On a stand was a tele phone with phonograph attachment, whence ran a line along the top of a stock fence to j the county seat, forty miles distant. He ; could call up the Missouri River, Galveston, i ' or St. Louis ; or lie back in an easy chair | and have the phonograph tell him "of the day's doings in New York or London, or j listen to the latest opera in Omaha. He : I would have no trouble in following the race •' \ to the Rockies. The shadows were but half dispelled in the great trunk line round house by a hun dred twinkling incandescent lights. The ' night was clear and beautiful, and across the water the stars were seemingly refketed in New York. The foreman came into the buUding reluctantly. A caller ran toward him, shouting, and he hastened his steps. '■ He lifted the telephone receiver to his ear ' and was surprised to hear the voice of the ; Superintendent of the Motive Power and j Machinery. j \ "What's the fastest engine in?" J ''1567—the hostler has just finished with her." ; 'All right—have ready in thirty minutes : to take out special; send down" to yard, where Webb will take charge. Have fit for the run of her life." It was 11.30 p.m., Eastern time, and at that moment a wiper in a round house over in the metropolis was being vigorously '"jacked-up" for not using more haste with Engine 2s o. 1111; for there was another special to be run that night, and along two great arteries of commerce were flying terse and vigorous messages aoout rights of specials, passing points, and elastic .. schedules. | Through friendly eastern connections the two messages were already beginning to bear fruit. : 1 These plays on the chess-board were swift, I but silent; everywhere was secrecy impera tively commanded, vet, at 3 a.m.* an order waa "shouted through the speaking tube to

the press room of a great .New York daily to hold the first edition for important rail road news. Next morninjjjJJew York awoke and read in staring headlines of the begin- , ning of the race. 