The Raymer enterprise., 1922-11-30

him from the dirty, dusty, bin-nlled
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 EN- too high!" he ad-
monished. Fairchlld stared.
"What1"
slopes. I've seen many q fellow
come In Just like you. I've been here
thirty year. They call me Old Under
taker Chasdne!"
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."
S0bered now. Fairchild reached for
bis 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 Il; the can was heavy, ex-
ceedIngly heavy. giving evidence If
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 q sprinkling Of silver. And
then again"
He began to tinker about with his
pottery. He dragged out a scoop from
somewhere and prepared various
white powders. Then he turned to
the furnace. with Its hlgh-chimneyed
draft, and filled q 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, we'll. you
just cool your heels"
Long waiting-whlle the eccentric
old assayer told doleful tales of other
days, tales Of other men who had
rushed In, Just like Fairchlld, with
their sample Of ore, only to depart
with the knowledge that they were
no richer than before. days when the
news Of the decentralization Of silver
swooped down upon the little town
like 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 1t and tInkered with
his chemicals. He fused with his
scales, he adjusted his glasses. he
coughed once or twice In an embar-
raised 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"
"Sure you amt been vlsltlngi"
"What do you meanT Fairchlld
was staring at him In wonderment.
Old Undertaken Chastine rubbed his
hands on his big apron and continued
to look over his glasses.
"What'll you take for the Blue
Poppy mine, SOM"
"Why-irs not for sale"
"Sure It amt going to be-soon?"
Absolutely not" Then Fairchlld
caught the queer look in the mans
eyes. "What do you mean by NIL
these questions7 Is that good ore
or isn't lt7'
"Son. Just one more question-and !
hope you won't get mad at me. I'm
funny old fellow, and I do a lot
Of things that don't seem right at
the beginning. But I've saved few
young bloods like you from trouble
more than once You amt been high.
gradlngT"
"You mean"
"Just exactly what I said-wander.
Ing around somebody else's property
and picking up few samples, as It
were. to mix In with your own prod.
uct? Or planting them where they
can be found easily by a prospective
buyer?"
Fairchild's chin set, and his arms
moved slowly. Then he laughed. "No
I'll give you my word I haven't
been high-gradlng." he said. my
partner and I drilled a hole In the
foot wall Of the stope where we we're
working. hoping to find the rest Of
vein that was pinching out on US.
And we got this stun. Is It any goodr
rs It goodT' Again Old Under.
taker Chastine looked over his glasses.
THAT'S Just the trouble. It's too
good-it's 30 good that It seems there's
something funny about II. Son. that
stuff assays within a gram, almost,
Of the ore they're taking out Of the
Silver Queenl"
whats thatT Fairchlld had leaped
forward and grasped the other man
by the shoulders, his eyes agleam, his
whole being trembling with excite
ment. you're not kidding me about
1T You're sure-you're surer
"Boy, you've got a bonanza. II this
holds out. It's almost identical. never
saw two samples Of ore that were
more alike. Let's see, the Blue