The Filer record. (Filer, Idaho) 1919-1930, 1922-11-02
CHAPTER III

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
fad connected him with a rather
reary past. Out before HIM
Three weeks had created a meta
norphosis in what had been a plod-
Aing, 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 aglow was the son travelling
now-back into the rumpled noun
tains where the blue haze hung low
and protecting as though over mystic
ries 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 1t made its
entrance into Denver. Fairchild went
through the long chute and to a ticket
window.
when can get train for Ohadil"
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 a narrow-gauge
line. and Clear creeks been on a ram
page. 1t took out about two hundred
feet of trestle, and there won't be a
train into Ohadi for a week. Stranger
out here?"
Every much of one"
"In hurry to get to Ohadl7"
eyes"
''Tnen 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 II you've got one. I'm not ter
ribly long on cash-for taxls."
Certainly. No use spending that
money If 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 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 Ohadl 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
I carried only necessities. A lunch
on, then the street car. Three quar-
RS of an hour later, he began the 4
ve-mile trudge up the broad. smooth.
arefully 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 lift7 Hop oni Can't
stop-too much grade"
A running leap. and Fairchild seat
ed himself on the billboard 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
= Glow became merely a checkerboard
thing. the lake a dot Of cleaning sill
yer. the stream a scintillating ribbon
stretching or into the foothills A
turn. and they sklrted 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
tsg table-land At last came voice
from the drivers seat
Turn of up here at Genesee noun
tain. which wsv do you gor'
Trying to get to OhsdL" Fairchild I
shouted II above the roar of the en-
zine. The driver waved a hand for |
ward !
Keep to the main road Drop OF !
rhen 7 make the turn"
Thanks for the nft-~ IL
Jaw, forget 1t
The truck wheefed from the main !
Dad and chugged away, leaving Fair ,
child afoot, making as much progress {
as possible toward bis goal until good {
fortune should bring a swifter means 4
Of Iocomo.ion- Suddenly he wheeled | S
BEHIND him sounded the swift dronIng 0
u q ns,ns, cut-cuf opeu, AZ 1t rushed | O