The Lamar register., 1919-01-08
CHAPTER III.
The High Hills.

The Nevada through freight was two
hours late issuing from the western
portal of Timnnyoni canon. Through
the early MISUNDERSTANDING hours OF
the night and the later flight across the
Red desert, the dusty. ravel-grimed
yonng fellow in the empty box ear mid
way OF the train had slept sonndly.
with the hard car floor for n bed and
his folded coat for u pillow. But the
sudden cessation Of the crash and roar
Of the shut-in mountain passage awoke
him and he got up TO open the door and
look out.
II was still no later thnn lazy mans
breakfast time and the May morning
was perfect. Over the top of the east
crn range the sun was looking. level
rayed, into parked valley bounded
ON all sides by high spurs and distant
snow peaks. In Its nearer reaches the
valley was dotted with round hills.
some Of them bare, others dark with
mountain pine and fir.
From the outer loopings of the
curves. the young tramp at the ear
door had momentary gllmpses nf the
rimanyoni, mountain torrent in its
canon, and the swlftest of upland riv-
ers even here where II had the valley
Z In which to expand. A copah switch
man had told him that the railroad dl-
vision town Of Brewster lay ut the end
Of the nights run, In n river valley he
yond the eastern Tlmanyonis. and that
the situation OF the irrigation project
which was advertising for laborers In
the Denver newspapers was n few
miles up the river from Brewster.
As the train swept along on its way
down the grades the valley became
more open and the prospect hroadened.
At one OF the promontory roundinss
the box-car passenger had IA glimpse
OF Shack-bullt construction camp on
the rivers margin some distance ON
ahead. A concrete dam was rising In
sections out of the river. and dominat-
ing the dam and the shacks two steel
towers. with carrying cable stretched
between them. formed the piers OF the
aerial spout cOnveyer for the placing
of the material In the forms.
The train made no stop Mt the con-
struction siding. but mile farther
along the brakes began to grind and
car door another foot or two, the young
tramp with the week old stubble beard
on his face leaned out TO look ahead
Ills opportunity was at hand. A block
semaphore was turned against the
freight and the train was slowing In
obedience to the signal. Waiting until
the brakes shrilled agnin. the tramp
nut his shoulder to the sliding door.
sat for n moment in the wider opening.
and then swung of.
His alighting was upon one of the
promontory embankments. To the
westward. where the curvlng railroad
rack was lost in the farther windings
u the river. lay the little interinoun-
ain city of Brewster. few of It's
higher buildings showing clear-cut in
he distance. Parallellng the railroad.
\sn n lower level and nearer the river.
- dusty wagon road pointed in one di-
Notion toward the town. and in the
other toward the construction camp.
The Young man who had crossed four
states and the better part OF n NTH as
a fugitive and vagrant turned his back
upon the distant town as Il niace to he
avoided. Scrambling down the rail
roud embarrassment. he made his way 10
the wagon road, crossed it, and kept
on until he came TO the fringe Of aspens
on the rivers edge. where lie broke all
the tramplsh traditions by stripping Off
me travel-worn clothes and pluneing
in TO take a soapless bath. The water,
beIng melted snow from the range, was
Icy cold and II stabbed like knives.
Nevertheless. II was wet, and some
mart Of the travel dust. nt least, was
soluble In 1t. He came out glowing
bur thorn from his well-groomed past
came up and prlclied him when he had