“Next he goes in for—wait uh bit; I’m gittin’ ahead of my yarn. You asked about th’ de-funct Copper King mine uh while ago, and as that is part of th’ story I’ll connect it all up.
“Me and Magpie has these two claims here on Plenty Stone Creek which look promisin’, and we’re figgerin’ that maybe we can git some one to buy us out. Magpie has been down to Piperock after grub, and when he comes back he’s got uh proposition.
“I knowed all th’ time that we hadn’t ought to let uh third party into our outfit, but Magpie argues that uh captalist like this feller, Peters, will help smooth our trail uh heap, and bein’ right on th’ ground he can land us uh buyer.
“Peters was uh queer cuss. He was about knee-high to uh tall Injun, and spent his spare time tryin’ to cultivate hair on his face. He wore uh little brown derby hat, and it had uh nervous way uh wigglin’ around on top of his head when he was talkin’. He didn’t have no chin to speak of—jist sort a slid away from his lower lip. He had money and uh thirst fer th’ great West, so he comes to Piperock and opens an office—mines and real estate.
“Mebby he’s kumtux to th’ real estate, but on mines he don’t show uh trace. He has six little books on mineralogy which he reads continually; and when uh feller has to consult uh book every time he sees uh piece uh rock he’s in th’ same class with th’ jasper who opens th’ Home Doctor book every time he feels off color—he shore finds symptoms of everything.
“Me and Magpie needs uh grub stake fer our Winter work if we don’t sell out, and bein’ as Peters is plumb wild to be uh mine owner we lets him buy uh third interest in our claims.
“As Magpie remarks—‘He comes uh stranger and we takes him in.’
“I ain’t strong fer Peters, but after livin’ with Magpie all these years I don’t shy at any ordinary freak.
“Now, Magpie has been plumb rational fer several months, and I’m beginning to think he’s sort a outgrown his love fer something new in th’ scientific line, but I’m wrong. It’s only uh sort a ‘Not dead but sleepin’’ proposition, ’cause one day Magpie pilgrims in from Piperock with uh packload uh black-covered books.
“I shore recognizes th’ symptoms and goes up to Tellurium Woods’ cabin and bunks with him that night. Tellurium is workin’ uh copper prospect which he calls th’ ‘Copper King,’ and when I tells him why I’m there he welcomes me openly—him and Magpie ain’t jist what you’d call friendly.