"One man got the most of it."
"How?"
"Well, it was an old-time swindle, but I don't believe you'd understand if I told you. Such things aren't good for young people to hear about, anyhow. But I woke up one morning without a cent in my pocket, whereas the night before I had over five thousand dollars in pure gold."
"Five thousand dollars!" murmured Mr. Crosby, to whom such a sum seemed a large fortune.
"Yes. Oh, we didn't think much of that amount in the West. Money was easily made and easily spent there."
"Who got it?" asked Jed, leaning forward in his intense interest in the miner's curious story.
"One man got the most of it."
"Who was he?" inquired Will.
"He went by the name of Con Morton, but I guess he had half a dozen other titles 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.