The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1911-06-24
Continued from page 81
THE COIN OF FORTUNE.

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in surprise "You have no idea how
much Uncle Jim thought of them!"
"The very reason would sell
them!" insisted Mrs. Sears, somewhat
spitefully. HE didn't show so much
thought for your future that you
should consider his likes and dis
likes!"
Miss Days cheeks. Wyman saw it
and like true knight, rushed to the
rescue.
Sell them?" he repeated Ger
tainly! We will do it at once, and l
will be the auctioneer!" He lifted the
box and carried it to the other end
of the room, waving them aside.
what do I see?" He clasped his
hands as though the contents of the
box filled him with wonder and ad-
miration. "Ah! the widows mite! A
coin, ladies and gentlemen, that
should make a special appeal to you.
1t is possible you are not familiar
with it? What am I offered?"
He waved the tiny coin before
them, but there were no bids and he
shook his head sadly as he returned
it to it's place. Perhaps royalty will
appeal to you more. What do you
say to nice bawbee?" insinuatingly.
"a small bit of copper, it is true, but
reeking with sentiment, for it was
minted in honor of the birth of Mary
of Scotland, the Queen of Beauty by
the popular vote of France, Scotland
and England. Pooh! You are a
stingy pack! But what is this?" He
started back dramatically and stared
wildly at the box. "A French coin!
A five-franc piece!" he Kissed. "And
what am l offered for it?"
He held the coin above his head as
they pressed forward.
Wyman moved away to examine his
prize. alas! It is not Napoleon
Bonaparte, but Louis Napoleon!
Know it?" He showed it to the
Frenchman, as he motioned them to
their seats and resumed his patter.
"All the Napoleons took hand at
coinage, but Louis didn't think the
picture of his face on the coin did
him justice. The coins were recalled
Out of twenty-eight thousand issued
all but twenty three were withdrawn
from circulation. This is one of the
wanderers. You could sell it for a
hundred dollars, perhaps, eh, Count?
Any offers?" j
LET me see it," The Count
reached forth an eager hand.
''He doubts my word" began Wy
man. "He thinks I'd deceive him
that it is the coin of fortune I hold
He would"
But here Miss Day interrupted him
and took the box herself. "You know
far too much about them,' she said
and placed the box on table, pulled
out the little drawers in which the
coins lay, and with gesture invited
her friends to look at them.
"Now that the barker has drawn
the crowd, the collection will be dis
played by Mile. Day, the renowned
American numismatist!' cried wy
man, his hands before his mouth il
megaphone fashion.
"Oliver Wyman!" she exclaimed il
evaporation. what is the matter
with you? Are you mad?"
i. "Yes," he whispered in her ear, al
the others gathered about the box
"in a way-as you know. And .
} haven't seen you for a year,"
She turned from him quickly, ant
the color flooded her cheeks.
Mrs. Sears was examining the wild
owls mite with INDECENT interest
Then, still indolently, she took III
} another coin. Here is another five
franc place." she drawled, and lifte'
the money closer to spell out the in
, scription. "N-a-p-Napoleon-"
With a quick motion the coun
seized the coin from her hand, NUT
tering an apology. Wyman's eye
!. were on him and he noticed how tn
slim white fingers touched each lette
of the inscription. Napoleon
Emperor" and he was sure when,
: moment later the coin fell to the tabl
). that it was not the result of accident
His ear had heard the muffled SCUM
, as the money struck the polishe
wood!
The Count caught it up in secon
with a word in depreciation of hi
aWkWardness. Napoleon? That
true, mademoiselle, his voice ran
clear, almost defiant how III
fortunate, that it is not the coin c
fortune, not even of it's coinage!
might so easily have been. am desc
late that it is not. It would hav
been a little fortune!"
'Fortune?" exclaimed the practics
George Root. "A million dollars?
q should think sol"
9 "You forget the interest" reminde
Wyman, who had never taken hi
i eyes from the Counts hands. "Tha
note has been drawing interest for
hundred years. 1t represents owe
=