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

| SxylzS WY watch chain, said
| gs-Gcs, M W "What do you
| VMs,SSSsyS#:M find on that?"
ss&tSsssa> The other ex.
amined the coin closely, and upon
one 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.
nected with it,"
The Englihmsn laughed.
"Yes, story in five chapters. Come
here" and he led the way into his
library. "There are the chapters, ="
he continued, opening desk and pro-
ducing five envelopes, each containing
letter; "and I am going to ask you
to read them, for I am sure they will
interest you. Before you begin,
however, l will give you the preface
to the tale, or otherwise you would
not understand it. In 1875, when I
was but a boy, I was sent to Australia
to look after my fathers sheep bust
ness. Much OF the time | was obliged
to be in the bush, and when there the,
hours often hung heavily upon my
hands. One frightfully hot Sunday [
lay gasping for air under q 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 soul had passed that way for
more than month, except my own
men; and neither they nor I had any
gold My wonder grew upon itself
until ut last it occurred to me how
strange q story such piece of money
could tell if it could relate its adyen-
lures, and from that idea it was but q
step 10 the inscription and trial Of
my fantastic notion.
The first time visited Sydney, I
took the coin to a jeweler and had him
engrave it as you have seen. I put
the London P. @. 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
started it on its journeyings; for I
paid it to the very jeweler who marked
it. Now you may read the letters"
"But," said his friend, chow 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, shat 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:
Fl. s. NJ. Sloop OF War, Infanta.
MELBOURNE, Mcb. 9th, 1889.
Respected Sir:-I have recently received
M English gold piece which belrs the fol-
lowing words; "Wrte P. 0. Box 1901, Lon
don." The same was paid to me some DAYS
since by Il Malay fruit trader while we we're
at Batavia, Java. Not observing the engray-
ing until the Malay had left the ship I am
unable to state where he obtained the money,
We are about to leave for Barcelona. and
should have opportunity to visit London
during my stay ashore shall do myself tho
honor 10 personally exhibit the wandering
guinea to Box 1901.
With great respect, am, Sir,
NAyIos CARDENzA.
Lieut.. II. S. NJ. N.
''This comes next" said the Eng
lishman; "yon may wonder at its date,
and yet you can probably imagine the
tragedy that lntervenes; )" and he
handed rather dingy sheet to the
American.
The writing was coarse and I'm.
formed but evidently in mans hand,
IN the German language translated as
follows:
PRETORIA, TRANsyAAL, S. A.,
June 18th, 1882.
have In my possession guinea. attached
! to piece OF gold chain, which l think was
watch chain. It is marked Write P, o,
Box l00l, London, and so do. I have had
, the coin some three months aud received it
from Il Namaqua native with whom l was
trading for ivory on the Molopo River. He
was chef and wore the thing around his
neck. We were together several days, and
when l saw the gold piece was q guinea
was curious enough to ask him where he got
it. He said one OF his men took it in war
from an Angra, or West Coast man. | pre-
sumo that fellow got it from 50 ne wreck or
even from some dead or dying sailor on the
shore. II the piece is Of any particular value
rs u Keepsake will send 1t to London upon
request. Write me here.
STEIN HUFELAND.
The American looked up.
"Poor Cardenza Evidently his ship
sas Loss and the savages robbed his
body"
The Englishman bowed.
"When received this letter made
search through the marine records, for
/ was then at home, and found that in
May, 1880. the Spanish s,oop OF war