The Holbrook news., 1922-09-29
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 a few hundred dol lars: in the bank In Indianapolis a 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 morphosis in wbat had been a 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 agicw was the son travelling now-back into the rumpled noun tains where the blue haze hung low and protecting as though over myste- ries and treasures which awaited one man and one alone It thrilled Fair child. 1t caused his heart to tug and pull-nor could be tell exactly why.
 The hills came closer. Still closer :; then, when it 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 it made its entrance into Denver. Fairchild went through the long chute and to a ticket window.
 When can get a train for Ohadi2"
 The ticket seller smiled. You can't get one"
 "But the map shows that a railroad runs there"
 Ran there. you mean" chaffed the clerk. "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 a ram page. It took out about two hundred feet of trestle. and there won't be a train into Ohadi for week. Stranger out here?"
 "Very much of one"
 ''In a hurry to get to Ohadi?"
 @'Yes."
 @'T'hen 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 or twenty dollars Or"
 Fairchild smiled. "Give me the other system if you've got one. I'm not ter ribIy long on cash-fOr taxis."
 Certainly. No use spending that money if you've got a little pep. and 1t isn't a matter of life or death. Go up to the Central loop-anybody can direct you-and catch a street car for Golden. That eats up fifteen miles and leaves just twenty-three miles more. Then ask somebody to point out the road over Mount Lookout. Machines go along there every few minutes-no trouble at all to catch a ride. You'll be in Ohadi in no time"
 Fairchild obeyed the instructions, and in the baggage room rechecked his trunk to follow him. Tightening his travelling bag at the same time until 1t carried only necessities. A lunch con, then the street car. Three quar- ters of an hour later. he began the five-mile trudge up the broad. smooth, carefully groomed automobile high way which masters Mount Lookout. A rumbling sound behind him, then he stepped to one side, a grimy truck driver leaned out to shout as he passed:
 'Want a lift? Hop onl Can't stop-too much grade"
 A running leap. and Fairchild seat ed himself on the tailbOard of the truck, swinging his legs and looking out over the fading plains as the truck roared and clattered upward along the twisting mountain road.
 Upward. still upward, The town below became merely a checkerboard thing. the lake dot of gleaming sil- yer. the stream a scintillating ribbon stretching off into the foothills. A turn, and they skirted a tremendous valley. it's slopes falling away in sheer descents from the roadway. A dark ened, moist stretch of road fringed by pines, then a jogging journey over roll ing table-land At last came a voice from the drivers seat.
 Turn of up here at Genesee moun- tain. Which way do you go?"
 Trying to get to Ohadi" Fairchild shouted it above the roar of the en- zine. The driver waved a hand for ward.
 Keep to the main road. Drop off when make the turn"
 Thanks for the lift
 LAW, forget it"
 The truck wheeled from the main road and chugged away, leaving Fair child afOOt, making as much progress as possible toward his goal until good fortune should bring a swifter means of locomOtiOn. Suddenly he wheeled. Behind him sounded the swift drOning of a motor. cut-Out open, as it rushed forward along the road-and the noise told a story of speed.
 Far at the brow of a steep hill it appeared. seeming 10 hang in space for an instant before leaping down. ward. Rushing, plunging, once skid ding dangerously at a small curve, it made the descent, bumped over d bridge, was lost for a second in the pines. then sped toward him, a big touring car. with a small, resolute figure clinging to the wheel. Then. with report like revolver shot, the