The Forrest City times., 1909-01-01
1 that, merited though it nigh. nav,

that, merited though it night navv been. the reproof his own boot had given had delayed the precious freight. had lost ogden for his con- pany, and 30 miles of road.
 Idle men make no muscle. Gregory knew 1t, and chafed still more, as he fretted about the camp. keeping away from his guests and his anxious-eyed wife. And now the welcome whistle once again. Preparations so carefully made were reinspected. The camp awoke. Idle men stretched themselves: lazy ones respectfully, honest ones glad ly. Buttons, straps, buckles. shoes, hats, tobacco-all were made ready, for every one knew that tomorrow would spare no moment for broken gear. for long ing tongues.
 To the very tip-end of the last rail the construction train had been pushed. the iron train close behind 1t, and iron dropped in piles beside the track. when both trains had backed to the rear. The little. low car that moved the iron was loaded; every foreman charged his gang, looked after his tools; every man set his teeth for to- morrow's work.
 Long before daylight the camp was aroused. The cooks calls followed quickly, and breakfast was taken a. gulp. With the first dawn-glow that could show a hammer head where to find spike, the ringing racket began. Men on the trot pushed the little iron car-little, yet how heayyt-back and forth over the newly laid rails. drop- ping fresh supply at the track end, each time the previous load had been spiked few rods to the eastward.
 Another footing of whistles, and the trains moved up. The rails rang loud upon one another as they fell to the ground, half mile ahead of the morn ing camp. The foremen urged, en- couraged, inspected, hurried. Faster and faster the rails dropped into place, Blow upon blow, spikes and bolts were driven home. And so on through the hot, late April day Every boss was alert Every man did his best; perhaps was sworn at for not doing better. Only Bennett, calm, un- hUrrying, held his men to their task with neither curses nor bluster; and Bennett's gang had the brunt of the fray.
 :. Mrs. Gregory and her guests watched unwearyingly the great work drama unfold; the miles. rail by rail, banded together in the glorious iron way. At what cost was it donel Yet how great was the result,
 'Is it always so?" Esther asked looking up at Alfred. Must the road to great achievements be always by way of the sweat of the face, the hearts blood?"
 His look was tender, eomprehendiag Are they not worth the cost?"
 Yes. yes; I must believe they gre" Yet she turned away, her eyes blrrred with tears. She was thinking Of Gid con alone under his posies
 Dinner was a farce for time. if not for quantity. And all the afternoon men with pails and dippers marched up and down the sweating line, sery- ing to the thirsty incredible quantl. ties of warm brackish water that was nectar to the sweating men.
 short pause for supper. and at lt again. Night came on, and a taoon. Eastward they could see the camp. fires of their oncoming rivals They answered with their own huge lon. fires, built to reinforce Luna's pals ray
 On and on. hour after hour; thers was no talking. not even the desultoIy interjections of the day. CT the raucoue orders of the foremen. Muscles moved automatically. Hammers struck as rhythmically, but more slowly. Each man bent to his task with grim endur- ance, too weary to protest. Some sark down and were allowed to crawl away.
 All day Gregory, pale and tense, had ragged up and down the line, directing crying orders far and near, calling for the impossible, often getting the un- expected. He hurried men, scored in. dividuals mathematical tools. earth, iron, heat. He was impatient fiercely eager, yet with 1t all, not far from every honest heart there; for he was fighting for the eompany-and sue cess. Dearer to him it was than any enterprise of his own ever would be The men knew this, and honored him. bore with him. respected kim, for tho achievement. which many declared 10 other man could have made
 In the dead of night, when the air was chill upon wet, weary backs when men were dropping from fatigue, and others, more dogged, were work ing on, praying silently for relief-at last, down the line came Gregory's jubilant cry.
 "Rozeli"