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Capt. A. J. Hulburt remarked to N. Bell, both of whom are among the oldest timers there, “That was a pretty sharp trick, that ‘Arrastra’ Johnson worked on Judge Bennett years ago in Silver City.” “Yes, it was pretty smooth,” replied Mr. Bell. “Old Arrastra” was a cunning old chap and always laying for suckers. He gathered up all the old babbit metal to be found around Pinos Altos mills, got it in the best shape possible, brought it down to Silver where Judge Bennett was engaged in the mercantile business, and to assist the advance- ment of mining interests, announced that he would purchase and pay cash for gold and silver bullion, retort and amalgam. “Arrastra” conceived the idea that he might be able to work off his babbit metail as silver retort, and ap- proaching the judge, offered it to him. It did not look exactly right, and the judge, who was paying about $1 per ounce for good clean re- tort, informed “Arrastra” that he would have to clean it before it was purchased. “Arrastra” demurred to this proposition, stating that there was another party interested with him, and that tampering with the bullion would not be satis- factory to him. He agreed to take 75 cents per ounce for the almost worthless babbit metal, which was paid him. He went off chuckling to himself that he had worked the judge. The bullion was expressed to New York and found to be worthless.