The Man Who Talked Too Much

Two gold prospectors boarding a train just want a quiet journey home. Instead, they get Lucky Cochran: a loud, grinning stranger who won't shut up about his wealth, his luck, and his own magnificent self. David and Goliath try everything to shake him. They switch cars. They take a steamer. They hide in their cabins. Cochran keeps appearing, chatty and oblivious, droning on about mining claims and easy money. The men resign themselves to their fate until they spot two sharp-eyed con artists circling their unwanted companion. Surely poor Cochran is about to be fleeced. They almost feel sorry for him. Almost. Then the twist lands: Cochran isn't the mark. He's the hunter. And our two gullible prospectors have been the real marks all along. Norton delivers a perfectly constructed short story that plays like a magic trick, letting you believe one story while quietly laying the foundations for another. The comedy crackles with early 20th-century American wit, and the ending rewards careful readers with a satisfying click of recognition. Perfect for anyone who loves a tale that turns the tables.