The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1885-05-23
CHAPTER XIV.
THE CARAVAN DISAPPEARS.

The CAhAN AN DlSAtfEARS.
Several days passed away, during which
William Jones showed strange and signiti-
cant affection for his own flreside. He went
out a little in the sunlight; but directly night
came he locked and barricaded the door as if
against thieves, and declined, on any induce
ment, to cross the threshold. Even had
three-decker gone ashore in the neishbor-
hood, he would have thought twice before IS
suing forth into the dreaded darkness.
For William Jones was genuinely afraid !;
his hereditary calm of mind was shaken, not
30 much with horror at q murderous deed, as
with CONSERVATION that his lifelong secret
had been discovered by one man, and might,
sooner or later, be discovered by others. He
did not put implicit faith even i'll Monk; it
was his nature to trust nobody where money
was concerned.
As to returning back to the cave until he
had quite recovered his equanimity was quite
out Of the question. Even by daylight he
avoided the spot with holy horror. Only
in his dreams, which were dark and troubled,
did he visit ito see the face of the murdered
man in the darkness, and the hand of the
murdered man pointing at him with cold, de-
caying finger.
greatly unsettled by a visit from Tim Linney,
who demanded news of his master, and said
that he had not returned to the caravan all
night. Tim seemed greatly troubled, but
gave vent to no very violent ebullitions Of
grief. When he was gone Matt sat by the
Preside, and looked long and keenly at William
Jones'
"What are YOU staring atT' cried he, fdget-
ing uneasily under her gaze.
'Nowt, said Matt; II were only wonder
ing"
'Then don't so wondering exclaimed the
good man, rather inconsistency. "fot mind
your own business, and don't be fool!''
And he turned testify and gazed at the fire.
But Matt, whose eyes were full Of q curious
light, was not to be abashed.
"Ain't you WE'LL William Jonesl" she asked
"Tm well enough am"
"Its queer, amt it, that the painter chap
never come homer
''How should 1 known growled William.
Maybe he's gone back to where he come
FROM
cor maybe he's drowndedl Or maybe
simmat else has happened to himy' suggested
Matt
'Never you mind him, my gal. He's all
affair o. yours, or mine neither. You go
along out and play"
Matt went out as directed, and it was some
hours before she returned. She found her
guardian seated in his old place by the fire,
looking at vacancy. He started violently as
she entered, and made clutch at the rude
piece Of ships iron which served as a poker.
'Be it you, Matti Lor', how you startled
mel were-I were-taking doze."
I've been up yonder," said Matt.
up wheerr
up to the painter chaps cart He amt
come back; and the man is searchin' for him
all up and down the place"
Fortunately it was very dark, 80 that she
could not see the expression Of her hearers
face. She walked to the fireplace, and, tax
Ing a box of lucifers from a ledge, began
to procure light, with the view of igniting
the rushlight fixed to the table. But in
moment William blew out the match and
natched the box from her
What are You dom Off he cried. "Wast-
Ing the matches, as if they cost nowt. You'll
come TO the workus afore you're done"
Tho days passed. and there was no news Of
the absent man. Every day Matt went up
to the caravan to make inquiries. At last,