Once more Tom Reade had brought his work within sight of Lineville. In fact, the track extended all but the last mile of the line. Ties were down nearly all of the way to the terminal station. This was the state of affairs at two o’clock in the afternoon. Before midnight the last rail must be laid, and the first through train from Stormburg must run in. If, at the stroke of midnight, the first train had failed to go through, then the charter of the S.B. & L. would be forfeited and subject to seizure and sale by the state. Up from Denver some of the worst politicians had come. They were quartered at the new little hotel in Lineville. Dave Fulsbee had detailed three of his men covertly to watch these same politicians. Tom, inwardly consumed with fever, outwardly as cheery as human being might be, stood watching the laying of the rails over that last stretch. The men who could be prevented from dropping in their tracks must work until the last rail had been spiked into place. Away up in Lineville Harry Hazelton was personally superintending the laying of the last ties. The honk of an automobile horn caused Tom Reade to glance up. Approaching him was President Newnham, himself driving the runabout that he had had forwarded. “Reade!” called the president of the S.B. & L., stopping his car, and Tom went over to him. “The suspense is over, at last, Reade,” exclaimed Mr. Newnham, smiling broadly. “Look! the road is all but completed. Hundreds of men are toiling. The first train left Stormburg this morning. By seven tonight you’ll have the last rails in place. Between eight and nine this evening the first through train will have rolled into Lineville and we shall have won the fight that has brought me many gray hairs. At last the worry is over!” “Of course, sir,” nodded Tom. “Reade, don’t you really believe that the stress is over---that we shall triumph tonight?” “Of course we shall, sir,” Tom responded. “I have predicted, all along, that we’d have the road through in time, haven’t I?” “And the credit is nearly all yours, Reade,” admitted Mr. Newnham gleefully. “Nearly all yours, lad!” Honk! honk! Unable to remain long at one spot, Mr. Newnham started his car again. Reade felt a depression that he could not shake off. “It’s just the reaction following the long train,” Tom tried to tell himself. “Whew! Until within the last two or three days I haven’t half realized how much the strain was taking out of me! I’ll wager I’ll sleep, tonight, after I once have the satisfaction of seeing the first train roll in!” By six o’clock Tom felt as though he could hardly stand up. Be wondered if his teeth were really chattering, or whether he merely imagined it. To take up his time Tom tried a brisk canter, away from the railroad. At seven o’clock he rode into Lineville. “Tom, Tom!”, bawled Harry, from the centre of a group of workmen. “We’ve been looking for you! Come here quickly!”