The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1885-05-16

"Ihe world is ccn5oriOus little one j m
young man; you are young lady. w
ilall havo to shake hands soon and say goo
oy. There, there" he continued, seeing he
eyes fiji with tears, 'rm not gone yet.
shall stay as long as / can, only-rcally- OF
must look upon me as quite an old fellow.
I'm awfully old, you know, compared to you.
He gently discouraged himself, and Matt sa
Town on a campstool close by. Herfac haC
grown very wistful and sad.
"Matt,n ho said, anxious to change the sub
Iect, tell me something more about William
| Jones'"
II hate William Jones. hate everybody
out you."
"ReallyT
"Yes, do"
"Well l feel greatly fattered. But about
she gentle Jonesi You say no was out all last
night"
Matt nodded.
He goes out nigh every night, she said,
"and often don't come home till morning.
Sometimes he finds things and brings EN-. He
finds bits o gold, and old ropes, and bottles
D rum"
every odd. WhcrcF'
Gle don't tell; know"
~ wish you'd tell me, Matt. Do. have
particular reason for wanting the informa-
tion.'
Matt hesitatcd.
"You won't say told' William Jones
would be downright wild, he would
"Tll keep the secret faithfully. Now"
Thus urged, Matt Informed her friend that
on two occasions, out OF curiosity, she had
followed her guardian on his nightly pill
grimages, and watched him go in the dircc-
ten IF the Devils CaldrOn. On both occa-
sions the night was very dark. On getting
clear Of the coastguard station, and among
tie gandhiils Jones had lighted lantern
which he carried. Trembling and afraid, she
bad followed the light along the cliiIs then
out among tho sandhIls. But all at once the
LIGHT and its taarcr bad disappeared into the
solid earth, leaving her to find her way home
in terror.
Tho explanation Of all this was, in Mats
opinion, very simple. William Jones was n
bad man, and went TO "NisiJ the fairies"
eyes" she cried, "and every time he goes
the fairies giyo him summat, and he brings
it home"
Each time you followed him." asked
Br.nllcy, thouGhiful'y, 'he disappeared at
about the same placer
."Yes," said Matt; "and tho light and him
sunk right down and never come up again.
The result Of tho information thus commu-
niCated was TO leave the young man Of the
caravan far more curious than ever. He de
ternined to turn tho tables on William Jones,
and to watch his movements, not in the day-
tim" but during the summer night, waiting
for his appearance in the immediate neigh
borhool Of the Devils CaldrOn.
The first night he saw no.hng--it was
stormy, with wild gusts of rain The second
night was equally un ,vcntful. Nothing
daunted, he went for a third and last time, |
md lay in the moonlight on the cliffs, looking |
toward the village
The night wGs dark and cloudy, but from
time 10 time the moon came out with sudden !
brilliance on the sea. which was gently stirred
by breeze from the land.
He waited for several hours. About mid |
night he rose to 20 homo. As no did SO he |
was startled by the sound of oars, and, lying |
down, perceived n small boat approaching Oh
n silver patch Of moonlit sea. Tho occupant |
Of tho boat was solitary man.
1t approached rapi lily, making direct for
tho Devils Caldron. Lying down on his face
and pccping over, Brinkey saw it stop short |
just outside the foaming passage, while the
man stood up, stopped, lifted something
heavy from the bottom, and threw it over.
beard. Then, after watching for II moment
4 dark object which drifted shoreward, right
INTO the Caldron, he rowcd away until he
reached sheltered creek close to the scene Of
he swimming adventure. Hero he ran tho
BOAT ashore and leGpod out.
The next minute Brinlilcy heard him com.
ng up the cliffs
Trembling with excitement he lay down
lat on his face and waited. Presently the
nan emerged on the top of the cliffs, within
, few yards Of Brinkley's hiding-place. just
hen the moon flashed brightly out, and
5rinkley recognized him!
1t was William Jones carrying on his shout
lcrs something like loaded sack AID dang
Ing from his left wrist horn lantern.
He looked round once or twice and then
hurried toward the sandhills. Brinkley fol-
owed stoalthly. The moon now went in,
MI it became pitch dark. Presently Jones
'aused, set down his load, and lit the lantern,
hen he hurried on.
For fifty or sixty yards coarse carpet of
rcensward covered the cliffs; then the sand
ills began. Passing over the first sandhill,
ones disappeared. Quick rs thought the
Dung man followed, and, peering over, saw
he light in the hollow beneath; it rose higher
nd higher tillit reached the top of the next
andhill where itpaused. Crawling on hands
nd knees, Brinkley slipped down into the
ollow and then crept upward halfway up
he mound; he found a huge rock, behind
'hich he crouched and popped.
As he did so William Jones, light in hand,
aemed to dive down into the solid earth and
isappear.
CHAPTER X.