The Nevada County picayune., 1911-06-16
An Inheritance From the Sea

AaAtOt y, hOt, anu 'ftl cilh S bdNt lbbHANN rather worried as he turned it to. wards his young wife, who just came in.
 Any news today, Gerald?'
 Nothing but letter from Levy. who is very unreasonable. He gives nc until next Wednesday. but I am afraid l can no more pay him the $2,500 on Wednesday than l can to- day. Gerald replied sadly.
 But cant you get the $l,O00 for the picture Johnson is to sell for you?"
 No, he just writes me today that the customers won't pay more than S150 It really looks as if one can get money only from the usurcrs. said Gerald, handing the other letter to his wife
 Well, don't give up. anyway, 1t will all come out all right
 At this moment the batter of little feet was heard outside. the door was thrown open and two fair-haired ehil- dren came rushing toward their ia.
 her. Gerald picked them up, placed one on each knee and the next mo ment all his melancholy had flown
 When the door of the studio had closed behind them and Gerald faced his work again. the worries came back and prevented him from work ing
 He stopped at the biz window over looking the garden and the Long Is land hills in the distance. Five years ago Gerald had built the little studio bungalow which had grown so dear to his heart. and now it looked as if he must lose it. The five years he had spent at Freeport had been the hap piest fin his life until he had been tempted to try q flier In stocks. The venture failed and he negotiated loan from Levy to cover his margins. only to lose the whole amount any way
 The more Gerald thought over the situation. the more impossible 1t seemed to find a way out. and throw. ing aside his brushes he put on his hat and went for long walk along the shore road. Three hours walk brought him to the narrow strip of sand stretching towards Long Beach where he and the seagulls were the only living beings. The beach was covered with all kinds of fotsam thrown ashore by the tide and left stranded by the receding waves Among all this Gerald's eyes suddenly struck something that looked like an old bag half buried in the sand. Me. chemically he began to dig it out and saw that 1t really was heavy oil cloth bag tightly tied with stout whip cord He ripped 1t open with his pock ct knife and found inside belt with a heavy brass buckle and with a number of pockets. He opened one of these and would hardly believe his own eyes when he found it filled with S20 gold pieces. He quickly wrapped 1t up In the oilskin and started home wards.
 He went inside. hid his bundle Tn the hall closet and opened the door of the studio. His wife jumped up the worried expression disappeared from her face and she said cheerfully:
 'I am so glad you came back. Ger ald have you been looking for mo- tives?"
 Yes dear, and l hope l have found something good" Gerald replied. throwing himself into an easy chair "l just want cup of tea he added as he filled his pipe, then l will go down to the bank and ask old Win ters to come and take dinner with us
 The dinner was a great success. al though the two men had locked them selves up in the studio until the soup was nearly cold.
 We will take the coffee and cigars in the studio, Beatrice said Gerald, and we should like to have your company We won't talk bit about business. We have little examina- ton to make
 ''I do not know what you mean, Ger ald.'
 You will soon see, dear" he an swered with n smile, and led the way into the studio. where a cheerful fire was blazing A table had been placed near the fire and on this were d mum Der of stacks of gold coins neatly ar ranged in rows There was also the old oil cloth bag and. fin cup, a lot ot diamonds cut and uncut There was also a broken chianti bottle and paper cover with writing taken from the bottle This evidently contained the key of the mystery and Beatrice picked it up with trembling fingers. while the two men looked al her
 Read it aloud. dear, said Gerald. and she began to read.
 January 1. 1884 It k starting to blow up and the wreck is going to pieces plank by plank am the only survivor of the crew of the bark Nina. The second mate died this