The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-09-19
COME ASHORE"
BY ROBERT BUCHANAN.
(coNTINUED.)
CHAPTER XIII.
WnLlAM JONES rs sERIoUs.

while Jones entered the door of his cabin.
He would fain have found that cabin
empty. for thememory of the last scene in the
cave was still upon him and made him as
nervous as O child. But the old man was
there. and wide awake, ami evidently pleased
at his sons return.
"Where have you been, William, dearp
said he. The question was innocent enough
in itself. but it was full of hidden meaning
for William Jones.
"Where have beenF' be repeated, ''at
work, to I've sJgrel'
The tone of his reply startled the old man.
He looked up and saw to his amazement that
William was as white as ghost and tremb-
ling violently.
sfWhat's the matter, William dear~ he
| asked, eagerly. "Have ye seen wreck, my
son"
.'No, amt" responded his son, violently
''and look we now, old 'un, you jest be quiet
and let me alone, that's all"
The old man, knowing his sons temper, did
as he was told, and William continued to
potter aimlessly about the room. He was
certainly trembling very much, and was al
most overcome with a Nervousness for which
| he himself could not account. For he was nc
coward. Tog get possession Of prize on the
high seas he would have faced storm which
might well make brave men tremble, not to
mention that he knew that he had on more
than one occasion humanely fastened the end
of shipwrecked sailors, whom he had found
and pillaged on the shore. After these acts
he had been able to sleep the sleep OF virtue
without being haunted by dead mems eyes
But now the case was different. He had not
| to deal with victim without friends, mar
whose body, described as that of ship
wrecked mariner, -" could be buried and for
gotten without more ado. In all probability
there would this time be a hue and cry, and
William Jones trembsed lest his share in the
CHASTITY business might ultimately be discov
cred
True, he was not actually the culprit, and
40. even at the worst, he might escape thu
gallows; but to man of his sensitive and at
fectionate nature the thought of transporta
ton was not pleasant II was this that made
him nervous-this that made him start anc
tremble at every sound.
Presently thought struck him.
''Where's Matt" he asked.
''Dm't know, William dear; she amt beeI
here for hours and hours. Maybe she's OF
the shore"
MAYBE she is--Tl go and have look,
returned William
1t must not be supposed for a moment tina
William Jones had become afflicted with 1
sudden and tender interest in Matt-h
merely wanted TO get quit of the cabin, tina
was all, and he saw in this a reasonable OK
cuse for walking out alone. He accordingly
made his escape, and went wandering OF
along the shore.
II was ten O'Clock when he returned; b
was still pale, and drenched to the skin. TIL
old man was doing beside the fir,, and alone
srWhere's Matte" asked William again.
"Aint You seen her, William deari Well
she amt here
William Jones did look little uneasy thi
time, and it is but due to him to confess tina
his uneasiness as caused by MATHS prolonge'
absence. Erratic as she was in her move
ments, she had not been accustomed to stay
ing out SO late, especially on night when tn
rain was pouring and not glirnmer Of sta
or moon was to be seen.
s'Wonder what she's a-doin' Off said Wi
liam; suppose I'd best wait up for her. Here
old man, you go to bed, dye hear-you ain
y
wanted anyhow"
The old man accordingly went to bed, an
William sat up to await MATHS return. b
sat beside the hearth, looked into the smoldel
ing fire, and listened to the rain as it poure
down steadily upon the roof. OCCASIONAL
he got up and went to the door; he could Sc
nothing, but he heard the patter of the fallin
rain and the low, dreary moan of the trouble
sea.
Hour after hour passed, and Matt did nc
come. William Jones began TO doze by tn
fire-then he sank into heavy sleep.
He awoke with start, and found that
was broad daylight. The fire was out, Il
rain had ceased to fall, and the morning su
was creeping in at the windows. He locke
around. and saw that he was still alone. Il
went into MATHS room-it was empty. 81
had not returned
He was now filed with vague uneasines
He made up bit Of fire, and was about
issue forth again in search of the truant whe
all further trouble was saved him-the dos
opened, and Matt herself appeared.
She seemed almost as much disturbed 4
William Jones himself Her face was yer
pale, her hair wild, her dress in great di
order. She started ON seeing him; then, a
surning a rather devil-may care look, 81
lounged in.
you're up early, William JONES' /" she SAT-
eyes, am up early, be replied, grutfl,
~cause why?-'cause l amt been TO be-
And where have you been-jest you tell II
that"
'eWhy, I've been out, of coursel' returnt
the girl, defiantly.
''That won't do, Matt" returned Villa
Jones' "Come, you'll jest tell me whe
you've been. You amt been out all night fl
nothing"
The girl gave him look half of defianc
half of curiosity; then she threw herself dow
rather than sat, upon chair.
''rm tired, l am she said, land hung
and coldr'
"Wnlyou tell line where you've been, Matt
cried William Jones, trembling with susI
cious alarm.
"'Course I viii, if you keep quiet" sa
the girl in answer. ''There amt much
tell, neither. were away along to Pencro
when the heavy rain came on; then l Il
down behind haystack and fell asleep, a,
when / woke up it was daylight, and con
home"
William Jones looked at her steadfastly al
long; then, as if satisfied, he turned ava
About an hour later he left the hut al
walked along the shore, straining his ey
seaward. But instead of looking steadfast
at one spot, as his custom was, he paused nc
and again to gaze uneasily about him. !
every sound he started and turned pale.
truth, he was becoming veritable coward
afraid almost of the sound of his own FOE
steps on the sands.
CHAPTER XIV.
THE CARAVAN DIgAppEARg