So here is a thing. My first three way book file split. The Melted Coins or The Mystery of the Melted coins to give it its UK title, exists in three versions.
The Original unrevised version.
A remake that is totally different, to the original.
A UK version that is basically a condensed version of the original, sort of how parts of the original canon was edited and modernised in the 60's, to update and revise the text.
There are five versions released for the UK market that are basically condensed versions of the original text, and I don't think that anyone has noticed that they were condensed, either, just the originals, instead of the revised editions.
The main plot of both the original and the UK edition is the same. A man is found out in the street, who has lost his memory and all he knows is the curse of the Caribbees and Hardy. Meanwhile Chet Morton has found buried treasure whilst digging a ditch for his father, and it escalates from there with stolen gold, and valuable coins stolen to be melted down for raw gold value. As you do.
It's not bad, but makes very little sense, as surely the coins are better off being sold for their value rather than gold content.
The revised edition is actually rather better. Chet has an application from Zoar College, shady summer school. While tracking down these jokers the boys stumble across a mystery involving Seneca Indians, a tribal deity / chief called spoon mouth, and after nearly being run off the road, a coin collection belonging to the Rideaus, a retired couple.
It's one of those that are better than the original and a shame we never got it, back in the day.
Incidentally, there actually are False Face ritual masks used by the Seneca peoples. So if you'd like to know more go here.
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