The Raymer enterprise., 1922-09-28
CHAPTER ~

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 a
few thousand. representing the final
proceeds OF the sale OF everything that
had connected him with rather
dreary past. Out before him
Three weeks had created a meta
morphcsis 10 what had been a plod-
ding metter-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-bnck into the rumpled noun
tHins where the blue haze hung low
and protecting as though over mystic
rles and treasures which awaited one
man and one alone. II thrilled Fair
child. II 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 It made Its
entrance into Denver. Falrchild went
through the long chute and to ticket
window.
when can get train for OhadI?"
The ticket seller smiled. "You can't
get one"
"But the map shows that a railroad
runs there"
"Ran there, you mean" ch.fed the
clerk. ''rhe best you can Do Is to
get to Forks Creek and walk fhe rest
of the way. That's ,narrts- gauge
line, and Clear creeks been po a ram.
page. 1t took out about two hundred
feet Of trestle and there won't be n
train into OhadI for week. Stranger
out here?"
"Very much of one"
"In hurry to get to Ohhdl7"
ayes"
"1hen you can go uptown and hire
. taxl--they've got big cars for noun,
tain work and there are good roads
all the way. TN cost fifteen or
twenty dollars. Or"
FaIrchlld smiled. "GIve me the other
system II you've got one. I'm not ter.
ribly long on cash-for taxls."
Certainly. No use spending that
money II you've got little pep, and
II isn't 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 to point
out the road over Mount Lookout.
Machines go along there every few
minutes-no trouble at all tc ratch n
ride. You'll be In Ohadl l. 40 tlme."
Falrchild obeyed the distractions,
and In the baggage rooE y~checked his
trunk to follow hrr, tightening his
travelling bag at the same time until
Il carried only necessities. A lunch
con, then the street car. Three quar-.
ters Of an hour later. he began the
nve-mile trudge up the broad. smooth,
carefully groomed automobile high.
way which masters Mount Lookout. A
FumblIng sound behind him, then he
stepped to one side, grmy truck
driver leaned out to shout as he
passed:
"Want lift' Hop onl Can't
stop-too much grade"
A running leap. and Falrchild seat
I'd 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 checkerboard
thing, the lake dot Of cleaning sill
yer. the stream scintillating ribbon
stretching of into the foothills. A
turn. and they sklrted tremendous
valley, Its slopes falling away In sheer
deseents 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 voice
from the drivers seat.
"Turn on up here at Genesee noun.
taln. Which wav do you got"
"Trying to get to Ohadl." Fairchild
shouted II above the roar of the en-.
Gine. The driver waved hand for
ward.
Keep to the main road. Drop Off
when make the turn"
"Thanks for the lift"
"Aw. forget It."
The truck wheeled from the main
road and chugged away, leaving Fair.
child afoot, making as much progress
a. possible toward his goal until good
fortune should bring a swlfter means
of locomotion. Suddenly he wheeled.
Behind him sounded the swift droning
Of motor cut-out open, ~ 1t rushed