The Filer record. (Filer, Idaho) 1919-1930, 1923-01-04

light came into the old fellows eyes
as he looked into those Of Robert
Fairchild.
Don't get 'em too hlghr be adj
monished. Fairchlld stared.
"Whatr
Hopes. I've seen many q fellow
come In just like you. I've been here
thirty year. They call me Old Under
taker chastinel"
Fairchild laughed.
"But I'm hoping"
"Yep, Son." Undertaken Chastina
looked over his glasses. you're just
like all the rest. You're hoping. Tros
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 II was. for some time before he
realized II; the can was heavy, ex-
ceedIngly heavy. giving evidence Of
purity OF something at least. But I'm
dertaker Chastine shook his head.
"Can't tell" he announced. Feels
heavy. looks black and all that. But
II might not be anything hut straight
lead with a sprinkliDg Of silver. And
then again"
lie began TO tinker about with his
pottery. lie dragged out a scoop from
somewhere and prepared various
white powders. Then he turned to
the furnace. with Its high-chimneyed
draft. and filed 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 waitlng-while 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 20 depart
with the knowledge that they were
no richer than before. days when the
news OF the demonstration 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 10 the furnace and took
out the pottery dish In which the
sample had been smelling white-hot
now. lie cooled II and tlnkered with
his chemicals. He fused with his
coughed once or twice In an embar-
raised manner: finally TO turn to
Fairchlld.
young man." he queried. ut amt |
any of my business. but where'd you |
get this ore2'
"out OF my mine. the Blue Poppyl"
"Sure you amt been visitlng?"
"What do you meanT Fairchild
was staring at him In wonderment.
Old Undertaken Chastine rubbed his
hands on his big apron and continued
e look over his glasses.
"What1l you take for the Blue
Poppy mine. SOM"
Nny-ltS not Tor SAFE.
"Sure II amt going 10 be-soon?-
Absolutely not" Then Fairchlld
'aught the queer look In the mans
yes. "What do you mean by all
hese questions7 Is that good ore
,r isn't it?'
"S0n. just one more questlon-and l
lope you won't get mad at me. I'm
funny old fellow. and | do lot
4 things that don't seem right at
he beginning. But I've saved few
'oung bloods like you from trouble
more than once. You amt been high
,radingT'
"You mean"
"Just exactly what I sald-wander-
ng sround somebody else's property
nd clicking up few samples. as II
fere. 20 mix In with your own prod
ctl OR planting them where they
an be found easily by a prospective
uyerr
Fairchild's chin set. and his arms
ioved slowly. Then he laughed. "No
IN give you my word haven't
cen high-gradlng" he said. "Aly
artner and I drilled hole In the
Dot wall of the stope where We were
'orklng. hoping TO find the rest OF a
elm that was plnching out on us I
nd &c got this stun. Is II any good9"
"is II goodf" Again Old Under
lker Chastine looked over his glasses.
That's just the trouble. It's too
cod--it's 50 good that Il seems there's ..
funny about Il. Son. that
iuf assays within n gram. almost. .
Z the ore they're taking out Of the
liver Queen,-
whats thatr- Fairchild had leaped 1
inward and grasped the other man /
, the shoulders. his eyes sxlram. his
hole being trembling with excite
ent you're not Kidding me about
, You're sure-you're sure1- :
Roy. you've Got a BONANZA. n this
"a. ..s.f H. aI.,...~s f.f..ff-.r y .