WesternOutlaw

The Mayor tries 29323 as a potential combination - LOCK! Jim begins knocking, touching, rubbing, and stroking the bookshelf, file cabinet, and all the walls. There doesn't seem to be any hidden passages or secret compartments. He then decides to have a closer look at the invoices. The only one of any interest is one dated last year for a train tanker of fuel. All the others are somewhat dated and filed under "O" for old. The invoice; however, does not contain any identifiable information, or anything else of special interest. Schmelt decides to fill a bar glass with some bathroom water and have a drink. "Tastes most excellent", Schmelt says as he looks at Arin. "What? I'm a cheap date", he adds.

With Austin left in the dust, the hand car (love that infomercial) continues rolling through the forest picking up speed as it travels down hill. There is a fork in the track ahead with a sign pointing in two directions. One part of the sign says DANGER and points to the right =>, the other says WILLOUGHBY and points to the left <= A yellow switching track device is coming up quickly and if the group has something to throw at it, you may be able to change the direction of the hand car (to right or left)... "What do we do"? Herman yells! "Ry Ron't Rink Ri Rike Ris Ride Ranyrore", Scruffy adds... Jeb begins quickly turning his decoder Ring.

You enter an old switching/signaling tower with technology that appears to be from the 70s - transistors, tubes, wires, and various manual switches. Wires lead upstairs through a very small hole in the ceiling. A small staircase also leads to the second floor. The room is well lit from the glass doorway and side window.

No, get up you big sissy. You're a Texan!

David climbs down into the shaft to catch up with Pete and Hans. Pete shines the flashlight into the tunnel, and the two and 1/2 men procede to walk carefully. Cobwebs cling to the damp walls and the light sound of dripping water can be heard in the distance. drip... drip... drip...

Jim examines the round table and chairs looking under them, feeling them closely, talking softly to them. Nothing out of the ordinary. He then has another peek at the file cabines checking under them and inside the file cabinet revealing no secret compartments. Walking over to the bar, he checks the glasses, and the liquor, that without tasting, is somewhat difficult to check for abnormalities. Schmelt tries the combination 10133 for the safe. LOCK! it doesn not work. Arin looks at Schmelt and says, "that may not be the number to the safe, but you've got my number baby" The Constable says, "move over, let me try" and enters the code 10194 in the safe. LOCK! it doesn't work, nor does it excite Arin. Charlie unscrews the pen and squirts black ink on his shirt. "Thanks a lot Schmelt" he says after realizes it is a normal pen. Mayor Brown walks over to the safe and tries the following three numbers: 10001 - lock, 10020 - lock, 10173 - lock. None of them work.

Herman, Jeb, Bulldog, and Scruffy jump on the handcar and begin pushing the sea saw mechanism that drives the car (up... down... up... down...) It starts out slow at first, then begins picking up speed. "Row - ris is run"!!! Scruffy says as he sticks his head up to catch the cool breeze. The handcar continues to go faster... "Is there any brakes on this thing"? Herman asks Jeb. Jeb responds, "nope -never got around to that, but isn't he a friend of yours"? (nothing like a good Brake joke ) EDIT: Insert Indiana Jones Temple of Doom scene here

Lorraine stops her rig outside the rail road crossing. The fuel meter is close to "E" for empty. Eleanor finds herself walking along the rails for a bit as she looks in both directions. Aside from a long path of track leading away from the crossing, there's not much to see. The road that you took crosses the track and also leads toward the mountains. Mark decides he's ready to see the inside of the switch tower. A large glass door is unlocked and he opens it carefully looking for trip wires and other booby traps. He enters asking if anyone else would like to come with him. Max receives +1 Life Points for resting in the cab.

No number on the pen, and the combination you entered does not work.

As Lorraine begins playing with the Rubber Duck hanging from her driver's mirror, Max dozes off and starts dreaming... A few of the others in the back of the truck start snoring loudly as Herman tries to keep them awake with his stories. With map in hand, Lorraine nears a rail road crossing next to a small signalling tower.

About four people can fit on the hand car.

Charlie looks at the invoice numbers closely. They are 4-digits long. Jim Butcher examines the desk, feeling under the desk and chair. He finds a rather nice Mont Blanc calligraphy pen. There are no file drawers attached to the desk. Schmelt looks at the coat rack closey. There is nothing special about it. You may try to enter any combination for the safe.

Others begin to climb down...

It's hard to grab hold of that 'thang!

The third time is always a charm. On a side note, I'm beginning to really enjoy the relationship that 'ol Jeb has with Herman. Jeb likes to reel him, then spook him up real good. I really like the way these mysteries create memorable moments as well as funny quotes/sayings (like the old Johnson Rod).

Semi-Blooper Alert if any of you picked up on this: When Herman asked Jeb about the train tracks in the forest, this was his initial response (from me): My Grandpappy who some knew as "Old Rivers" use to tell me a story about how there use to be an old train that ran through the woods not fer from here, some sorta 'logg'n train. I even reckon I heard it once or twice grown'up. Never done saw it though. When Herman asked again, this was the 2nd response (from Wouwie): I know the tracks since I was young, I used to play with some friends here. 1 way goes to town, the other goes to a mine I think..Atleast it's heading into the mountains.. Final Response from Jeb As far as the train track, as I said before, I use to play on the rails as a kid, but it has been a long, long time ago. There was one track that use to lead toward town, and another that went up into the mountains - never knew where that one led to though. Which isn't too far off from my the actual plot.

Max jumps into the cab with Lorraine, before returning the gun to Eleanor. Lorraine turns on a rather dated radio with an 8-track system. The following song begins playing: Lorraine begins dancing in her seat. The others are in the back of the truck wondering where Lorraine may lead them...

Boy, you city slickers sure are persistent, aint ya? Well, listen up close. You know that Stephen King book called Tommyknockers? The one about that lady in the woods that was digg'n up some kinda alien ship - make'n everything in the town green? WELL, IT AINT THAT! Ya silly boy! You're as daft as my Jethro here. That green color happens everytime it's overcast outside and the light from the moon hits the trees. Nutt'n to worry about, okay? As far as the train track, as I said before, I use to play on the rails as a kid, but it has been a long, long time ago. There was one track that use to lead toward town, and another that went up into the mountains - never knew where that one led to though. Now let's get a mov'n - or are ya wat'n for the Tommyknockers to KNOCK on your door. BOO! Oh, and would someone get me my Annie Oakly decoder ring, and set the damn thing for "R" so I can understand what this here mystery dog be say'n?

Charlie opens the two drawers of the teak file cabinet. He finds a number of invoices for various freight train merchandise dating back numerous years. Schmelt looks at the green banker's lamp closely, turning it on, then turning it off, then turning it back on... He smiles at it making various faces saying "you're just too good, want some of me! Oh, I bet you do. I've got an Eggo Waffle for YOU! Oh ya, baby... You wanna see my Johnso...". Just then, his is interrupted by the sound of running water in the bathroom. Arin is filling the bathroom with steam from hot water, as she looks for hidden messages on the mirror above the sink. The only message she sees is the words "Keep lOOking" under the cap of her RC Cola that she slipped in her pocket before the trip. The Constable begins searching the bar containing a number of fine liquors, for a message in one of the bottles. Aside from a label around a bottle of Kahlua, he does not find any messages.

Pete yells up, "I think I see the ground". Just as he does, one of the spikes give way and he falls to the ground inflicting 2 points Life Points damage. Hans is able to miss the missing spike and continue to climb down. It's some sort of storage room containing numerous wooden crates, like a scene from Indiana Jones. A passage way leads into darkness...

Congratulations to the winners, and to all the participants, great job! A very nice contest with superb entries. Long live Classic Town!

Charlie walks over to the bookshelf and begins pulling them out from the shelves. As he does so, he opens each one looking for secret compartments. Nothing is behind the books, nor does he find any hidden compartments. Arin checks the bathroom closely, including the toilet and small bathroom vanity. Aside from normal bathroom toiletries, there is nothing to be found. Schmelt looks under the table and inspects it closely. There's nothing stuck to the underside except for a "Made in Denmark" label.

With flashlight in mouth (you thought I was gonna say Johnson Rod ), Pete descends the shaft followed by Hans. The two men quickly become unseen in the darkness...

You may post them right here. All can join in! I look forward to seeing some of your favorite scenes in Lego.

Lorraine inserts her key (that she had hidden under the floor mat) and attempts to start the engine... Chkkkk! Chkkkk! Chkkkk! Chkkkk! Chkkkk! Vrrrrmmmm! Vrrrrrmmmm! Vrrrrrrrrmmmmmmmm! With thick black smoke bellowing from the truck's exaust pipes, her "Big Rig" starts... There is space in the cab for Lorraine and one other person. The trailers sections (one connected to the cab, the other attached by hitch) hold about six people each. Each section has a door that opens to the side and may be locked from the outside. "Time for some 10-wheel'n"! Lorraine yells.