Arizona republican., 1899-03-07

are you going to put in your coop when it is done?"
 That is also Miss Lambs doing. You see, she knows all about my poultry craze-knows Pm saving up to go into the chicken business, 1 mean-and yes terday she showed me a chance to be gin. The folks where she boards are regular chicken cranks, you know fine stock, incubators, and all that. Well, yesterday she heard Mrs. Jansen say that she had a hen so determined tC set that she couldn't break her up. and that she'd sell her very cheap to get rid of her. So Miss Lamb told her about me. and she offered to sell me the hen and setting of Is eggs-all good stock too, mind you-for one dollar. Don't you call that layout, now?"
 ''Tis, for a fact. And you happened to have the doilar?"
 ''Yes, I've saved up $1.15, and if can get the coop done I'm going after school tonight for the hen.'
 And I suppose you will buy bicy- cle with the proceeds? But that does2t explain why you are using rusty nails and a stone hammer"
 Why, you see, our hammer is losT, as usual. Some of the children are d. ways getting away with it, and l can't afford to spend my extra b cents cn nails. That has to go for chicken feed, and I don't know when I'll have chance to earn any more. So I'm draw ing these nails out of the boxes on the k:nd.ing pile. They are really mine, you know l worked for them at MT. Lakes grocery last vacation"
 "Going into business on a strictly cash basis, eh?'
 "Yes, sir-ee! That's my ticket, every time.''
 Been reading the life of Rockefeller and all those penniless-boy millionaires, 1 suppose?''
 Jim flushed.
 "Weil, that's the right way to begin, anyhow,'' he said, sturd;ly, wrenching at d stubborn nail with the cold chisel; but do wish they wouldn' t always lose the hammer"
 ''Why don't you wait till it turns up?"
 ''Too much risk. You must make hay while the sun shines, you know in other words, set hens while they're in the notion.''
 "Going into the poultry business with one hen is too slow for me. I'm going to Klondike as soon as school is out. and when I strike it rich in mines you'll be puttering away with an old clucking hen and a half dozen scrawny 
 "All right" responded Jim, cheerily. Tt may be slow, but a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. "
 (Which, being translated, means a hen in the coop is worth two mines in the ground suppose?"
 That's about the size of it. But ! say. Sam. before you start for Klondike won't you please hand me that stone lying at your feet-the smooth one that looks like petrifed potato? This oose granite chips off so."
 ''It does look like potato-the white variety," said Sam, tossing the stone to Jim.
 Thank you. This will make a fine hammer-so hard and smooth"
 "Ha! ha! ha! I should say so.'' for It the first stroke on the rusty mai! head the stone broke in two. one-half falling to the ground and the nail head grazing Jim's hand As he turned his hand over to examine the scratch the broken surface of the stone caught his eye. He gave loud whistle.
 Look here, Sam. Stop your laugh ing and see what is inside of your white elephant potato"
 With that keen interest in 'speci mems" which is the natural birthrighs of every Rocky mountain boy Sam stepped eagerly forward.
 "Geode?"
 ''Not much! Nothing so common as that. never saw anything like it.'
 What do you reckon it is?
 Jim shook his head. turning the stone from side to side and letting the sun light play over it's surface and reveal it's delicate beauty. for in the heart Of the brown stone lay a circular ribbed hollow lined with mother-of- pearl and in one side Of this polished | nest was a cluster of crystals.
 Tt must be the impression of fossil | she'll" said Sam, eying it intently.
 Why, yes-of course"
 And Jim stopped to pick up the other half of he stone.
 eS, here It IS. D1d you ever see 1 so perfect? Some spiral thing hat seems to go way down into the ,tone. Just look at the coloring, will i you? Rainbow tints, every one! AnI see ?-here is the hole where that Iit le bunch of crystals was broken out. md the inside of the shell, or animal whichever it isis lined with crystals Is far down as you can see"
 'sJim, you're in luck You can sell i: 1t the museum, and for a good price, oo."
 ''No. I shall give it to Miss Lamb for ler cabinet. I owe her something for fer starting me in business"
 T do believe. Jim, you'd give away our head if it was not well fastened on our shoulders. But come, there's the irst bell and we must hurry"
 Miss Lambs admiration of the fossil