Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1909-04-13
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CHAPTER XIX

the darkness as far as the door of Will
liam Jones hut; then they parted Mr..
Monk struck across the sand hills toward
his own home, while Jones entered the
door of his cabin
He would fain have found that cabin
empty, for the memory of the last scene
in the cave was still upon him, and made
him as nervous as a child. But the old
man was there, and vide awake. and evil
IDENTIFY pleased at his sons return.
Where nave you been, William DEAR"
said he. The question was innocent
enough in itself, but it was full of hidden
meaning for William Jones.
Where have been?' he repeated lat
work, to be sure -
The tone OF his reply startled the old
man. He looked up. and saw to his
amazement that William was as white
ghost, and trembling violently.
What's the matter. William DEAR" he
asked, eagerly. Have ye seen a wreck,
my SOM
No, | amt" responded his son, VIC
lently; 'and look We now, old 'un, you
jest be quiet. and let me alone, that's all :"
The old man, knowing his sons tenn
per, did as ne was told, and William
continued to potter aimlessly about the
room. He was certainly trembling very
much. and was almost overcome with a
nervousness for which he himself could
not account. For he was no coward. To
get possession of a prize on the high seas
he would have faced a storm which might
well make brave men tremble, not to men
ton that he knew that he had on more
than one occasion humanely fastened the
end of shipwrecked sailors, whom he had
found and pillaged on the shore. After
these acts he had been able to sleep the
sleep of virtue without being haunted by
dead mems eyes. But now the case was
different. He had not to deal with a vic
tim without friends, man whose body,
described as that of ''shipwrecked mari
ner," could be buried and forgotten with
out more ado. In all probability there
would this time be a hue and cry, and
William Jones ;rembled lest his share in
the CHASTITY business might ultimately be
discovered.
True, he was not actually the culprit,
and so, even at the worst, he might escape
the gallows; but to a man of his sensi-
tive and affectionate nature the thought
of transportation was not pleasant. 1t
was this that made him nervous-this that
made him start and tremble at tvery
sound.
Presently a thought struck him.
Where's MattF he asked.
Don't know, William dear; she amt
been here for hours and hours. May be
she's on the shore"
May be she is-I'll go and have a
look" returned William.
Ii must not be supposed for a moment
that William Jones had become afflicted
with a sudden and tender interest in Matt
he merely wanted TO get quit of the
cabin. that was ALL and he saw in this
a reasonable excuse for walking out alone
lie accordingly made his escape, and
went wandering off along the shore.
1t was ten O'Clock when he returned ;
he was still pale and drenehed to the
skin. The old man was doing beside the
fire. and alone.
Where's Matt?" asked William again.
"Ain't you seen her, William dear?
Well, she amt here"
William Jones did look little uneasy
this time, and it is but due TO him to
confess that his uneasiness was caused by
MATHS prolonged absence. Erratic as she
was in her movements, she had not been
accustomed to staying out so late, espe-
cialIy on a night when the rain was pour
ing. and not a glimmer of star or moon
was to be seen.
Wonder what she's a-doin' off," said
William; suppose I'd best wait up for
her Here, old man, you so TO bed, dye
hear-you amt wanted anyhow"
The old man accordingly went to bed,
and William sat up TO await MATHS re-
turn. He sat beside the hearth, looked
into the smoldering fire, and listened to
the rain as it poured down steadily upon
the roof Occasionally he got up, and
went TO the door he could see nothing,
but he heard the patter of the falling
rain, and the low, dreary moan of the
troubled sea.
Hour after hour passed. and Matt did
MOI come. William Jones began TO doze
hy the fre-then he sank into a heavy
sleep.
He awoke with start, and found that
il was broad daylight. The FIRE was out,
the rain had ceased TO fall and the morn
ing sun was creeping in at the windows
He looked around, and saw that he was
still alone. He went into MATHS room
il was empty. She had not returned
lie was now filled with a vague uneasi-
ness. He made up bit of fire. and was
about TO issue forth again Ii search of the
truant. when all further trouble was saved
him--the door opened, and Matt herself
appeared.
She seemed almost as much disturbed as
William Jones himself. Her face was
very pale, her hair wild. her dress in great
L. 4.
then. assuming rather a devil-may-ca
look. she lounged in
You're up early, William Jones" she
said.
"Yes, / am up early" he replied.
crnfiy cause why f-'cauSe | amt been
10 bed And where have you been ?-jest
you tell me that
"Why-rve been out. Of coursel'' re-
turned the girl de6antly.
''rhat won't do. Matt" returned Wi
liam Jones. Come. you'll jes. tell me
where you've been. You ain't been out all
night for nothing"
The girl gave him a look half of def
saee half of curiosity: then she threw
herself down, ct than sat, upon q
chsir
I'm tired. am" she said "and han
CRY and cold ~
will you tell me where you've been.
Mattf" cried William Jones, trembling
with suspicious alarm.
"of course | viii, IL you keep quiet,
said the girl in answer. There amt
much &c tell. neither. / were away along
To Pencroes when the heavy rain came
on; then | lay down behind n hayssack
and fell asleep, and when | woke MP il
was daylight, and l come home"
William Jones looked at her steadfastly
and long; then. as II satisfied. he turned
away About an hour later be left the
hut and walked along the shore. strain
ing his eyes seawsrd. But instead of
looking steadfastly at one spot. as his Gus
tom was, be paused now and again to gaze
uneaKilv about him At every sound. he