The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1911-04-07

MirouX, It appeared, on draw
ing his net in, had felt a resistance as
OF 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 it on board. You may
believe, It weighed like thunder. And
the amazement they had when they
knocked the top off Some liquid it
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, food of coins.
"Piasters, if not roubles," affirmed
Capt. Gueyal, an old coast sailor. who.
having touched every sea, had defined
Niews on all subjects. For the bene-
fit of his audience, he added: "A
rouble is worth four francs"
To him the adventure seemed quite
within the nature of things. Such a
find had happened within his expert.
ence as many as ten times; If not to
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-above
which was displayed a large sign
surmounted by an anchor, and indi-
eating the maritime department Here,
in front Of the offices, was an ante.
chamber reserved for the public. A
huge, dreary room it was, with drip
ping walls, where hung the remains of
official placards and a tagged floor
wet from the tread of sabots, and all
redoleut 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, then
the other; and, so soon as he had
taken in those heads-bruised, bloody
and battered-then he called out:
Well, my cocoanuts!"
YES" answered Garandel, a bit con-
fused, we are pretty well polished up.
Al the same, may we see the commits.
saire?"
The policeman laughed until he
choked. He sputtered The COM
missaire, ha,, ha, ha! 1t is the hour
for his cigar; no, no, ho!" Then, be-
tween two chuckles, he added But
he mustn't miss it! Wait a moment;
I'll look him up"
He hitched up his trousers, but
toned his coat and hurried into the
passage, still shaking A bench ran
along one side of the room; Garan.
del let himself fall on to this near the
window, while at 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 weariness
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 policemans mocking laugh had
been like that of a cold douche. They
were struck all of a sudden by the abb
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 it here.
1t was not beyond the cOmmissaire to
deem it too trifing to warrant his be-
ing disturbed; and at the hour for
his cigar, too! If he happened tol
take offense, then good-by to the case!
He was not always in a humor for
jesting. 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
of the Hotel des Mes