The Ordway new era., 1922-09-15
CHAPTER III

Three weeks later, Robert Fairchild
sat in the smoking compartment of
che 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 with a rather
dreary past. out before him
Three weeks had created a meta
morphcsis In what had been a plod-
ding. natter 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 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-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. 1t thrilled Fair
child, it caused his heart to tug and
puli-nor could be tell exactly why.
The hills came closer. Still closer;
then, when it 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. Fairchild went
through the long chute and to a ticket
window.
when can get a train for Ohadi?"
The ticket seller smiled. you can't
get one"
But the map shows that railroad
runs there"
Ran there, you mean" chsffed the
clerk "The best you can dp is to
get to Forks Greek and walk fhe rest
Of the way. That's narro~- gauge
line, and Clear creeks been oo ram
page. 1t took out about two hundred
feet of trestle. and there won't be
train into Ohadi for week Stranger
out here?"
Very much of one"
'In hurry to get to Obadi?~
@Yes."
Then you can go uptown and hire
a taxi-they've got big cars for noun
tain work and there are good roads
ali the way. It'll cost fifteen or
twenty dollars. Or"
Tairchild smiled. Give me the other
system if you've got one. I'm not ter
fribly long on cash-for taxis"
Certainly No use spending that
money if you've got little pep. and
1t isn't matter of life or DEATH Go
up to the Central loop-anybody can
direct you-aud 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
fninutes-no trouble at all tc catch
ride. You'll be In Ohadi IL 40 time"
Fairchlld obeyed the distractions
and in the baggage rooH x~checked his
trunk to follow him, tightening his
travelling bag at the same time until
1t carried only necessities. A lunch
con, then the street car. Three quar-
ters of an hour later, he began the
dye-mile trudge up the broad, smooth,
carefully groomed automobile high
way which masters Mount Lookout. A
rumbIing sound behind him, then he
stepped to one side. a grimy truck
driver leaned out to shout as he
passed:
want lift? Hop onI Can't
stop.too much grade"
A running leap. and Falrchild seat
.sd tEa tn;I
truck, swinging his legs and looking
cut 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 scintillating ribbon
stretching off into the foothills. A
turn, and they skirted tremendous
valley. Its slopes falling away in sheer
dessents from the roadway. A dark
-ene,t. moist stretch of road, fringed by
pires. then a Jogging journey over roll
ing table-land. At last came voice
from the drivers seat.
''Turn off up here at Genesee noun
fsin. Which wav do you goY'
Trying to get TO Ohadi." Fairchild
shouted 1t abo~e the roar of the en-
afne., The driver waved hand for
ward
keep to the main road Drop off
when make tie turn"
'.Thanks for the lift"
Jaw. forget It."
The truck wheeled from the main
roa,i and chHgged away, leaving Fair
child afo0t, making AZ much progress
a. possible toward his goal until good
fcrtune should bring swifter means
of iucotn"tipn. Suddenly he wheeled.