Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1886-05-27

- VIZ
=" Tee seen William Jones come about here"
MATHS information on the subject was SO
vague that it seemed useless to institute a
search, so, after q regretful look at the rocks,
Brinlley proposed that they should saunter
back along the shore.
'sBy the way said he, 81 want you to in
troduce me to William Jones"
''To William Jonesg'
'Yes. Strange as the fancy may seem to
you, / should like for once in my life to stand
facc to face with real live wrecker."
They made their way back along the coast,
until they reached William Jones' cottage.
Here they paused, principally for Brinkley to
take glance at the quaint dwelling, then
they crossed the threshold. What sort of a
place he had got into it was utterly impos-
sible for Brinkley to tell; it was SO dark he
could see nothing. Having crossed The
threshold, therefore, he paused, but Matt
went fearlessly forward, struck o. light, and
ignited the rushlight on the table.
"William jones' said she, there be the
painterr'
BY tho light of the Pickering rushlght
Brinkley now looked about him. At glance
he noted some of the details of the queer lit
tie room; then his eye fell upon the occu-
pants, whom, from MATHS description, he
recognized as William Jones and the grizzly
author of his being.
The old man, who, Brinldey perforce adj
mitted, certainly bore some resemblance to
the Rembrandtish head which Matt had rec
ognized, sat doing titfully by the hearth,
while his son was busily employed in mend
ing an old lantern.
Upon the entrance of Brinllley the lantern
was quickly thrown aside, and William Jones,
assuming o most obSequious manner, fastened
to give welcome to the stranger Brinkley
was amused. He accepted William Jones'
offer of seat, then he Lit up his briar-root
pipe, and, while smoking lazily, he put few
questions to his host But if he expected to
gain information of any kind hewas soon un-
deceived. William Jones was no fool. Com
bined with excessive avarice, ho possessed all
the cunning of the fox, end the moment he
saw that the stranger was pumping him he
was ON his guard.
Presently, however, his curiosity gained
the day. Categorically, in his turn, he began
to question Brinkley about has doings.
II suppose now, MASTER" said he, ''you
Brinkley explained thatthe ''eartn in ques-
ton had been in his possession only lew
months.
s'But Travelled good deal before / got
it, 4" he explained. "This time last year was
in Ireland
Gin Ireland, masterY'
ssYes, on the west coast; do you know itF'
William Jones shook his head.
No nj nit
said he, suddenly.
'sWreckY' repeated Brinkley.
eyes, I've heard tell o wonderful storms
and big ships breaking up. Look ye now,
they do tell wonderful tales; and / wonder
sometimes IL all they says be true"
Brinkley looked at his host for q minute or
so in silent wonder, for the little man was
Instead of gazing about him
with the stupid expression which up till now
his face had worn, his face expressed all tbs
keenness of fox-hound well on the scent.
There was also another curious thing WHICH
the Young man noticed: that the word
Stwreckn 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.
''Wreckn he murmured. say, there it
be, driftin' in wi the wind and tide, William
-driftin' in wi the tiden
''Shut up, old man" said William, giving
his father nudge; then, turning again to
Brinkley, he said: 'Be them tales true, mas
terg'
''Eh? Oh, yes, perfectly true" said Brink
ley, being in lively humor, and determined
to give his host treat.
The expression in theeyes of William Jones
became even more greedy.
''P'raps" he said, ''you've seen some of
them wrecks!n
',Dear me- yes,n answered Brinkley, de-
termined to give the reins to his imagination.
GIVE seen any number of them. Huge ships
broken up like match-boxes, and every soul
on board them drowned; then afterward---"
''Ah, yes, mister,n SAID William Jones,
eagerly, as the other paused; carter"
''Well, afterward, 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 thatg
''What became of it?' repeated Brinkley,
whose imagination was beginning TO give
way; 'why, it was appropriated, of course,
by the population"
"And didn't you take your share, mister2"
''Ir' repeated Brinkley, who was getting
muddled; ''well, no;-frstly, because didn't
wish to- have superstitious horror of wear
ing dead mems things; and secondly, because
/ could not have done so had wished. The
people are clannish; they wanted it all for
themselves, and would have killed any inter
fering stranger"
81 suppose, mister, there be no coastguard
chaps thereg' said William Jones.
"Oh, dear, moi No coastguards."
''Ahln sighed the old man, coming out of
his trance. sit warn't so long ago when
there warn't no coastguard chaps here
neither Then times was better for honest
men. On dark night twas easy to put a
light on the headland, and sometimes we got
prize or two that way, didn't we, William
dearf But now"
''You shut upp' reared William, giving his
parent very forcible dig in the ribs. ''You
don't know what you're talkin' about, you
don't. lhe old 'un is bit queer in the head,
master" he explained; land he's allus O
dreamin', he is There amt no prizes here
the Lord knows; it's almost as much as we
can do to git a bit @ bread. Matt knows
that: don't ee. Mattw
But whatever Matt knew she evidently
meant to keep to herself, for she gave no 70
ply. Presently, after little more general
conversation, Brinkley rose to go. He offered
two-shilling piece to William Jones' and,
somewhat to his aInazement, that worthy &C
copied it gratefully.
''Good-by, Matt" said Brinkley. But in a
trice Matt was beside him.
"Trn going to show you the way" she ex-
-c1, sz,4> fro
air.
"Whewl' said Brinlley when they were
fairly clear of the cabin; ''the open air is
better than that den; but then William Jones
is very poor, isn't he, Mattln
s'fIe says he isl
"But don't you believe itT'
"Praps do, and p'raps don't; it don't
matter to you, does it!'
'sNot the least in the world"
They went ON for a while in silence; then
Matt, who had been furtively watching his
face all the while, spoke again.
you amt angry, are you, nasterr she
asked.
''Iangrya what forl''
'''Cause said that just nown
Dear me, no; whatever you might say,
Matt, wouldn't offend me-
If he expected to please her by this he was
mistaken.
That's cause you don't care. Wen,
don't care neither, if you DON'T
She ran little ahead of min, and contin-
ued to precede him until she gained the last
sandhill and caught glimpse of the caravan.
| Then she paused
you don't want me to go no further, dc
your
MOI
'.All right-good-by.n