Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1909-02-16
CHAPTER Y.

The sun was burning with almost in
siderable brightness, and the light blazed
on the golden mirror of the water with
binding refracted rays. Crouching in the
stern of the boat, William Jones shaded
his eyes with both hands, and gazed in
tently ON the object he had discovered far
out TO sea. Now and then he made a
rapid motion to guide the girl In her row.
ing, but he did not speak a word.
Oh, how hot 1t was out there on the
wideless waves! For some time Matt
pulled on in silence but at last she could
bear it no longer, and rested on her oars,
with the warm perspiration streaming
down her freckled cheeks.
Pull away, Matt" said the man, not
looking at her. "You amt tired, not
you ~
With long-druwn breath Matt drew
in the oars. and, swift as thought peeled
off her jacket and threw off her hat, leav-
ing her head exposed to the burning SUM-
Now, the silk gown she wore had evil
IDENTIFY been used by its original owner
as a festal raiInent, for it had been cut
low. and had short sleeves. SO Mats
shoulders and arms were bare, and very
white they looked in contrast with her
sun-frecklel hands, her sunburnt face,
and her warm brown neck. Her arms
were beautifully nodded. Altogether, her
friend the painter. could he have seen her
lust then. would have regarded her with
increasing admiration.
Freed from the incumbrance of her
jacket. she now pulled away with easy
grace and skill. Further and further the
boat receded from the shore, till the pro-
montory they had left was a couple OF
miles away. Suddenly William Jones
made sign to the girl to stop, and stood
up in the boat to reconnoiter.
The object at which he had been gazing
80 long was now clearly visible 1t con-
sisted of something black. floating on
CLASSY stretch of water, and surrounded
by fragments of loose scum or foam: it
was TO all appearance motionless, but was,
in reality, drifting wearily shoreward on
the flowing tide.
William Jones now evinced increasing
excitement. and urged his companion to
hurry quickly forward-which she did,
uniting out all her strength in a series
Of rapid and powerful strokes, Another
quarter of an hour brought them to the
spot whrere the object was floating. Trem-
bling with eagerness, the man leaned over
the boats side with outstretched hands
As he did so, Matt turned her head away
with a curious gesture Of dread.
what is il, William Jones?" she asked.
not looking at him 1T isn't-you know
one Of themT"
'No. IT amt" replied the man. leaning
over the side Of the coble. and fitting the
II - IT,,
early for them. Matt. If they comes, it
won't be till Sundays tide. They're down
at the bottom now. and amt yet rose.
Easy Lean tother way, So there-look
out ~
AS he spoke, he struggled with some
thing in the water, and at last. with an
effort which almost capsized the boat
pulled it in. Matt looked now. and saw
that il was a small. fiat. wooden trunk,
covered with pieces Of Shiny weed. Float
ing near il were several pieces OF splin-
tered wood which seemed TO have formed
part of boat. These. too. William Sc
cured, and threw down on the footboard
beneath him.
Its a box. that's what it is" cried
Matt
ITS a box, surely" said Jones. And
it's locked. TOO. And. look We now.
misdoubt there's nowt inside. or mayhap
II would have sunk. Howsomever, we'll
see!'
After an unavailing effort TO force it
open with his hands, he drew forth a
large claspknife. worked away al the lock
and tried 10 force open the lid. which
soon yielded to his efforts, as the action
of the salt water had already begun to
rot the wood On being thus opened the
box was found to contain only q couple
of coarse linen shirts, an old newspaper
and two or three biscuits.
After examining these articles one by
one, William Jones threw them back into
the box with gestures OF disgust Then
standing up. he reconnoitered the sea on
vvery side. But nothing else rewarded