The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-12-10
There be plenty wreck there, amt
there"" said he, suddenly.
WrcclS?" repeated Brinlxley.


Look We now, and they do tell wonder
fui tales; and | wonder sometimes if
all they says be true
BrlnlSlcy looked ut his host for q
minute or so in silent wonder, for tho
little man was transformed. Instend
OF gazing upon him with the stupid ex-
preston which up till now his face had
wore, 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: the
word wreck" seemed to act like magic
on the other members of the Jones'
household. At the first mention of f.
the old man started from his sleep; and
he now sat staring wildly before him,
evidently imagining he was standing
on n headland gazing out to sea.
"Wrcck! he murmured. SAY, there
it be, driftin' in Wi the wind and the
tide, Willinm-driftin' in WI the tide"
shut up, old man," said William,
giving his father n nudge; then, turn
ing again to Brinkley he said: BE
them tales true, master?"
Eth? Oh, yes; perfectly ture," said
BrinlSley, being in lively humor, and
and determined to give his host n treat.
liam Jones became even more greedy.
"Praps," he said, you've seen some
of them wrecks?"
Dear me, yes" answered Brinkley,
determined to give the rcins to his i'm
agination. Eve seen any uumbcr of
them. Huge ships broken up like
match boxes and every soul on board
them drowned; then afterwards
"Ah. yes, mister" said William
Jones, eagerly, as the other paused;
''arter-'
"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, dear! and what became of it.,
mister-tell me that?"
What became of it?" repeated
Brinkley, whose imagination was be-
ginning to give, way; why, it was APP
propriated, of course, by the popula-
lation."
And didn't you take your share,
mister?'
Up" repeated Brinklcy, who was
getting muddlcd. 'Well, no-firstly,
because didn't wish to-I have SUI
perstitious horror of wearing 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 interfering stranger
Il suppose, mister, there be coast
guard chaps thcre?" 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 ii light on the
h"adland, and sometimes we got a
prize or two that way, didn't we. Will
liam, dear? but now
You shut up.' roarcd William. giv-
ing his parent a very forcible dig in
the ribs. "Iou don't know what
you're talliin' about. .you don't The
! old 'un is bit queer in the head, mas.
ter, he explained: and he's allus
! a-drcamin, he is. There amt no
| prizes here, the Lord knows: it's almost
as much as we can do TO git bit O.
bread. Matt knows that; don't &c,
Matt?"
But whatever Matt knew she evi.
IDENTIFY meant to keep to herself. for
she gave no reply. Presently, nfter :,
little moro rapo,.,l
Brinklcv rose to 90, JIc otrnred -
two shillino n;nc. 10 vi;,,;.' q
and. somewhat TO his amazcnnnt tha,
worthy accented it or.tcf,,rlI,,
"Good-hv Na+tRso;d p,.;,i.i',,. d..
in n tricc Matt 1vas boeido bin,
"I'm roino ia show Won W.. ,.,, >,
she cxplaincd ne sho ,vnn. on, Nh,
! him int, +bo,;,.