  Dan loosened the draw string of the leather bag. As Mr. Kain, the Cubs and their leaders gathered close about, he spilled the contents out into his outstretched hand. For a moment no one spoke. The bag contained perhaps fifteen coins of foreign make. Nearly all were of silver and apparently quite old. “Oh, shoot!” exclaimed Midge in disappointment. “I thought we might find a real treasure. Just a few old coins.” “At least it’s better than nothing,” Dan said, fingering one of the coins. “Even if we can’t spend them, they’re worth saving.” “Let me see that coin,” Mr. Kain requested suddenly. Surprised by the bank employee’s tone, Dan handed it over. Immediately the man became very excited. “I should say these are worth saving!” he said emphatically. “They’re valuable old coins?” inquired Mr. Hatfield. “That would be my opinion. This one, I’m sure, is a very old carlino.” “What’s that?” asked Red blankly. “Weren’t carlinos minted in Italy?” Mr. Holloway inquired. “Formerly they were used in Naples, Sicily and Rome,” Mr. Kain said. “The coin obtained its name from the emperor Charles VI in whose time the coin first was issued.” “And is this coin a real old one?” Fred asked in awe. “I’m not an expert on such matters,” Mr. Kain admitted. “This silver piece though, very much resembles a similar coin in the British Museum.” “Then it should be worth a lot!” exclaimed Midge. “Off hand, I should be inclined to agree. I can’t make out the date,” the bank employee said, studying the reverse side of the coin. “It looks as if it might be 1740 or 1730. I know the coins were made as early as 1730.” “Gosh, we have found ourselves something!” Fred murmured in awe. “Pass those other coins around, Dan. Let’s see what they are.” Before Dan could do so, Mr. Kain seized upon another battered coin in the collection. “This is a very old gold coin!” he exclaimed. “If I’m not mistaken it’s one they call an ‘angel.’” “What is an angel?” questioned Fred, who never had heard of a coin by such a name. “It was an English gold coin, originally of the value of 6s. 8d. sterling. Such coins first were struck off by Edward IV in 1465 and I believe were made until 1634.” “Then we’ve come upon a museum piece,” remarked Mr. Hatfield. “These coins are priceless,” the bank man declared. “That is, if they are genuine. As I say, I am not an expert.” Greatly impressed, the Cubs passed the coin around. Though it was badly worn they could faintly distinguish the figure of the archangel Michael defeating a dragon. “A museum would pay a large sum to add such a coin to its collection. If my memory serves me, I’ve seen pictures of one of these angels on display at the British Museum.” “Where do you suppose the coins came from?” Brad speculated. “We know they couldn’t have been in the chimney niche very long. The hiding place was empty when we looked there a few days ago.” “This bag of coins must be a contribution from the Ghost of the Castle,” Dan said half in jest. “Say, you know he isn’t such a bad fellow after all!” In addition to the two very old coins, the collection contained several half dollars of U. S. mintage. These, Mr. Kain said also were valuable to collectors, though far less in demand than the rare angel and carlino. “Many of the coins I am unable to identify,” the bank employee admitted. “I do know enough about money though, to be certain you have a valuable collection here.” “Say! Maybe we’ll be able to buy costumes for the play after all!” Midge declared jubilantly. “How much do you think these coins will bring, Mr. Kain?” “That is impossible to say.” The bank man returned all of the coins to the leather bag. “We must have them appraised. And then, the question of ownership arises.” To the Cubs the word had an ominous sound. They were certain the treasure had been intended for them. Belatedly, they remembered that the Castle belonged to the bank. If he chose to do so, Mr. Kain could claim the property. From his expression, they were positive he meant to keep the collection. “Ownership should be determined,” Mr. Hatfield agreed quietly. “It doesn’t seem reasonable to me that anyone in his right mind would give away such highly valuable coins.” “If ever we find that mysterious archer, we’ll have the answer,” Dan declared. Mr. Kain, in a far better mood now that the coins had been discovered, urged the Cubs to tell him what they knew of the trespasser. “We don’t see him very often but we know he watches us when we rehearse for our play,” Dan answered. “Several times he’s shot arrows and he’s very good with a bow.” “Have you ever had a good look at the man?” “We’re inclined to think he may be a boy,” Mr. Holloway spoke up. “At least in one of the movie scenes, we caught a fleeting glimpse of him.” “A boy, eh?” Mr. Kain repeated, fingering the bag of coins. “In that case, he might not have a right to this collection. It could have been stolen.” “Gosh, that’s right!” exclaimed Red, rather alarmed. “We don’t want to get mixed up in anything shady.” “You won’t be,” Mr. Kain assured the Cubs. “I’ll take charge of these coins—for the bank of course. I’ll make every effort to trace the owner.” “And if you fail?” asked Brad significantly. “Well, if the owner can’t be found after a reasonable length of time, the coins will become bank property.” “Even when Dan found ’em?” Chips asked indignantly. “I fear you are unfamiliar with the laws governing property,” Mr. Kain said. “Now the statutes of this state say—” The Cubs were never to learn what the state laws set forth, for at that moment there came an interruption. The Cubs were startled to hear a sharp rattle on a window pane. “What was that?” Fred demanded. Everyone turned to look. Someone stood at the living room, his face pressed against the window. “The ghost!” exclaimed Chips. “A ghost, my Adam’s apple!” Brad snorted. “That’s Ross Langdon. He only wants to see what we’re doing in here.” On this latter point, however, the Den Chief was mistaken. Instead of trying to learn what the Cubs were doing, the Den 1 boy frantically motioned for the group to join him. “What ails Ross, anyhow?” Midge muttered. As the boy’s strange antics continued, the Cubs became convinced that something actually was wrong. “Let’s see what he wants,” Dan said, starting for the door. Ross ran around the side of the house to meet him. “Dan, come quick!” he urged breathlessly. “What’s up, Ross?” “I saw him!” “Saw whom, Ross?” “That little guy that shoots arrows!” “Where, Ross?” Dan now became excited, for in view of the bag of coins that had been found, he knew it was vitally important to catch the intruder. Before Ross could answer, the other Cubs, Mr. Kain, Mr. Holloway and Sam Hatfield gathered around him. “When you all started here to see what was in Robin Hood’s Strong Box, I hid out,” Ross explained, talking rapidly. “I figured whoever shot that arrow must be hiding close by. I thought he’d probably show himself once everyone was inside the Castle.” “Sound reasoning,” interposed Mr. Hatfield. “I hid in the bushes. Sure enough. I hadn’t been lying low many minutes when out pops a kid no older than Dan here. He had a bow in his hand so I know he was the one we’re after.” “What did he do?” Dan demanded impatiently. “Well, he sneaked fairly close to the Castle and raised his bow as if to shoot. I thought he was going to send an arrow flying through the broken window.” “Why didn’t you sneak up from behind and nab him?” Brad demanded. “That was your chance, Ross.” “I got a little excited. I started after him all right, but I made too much noise.” “He heard you coming and ran?” Mr. Hatfield inquired. “That’s right, sir. See, he dropped his bow here by the window.” Ross picked up the bow which was made of lemonwood and gave it to Mr. Hatfield. The Cub leader did not take time to examine it. “Which way did the fellow go?” he asked. “Into the woods.” “You didn’t try to follow him, Ross?” “No, but I saw him start down that winding road through the burned area.” “That’s the way he always goes!” cried Dan. “He must live somewhere near here.” “Maybe we can trail him if we hurry,” urged Brad. He gazed questioningly at the Cub leader, hopefully awaiting an order. “Let’s take after him,” Mr. Hatfield proposed, hesitating only momentarily. “Our mysterious archer has many questions to answer! If we move fast, we may catch him this time.” |
|
