The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1922-11-30

ores as the samples were brought Z
him from the dirty, dusty. bin-hlle'
rooms Of the Sampler proper. A quee
light came into the old fellows eye
as he looked into those Of ROber
| Fairchild.
Don't get 'em too high" he ad
mOnished. Falrchild stared.
"Whatf"
Hopes. I've seen many fellow
come In just Ike you. I've been her,
thirty year. They call me Old Under
taker Chastine," :"
| FairchIld laughed.
But I'm hoping"
yep, Son" Undertaken Chastin.
I looked over his glasses. You're ius,
Ike all the rest. You're hoping. Tro,
'er out and let the old Undertaken
] have a 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 10
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 Of
purity Of something at least. But Un-
deriaker Chastine shook his head.
Cant tell" he announced. Feels
heavy, looks black and all that. But
II might not be anything but straight
lead with a sprlnkling 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 10
the furnace. with Its high-chimneyed
draft, and filed a contalner 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 cooI sour heels"
Long waiting-while the eccentric
old assayer told doleful tales Of other
days, tales OF other men who lad
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 demonetization 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.
lie turned to tae 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
'oughed once or twice in an embar-
rassed manner; finally to turn to
Tairchild.
Young man." he queried. at aint
my OF my business, but where'd you
,et this oreT"
out Of my mine, the Blu. Poppyl"
sure you amt been vlsitinET
What do you mean?" Falrchild
vas staring at him in wonderment
Old Undertaken Chastlne rubbed his
ands on his big apron and continued
c look over his glasses.
WhatH you take for the Blue
'oppy mine. SonT
"Why-it's not for sale"
Sure II amt going to be-soonT-
Absolutely not" Then Fairchild
aught the queer look in the mans
yes. what do you mean by all
lese questions1 Is that good ore
r isn't itT'
Son, just one more questIon-and I
ope you won't get mad at me. I'm
funny old fellow, and / do a lot
things that don't seem right at
lie beginning. But I've saved a few
oung bloods like you from trouble
ore than once. You amt been high.
'adlngT"
"You mean"
Just exactly what I saId-wander.
g around somebody else's property
10 picking up few samples, as Il
ere to mix in with your own prod ,
~ Or planting them where they
n be found easily by aProspectivs
lyer?"
Fairchlld's chin set. and his arms
owed slowly. Then he laughed. mo $
I'll give you my word l haven't (
en- high-gradlng,' he said. "My
rtner and drilled a hole in the
OF wall Of the stope where we were c
'rking hoping to find the rest of n s.
In that was plnchlng out on us. "
I'd we got this stun. Is II any good r. Il
rs II goOd?" Again Old Under. n
ker Chastine looked over his glasses. 81
hats just the trouble. It's too p
so good that II seems there's
nethlng funny about It. Son, tina, pl
III assays within a gram, almost
the ore they're taking out OF ths Sc
yer Queenw
What's that" Fairchlld had leaped ST
ward and grasped the other man 81
the shoulders, his eyes aglesm, hI, or
'ole being trembling with excite ng
Mt. You're not kidding me about A,
You're sure-you're sure?' an
Boy, you've got a bonanza, IL this ho
ds out. It's almost identical. l never g.
two samples Of ore that wers ON
re alike. Let's see. the R,ua -