St. Tammany farmer., 1905-11-11

for-that they look up an assayer, pro-
vided it could be done with safety, and
let him test it. So the next day they
drove to town, left the team at liv-
cry barn and together went by train
to Columbus to have the material
tested.
Having reached Columbus they
started uptown, and very soon met an
intelligent looking man, who, OF
course, was one OF the gang. Stepping
I'D to him in businesslike way, the
High Mark" asked if he could tell
him whether there was an assayer
Office in the city.
ooh. yes" said the man, and di-
rected them to a certain building
where an assayer's Office was on the
top floor.
All this looked plausible, and when
they reached the top floor sure enough,
there they found a sign over one OF the
doors: .sU. S. Assayer's Office"
A man, in short sleeves, with no col
lar. and wearing duck apron-another
member of the gang-greeted them
pleasantly.
could we have piece of metal test
ed?" asked the CRATER.
ssTo be sure" said the assayer.
"Can you positively tell us whether
or not it is gold?"
..Why not? That is what am here
for"
7. .tNow," said the CRATER, producing
the chunk of metal, Il wish you would
first show us how you test metal, and
then test this in our presence.
Every WE'LL" said the assayer. ITO
give you demonstration. will produce
three or four pieces of brass and copper,
then piece Of gold of such low karat
that it will not stand the test. After
this, I will test pieces of gold. Here is
some acid that nothing but pure gold
can stand"
So saying, he picked up piece OF
brass and placing drop OF the acid
upon it let them see how quickly 1t be-
gan to boil and turn green. Then he
tried piece of copper and a piece OF low
karat gold with the same results. Then.
picking up the chunk of gold" he
placed the acid upon it without affecting
it in the least.
'sNow,'' said he, "we have tested th=
outside; suppose we drill into the in
side" After drilling into the metal an
inch or two he filed up the hole with
acid, which did not in the least affect it
Gentlemen, you needn't worry about
this, it's all right" he said.
What is tho value OF that chunk?'
asked the High Mark.
Il can tell by putting the needles to ii
and weighing i" said the assayer, and,
after a moments figuring, ne said:
'aThat is worth a little over SIG, 6,O0O.' 2
"How much do we owe you?" asked
the farmer, excitedly.
sOh, about so cents" the accommo-
dating assayer replied. 1--WE never
charge much for information -
Thanking him for his kindness, the
Crater" and s1Rummy" placed the
gold bar" (as the assayer had called
it), In the bag. They returned to the
farmers home in high spirits, and again
buried the gold bar in the wheat bin,
In the estimation Of the CRATER. the
most feasible way to dispose Of it 4 IL Tor
one Of them to go alone to some l1-ge
city and have the bar made into several
ferent dealers. He even limited that he
would be willing to do it.
Two men together" he said, would
be likely to create some suspicion, as Of
fering the gold for sale is different
from calling upon an assayer for infor-
nation.
This suggestion was intended to make
the farmer suspect that his partner was
working scheme.to beat him out OF his
half Of the gold. .ss
The following morning telegraph
messenger came to the farmers house
with . telegram for the CRATER, which
read: