Iron County record. [volume] (Cedar City, Utah) 1893-1982, 1922-08-04
CHAPTER III

Three weeks later, Robert Fairchild
sat In the smoking compartment of
the Overland Limited. looking at the
Rocky mountains in the distance. In
his pocket were few hundred dol
lars; In the bank in Indianapolis
few thousand, representing the final
proceeds Of the sale Of everything that
had connected him with a. rather
dreary past. Out before him
. Three weeks had created a meta
morphosls in what had been plod-
ding, matter-of-fact man with dreams
which did not extend beyond his led
gers and his gloomy home-but now a
man leaning his head against the win
dow of rushing train, staring ahead
toward the Rockies and the rainbow
they held for him. Back to the place
where his father had gone with
dreams aglow was the son travelling
now--back into the rumpled noun
tains where the blue haze hung low
and protecting as though over mystic
ries and treasures which awaited one
man and one salone. 1t thrilled Fair
child, Il caused his heart to tug and
pull--nor could be tell exactly why.
The hills came closer. Still closer !;
then, when 1t seemed that the train
must plunge straight into them, they
drew away again. as though through
some optical Illusion, and brooded In
the background. as the long, trans
continental train began to bang over
the frogs and switches as 1t made its
gxxN.. Eot
through the long chute and to a ticket
window.
"When can get train for Ohadi?"
The ticket seller smiled. "YOu can't
get one"
"But the map shows that railroad
runs there"
IRAN there. you mean," chaffed the
clerk. 1.-The best you can do Is to
get to Forks Creek and walk the rest
of the way. That's a narrow-gauge
line, and Clear creeks been on ram
page. 1t took out about two hundred
feet of trestle, and there won't be q
train into Ohadi for q week. Stranger
out here?"
"very much of one"
"In a hurry to get to Ohadl?" =
"Yes"
"Then you can go uptown and hire
a taxi-they've got big cars for noun
tain work and there are good roads
all the way. It'll cost fifteen OF
twenty dollars. Or" :.
Fairchild smiled. "Give me the Other
system If you've got one. I'm not ter
ribly long on cash--fOr taxis."
Certainly. No use spending thai
money IL you've got a little pep, and
It isn't matter of life or death, Gt
up to the Central loop--anybody car
direct you-and catch a street car FOL
Golden. That eats up fifteen mile!
and leaves just twenty-three miles
more. Then ask somebody to poin
out the road over Mount Lookout
Machines go along there every few
minutes-nO trouble at all to catch |
ride. You'll be In Ohadl in no time.
Falrchild Obeyed the instructions
and in the baggage room rechecked hi
trunk to follow him. tightening hi
travelling bag at the same time unit
Il carried only necessities. A lunch
con, then the street car. Three quar-
tiers of an hour later, he began tn
five-mile trudge up the broad, smooth
carefully grOomed automobile high
way which masters Mount Lookout.
rumbllng sound behind him, then h
stepped to one side, grlmy true
driver leaned out to shout as h
passed.
want lift? Hop on! Can
stop-too much grade"
A running leap, and Falrchild sea-
ed himself on the tailboard of tn
truck, swinging his legs and lOokin
out over the fading plains as tn
truck roared and clattered upwar
along the twisting mountain road.
Upward still upward The tow
below became merely checkerboar
thing, the lake a dot OF cleaning 81
YER the stream scintillatlng ribbo
stretching off into the, foothills.
turn, and they sklrted tremendou
valley, It's slopes falling away In shet
descents from the roadway. A darl
ened, moist stretch of road, fringed b
pines, then jogging journey over rol
ing table-land. At last came "A vote
from the drivers seat,
"Turn off up here at Genesee moul
tain. Which wav do you go7'
Trying to get to Ohadi' Fairchll
shouted II above the roar of the e
gin The driver waved a hand 70
ward
Keep 70 the main road. Drop O
when make the turn"
Thanks for the lift"
saw, forget It,"
The truck wheeled from the ma
road and chugged away, leaving Fai
child afoot, making as much progre
as possible toward his goal until goo
fortune should bring a swlfter meal
of lOcOmotion. Suddenly he wheele
BEHIND him sounded the swift dronli
If "A uaoknG ctIt-Out omen as IL ruShI