Ripley County democrat., 1911-12-29
An Inheritance
From the Sea

factory, too, and Gerald's face looked
rather worried as he turned 1t to-
wards his young wife. who just
came In.
ANY news today. Gerald?"
Nothing but a letter from Levy.
who is very unreasonable. He gives
me until next Wednesday, but ! am
afraid can no more Gay HIN the
$4,000 on Wednesday than can to-
day" Gera'd rep led sadly.
But can't you get the $1,000 tor
the picture johnson Is to sell for
your"
mo, he just writes me today that
the customers won't pay more than
$3.50. 1t really looks as II one can
get money only from the usurers."
said Gerald. handing the other letter
to his wife.
We'll, don't give up, anyway. 1t will
all come out all right"
At this moment the patter OF little
feet was heard outside, the door was
thrown open and two fair-haired chill
dren came rushing toward their ia
ther Gerald picked them up. placed
one en- 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 big window over
looking the garden and the Long Is
land hills In the distance, Five years
ago Gerald had butt 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 In his life, until he had been
tempted to try f,er In stocks. The
venture failed and he negotiated a
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 It
seemed to find way out, and throw
ing aside his brushes he put on his
nat and went for long walk along
the shore road. Three hours walk
brought him to tic narrow strip OF
sand stretching towards Long Beach
where he and the seagulls we're the
only living beings The beach was
covered with all kinds OF fiotsan
thrown ashore by the tide and left
stranded by the receding waves
Among all this Gera.d's eyes suddenly
struck something that looked like an
old bag half buried In the sand Me
chanicaIly he began to dig II out and
saw that It really was heavy oil
cloth bag tightly tied with stout whip,
cord. He ripped II open with his rock
ct knife and found in,iie belt
with heavy brass buckle and with a
number of pockets. He opened one
Of these and would hardly believe his
own eyes VIXEN he found It filled with
$40 gold pieces. He quickly wrapped
It up In the oilskin and started home
wards.
He went inside, hid his bundle In
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:
81 am SO 6 ad you came back. Ger.
aid; have you been looking for mo-
tives?"
Yes. dear. and hope have found
something good" Gerald replied,
throwing himself into an easy chair.
II Just want cup of tea," he added
as be filled his pipe, then 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
thoi gh the two men had locked them.
selves up in the studio until the soup
was nearly cold.
I'VE will take the coffee and cigars
In the studio, Beatrice" said Gerald,
"and we should like to have your
company We won't talk a bit about
business. We have a little examina.
tion to make"
81 do not know what you mean. Ger.
aid"
You will soon see, dear" he an.
swered with smile. and led the way
into the studio, where cheerful fire
was blazing. A table had been placed
near the fire and on this were a mum.
Der Of stacks OF gold coins neatly ar
ranged In rows. There was also the
old oil cloth bag and, In cup. a lot
of diamonds cut and uncut. There
was also a broken chianti bottle and
a paper cover with writing taken from
the bottle. This evidently contained
the key Of the mystery and Beatrice
picked II up with trembling fingers.
while the two men looked at her.
Read 1t aloud, dear" said Gerald,
and she began to read.
January 1, 1set.--ft Is 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
morning.
Together with this letter wrap
up all my savings Of IS years. These
things are Of no use to me now. but
| hope that II the belt is ever found