Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1909-12-30
A CASK
IF
GOLD
rBy eANAroLE LIE BRAZ

ner of the mole, and, with a sonorous
roll OF their sails, as they were furled,
ranging themselves alongside the va
rious wharves.
One hundred and twenty. one hun
dred and fifty boats had landed. met
questions or jests, when at the APP
proach of the one hundred and fifty
first a rumor arose, grew, spread
through the crowd. Something had
happened on THE Trust in God"
What? 1t was not known certainly,
but it was serious. One of the sail
ors was unconscious. Another was
bleeding. The skipper had his fore
head bandaged. The cabin boy-in
short, it was a boating hospital. The
surmises grew rapidly.
The Trust in God had just come
alongside. The skipper landed with
bound. His face was agitated. his
clothing in disorder; a handkerchief
dripping with sea water covered half
his face.
We'll, Garandel. what is 1t? You
have been beaten?" questioned the
syndic.
THAT is easy to be seen." respond
ed Garandel. "Oh, 1t is not ended.
They want to have 1t settled by the
commissaire. will go to the commits
saire."
Without explaining farther he
turned toward the two sailors. Come.
Miroux! Come, Trefentec! This Is
hardly the place to lower SAIL AS
they followed in the wake of their
skipper, Leontine Capedevert. the
friteuse engaged to Joachim Miroux,
ran up to her fiance.
Il do not want to fiatter you" she
Knocked, keenly mortified, but you
look like an old piece of butchers
meat"
Not resenting the compliment and
buried in thought, he contented him
self with growing between his teeth:
No matter; certainly we have the
right OF the case. Cab Trefentec and
l. Yes, and l will stake my head
on it."
You may talk of your head. Aren't
you ashamed? And for what, il you
please. have you put yourself into
such a case?"
MY faith! 1t Is on account of a
cask OF gold that has come"
Surprised by this sudden inroad, the
shop-keepers, about to put up their
shutters, pressed into the group, in
curing:
What on earth is the natter"
What? You do net know? A cask
OF gold, M. Pouliquen! The men of
The Trust in God have found a cask
of gold"
Miroux. II appeared, on draw
ing his net in, had felt resistance as
OF a heavy body floating just under wa
ter; then he had asked Cab Trefan-
tee to lend him a hand, and the cask
had come to light to reward them.
Truly 1t had not been easy by any
means to lift ii on board. You may
believe. it weighed like thunder. And
the amazement they had when they
Knocked the top off! Some liquid 1T
was they'd expected to see-brandy
rum, perhaps island wine. No. in.
deed; it was gold that rolled out,
beautiful, tawny gold, bright and gilt
tering, flood of coins.
"Piasters, if not roubles," affirmed
Capt Gueval, an old coast sailor. who
having touched every sea- had defined
views on all subjects. For the bene
mt OF his audience, he added: "A
rouble is worth four francs"
To him the adventure seemed quite
within the nature of things. Such q
lind had happened within his expert
ence as many as ten times; If not 10
himself, at least to people he had
known yonder in southern countries
The three men had turned the cor
ner and had passed under the porch
or whatever IT might be called-aboye
which was displayed a large sign
surmounted by an anchor, and indi
cadng the maritime department. Here
In front OF the Offices, was an ante
chamber reserved for the public. A
huge, dreary room IL was, with drip
ping walls, where hung the remains OF
official placards and a tagged floor
wet from the tread of sabots. and all
redolent OF sardines and salt water
The sole occupant was Moreau, the
policeman, half asleep on a chair, his
cap on his knees and his coat unbut
toned. At the entrance OF the three
men, he opened first one eye, Their
the other; and, so soon as he hac
taken in those heads-bruised, blood,
and battered-then he called out:
We'll, my cocoanuts!"
Yes" answered Garandel, a bit con
fused, I'VE are pretty well polished up
AL the same. may we see the commits
saire?"
The policeman laughed until hi
choked. He sputtered: The com
missaire. ba. ha, ha! II is the hour
for his cigar; no, no. ho!" Then. be
tween two chuckles. he added: Blu
be mustn't miss IL Wait moment
I'll look him up"
He hitched up his trousers. but
toned his coat and hurried into tn,