The Irish standard., 1893-09-23
CHAPTER XIV.
THE CARAVAN DISAPPEARS,

Several days passed away, during
which William Jones showed strange
and significant affection for his own
ireside. He went out a little in the
sunlight; but directly night came he
locked and barricaded the door as if
against thieves, and declined, on any
inducement, to cross the threshold.
Even had three-decker gone ashore
in the neighborhood he would have
thought twice before issuing forth into
the dreaded darkness.
T. For William Jones was genuinely
afraid; his hereditary calm of mind
was shaken, not SO much with horror
at a murderous deed, as with conster-
nation that his lifelong secret had
been discovered Ivy one man, and
might, sooner or later. be discovered
by others. He did not put implicit
faith even in Monk; it was his nature
to trust nobody where money was con-
cerned.
AS to returning back to the cave I'M
til he had quite recov a'ed his equani1n-
ity, that was out of the question.
Even by daylight he avoided the spot
with holy horror. Only in his dreams,
which were dark and troubled, did he
visit ito see the face of the MUIR
dered man in the darkness, and the
hand of the murdered man pointing at
him with cold, decaying finger.
I The day after the murder he had
been greatly unsettled by visit from
Tim Linney, who demanded news Of
his master and said that he had not re-
turned to the caravan all night. Tim
seemed greatly troubled, but gave vent
to no very violent ebullitions of grief.
When he was done Matt sat by the fire.
side and looked long and keenly at
William Jones.
:.What are you staring at?'' cried he,
idgeting uneasily under her gaze.
"Nowt,'' said Matt; II were only
wondering'-
"Then don't 60 wondering" ex-
claimed the good man, rather incon-
sistently. ''You mind your own bust
ness and don't be fool!'' And he
turned testify and gazed at the fire.
But Matt, whose eyes we're full of a
curious light, was not to be abashed.
"Ain't you well, William Jones?" she
asked.
"I'm we'll enough am"
''I'ts queer, amt it, that the painter
chap never come home?"
Chow should I know?' growled Will
liam. "Maybe he's gone back where
he come FROM
Scr maybe he's drownded? Or may
be summat else has happened to him?''
suggested Matt.
Never You mind him, my gal. He's
all right, never fear. And if he amt
it's no affair O. yours, or mine neither.
You go along out and play"
Matt went out as directed, and it
was some hours before she returned.
She found her guardian seated in his
old place by the fire, looking at vacan-
cy. He started violently as she entered
and made clutch at the rude piece of
ships iron which served as poker.
''Be it you, Matt? Lor, how you
startled me! l were-I were-taking
doze.''
eve been up yonder,'' said Matt.
up where?'
'Up to the painter chaps cart. He
amt come back. and the man is
searchin' for him all up and down the
place"
Fortunately it was very dark, SO
that she could not see the expression
of her hearers face. She walked to
the fireplace, and, taking a box Of lu-
offers from ledge, began to procure
light, with the view of igniting the
rusllight fixed to the table. But in
moment William blew out the match
and snatched the box from her.
what are you doin' OFF, he cried.
Wasting the matches, as il they
cost nowt. You'll come to the workus'
afore you're DONE
The days passed and there was no
news Of the absent man. Every day
Matt went up to the caravan to make
Inquiries. At last one afternoon she