The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1885-05-16
1" COME ASHORE"
BY ROBERT BUCHANAN.
CHAPTER N.
A DISCOVERY.


that he, William Jones, had secret ot soll'
sort which he was anxious not to have re
vealed After both suggestions had been
duly weighed, the second was accepted as Tho
most likely, and it forthwith received tn,
young mans consideration.
If there was secret. he argued, 1t was II
some way connected firstly, with William
Jones worldly prosperity; secondly, with the
reports current Of treasure hidden i'll times
past among tho sandhills CT tho dang rous
caverns of tho sea. Was it possible, after all,
that these reports were true, and that in
some mysterious manner Jones had become
acquainted with tho hiding -placc' 1t seemed
very improbable for many reasons, one OF
the chief being the mans extreme poverty,
which appeared to touch the very edge Of
sheer starvation.
A little inquiry in the noighborhood, how
ever, ELECTED The information that Jones, de
spite his AFFECT ponury, was certainly wcll-to-
do, and had nolcy in the hank Of the neigh
BORING market town; that the ruined village
of Abcrglyn belonged almost entirely to him;
and that in short, ho was b. nature and
habit misery person, who would prefer
boarding up whatever he possessed - pur-
chasing with it tn Cornmonrst naca,,arioa Of
life,
An old coastguarl whom Brinklcy found
next day on the u'on was bis chief IN
form9nt
"Dont You believe him, sir, said this old
salt, "f be- tells you he's poor. Hes a shark,
William Jones j., and couldn't own up even
To his own father rs my belief hes got
gold hidden somewhorcs among them sand
hills let alono what he's got in the savings
h. al 4
Jones'
h nllcy had said nothing OF his own pri-
vatc suspicious, but had merely introduced in
n general way the subject Of Jones' worldly
position. Further conversation with Tim,
who had madc n few struggling acquaintancrs
in tho district, CorrohCratcd the other tcsti-
monY, The young rGn locar,c moro and
more convinced that Willan Jones was
worth studying
Matt had not tulncl UP that morning. In
stead Of looking after hcr B.iHl.ley took
another stroll towcrd the vicinity Of the
Devils Caldron. He had not gone far before
he discovered that no was watched again.
The figure of William Jones followed in the
distance but keeping him well in view.
IL was certainly curious.
He walked over to tho cliffs nnl looked
down at tho scene OF yesterdays bathing adj
venture A strong wind was blowing,
and the waves wero surglng up the rocks
with deafening roar and foamy spume The
place looked very ugly, particularly near the
Caldron. All tho passage was churned TO
milky white, and tho sound from beneath
was, to quote an Old simlc, like the roar of
numerals Chariots.
He glanced over his shoulder and saw the |
head Of William Jones eagerly WATCHING, tho |
body being hidden behind an intervening
rock,
'Strange" no rollcctod. "My predatory
friend can't keep hls treasure, if he possesses
any, down in that watery gulf. Yet whom
over como near it his manner tells mo that
am warm, Us they say in the game Of hide
and seek.
To test the matter little further, he SET off |
on brisk walk along the cliffs, leaving the |
Caldron behind. H found ns ho had sus-
pected, that he was no longer followed Re- |
turning rs no came, Gnd rcsI'ning his old |
position, he saw William Jones Immediately |
reappear.
That day no discovered no Glow TO tho
mystery, nor the next, nor the next again,
though ON each day he wont through a si,,lilar
performance. Strange to say, Matt had not
put in IN appearance, and for reasons of his
own he had thought it better not TO seek her.
On tho morning OF the third day-a dark,
chilly morning, after night of rain--rim
put his head into the Caravan, where his
master was seated at his easel, and grinned
'Nlr. ChGrlcsl Shes come, sort!
"Who tho deuce has come" cried Brink
ley.
"The lddy, your honor, to have her picture
taken Win show her into tho parlorfo
But us he spoke Matt pushed him aside and
entered. She wore her best clothes but
looked a little pale and anxious, Brinkley
thought, greeting her with familiar nod
$50 you've como at last' Tim, get out,
you rascal / thought you had given mo
up
He assumed a GOODNESS, though he felt It
not, for be had mado up his mind not TO ten
courage" the young person.
II couldn't come beforc-they wouldn't let
me. But last night William Jones he didn't
come home, and l broke open the box and
took out my clothes, and ran straight Off
here"
Her face fell as sho proceeded, for she could
not fail to notice the GOODNESS of the young
mans greeting.
well since you have come Wen get to
work, =" said Brinkley. "lt's chilly and damp
outside, 80 we'll remain hero in shelter"
Matt took Off her hat, and then proceeded
10 divest herself of her coarse jacket, reveal
ing for tho first time the low-necked silk
dress beneath. Meantime the young man
placed the sketch in position. Turning pres
emily, he beheld Mats transformation.
Old and shabby rs the dress was, torn here
and there, and revealing beneath glimpses Of
coarse stockings and clumsy boots, it be-
came her wonderfully. AS a result Of much
with soap and water her face shone
again, and her arms and neck were white as
snow. Thus attired, Matt looked no longer a
long, stumbling girl, but tall, bright, re-
splendent young lady.
1t was no use Brinkley could not conceal
his admiration, Mats arms alone were
enough TO make a painter wild with delight
"Why, Matt, you lock positively magnih-
cent. had no idea you were 50 pretty"
The girl blushed with pleasure
The young man worked away for good
hour and half, at tho end Of which time he
put the finishing touch to the sketch
'FiniS corondt op,,s.' he cried Look,
Mattr
Matt examined .hs picture with uncon.