The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1897-05-15

[---.4sgmrgDM and calling his at
EENNlSl. y ~, tention toa guines
THz. SM,y that hung from hi
S1NxS 81 w watch chain, said
E.-HSssh w "What do you
QGSsN.HgI find on that?"
asassa1> The other ex
amined the coin closely, and upor
ono side of the medallion saw en-
graved in exceedingly small but dis
tinct letters this inscription, "Write
P. 0. Box 1901, London"
Looking at his host he said: "What
does that mean? Is there story con-
nectea with it,"
The Englishmsn laughed.
eyes, story in five chapters. Come
here;" and he led the way into his
library. 'FThere are the chapters, "
he continued, opening desk and pro-
ducing five envelopes, each containing
a letter; "and I am going to ask you
to read them, for am sure they will
interest you. Before you begin,
however, I Will give you the preface
to the tale, or otherwise you would
not understand it. In 1875, when
was but boy, I was sent to Australia
to look after my fathers sheep bust
ness. Much OF the time I was obliged
to be in the bush, and when there the
hours often hung heavily upon my
hands. One frightfully hot Sunday I
lay gasping for air under thorn tree
near my cabin when I noticed some
thing glittering in the dust of the
roadway not twenty yards distant.
After specializing upon what it might
be for perhaps an hour, I mustered
sufficient energy to rise from my ham.
mock and investigate. It was this
coin, but without the inscription you
have noted. Returning to my siesta
l began to wonder how it came there,
for not q soul had passed that way for
more than a month, except my own
men; and neither they nor had any
gold. My wonder grew upon ltseif
until Mt last it occurred to me how
strange story such q piece of money
could tell if it could relate its adven-
lures, and from that idea it was but
step 10 the inscription and trial of
my fantastic notion.
The first time I visited Sydney, I
took the coin to jeweler and had him
engraVe it as you have seen. I put
the London P. o. box on, for London
is known the world around, and 1901
is and always has been my box,
whether in Australia or at home. No
sooner was the gold prepared than I
started it on its journeyings; for T
paid it to the very jeweler who marked
it. Now you may read the letters"
"But," said his friend, show does it
come that you have the guinea now,
If you parted with it twenty years ago
in Australian"
"Ah," replied the other, with a
smile, "that may be termed the sequel
to the story of the letters. Read those
and then [ will add that also."
The first was written upon heavy
paper, in Spanish with the following
translation attached:
II. s. NJ. Sloop of War, Infanta.
MELBOURNE, Mch. 9th, 1880.
Respected Si1-I have recently received
an English gold piece which bears tho fol-
lowing words: "Write p. 0. Box 1901. Lon
dom The same was paid to me some DAYS
since by u Malay fruit trader while we we're
ut Batavia, Java. Not observing the epgrny
ing until the Malay had loft the ship I am
unable to state where he obtained the money.
we are about to leave for Barcelona, and
should l have opportunity to visit London
during my stay ashore shall do myself tho
honor TO personally exhibit tho wandering
guinea to Box 1901.
With great respect, am, Sir,
NAylos CARDENzA,
Lieut. H. S. N. N.
"This comes next" said the Enc.
lishman "yon may wonder at its date,
and yet you can probably imagine the
tragedy that intervenes; and he
handed rather dingy sheet to the
The writing was coarse and I'M.
formed but evidently in mans hand.
IN the German language translated as
follows:
PRETORIA, TRANsvAAL, S. A..
June 14th, 1882.
have in my possession guinea, attached
to piece OF gold chain, which I think was
q watch chain. 1t is marked Write p. O.
Box l00l, London, and so do. have had
the coin some three months and received it
from Namaqua native with whom I was
trading Tor ivory on the Molopo River. He
was Il chef and wore tho thing around his
neck. We were together several DAYS. and |
when l saw the gold piece was u guinea /
was curious enough to ask him where he GOT |
1t. He said one OF his men took it in war |
from an Angra, or West Coast man, I pre- |
sumo that fellow got it from sone wreck or |
even from some dead or dyin. sailor on the |
shore. II the piece is OF any particular value
rs keepsake will send 1t to London upon |
request. Write me here.
STEIN HUFELAxD.
The American looked up.
"Poor Cardenza !! Evidently his ship
vas lost and the savages robbed his
BODY"
The Englishman bowed.
"When received this letter I made
aarrh throuuh Tho ,nor;r, ~o,.1 r.