Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1892-03-31


Bixby is \ violent man. and was .
boxer in his younger days You GO
Mart very naturally demurred. and
while the others were trying to think
of something else. Jim said. suddenly:
I'VE are in big luck. Here's our
chance
What's the matter?' queried the
boys. in whispered chorus
Keep quiet. and you'll see directly.
Tom. give the that specimen from
Hunters mine. Quick
Tom passed over a specimen Of cop
per ore almost as large a. his fist and
fully eighty per cent fine. and, rs Jim
ungainly fellow came stumbling
around the post Office corner
The boys knew him well as a Yer
mont man named Bascomb. who had
been loafng around Isosco for three
weeks. and was generally understood
10 h. much keencr than he looked
A. he came up Jim held the speci-
ing il critically. and when be came
Within ear>hot Jim erie1s
1t must be a mistake. Tom. IL
coWtia'f 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 lin appeared to see Bas-
comb for the first time.
M R~--.-L O. IL - ..,sL -,
a~fectatiOn OF difidence. you're a good
JUDGE 81 copper. aren't you2'
Not very. answered Baseomb. his
weak and watery eyes shifting I'M
easily. Il can tell it when | sec it
that's about all"
''Pshaw-' exclaimed Jim. in n 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
n with the blasted pine at its base.
I say il must have heen dropped there.
and that il came from the Houghton
district. and Tom here declares that it
cropped out on the hill But is no
matter 50 loag a. you can't tell the
difference. Come along. boys"
The boys followed him in mute be-
wildcrment, AMI when they 20, around
the corner were amazed to see their
leader kink mp with laughter.
What's the joke?~ asked Mart. with
n puzzled look Does anyone see the
point
what Is Ia scoEnb DOING asked
Jim. without answering the general
query.
standing with his hands in his
pockets. answered Anderson. after
taking 4 careful .Psep is that the
joke
NO. said Jim. after ind lging in
another kink. the joke will come in
about an hour. when you'll zee Bas-
comb roofing away with pick and
shovel on the top Of Fox hill D6dn',
YOU see the cunning CLEAN in his eye
when ! pat the chunk under his no~es
Well. I did. and IL he isn't on the hill
inside % an hoar. i; will b. because he
can't i~ly. beg or borrow the tools
The boys saw the joke and roared.
Everybody in Bo~co knew that Fox
hill had been thoroughly pros.
pected. and hat there wasn't ar
ounce % ore in Il. and when they saw
the Yankee climbing the hill. sure
enough. they fairly whcoPed Il wa.
such a good joke that they told the old
folks. and they enjoyed il, too
Glazer. the s~torekeepcr. vowed he
would set Of some fireworks in has
combs honor. and four or FIVE choies
spirits. who regulated the affairs oi
the nation by sitting on Glazers bar
rels and boxes aud consuming tobaecs
for nine hours a day. made prrpara
lions To give the foolish prospeetor i
calathumpian serenade-
Aud. what i more To the purpose,
they did When BaSeomb came down
from Fox hill at nightfaII he looked
woebcgone and Jagged out. and h,
tried to sneak into the hotel through