $4,000 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 a rock that jutted into the path.
They're afraid of drill and powder" :"
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 nnrrou crook od