bag of gold, part 3

by nick nelson

part three of four

for part two, click here

for part one, click here

fifty years later. i would like to speak to miss juliana williams, please. this is juliana williams. good afternoon, miss williams, my name is harland perkins, and i am an officer of the first bank in wilsonville. how are you today? i am doing just fine, mister perkins. yourself? i am doing very well, thank you. what can i do for you today, mister perkins. i am calling about the one hundred dollar gold coin you deposited at our branch in pineville. what about it? is it counterfeit? no, it is perfectly good. but could you tell me where you got it? i do not see any reason why i should.. the police are interested in the matter. really? then i will talk to the police if they contact me. * good afternoon. i would like to speak to miss juiiana williams. who shall i say is calling? i am detective morris delacroix, of the state police. oh, yes, she was expecting you. please come in. would you like some coffee , lieutenant, is it? just detective, and thank you, but no thank you.. my business will be brief. and the business concerns the gold coin i deposited in the pineville bank? it does indeed. perhaps you have had time to refresh your memory as to where you got it. i remember very well where i got it. i was not inclined to tell the gentleman at the bank, on such short notice, where i got it. perhaps i was getting a little too much up on my high horse. i apologize for any inconvenience i may be causing you. thank you. be that as it may, where did you get the coin? when i was a little girl, a man on main street told me i was a pretty girl and gave it to me. just like that? yes. a one hundred dollar coin? yes. did he - act improperly in any way? oh no. there were hordes of people around. i think it was the fourth of july. and you were how old? i think i was thirteen, give or take a year. what did your parents think? i never told them about it. i just took it home and hid it. for a rainy day. and the rainy day came last week? i am afraid it did. and that is your story? yes, it is. and you do not have any more of these coins? no. thank you. that is all i need. are you sure you would not like something to drink? coffee, tea, mineral water? no thank you. p> part foor