Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1909-12-30

window. while Mt the other end
Joachim Miroux and Cab Trefentec.
the two finders of gold by the ton.
seated themselves. The passions of
sailors are as summer clouds. raging
fiercely, but soon over. These. for
getting their blows, began to ask
themselves to the extent OF WEAKNESS
why on earth they had run aground
here into such a dark hole, when
peace could have been made so much
more easily .over a glass In the near
by tavern. The effect on them OF
the policeman's hooking laugh had
been like that OF cold douche. They
were struck all of a sudden by the alb
surdity of their position. Besides. the
place rather imposed Itself upon them
like the 'pretorium of a court, and they
were not sure that their quarrel was
worth the trouble OF bringing 1t here.
II was not beyond the commissaire to
deem 1t too trifiing to warrant his be-
ing disturbed; and at the hour for
his cigar. too! II he happened to
take offense, then good-by to the case!
lie was not always in humor for
testing. All. IF they were only free to
unravel themselves. as they say in
English.
Just here the policeman reappeared
He had had no need to push into the
smoking-room of the Hotel des Mes
sageries; the syndic had been there
already. "The gentlemen" he an
nounced, will be mere In moment !"
The commissaire entered, followed
by the syndic. He opened the door to
his private office, and. addressing the
men of The Trust in God with un-
wonted jovialty: Come. my good fell
lows" said he; "tell me all about it."
The poor devils hardly looked like
good fellows just then. They marched
in single file to the straw mat which
lay before the threshold of the Office.
There Garandel hesitated as before
an insurmountable obstacle, kind of
sacred barrier. He began to take OF
his sabots deferentially, with the idea
as well of gaining time.
TIA, ia, ta!" cried the commissaire,
who had already seated himself at his
desk; don't make so much cere-
mony" He pushed his condescension
to the point of asking them to be
seated-yes, to sit down in his pres
ence, and on those luxurious seats
which never before had felt the con
tact of sailors trousers! They com
piled with great embarrassment, In
the awkward and constrained atti
tudes of those out of their element.
The policeman and the syndic stood
in the doorway. their heads barred
There were a few minutes of solemn
silence. At last, the commissaire
spoke: Come" said he, "let us pro
coed in order. know the story in
brief; the syndic has told me word
and on the way Capt. Gueval has con
fided to me what he has learned. But
| must hear 1t from your own mouths
in order to write down the deposi
tons. Before proceeding to interro
gate you, however, it is my duty to re
call to you the instructions OF the
maritime code relating to derelicts."
That's it. monsieur" said Garan
del. with evident satisfaction. Lay
down the law to these imbeciles, fol-
they are certain asses. Asses!" He
had recovered his anger, and with II
a little assurance.
The commissaire smiled and contin
ued In a benevolent tone: Listen
then, how the ordinance of 1851 and
that OF 1871, which regulate the juris
prudence in this matter, are ex
pressed.
Miroux and Trefentec crossed theil
arms and relaxed into a religious i'm
mobility, like two stone statues. The
commissaire read aloud, emphasizing
each word: Property lost in the sea
from shipwreck or other causes ant
then recovered from it is to be solo
by the government. A third of the
result of the sale'-you understand
clearly-'a third" he repeated, "ii
allotted to the finder, and the two re
naming thirds is the property of tn,
state, If there is no reclamation b.
the owners during the term of yea
and day. In this case | do no
think you have any reclamation t
fear"
The three men, taking the remarl
for a joke, gave feeble laugh. "Oh
sno!" they exclaimed, simultaneously
striking their mouths with their cap,
rolled up into balls.
The commissaire continued: so
you understand perfectly, don't you
You are three discoveries, if am no
rmistak There is a third to divid,
between the three of you; you, then
each have right to a ninth of tn,
total value of the derehct."
"Ah!" cried Joachim Miroux ant
Cab Trefentec. with an accent of tri
mmph, pointing toward Garandel.
The skipper had grown liyid, ant
with brusque movement that mad,
his chair crack and caused the blood.
handkerchief, with which his heat
had been bound, to slip down ahou
his nack like a cravat he said. npor