“‘My friends and partners, it’s uh lucky thing fer you both that you’ve got uh technical as well as uh practical mining man fer uh partner in yore ventures—meanin’ myself. To th’ untaught mind of th’ average prospector, that Daylight claim might look promisin’. But I saw its defects, gentlemen, I saw its defects. Remember, I took five days in my examination, and refused to make him an offer.’
“‘But, Peters, we’ve—’ began Magpie.
“‘Beg pardon, Mr. Simpkins, but I’d like to finish. As I said before, I turned th’ proposition down, but before I returned I had an inspiration. I decided to investigate other prospects in that particular district. Now, here is where you have me to thank, gentlemen. Yesterday afternoon I ran across uh piece uh property that bids fair to make us all rich. It is located in th’ vicinity of yore former property, I believe, and is mighty rich in copper—mighty rich, speaking mildly. I beg yore pardon, Mr. Simpkins, did you speak?’
“‘Go ahead,’ mumbles Magpie, and I notices that he’s got all of that seegar in his mouth, and seems to be slowly chokin’ to death.
“‘As I started to say,’ resumed Peters, ‘I panned some of th’ drillin’s in this prospect and what do you suppose I found, gentlemen? Native copper! Why, in one pan of that dust I got at least half an ounce.’
“He paused to let this sink in. It shore listens good to me, but Magpie don’t seem elated none whatever.
“‘The owner was wise to what he had,’ continued Peters, ‘and when I offered him five thousand for his claim he laughed at me. But I refused to give up the ship, gentlemen, and after talkin’ to him nearly all day I got him to sell us half interest for that price.’
“‘Listen, Peters!’ Magpie’s Adam’s apple is doin’ uh war-dance up and down his neck as he stands there weavin’ on his heels and glarin’ down at Peters. ‘What’s that prospector’s name?’
“‘Mr. Tellurium Woods. Of course, Tellurium is only——’
“‘Yeo-o-o-ow!’ yells Magpie, kickin’ over his chair and gallopin’ to th’ door, and we hears him jist hit twice on his way down.