Part 8 (2/2)
”No, sir!” exclaimed Gabe, firmly. ”Ted Jordan don't joke about such a serious subject as prospecting for gold. This settles it. I'm going out there as fast as I can make tracks for the West. I'm glad I saved my old pick now. It'll come in handy. Yes, sir, I'm off for Dizzy Gulch!”
Jed had risen to his feet. He was strangely excited.
”Do you suppose there'd be gold enough out there for any other persons, Mr. Harrison?” he asked.
”Enough? Of course there'll be! If it's any kind of a strike at all, it's a good one, or Ted Jordan wouldn't be going. But why do you ask?”
”Because I want to go!” exclaimed the lad quickly. ”I've been thinking of it. Times are dull on the farm, and now that fall is coming on, there won't be work enough for us boys. Dad, can't Will and I go gold mining?”
”Gold mining?”
”Yes. With Mr. Harrison. Will you take us?” and the youth turned to Gabe.
”Take you? Why, of course I will, and welcome. That's a fine idea, Mr.
Crosby. The two boys and I will go prospecting for gold, and when we find a good claim we'll send for you. Let 'em go. It'll pay better than farming, take my word for it. We can start in a couple of days.”
”Hurrah for the gold mines of Dizzy Gulch!” exclaimed Jed, grabbing Will by the hand, and jumping around the room. ”That's the stuff! Let the crops fail, we'll dig a new one--a yellow one of gold nuggets!”
CHAPTER VII
OFF FOR THE WEST
Never before, save, perhaps, when the lightning struck, had there been such excitement in the Crosby home. The farmer and his wife stared in amazement at the sight of their two sons doing a good imitation of a Highland fling, for Will had caught Jed's enthusiasm, and the two boys were singing and leaping about, ”as if they were circus performers,” as their mother said afterward.
”Come on, Nettie, have a waltz!” exclaimed Jed. ”We'll send you back enough gold for a pair of earrings and a bracelet!”
”Jed! Jed!” exclaimed his mother. ”Do behave yourself. You're not going to let them undertake that crazy plan, are you?” she asked of her husband.
Mr. Crosby did not answer. He, too, was thinking of the golden West, and his poor farm that hardly supported him.
”Of course we can go. Can't we, dad?” asked Jed. ”Why, it will be the best thing that ever happened!”
”It will--if we get the gold,” added his brother, more soberly, for his first enthusiasm had begun to cool.
”Find the gold? Of course we'll find the gold. Won't we, Mr. Harrison?”
”Well, I always have been pretty lucky,” replied the miner. ”I always got gold when I went after it, but I didn't always keep it. If I had the money the gambler swindled me out of I'd be in good shape now.”
”Maybe that gambler your friend wrote about is the same one who swindled you,” suggested Jed.
”No. I guess Con Morton knows enough to keep away from Ted Jordan. He's looking for him, too. But I'll come across Con some day, and then I'll wager I'll make him sh.e.l.l out what he stole from me. But, Mr. Crosby, seriously speaking, why can't these two boys go with me? It will do them good. As Jed says, you won't need them on the farm now, and they may strike it rich. Stranger things have happened.”
”I don't know that I would object to having them go, in your company,”
said the farmer, ”for I know they are good boys, and can take care of themselves. But I'm afraid I couldn't spare the money for railroad fares, and for the outfits.”
”Don't let that worry you,” advised Gabe.
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