Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1891-04-11
M "A - T.
A TALE OF A CARAVAN.
ny ROBERT BUCHANAN.

The old man, who, Brinkley perforce
admitted, certainly bore some resem-
blance to the Rembrandtish head which
Matt had recognized. sat doing fitfully
by the hearth, while his son was busily
employed in mending an old lantern.
Upon the entrance of Brinkley, the
lantern was quickly thrown aside, anG
William Jones assuming most OBJ
sequious manner, hastened to give a
welcome TO the stranger. Brinkley was
amused. lie accepted William Jones'
offer of seat, then he Lit up his brier-
root pipe, and. while smoking lazily, he
put few questions to his host. But IL
he expected TO gain information of any
kind ne was soon undeceived. William
Jones was no fool. Combined with ex-
cessive avarice. he possessed all the
cunning of the fox, and 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 his doings.
Il suppose now, MASTER said he,
ayou travel about deal in that cart o.
your'np'
Brinkley explained that the "cart" in
question had been in his possession only
a few months.
But | travelled a good deal before /
got IT," he explained. This time last
year was In Ireland"
"In Ireland, master"
yes, on the west coast; do you know
it?"
William Jones shook his head.
"There be plenty wreck there, amt
there?" said he, suddenly.
"Wreckp repeated Brinkley
"Yes, I've heard tell o. wonderful
storms and big ships breaking up. Look
We now. they do tell wonderful tales;
and wonder sometimes II all they says
be true"
Brinkley looked at his host for min
ute or so in silent wonder, for the little
man was transformed. Instead of gaz-
ing about him with the stupid express
sion which up till now his face had
worn, his face expressed all the keen
ness of fox-hound well on the scent.
There was also another curious thing
which the young man noticed; that the
word wreck" seemed to act like magic
on the other member Of the Jones house
hold. At the first mention OF 1t the old
man started from his sleep; and he now
sat staring wildly before him. evidently
imagining he was standing on head
land, gazing out to sea.
Wreck" he murmured. "Ay, there
1t be, driftin' in wi the wind and the
tide, William-driftin' in wi the tide"
shut up, old man." said william,
giving his father a nudge; then turning
again to Brinkley, he said, BE them
tales true, mastery7
"Eh?-oh, yes; perfectly true" said
Brinkley, being In a lively humor, and
determined to give his host treat.
The expression in the eyes of William
jones became even more greedy.
"P'raps," he said, you've seen some
of them wrecksy"
Dear me, yes" answered Brinkley,
determined to give the reins to his inn
agination. "I've seen any number OF
them. Huge ships broken up like
match-boxes. and every soul on board
them drowned; then afterward-I"
"Ah, yes, mister" said William Jones
eagerly as the other paused; "artur-"
We'll, afterward, my friend, I've
seen treasures come ashore that would
others such, rich for life"
"Dear, dear and what become of it
mister-tell me that?"
What become Of itg' repeated Brink
ley, whose imagination was beginning
to give way; why, it was appropriated
of course, by the population"
"And didn't you take your share
, mistery"
~" repeated Brinkley, who was get.
ting muddled; well, no;--firstly, be-
cause didn't wish to- have super
stitious horror of wearing dead mems
things; and secondly, because l could
not have done SO had / wished. The
people are clannish; they wanted 1t all
for themselves, and would have killed
any interfering stranger"
Il suppose, mister, there be no coast
guard chaps ttereT said William Jones.
"Oh dear, no! No coast-guards.
"Ah!" sighed the old man, coming out
of his trance. 1T warn't SO long ago
when there warn't no coast-guard chaps
here neither. Then times was better for
honest men. On dark night twas
easy to put light on the headland, and
sometimes We got prize or two that
way, didn't we, William, dear? But
now
"You shut up!" roared William, CIV
ing his parent very forcible dig in the
ribs. you don't know what you're
talkin' about, you don't. The old 'un
is bit queer in the head, MASTER" he
explained; "and he's allus dreamin' he
is. There amt no prizes here, the Lodd
knows; it's Almost as much as we can
do TO git bit o. bread. Matt knows
that; don't ee', Matty'
But whatever Matt knew she evident
ly meant TO keep to herself, for she gave
no reply. Presently, after little more
general conversation, Brinkley rose to
20. He offered two-shilling piece to
William Jones; and, somewhat to his
ldihdlcihCut, bhot NOttuy oSSCptcu ~
gratefully.
Goodbye, Matt;" said Brinkley. But
in trice Matt was beside him.
@I'm going to show you the way" she
Explained as she went out with him in
TO the air.
"Whewl' said Brinkley 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,
Matty
lie says he is."
-But don't you believe itY'
@P'rapsI do, and p'raps / don't; II
don't matter to you. does ity"
Not the least in the world"
They went on sor while In silence;
then Matt who had been furtively watch
ing his face all the while, spoke again:
you amt angry, are you, masterY'
she asked.
Il angry?-what fory"
@'Cause I said that just now."
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. Well.