American Fork citizen. [volume] (American Fork, Utah) 1912-1979, 1922-11-11
CHAPTER XIV


tobacco can, he threw on his coat
and ran for the shaft. Then he
pulled himself up. singing, and Owed
into the fresh-made drifts Of a new
storm as he started toward town !;
nor did he stop to investigate the fast
fading footprints Of some one who
evidently had passed the mine short
time before.
Into town and through It to the
scrambling buildings Of the Sampler.
where the main products Of the mines
Of Ohadl found their way before 60
ing to the smelter. There he swung
wide the door and turned to the little
room on the left, the sanctum Of a
white haired. almost tottering old man
who wandered about among his test
tubes and buttons" as he figured out
the various weights and values Of the
ores as the samples were brought to
him from the dirty. dusty. bin-filled
rooms Of the Sampler proper. "A queer
light came into the old fellows eyes
as he looked into those Of Robert
Fairchild.
"Don't get 'em too highw he ad.
monished. Fairchild stared.
"Whatf"
come In just like you. I've been here
thirty year. They call me Old Under
taker Chastlne"
Fairchild laughed.
But I'm hoping"
yep. Son." Undertaken Chastine
looked over his glasses. You're Just
like all the rest. You're hoping. Trot
'er out and let the old Undertaken
have look at 'er."
Sobered now, Fairchlld reached for
his tobacco can, which had been
stuffed full of every scrap Of slime
that he and AIRY had been able to
drag from the powder hole. Evident
ly. his drill had been in the ore, what
ever II was, for some time before he
realized It; the can was heavy, ex-
ceedlngly heavy. giving evidence Of
purity Of something at least. But On
dertaker Chastine shook his head.
"Can't tell" he announced. "Feels
heavy. looks black and all that. But
1t might not be anything but straight
lead with sprlnkling Of silver. And
then again"
He began to tinker about with his
pottery. He-dragged out scoop from
somewhere and prepared various
white powders. Then he turned to
the furnace, with Its high-chimneyed
draft. and filled container with the
contents of the tobacco can.
"Let 'er roast, Son." he announced.
That's the only way. Let 'er roast
and while It's getting hot, well. you
just cool your heels"
Long waiting-while the eccentric
old assayer told doleful tales VI other
days, tales Of other men who had
rushed In, Just like Fairchild, with
their sample Of ore, only to depart
with the knowledge that they were
no richer than before. days when the
news Of the demonetlzation Of silver
swooped down upon the little town
IKE some black tornado. closing down
the mines. shutting up the gambling
halls and great saloons. mailing up the
doors. even Of the Sampler. for years
| to come.
| He turned to the furnace and took
out the pottery dish In which the
sample had been smelling white-hot
now. He cooled II and tinkered with
his chemicals. He fused with his
scales, he adjusted his glasses. he
c0ughed once or twice In an embar-
rassed manner; finally to turn to
Fairchild.
"Young man." he queried, ut amt
any Of my business. but where'd you
get this oref"
"Out Of my mine. the Blue Poppy j.
"Sure you amt been visitingT
"What do you mean" Fairchnd
was staring ut him In wOnderment.
Old Undertaken Chastine rubbed hii
hands on his big apron and continued
C. look over his glasses.
"What1l you take for the Blue
Poppy mine, Sonf'
"Why---it's not for SALE"
"Sure It amt going to be--soonf 7
Absolutely not. Iheh ruHs.s
caught the queer look In the mani
eyes. "What do you mean by al
these Questionsi Is that good ore
or isn't ltT'
"Son, Just one more question-and
hope you won't get mad at me. In
O funny old fellow, and ] do 10
of things that don't seem right a
the beginning But I've saved q rev
young bloods like you from troupl'
more than once. You amt been high
grading2"
"YOu mean"
"Just exactly what said--wander
Ing around somebody else's propert.
and picking up few samples, as
were, to mix In with your own prod
uctf Or planting them where tne
: can be found easily by prospective
buyerT
Fairchild's chin set and his arm
moved slowly. Then he laughed IN
Ill give you my wasd A
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