The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1922-09-07
CHAPTER ~

NMt IN the SMOKING compartment tI
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 wiih n rather
dreary past Out before him
Three weeks had created a meta
morphosls in what 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
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 nglow was the son travelling
now-bnck into the rumpled noun
talns where the blue haze hung low
and protecting as though over myste-
ries and treasures which awaited one
man ard one alone y fbrjUed Fair
child, II caused his heart 10 tug and
eull-nor could be tell exactly why.
The hills came closer. StlH closer
then. when II seemed that the train
Ilust plunge straight into them, they
crew away again. as though through
tome optical Illusion. and broOded in
tle background, as the long, trans
continental train began TO bang over
tie frogs and switches as II made its
entrance into Denver. Falrchild went
through the long chute and to ticket
window.
"When can I get train for Ohadif'
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 Greek and walk the rest
Of the way That's n narrow gauge
line. and Clear creeks been on ram
page II took out about two hundred
feet of trestle. and there won't be a
train into OhadI for a week. Stranger
out herel"
"yery much Of one"
"In a hurry 10 get to OhadiT
"Yes."
"Then you can 20 uptown and hire
n taxi-they've got big cars for noun
tain work and there are good roads
nll the way. I'm cost fifteen or
twenty dollars Or"
Fairchnd smiled. "GIve me the other
system II you've got one. I'm not ter
rlbly long on cash-for taXis"
Certainly. No use spending that
money II you've got little pep and
II isn't a matter Of life or death. Go
up to the Central loop-anybody can
direct you-and catch street car for
Golden. That eats up fifteen miles
and leaves Just twenty-three miles
more Then ask somebody 10 point
out the road over Mount lookout
Machines go along there every few
minutes-no trouble nj all to catch a
ride. You'I be In Ohadi in no time
Falrchlld obeyed the Instructions.
md in the baggage room rechecked his
trunk to follow him, tightening his
travelling bag NJ the same time until
II carried only necessities. A lunch
con, then the street car Three quar-
ters Of an hour later, he began the
fivemile trudge up the broad. smooth,
carefully grOomed automobile high
way which masters Mount Lookout. A
rumbllng sound behind him, then he
stepped TO one side, a grimy truck
driver leaned out to shout as he
passed:
Want IItt1 Hop onl Can't
Etop--too much grade"
A running leap, and Fairchlld 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, stlll upward The town
below became merely a checkerboard
thing, the lake a dot OF cleaning sill.
yer. the stream scintlllatlng ribbon
stretching OF into the foothills. A
turn. and they sklrted tremendous
valley, Its slopes falling away I'm sheer
descents from the roadway. A dark.
ened. moist stretch OF road, frlnged by
pines, then a jogging journey over roll
ing table-land. At last came voice
from the drivers seat.
"Turn OF up here at Genesee noun,
tain. Which way do you goT
Trying 90 get to Ohadi." Falrchild
shouted II above the roar of the en-
gine The driver waved a hand for,
ward.
keep to the main road. Drop OF
when make the turn"
Thanks for the lift"
"Aw, forget H."
The truck wheeled from the main
road and chugged away, leaving Fair
child afoot, making as much progress
as possible toward HIS goal until goot
fortune should bring swifter mean.
OF locomotlon. Suddenly he wheeled
BEHIND him sounded the swift dronlni
Of motor, cut-out open, az II rushed