The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1893-09-16
CHAPTER TX
A DISCOVERY

Inc young man Oh Lllc Caravan "d1
now thoroughly convinced that one OF
two things must be true: Either that
William Jones had been instructed to
keep watch on him, or that he (Wil-
liam Jones) had a secret Of some sort
which he was anxious not to have re-
vealed. After both suggestions had
been duly weighed the second was
accepted as the most likely, and it
forthwith received the young mans
consideration, ..
If there was a secret. he argued. it
was in some way connected-frst1y,
with William Jones worldly pros
perity; secondly, with the reports cur
rent of treasure hidden in times past
averns of the sea. Was it possible,
after all, that these reports were true
and that in some mysterious manner
Jones had become acquainted with the
hiding place? 1t seemed very improb-
able, for many reasons, one of the
chief being the mans extreme poverty,
which appeared to touch the very edge
of sheer starvation.
A little inquiry in the ghborhood,
however, elected the information that
Jones, despite his abject pcnury, was
certainly we'll to do and had money in
the bank of the neighboring market
town; that the ruined village Of Aber-
glyn belonged almost entirely to him,
and that, in short. he was by nature
and habit a miserly person, who would
prefer boarding up whatever he pos
sessed to purchasing with it the COM
monest necessaries of life.
An old coast guard, whom Brinkley
found next day on the station, was his
chief informant.
Don't you believe him, sir" said the
old salt, elf he tells you he's poor. He's
a shark, William Jones is. and couldn't
own up even to his own father. It's my
belief he's got gold hidden somewhere
among them sand hills, let alone what
he's got in the savings bank. All, he's
q artful one, is William Jones'
Brinkley had said nothing of his own
private suspicious, but had merely in
troduced in general way the subject
of Jones worldly position. Further
conversation with Tim. who had made
few struggling acquaintance in the
district, corroborated the other testi-
mony. The young man became more
and more convinced that William Jones
was worth studying.
Matt had not turned up that morn
ing. Instead of looking after her,
Brinkley took another stroll towards
the vicinity of the DEVILS Caldron. He
had not gone far before he discovered
that he was watched again. The fig
ure of William Jones followed in the
distance, but keeping him well in
view.
1t was certainly curious.
He walked over to the cliffs and
looked down at. the scene of yester-
days bathing adventure. a strong
wind was blowing and the waves were
surging up the rocks with deafening
roar and foamy spume. The place
looked very ugly, particularly near the
caldron. All the passage was churned
to, milky white, and the sound from
beneath was, to use an old smile, like
the roar of innumerab]e chariots.
He glanced over his shoulder and
saw the head of William Jones eagerly
watching. the body being hidden in in
tervening rock.
''Strangc.' he reflected. My preda-
tory friend can't keep his treasure, if
he possesses any, down in that watery
gulf. Yet, whenever come near it,
his manner tells me that I am warm,
as they say in the game of hide and
SEEK
To test the matter little further he
set off on a brisk walk along the cliffs,
leaving the caldron behind. He found,
rs he had suspected. that he was no
longer followed. Returning as he
came. and resuming his old position,
he saw William Jones immediately re-
appear.
That day he discovered no clew to
the mystery, nor the next, nor the
next again, though on each day he
went through a similar performance.
Strange to say, Matt had not put in an
appearance, and for reasons of his own
he had thought it better not to seek
her.
On the morning of the third day-a
dark, chilly morning, after night of
rain-Tim put his head into the cara
van, where his master was seated at
his easel. and grinned delightedly.
MIR. Charles! She's come, sor!"
WHO the deuce has Gomez" cried
Brinklev.
''The lady, your honor, to have her
picture taken. VIII / show her into
the parlor??''
But as he spoke Matt pushed him
aside and entered. She wore her best
clothes, but looked a little pale a~d
anxious, Brinkley thought, greeting
her with familiar nod.
$50. you've come at last? Tim, get
out, you rascal. l thought you had
given me up
He assumed a GOODNESS, though he
felt it not, for he had made up his
mind not to encourage" the young
person.
Il couldn't come before, they
wouldn't let me. But last night Will
liam Jones he didn't come home. and
broke open the box and took out my
clothes and ran straight off here"
Her face fell as she proceeded, for