He would sweep the board, fairly or foully, or he would not play.
As he traveled along westward, he found that the company was made up of men whose tickets took them to his own destination.

Most of them were quiet, with ears open to the few talkers who had already been there, and were returning.

Mr.Belcher listened to them, laughed at them, scoffed at their schemes, and laid up carefully all that they said.

Before he arrived at Corry he had acquired a tolerable knowledge of the oil-fields, and determined upon his scheme of operations.
As he drew nearer the great center of excitement, he came more into contact with the masses who had gathered there, crazed with the spirit of speculation.

Men were around him whose clothes were shining with bitumen.