The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1922-08-11

cne background. as the long. trans
continental train began 10 baEg over
the frogs and switches as it made its
entrance into Denver. FairchiId went
through the long chute and TO a ticket
window
when can get a train for OhadiT'
The ticket seller smiled. You can't
get one
''But the map shows that 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 a narrow-gauge
line. and Clear creeks been on a ram
page. 1t took out about two hundred
feet of trestIe, and there won't be a
train into Ohadi for week. Stranger
out here?'
VERY much of one"
ain hurry to get to Ohadi?"
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 or
twenty dollars Or"
FairchiId smiled ''Give me the other
system if you've got one. I'm not ter
ribly long on cash-for taxis.'
money if you've got little pep, and
it 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
minutes-no trouble at all to catch
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
it 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 on! 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 a dot of cleaning sill
Yer, the stream a scintfllating ribbon
stretching off into the foothills. A
turn, and they skirted a tremendous
valley, its 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 off up here at Genesee noun
tain. Which way do you go?"
Trying to get to Ohadi." Fairchild
CINE. The driver waved a hand for
ward.
keep to the main road. Drop off
when I make the turn
Thanks for the lift"
Jaw. 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 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 il
appeared, seeming to hang in space
for an instant before leaping down
ward. Rushing, plunging, once skid
ding dangerously at a small curve. il
made the descent, bumped over a
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 a report like a revolver shot, the
machine suddenly slowed in drunken
fashion far to one side of the road,
hung dangerously over the steep cliff
an instant, righted itself, swayed for
ward and stopped, barely twenty-five
yards away. Staring, Robert Fair
child saw that small, trim figure had
leaped forth and was waving excited
ly to him, and he ran forward.
His first glance had proclaimed it a
boy; the second had told a different
story. A girl-dressed in far different
fashion from Robert Fairchild's linn
tied specifications of feminine garb-
she caused him to gasp in surprise,
then to stop and stare. Again she
waved hand and stamped foot ex-
citedly; a vehement little thing in a
snug whipcord riding habit and a
checkered cap pulled tight over close
ly braided hair, she awaited him with
all the impatience of impetuous wom-