“I know of it,” nodded Mr. Grant. “The Great Northern once surveyed two miles into the section, but abandoned the route as impracticable. There are only about twenty houses in the district, and the difficulties of clearing and grading were discouraging.”
“Well,” said Adair, “it appears that a man named Farwell Gibson secured a charter to build a short line through The Barrens from Wilmer across the desolate tract to connect with the Midland Central.”
“I heard of that, too,” nodded the railroad president.
“This Gibson is an odd genius. He has been working for two years on his scheme, terming 101 the road the Dover & Springfield Short Line. Just half way across The Barrens he has a house, which he calls ‘headquarters.’ He is an erratic hermit, and adopted this boy here, Van Sherwin, who has been helping him. Every day, the law requires, he must do some grading work on the prospective railroad line. This he has done, and you would be surprised to know the progress they have made.”
“Especially lately,” said Van, with sparkling eyes. “Even you, Ralph, would be astonished. Mrs. Gibson got some money recently—five thousand dollars from old Gasper Farrington—and we have hired a lot of men. Oh, that railroad is going through, and don’t you forget it.”
“We realized our mistake after this Gibson got hold of the franchise,” said Mr. Grant. “Once the road is built, it practically dominates passenger and freight business north and south.”
“That is right,” said Van, “for it becomes a bee-line, saving twenty to thirty miles distance, besides opening up a new district. Well, sir, your nephew is now at our headquarters. To reach the place you will have to get a very heavy wagon and go pretty slow and sure, for there are no roads.”
“I must go at all hazards,” cried the railroad president insistently, “and you, my friends, must 102 accompany me,” he added to Adair and Ralph. “Why, those villains from whom my nephew escaped may undertake to recapture him.”
A little later the party, in charge of a sturdy fellow driving a strong team of horses attached to a heavy wagon, started out under the direction of Van Sherwin.
The district was a wild jungle, interspersed with sweeps of hill and dales, and numerous creeks. Finally they reached a hill surmounted by a dense grove of trees. A road led up here to a rambling log house.