Sioux County pioneer., 1922-10-26

ores as tne samples were brought t.
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 hight" he ad-
monished. Fairchild stared.
"What?"
Hopes. I've seen many a fellow
come In just like you. I've been here
thirty year. They call me Old Under
taker Chastine!"
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, Fairchild 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 1t was, for some time before he
realized 1t; the can was heavy, ex.
ceedingly heavy, giving evidence of
purity of something at least. But Un-
dertaker Chastine shook his head.
Cant tell," he announced. "Feels
heavy, looks black and all that. But
it might not be anything but straight
lead with sprinkling 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 of 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 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.
He turned to the furnace and took
out the pottery dish In which the
sample had been smelling white-hot
now. He cooled it and tinkered with
his chemicals. He fused with his
scales, he adjusted his glasses, he
coughed once or twice In an embar-
rassed manner; finally to turn to
Fairchild.
young man." he querled, ut amt
any of my business. but where'd you
get this ere2"
"Out Of my mine, the Blue Poppyl"
"Sure you amt been .visiting?"
"What do you meanT Fairchild
was staring at him in wonderment.
Old Undertaken Chastine rubbed his
hands on his big apron and continued
to look over his glasses.
|
Poppy mine, SOM"
"Why-its not for SALE"
"Sure it amt going to be-soon? :"
Absolutely not" Then Fairchild
caught the queer look in the mans
eyes. "What do you mean by all
these questions7 Is that good ore
or isn't it?'
"Son, just one more question-and I
hope you won't get mad at me. I'm
a funny old fellow, and 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.
grading?"
"You mean"
"Just exactly what said-wander-
ing around somebody else's property
and picking up a few samples, as It
were, to mix in with your own prod
uct7 Or planting them where they
can be found easily by prospective
buyer?"
Fairchild's chin set, and his arms
moved slowly. Then he laughed. mo
III give you my word haven't
been high-grading," he said. my
partner and I drilled a hole in the
foot wall Of the stope. where we were
working, hoping to find the rest of
vein that was pinching out on US.
And we got this stuff. Is 1t any good7"
"Is 1t good?" Again Old Under
taker Chastine looked over his glasses.
'That's just the trouble. It's too
good-it's SO good that 1t seems there's
something funny about 1t. Son. that
stuff assays within gram, almost,
Of the ore they're taking out of the
Silver Queen!"
"What's that?' 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
it7 You're sure-you're sure?"
"BOy, you've got q bonanza, If this