The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-08-15


oars, and, swift as thodght, peeled off her
jacket and threw off her hat, leaving her head
exposed to the burning sun.
Now, the silk gown she wore had evidently
been used by its original owner as a festal
raiment, for it had been cut low, and had
short sleeves. So MATHS shoulders and arms
were perfectly bare, and very white they
looked in contrast with her sun-freckled hands,
her sun-burned face, and her warm brown
neck. Her bust was as yet undeveloped, but
her neck and shoulders were fine, and her
arms beautifully nodded. Altogether, her
friend the painter, could he have seen her just
then, would have regarded her with increasing
admiration.
Freed from the incumbrancc of her Jacket,
she now pulled away with easy grace and
skill. Farther and farther the beat reeedod
from shore, till the promontory they lad left
was a couple Of miles away. Suddenly vii
liam Jones made a sign to the girl to stop,
and stood up in the boat to reconnoitre.
The object mt which he had been gazing so
long was now clearly visible. 1t consisted of
something black, floating on CLASSY stretch
Of water, and surrounded by fragments of
loose scum froth; it was TO ell appearance
motionleSs, but was, in reality, drifting
YEARLY shgreHard ON the flowing tide
William Jones now evinced increasing ex-
citement, and urged his companion 10 hurry
quickly forward-which she did, putting ont
all her strength in a series of rapid and power
full strokes. Another quarter of an hour
brought them to the spot where the object
y
man leaned over the boats side with out
stretched hands.
As he did so Matt turned her head away
with curious gesture of dread.
"What is il, William Jonesf' she asked, not
looking at him. st isn't--you know-one o
themg'
mo, it aint' replied the man, leaning over
the side Of the coble, and fitting the gunwale
| almost to the waters edge ''roo early for
them, Matt. If they comes, it won't be TIL
| Sundays tide They're down at the bottom
now, and amt yet rose Easyl lean '5other
| wayl So the2e-look outn
As haspoke, lie struggled with something
| in the water and at last, with an effort which
almost carszca the boat, pulled it in. Matt
| looked now, and saw that it was Il snail, tai,
wcolen trunk, covered with pieces Of SHINY
| weed Floating near it were several pieces Of
| spna,ered wood, which seemed to have formed
| paIj Of u boat. These, too, William secured
| and threw down on the iOotboard beneath
| him.
CTS a box, that's what it is, cried Matt.
IT'S a box, surely said Jones And its
locked, too And, look We now Tmis}oplt
| there's nawt inside, or rnaylaD it would have
| sunk. I.o,, solnever, wen seer
| After an unavaiiiag effort to force it open
with his hands lie drew forth a large clasp
| knife. worked away al the lock and tried e
| force open he Id, which soon yielded 10 hi.
| efforts as The action OF the sal water had
| al.raay begun to rot the wood. On being
thus opsued The box was found to contain
only couple OF cosr>e linen shirts, an old
newspaper two OF three biscuits, and hall 6
! bottle 0i sunfe dark iluid.
After examining these articles one by on,
| William Jones threw them back into tha 10,
with gestures of disgust, retaining only Tie
bottle, which he uncorked and applied 60 hi
lips.
''Rulu" he said, smacking his lips and nod
| ding at Matt. Then, rccurking the bot,l
carefully he returned it to the hoz, md
standing up, recounoitred the sea On ever,
side But nothing else rewarded LIS cage
search; lie Threw himself down in TIE stern
OF The boat and ordered Matt TO pull back /.
shore
As they went he closed one eve thought
fully and unused aloud:
Nigh; afors last ii blew half gale iron
the southland This here box came awas
from the east coast Of Ireland May be
vas a hig ship as was lost; them plan,.s wa
part OF lie vessels lung-buat Mov's comm
u the wind don't come up from the norlari
| The moons ful, tonight aud tomorrow III
tell the odd I'm, and keep a sharp lockout Of
the Cal5r9n Pint
ha.trowed on steadily till they camawi;E
in n quarter Of mile otthe shore, w.t.n NJ
Lam Jones stood up again and leuunlulr,
tle prospect inland.
..4ui in, NATL" he said, after am VUtt
"A2s squarer
S.,n aGcrward the boat rna@a"l the rock.
William Jones sprang out and, running upt
the platform above, took another survey
This bciuC satisfactory, he ran down arail
and lit,Ci the lox ont Of the boat, caTryin,
ii wj IA casa under one arm.
'',.aka the boat fast lee said, in a hush,
whisper; "ald bring them bits o wood aloa
with ycu FIR t,la fire. III cut on to the ct
tago VIII t..i here. l. AMT much. but it
! slr.Ha,, 80 / i carry it clean out o sight hC
fore them precious coaStguar,ls come smell
ing about
WITH these words he clamberad up III
rocks with his burden, leaving Matt to fol
low loisuIely in his wake