HALLORAN'S HILL

Young Chap Chandler's desire to be an engineer is the spark in a wholesome regional mystery centered on railroad life near Duluth at the turn of the century. Because his storekeeper father wants him to follow in his footsteps, Chap must do his work as a station call boy on the sly. After spats with a rival Rudy, and an incident in which Chap saves rich Mr. Halloran's life, he's accused of theft, and must leave home until Rudy is proved the oulprit and Chap himself receives a fine inheritance- Mr. Halloran's hill that contains iron. The author's past record of period and regional stories (see Thunderhead Mountain 1952) betters this some, but the spirit's there.