"It is. Read that."
Mr. Hayson rapidly glanced down the page. Some of the news which Jed wrote was unimportant, but this much seemed to stand out in bold relief:
"We have struck a bonanza! One of the richest mines in the West!
Will and I are rich! Sell out and come on. We have staked claims for the whole family!
"JED."
"Well, of all things! Who"d have believed it! A bonanza! Gold mines!
Them boys rich!" exclaimed Mr. Hayson. "What are you going to do, neighbor Crosby?"
"Do? Why, I"m going out there as fast as a train can take me. Sell out!
I don"t have to wait to sell out. I"m sold out already. But I must hurry and tell my wife and daughter. This is the best news I"ve had in many a year. The boys have struck it rich. Things looked pretty black a little while ago, but this welcome letter has changed everything. G.o.d bless Gabe Harrison! I guess he must have had a hand in this."
Three weeks later, when Mr. Crosby, his wife and daughter reached the new diggings where Jed, Will and the old miner were, they learned all the details of the wonderful strike.
For the mine, or rather mines, as there were several of them, were indeed bonanzas. The good luck of Jed and Will, which began when they found the nuggets, continued, and every claim staked out was a rich one.
A regular gold-mining company was formed, taking over the temporary one started by Jed and the other miners, and the Crosby family were the princ.i.p.al holders of the stock. Machinery was installed, and at last accounts the concern was paying better than ever.
One day Gabe, who made his home with the Crosby family, came in looking quite pleased over something.
"What"s the matter?" asked Jed. "Have you found some more nuggets?"
"No, but almost as good. That gambler, Con Morton, has been arrested, and I understand I am likely to get back most of the property out of which he swindled me."
A few weeks later this occurred, and though Gabe did not regain all of his fortune, he had enough to live on in comfort. Morton was sentenced to a long term in prison. His two cronies disappeared, and were never heard of in that region again.
As for Jed and Will, those plucky lads who graduated from a farm to a gold claim, they are now among the most prosperous and best known miners of the West, and if you are ever out that way I advise you to call on them. Perhaps they will show you where to pick up a small nugget or two as a souvenir of your visit.
THE END