The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1892-04-01

Bixby is violent man. and was q
boxer in his younger days. You CO."
Mart very naturally demurred, and
while the others were trying to think
of something else, Jim said, suddenly:
1--WE are in big luck. Here's our
chanceT ~
"What's the matter?" queried tho
boys. in whispered chorus.
keep quiet, and you'll see directly.
Tom, give me that specimen from
Hunters mine. Quickr'
Tom passed over a specimen of cop
per ore almost as large as his fist and
fully eighty per cent fine, and, as Jim
took it in his hand, long. lank and
ungainly fellow came shambling
around the post Office corner.
The boys knew him well as Ver-
mont man named Bascomb, who had
been loafing around Bosco for three
weeks, and was generally understood
to be much keener than he looked.
As he came up Jim held the speci-
men off at arms length, as if examin-
ing it critically, and when he came
within earshot Jim cried:
''It must be a mistake, Tom. 1t
cOuldn' have cropped out there"
By this time Bascomb was abreast
of the group, and the boys were
watching Jim in surprise, wondering
what in the world he was up to.
Suddenly Jim appeared to see Bas-
comb for the first time.
"Mr. Bascomb," said he, with an
affectation of diffidence, you're good
JUDGE of copper, aren't you?"
Not very" answered Bascomb, his
weak and watery eyes shifting un-
easily. Il can tell it when see it
that's about all"
''Pshaw!" exclaimed Jim, in a vexed
tone. Then you can't throw any light
on this argument. This chunk" he
went on rapidly, was picked up on
the very top of that hill yonder-the
one with the blasted pine at its base.
l say it must have been dropped there,
and that it came from the Houghton
district, and Tom here declares that it
cropped out on the hill. But it's no
matter so long as you can't tell the
difference. Come along, boys"
wilderment, and when they got around
the corner were amazed to see their
leader kink up with laughter.
whats the jole?" asked Mart, with
a puzzled look. "Does anyone see the
point?"
"What is Ba scomb doing?" asked
Jim, without answering the general
query.
Standing with his hands in his
pockets" answered Anderson, after
taking a careful peep. ''Is that the
joIe?"
NO" said Jim, after ind ulging in
another kink; 1.-The joke will come in
about an hour, when you'll see Bas-
comb roofing away with pick and
shovel on the top of Fox hill Didn't
you see the cunning CLEAN in his eye
when put the chunk under his nose?
Well, did; and if he isn't on the hill
inside of an hour, it will be because he
can't buy, beg or borrow the tools"
The boys saw the joke and roared.
Everybody in Bosco knew that Fox
hill had been thoroughly pros
pected, and that there wasn't an
ounce of ore in it, and when they saw
the Yankee climbing the hill, sure
enough, they fairly whcoped 1t was
such a good joke that they told the old |
folks, and they enjoyed it, too.
Glazer, the storekeeper, vowed he
would set off some fireworks in Bas-
combs honor, and four or five choice |
spirits, who regulated the affairs of
the nation by sitting on Glazer's bar |
rels and boxes, and consuming tobacco |
for nine hours day, made prepara-
tions to give the foolish prospector |
calathumpian serenade.
And, what is more to the purpose,
they did. When Bascomb came down |
from Fox hill at nightfall he looked |
woebegone and tagged out, and he
tried to sneak into the hotel through |