San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-02-22

H ana lnTONn on some OF ms clothes,
/ when he saw William Jones standing
near and watching him.
"HOw are your asked the young man.
with nod. Pray, what did you mean
by going on in that absurd way just
! nowy"
What did meany" repeated William,
with little of his former excitement.
Look We, now, was waving you back
from the Devils Caldron. There's
many man been drowned there, and
been washed away Lord knows where.
I've heerd tell" he added, solemnly,
they're carried right down into the
Devils own kitchen"
I'm much obliged to you, Mr.. Jones,
but I'm used to such dangers, and |
think | know how to take care of my
self"
William Jones shook his head a little
angrily.
Don't you come here no more, that's
all" he said, and mutterng OminOusly
to himself, retired. But he only ascend
ed the neighborng crag, and squatting
himself there like bird of ill-omen,
kept his eyes on the stranger.
Having dressed himself. Brinkley
climbed in the same direction. He
found William seated on the edge of the
crag, looking the reverse of amiable,
and amusing himself by throwing stones
in the direction of the sea.
You seem to know this place wellP"
said the young man, standing over him.
William Jones replied, without look
ing up:
Il ought TO; were born here. Faith
er were born here. Know it? wish
know'd as we'll how TO make my own
fortin'."
And yet they tell me-" observed the
other, watching him slyly. that Will
liam Jones, of Aberglyn, has money in
the bank, and is rich man"
He saw William color change at
once; but recovering himself quickly.
the worthy gave cOntemptuOuS grunt,
and aimed stone Spitefully at a large
gull which just then tioated slowly by.
who told you hai?" he asked, glanc-
ing quickly up, and then looking down
again. Some tOmfoOl. wi no more
sense in 'un than that gull. Rich:
wish | was, do"
Brinkley was amused, and little
curious. Laughing gayly, he threw
himself down by Williams side. Will
liam shifted his seat uneasily, and threw
another stone.
"My dear Mr., JONES'" said the young
man, assuming the flippamt style which
Matt found so irritating, Il have often
wondered how you get your living"
William started nervOusly.
~ on are, | believe, Il fisherman by
profession; yet You never go fishing.
You possess Il boat; but You are seldom
seen to Use it. You are not. think. of
pOetical disposition; yet you spend
your days in watching the water like
poet, or a person IN love. | conclude,
very reluctantly, that your old habits
stick to you. and that yUu speculate on
the disasters of your fellow-creatures.
What dye mean, MASTER" grunted
William, puzzled and a Little alarmed
by this style of address.
a nice wreck, now, would admirably
suit your tastes? 4 well-laden India
man, smashing up on the reef yOnder,
would lend sunshine to your existence,
and deepen your faith in a paternal
Providence? En- Mr.. JOneS?'
81 don't know nOwt about no wrecks"
was the reply. "ThPy're no cunSarn o.
mine"
"Ah, but have heard You lament the
good old times. when wTecking was a
respectable occupation. and when there
were no impertinent cOast-guards to in
terfere with respectable followers of the
business. by the way. | have often
wondered, Mr.. Jones. if popular report
is true. and if, among these cliffs or the
surrounding sand-hillS there is buried
treasure, cast up from time to time by
the sea, and concealed by energetic per-
sons like yOurSelf?"
William Jones could stand this no
longer. Looking as pale as it was pos
sible for so rubicund a person to be-
come, and glancing round him slspi-
ciOusly, he rose to his feet.
81 know nOwt o that" he said IF
there is summat. wish could find it:
but such things never come the way of
honest chaps like me. GoOd-m0rnin'.
masterl Take poor mans advice, and
don't you 60 swimming no more near
the Devils CaldrOn."
So saying, he walked off in the direc-
ton of the deserted village. Presently
Brinkley rose and followed him. keep
ing him steadily in view. From time
to time William Jones looked round, as
if to see whether the other was coming;
lingering when Brinkley fingered, hast
ening his pace when Brinkley fastened
his. AS an experiment. Brinkley turn
ed and began walking back toward the
cliff. CHANGING round over his shoulder,
he saw that William Jones had also
turned, and was walking back.
"Curious!" he reflected. The innO-
cent one is keeping me in view. have
good mind to breathe himw
He struck off from the path, and hast
ened, running rather than walking, to-
ward the sand-hills. So soon as he was
certain that he was followed, he began
to run in good earnest. To his delight,
William began running too. eplung-
ed among the sand-hills, and was soon
engaged busily running up and down
them hither and thither. From time to
time he caught glimpse of his pur-
suer. 1t was an exciting chase. When
he had been engaged in it for half an
hour, and was almost breathless him
self, he suddenly paused in one of the
deep hollows, threw himself down on
his back, and lit Il cigar. A few min