Mountain Home Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1915-1946, 1922-09-01
CHAPTER III

sat In the smoking compartment o.
the Overland Limited. looking at th'
Rocky mountains in the distance. IL
his pocket were few hundred dol
lars; In the bank in Indianapolis 9
few thousand. representing the fina
proceeds of the sale Of everything that
lad connected him with a rather
lreary past. Out before him
Three weeks had created a meta
norphOsIs 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 a 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-buck into the rumpled noun
tnins where the blue haze hung low
and projecting as though over mystic
rles and treasures which awaited one
man and one alone. It thrilled Fair
child, Il caused his heart to tug and
pulI-nor could be tell exactly why.
The hills came closer. Still closer
then, when ii 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
entrance into Denver. Fairchild went
through the long chute. and to ticket
window.
"When can l get train for Ohadi?'
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 narrowgauge
line. and Clear creeks been on ram
page. It took out about two hundred
feet of trestle, and there won't be
train into Ohadi for week. Stranger
oct here2"
very MUCH VI outs
ia hurry to get to OhadiT"
ayes"
"qhen you can go uptown and hire
a taxi--they've got big cars for noun
tain work and there are good roads
Mt the way. TIN cost fifteen or
twenty dollars. Or"
Fairchiid smiled. "Give me the other
system II you've got one. Pm not ter
ribiy Tong on cash-for taxis."
Certainly. No use spending that
money lf you've got a little pep, and
IL isn't a matter of life or death. Go
up TO the Central loop-anybody cam
direct you-and catch 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
trouble at all to catch a
ride. You'll be in Ohadi in no time"
Falrchild e5eyed the Instructions,
and In the baggage room rechecked his
trunk to follow him, tightening his
travelling bag at the same time until
t carried only necessities. A lunch
on, then the street car. Three quar-
ers Of an hour later, he began the
ye-mile trudga up the broad smooth,
arefully groomed automobile high
way which masters Mount Lookout A
sound behind him, then he
stepped to one side. grlmy truck
driver leaned out to shout as he
passed
swant 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 checserboard |
thing. the lake a dot OF cleaning sill
YER the stream a scintillating ribbon |
stretching Off into the foothills. A
urn. and they skirted a tremendous
valley. It's slopes falling away in sheer
lCStttiiH nun AtAN iotthNhJs - NeAih
sned. moist stretch of road, frlnged by /
pines, then jogging journey over roll
ng tableland At last came voice
rom the drivers seat.
"Turn OF up here at Genesee noun
ain. Which way do you go"
Crying to get to Ohadl." Fairchild
shouted It above the roar of the en-
zine. The driver waved a hand for
ward
"Keep 10 the main road. Drop of
When make the turn"
'sThanSs for the lift"
cav. forget It."
The truck wheeled from the main
Dad and chugged away, leaving Fair
mild afoot. making as much progress
Is possible toward his goal until good
ortune should bring swifter means
f locomotlon. Suddenly he wheeled.
,ehtnd him sounded the swift dronlng
& a uaetor. cut-out open, as 1t rushed