Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-11-14

Tue seen Wtfttnm Jones cOUt> noO"e "e'e.
Mats information ON the subject was 20
vague that It seemed useless TO institute .
search: 50, after reeretful look at the rocks,
Brinklrv prc-c5cd that they should Sumter
back Alo::g the shore.
"By Ito va, ~ d he, II want you to In
troduce me to William Jones"
ITO William Joncsr
eyes. Strange a. the fancy may seem to
you, l should like for once in my lie to stand
face 10 face with real live wrecker."
They made their way back along the coast,
until they reached William Jones' cottage.
Here they pauaed, principally for Brinkley to
take a CLAN 20 at the quaint dwelling, then
they cross th, threshold What sort OF
place he hal go. into it was utterly inpos-
siblc for Brial.cy to tell it was so dark no
could sec Ec.h!ng Env.ng crofSed the
threshold, therefore, he paused, bit Matt
went fearlessly forward, struck Light, and
ignited the rufhlig,;t On tie table.
"WE.iam Jones' sad she, here he the
pointcrl'
By tho light Of the Pickering rushlight
Brinkley now looked about him AT a glance
he noted sorne Of the details Of the queer lit
tie room; then his eye fell upon the occu-
pants, whom, from Mats description, he
recognized as William jones and the grizzly
author of his Icing
The old man, who, Brinkley perforce ad-
mitfcd, certainly bore some resemblance TO
the Rembrandtish head which Matt had rec
ognized, sat DOING fitfully by the hearth,
while his son was busily employed In mend
ing an old lantern.
Upon tho entrance Of Brinkley the lantern
was quickly thrown aside, and William Jones,
k,L.-.. hnctn pad
30 give q welcome to the stranger Brinkley
was amused. He accepted William Jones'
offer OF a seat, then he Lit up his briar-root
pipe, and, while smoking lazily, he pat few
questions TO his host. But il he expected to
gain information of any kind he was soon I'M
deceived. William Jones was 20 fool. Com
bined with excessive avarice, lie possessed all
the cunning of tho fox, and the moment he
saw that tho stranger was pumping him he
was ON his guard.
Presently, however, his curiosity gained
the .lay. Categorically, in his turn, he began
10 question Brink,ey about his doings.
II suppose now, MASTER" said he, ''you
travel about deal in that cart y yournp
Brinkley explained thatthe cart in ques-
ton had been in his possession only few
months.
'But Travelled a good deal before l got
IT. he explained. "This time last year was
In Ireland"
an Ireland masterf'
eyes. ON the west coast; do you know itf'
William Jones shook his head.
"Thcre he plenty wreck there, amt theref'
said he, suddenly.
"Wrec1l" repeated Brinkley.
eyes, I've heard toll o wonderful storms
and big ship s breaking up. Look ye now,
they do tel wonderful tales; and wonder
sometimes IL oil they says o true"
Brinkley looked at his host fer n minute or
SO in silent wonder for the little man was
transformed. Instead Of gazing about him
with the stupid expression which up till now
his face had worn, his face expressed all the
keenness Of q fox-hound well on the scent
There was also another curious thing which
the Young man noticed; that the word
swreck" seemed to act like magic on the
other member of the Jones household. At
the first mention Of it the old man started
from his sleep; and he now sat staring wildly
before him. evidently imagining he was
standing on headland, going out to sea.
"wreckr he murmured. "Ay, there it
be, drif,in' in wi the wind and tide, William
--driftin' in wi the tide"
''Shut up, Old man." said William, giving
his father o nudge; then, turning again TO
Brinkley. he said BE them tales true, mas
teri"
"Ehi Oh, yes, perfectly true" sad Brink
lev being in lively humor, and determined
b give his host treat
The expression in theeyes of William Jones
became even more greedy
"P'raps," lie said, you've seen some of
them wrecksi"
"Dcar me. YES answered Brinkley, de-
termined to give the reins to his imagination.
''rve seen any number of them Huge ships
broken up like match-boxes, and every soul
on hoard them drowned: then afserwari---''
"Ah, yes, mister" SAID William Jones,
eagerly. as the other paused; 'arter-H
swell, aftcrward, my friend, I've seen
treasures come ashore that would have made
you and me, and dozen others such, rich for
life"
"Dear, deari and what became of it, mis-
ter-tell me thatF
"What became Of itr repeated Brinkley,
whose imagination was beginning to give
way; "why, 1t was appropriated, of course,
by the population"
"And didn't YOU take your share. mister"
'Ir repeated Br;nkley, who was getting
muddled; well. nos--firstiy, bccaunc didn't
WISH to-t navel sNtSastt'ie hNA VI va "esa
ing dead mems things; and secondly, because
could not have done ~ had wished. The
people are clannish they wanted it all for
themselves, aid would have killed any inter
fering stranger"
81 suppose, mister. there be no coastguard
chaps theref" said William Jones.
'Oh. dear. moi No coastguaris.h
"Ahw sighed the old man, coming out Of
his trance at warnt 50 long ago when
there warnt no coastguard chars herr
neither. Then times was better for honest
men. On dark night twas easy to put q
light on the headland, and sometimes we got
prise or two that way, didn't We, William
deari But now"
you shut up." reared William, giving his
parent very forcible dig in the ribs. ''You
don't know. what you're talkin' about, you
don't. The old 'un is a bit queer in the head,
mAster," be explained; and he's aIlrs q
drsamin', he Is There amt no pri,ss here,
the Lord knows; it's almost as much q W
can do to git q bit o bread Matt know
tAAt; dnnt O, Matsr
hi wtAtsvse NAt4 1new she evidently
nsant to kssp 10 hersel4, for dhs gave no r..
~. Pfssntay, afesr little moro gcnersl
eSnversaticn, Brink1ey roe to 60 He Offered
atwoshilling ptscs % William Jones, and,