CHAPTER 17 A Valuable Collection
Dan loosened the draw string of the leather bag.
As Mr. Kain, the Cubs and their leaders gathered close about, he spilledthe contents out into his outstretched hand.
For a moment no one spoke.
The bag contained perhaps fifteen coins of foreign make. Nearly all wereof silver and apparently quite old.
"Oh, shoot!" exclaimed Midge in disappointment. "I thought we might finda real treasure. Just a few old coins."
"At least it's better than nothing," Dan said, fingering one of thecoins. "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. "Thecoin obtained its name from the emperor Charles VI in whose time the coinfirst 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 silverpiece 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," thebank employee said, studying the reverse side of the coin. "It looks asif it might be 1740 or 1730. I know the coins were made as early as1730."
"Gosh, we have found ourselves something!" Fred murmured in awe. "Passthose other coins around, Dan. Let's see what they are."
Before Dan could do so, Mr. Kain seized upon another battered coin in thecollection.
"This is a very old gold coin!" he exclaimed. "If I'm not mistaken it'sone they call an 'angel.'"
"What is an angel?" questioned Fred, who never had heard of a coin bysuch 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 Ibelieve 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 aregenuine. As I say, I am not an expert."
Greatly impressed, the Cubs passed the coin around. Though it was badlyworn they could faintly distinguish the figure of the archangel Michaeldefeating a dragon.
"A museum would pay a large sum to add such a coin to its collection. Ifmy memory serves me, I've seen pictures of one of these angels on displayat the British Museum."
"Where do you suppose the coins came from?" Brad speculated. "We knowthey couldn't have been in the chimney niche very long. The hiding placewas 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 afterall!"
In addition to the two very old coins, the collection contained severalhalf dollars of U. S. mintage. These, Mr. Kain said also were valuable tocollectors, 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 valuablecollection here."
"Say! Maybe we'll be able to buy costumes for the play after all!" Midgedeclared 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 tothe leather bag. "We must have them appraised. And then, the question ofownership arises."
To the Cubs the word had an ominous sound. They were certain the treasurehad been intended for them.
Belatedly, they remembered that the Castle belonged to the bank. If hechose 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. "Itdoesn't seem reasonable to me that anyone in his right mind would giveaway such highly valuable coins."
"If ever we find that mysterious archer, we'll have the answer," Dandeclared.
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 rehearsefor our play," Dan answered. "Several times he's shot arrows and he'svery 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. "Atleast 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 thatcase, he might not have a right to this collection. It could have beenstolen."
"Gosh, that's right!" exclaimed Red, rather alarmed. "We don't want toget mixed up in anything shady."
"You won't be," Mr. Kain assured the Cubs. "I'll take charge of thesecoins--for the bank of course. I'll make every effort to trace theowner."
"And if you fail?" asked Brad significantly.
"Well, if the owner can't be found after a reasonable length of time, thecoins will become bank property."
"Even when Dan found 'em?" Chips asked indignantly.
"I fear you are unfamiliar with the laws governing property," Mr. Kainsaid. "Now the statutes of this state say--"
The Cubs were never to learn what the state laws set forth, for at thatmoment 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 facepressed against the window.
"The ghost!" exclaimed Chips.
"A ghost, my Adam's apple!" Brad snorted. "That's Ross Langdon. He onlywants 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 boyfrantically motioned for the group to join him.
"What ails Ross, anyhow?" Midge muttered.
As the boy's strange antics continued, the Cubs became convinced thatsomething 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 coinsthat had been found, he knew it was vitally important to catch theintruder.
Before Ross could answer, the other Cubs, Mr. Kain, Mr. Holloway and SamHatfield gathered around him.
"When you all started here to see what was in Robin Hood's Strong Box, Ihid out," Ross explained, talking rapidly. "I figured whoever shot thatarrow must be hiding close by. I thought he'd probably show himself onceeveryone was inside the Castle."
"Sound reasoning," interposed Mr. Hatfield.
"I hid in the bushes. Sure enough. I hadn't been lying low many minuteswhen out pops a kid no older than Dan here. He had a bow in his hand so Iknow 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 toshoot. I thought he was going to send an arrow flying through the brokenwindow."
"Why didn't you sneak up from behind and nab him?" Brad demanded. "Thatwas your chance, Ross."
"I got a little excited. I started after him a
ll right, but I made toomuch 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 nearhere."
"Maybe we can trail him if we hurry," urged Brad. He gazed questioninglyat the Cub leader, hopefully awaiting an order.
"Let's take after him," Mr. Hatfield proposed, hesitating onlymomentarily. "Our mysterious archer has many questions to answer! If wemove fast, we may catch him this time."