The Tupelo journal., 1905-10-20

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 a 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
up % him in a businesslike way, the
High Mark" asked if he could tell
him whether there was an assayers
Office in the city.
ooh, yes" said the a and di-
racted them to a certain building
where an assayer's Office was on the
top floor.
All this looked plausible, and when
thew reached the top floor sure enough.
there they found a sign over n OF the
doors. .U. S. Assayer's Office"
A man, in short sleeves, with no col
lar. and wearing a duck apron-another
member of the gang-greeted them
pleasantly.
Gould we have a piece OF metal test
ed?" asked the CRATER.
ITO be sure" said the assayer.
"Can you positively tell us whether
or not it is gold?"
why not? That is what l am here
for"
"Now," 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"
Very WE'LL" said the assayer. ITO
give you a demonstration, | will produce
three or four pieces of brass and copper,
then a piece of gold of such low karat
that it will not stand the test. After
this, l will test pieces of gold. Here is
some acid that nothing but pure gold
can stand"
So saying, he picked up a piece Of
brass and placing a drop of the acid
upon it let them see how quickly it be-
gan to boil and turn green. Then he
tried a 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, 1--WE have tested the
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 the value of that chunk?"
asked the High Mark"
Il can tell by putting the needles to it
and weighing it." said the assayer, and,
after a moments figuring, ne said:
THAT is worth a little over $4,000"
How much do We owe your" asked
the farmer, excitedly.
ooh, about so cents" the accommo-
dating assayer replied. I'VE never
charge much for information"
Thanking him for his kindness, the
Crater and .Rummy" placed the
gold bar" Gas 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
m~ostfeasible way to dispose Of It wx4 Tor
Of them to go alone to some lG-Fc
city and have the bar made into several
ferent dealers. He ever limited that he
would be willing to do 1t.
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 q scheme to beat him out Of his
half OF the gold.
The following morning : telegraph
messenger came to the farmers house
with 4 telegram for the CRATER. which
read: