Part 5 (2/2)
”Who was he?” inquired Will.
”He went by the name of Con Morton, but I guess he had half a dozen other t.i.tles he used whenever it was convenient. Yes, he got most of my fortune by a swindle, and then he lit out. I haven't seen him since. I wish I had. I think I could have made him give me back at least a part of it.”
”Where was this?” asked Mrs. Crosby.
”Out in Nevada. Now, I'm afraid I've taken up too much of your time with my foolish story. But maybe it will be a lesson to the boys,” and he looked at Jed and Will. ”I don't suppose you'll ever go hunting gold, and gambling, but if you do, steer clear of any one by the name of Con Morton.”
”I don't believe we'll ever get the chance to hunt gold, Mr. Harrison,”
replied Jed, ”and we certainly won't gamble.”
”Stranger things have happened--I mean about hunting gold--but I'm pretty sure if you do find any of the yellow lumps you won't be as foolish as I was, and let a swindler get them away from you. Well, I reckon I'd better be traveling along.”
”Are you going to any place in particular?” asked Mr. Crosby.
”No. As I told your boys when I met them looking for the runaway horse, I'm just waiting for something to turn up. I may go back West again, or I may settle down in the East. I'm looking for a job, to tell you the truth. My money is 'most gone, and I need a little to keep me going, though I don't require much to live on.”
”Then why don't you stay here?” asked the farmer. ”I need a man to help me with the cultivating. I can't pay much--no farmer can these times--but I'll do the best I can. If I had a man to help with the cultivating I could stir the dirt up around the crops, and it wouldn't matter quite so much about the rain. Did you ever work on a farm?”
”Once, when I was a young lad. But if my corn keeps on hurting the way it does, I know we'll have rain.”
”I hope so. But would you like to stay here a few days?”
”I think so. In fact, I will. I don't care so much about the money, but I like it here, and it will give me a chance to rest. Yes, Mr. Crosby, I'll stay and help you cultivate. Maybe it will rain, and I can then help you in other ways.”
”Perhaps. Then if you'll come with me I'll show you a room you can use.”
And so it was settled that the old miner should remain, for the time being, at the Crosby farm.
CHAPTER V
MORE HARD LUCK
That afternoon the two boys went back to the cornfield to resume the cultivating that had been interrupted by the runaway. It seemed hotter than ever, and there was scarcely a breath of wind.
”Whew! This is fierce!” exclaimed Will. ”I can't stand it!” and he mopped the perspiration from his forehead.
”Oh, it might be worse,” observed Jed.
”Worse? I don't see how.”
”You might be out on the Nevada desert that Mr. Harrison was telling about.”
”That's so. Well, I'm glad I'm not. But, what do you think of him, anyhow, Jed?”
”I think he's quite a character.”
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