The Lamoille news. (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1877-1881, 1879-05-28

I ANNaa " SAe" VI 0SAA AAAn NplAt pert
had kicked him out, declaring that his
piece of money was forgery"
A hope sprang up in the coin col
lector's heart-an inkling that some
great find was near at hand. Instinc-
lively he rose from the dinner table, de-
termined to set out at once in search of
the coin. General Fox, the host, being
himself the most enthusiastic of col
lectors, understanding what it is to have
fit of numismatic fever, excused his
guests further presence at the dinner.
Out started the numismatist from Ken
sington, and posted, as quick as a cab
could take him, to Islington, for at
Islington he knew an Oriental who kept
up communication with those curious
waits from the East, who only turn up
in the greatest cities of the world. A
trail was discovered at Islington itself,
and soon the miserable lodgings of tin
man from Bokhara were found. The
landlord of the house said: "The man
you wish to see is just going to bed. l
know he has been trying to find you.
Shall call him DOWN."
"Yes, at once" cried the expert.
In a few minutes down came the man
who had been kicked out by every coin
collector in London. With the help of
the Oriental, who acted as interpreter,
the Bokhara man was told to show i..s
com.
Then the Bokhara individual took off
his queerly-cut coat, next his embroid-
cred waistcoat, then his waistband, next
his shirt, until there was nothing on him
above the waist but his uudershirt, and
from under his armpit he drew out, with
great deliberation, dirty, sweat-be-
grimed leather case, which he laid
slowly on the table. Presently the case
was opened, and in an instant the eyes
of the expert were dazzled with that
peculiar soft, yellow sheen which only
antique gold gives forth.
1t was indeed a prize. One glance
alone was sufficient to show that it was
grand medallion, II unique coin, the
! chiefest, the rarest in the world. 1t has
taken years of study on the part of the
numismatic-a transmitted instinct, in
fact, through some generations-for this
expert to appreciate a rare coin at
single look.
Knowing that in dealing with Orien-
tails an intending purchaser must exhibit
no anxiety, the expert did not allow a
muscle of his face to move.
1t was the Bokhara man who took the
gold coin and placed it in the numisma-
lists hand. If the recipients hand had
trembled in the least with excite
ment, the willy Oriental would have
made hard bargain. 1t was supreme
effort, for when the piece was touched
only by the numismatist's fingers, n
thrill something like an electric shock
tore up his arm.
Said the Bokhara man, through the
interpreter, "That coin cost me dear. 1t
has been sweated in mans blood-his
heart blood. Seven of us found that
piece of gold. We quarreled over it.
That was natural. 1t was worth fight.
We fell on one another with knives and
daggers After while, for it was hot
work, five of the men rolled dead in the
dust. Only two Of us were left. The
other man is still in Bokhara Heagreed
that l should come to Europe to sell this
bit of gold. Since it was found | have
always carried it under my arm. There
are, understand. more skillful thieves
in England than in Bokhara. They all
say in London, those who have studied
old golden money, that this coin is a
forgery. know better. Will you buy
it, my lord?"
The expert looked at it again, and sat-
isfied himself as to its authenticity. 1t
was an antique. More than that, it was
numismatic prodigy Its weight was
nearly five ounces, or twenty staters,
and its value in gold about $IlO. On
one side was the portrait of Eucratides,
king of Bactria, who lived 1856 B. G. The
bust of the monarch was crowned with
a helmet, ornamented with the horn and
ear of the bull, q peculiar attribute of
the kings of Bactria. On the reverse
were the Dioscures, Castor and Pollux,
galloping on horseback, with the legend
III uieeh, DuSesteuS 1Metn,annu Esykynti
dog" {" the Great King Eucratides
There was defect, something like q
line, running across the field of the
piece. This defect was tue glory of the
coin. This showed the number of
blows which were required to strike
such big piece. The die with which
that coin had been stamped must have
been broken after this piece was made.
The numismatist was wild with joy, for
certainly this piece was unique. 1t was
the first, may be the last of its kind. and
there never would turn up in this world
another piece of gold like it. sH
"Ask him what he wants for it," in
quired the expert, with seeming indif-
ference; " it is worth something, of
course-its weight, say, in gold"
'-;'he Bokhara mans eyes twinkled !;
they were black. snaky eyes. II will
take 95,OO0 for it, my lord, and nothing
else," said the man, coolly, as he picked
up the coin and slipped it into the bag,
and was about putting it under his arm.
Now came the moment of trial. The
expert lighted a cigarette and smoked to
calm his nerves Then, blowing the
smoke from his lips, he said: #tll
"I'll tell you what / will do. I will
give you right now my check for 1000
for the piece. If the coin is not mine in
twenty minutes shall offer you fs0O for
it, and so on until ! get to $500. If you
don't close with me tonight, tomorrow
! will not take it any price" -