Pittston Gazette

              ESTABLISHED 18RO. » VOL,. XLII1. NO. 00. I Oldest Newspaper in the Wyoming Vi llev. l'lTTSTON, LUZERNE CO., PA., FRIDAY, DECEMBER 15, 1893. A Weekly Local and Family Journal. I^nIdvance™ An old coast guard, whom Brinkley found next day on the station, was his chief informant. parod to low. 1 am awfully old, you know, coin- over tne noie ana listenea; an he heard was a dull, hollow moaning, like the sound of the sea. The light of the moon, however, enabled him to perceive that the hole had been covered with a loose piece of wood, or lid, about four feet square, and with an iron ringbolt in the center; which lid was now lying by the side of the opening, ready to be replaced. A number of large pieces of ;,tone, such as were strewed everywhere about the sand hills, lay piled close by. plunder, upon the queen's seaway; all this which, turned into cash, would have made a man rich beyond the dreams of avarice, was the possession of one who lived like a miserly beggar, grudged himself and his flesh and blood the common necessaries of life, and had never been known, from boyhood upward, to give a starving fellowcreature so much as a crust of bread or to drop a penny into the poor box! 0 William Jones! O William Jones! William Jones! HOW NYE ARRIVED. quart of jelly, a jar of pickles and the brains of an intellectual dog oVer the entire party was grossly wrong, and the report hnrt me a good deal among friends who had invited me to come and play golf with them and who afterward excused themselves on the ground that diphtheria had broken out in their families. Golf is a Scottish game, and is as fail of dry humor and pittas, ringing, girlish laughter as the death of Lady Jane Grey. Yesterday Mr. Gladstone laid aside the polka dot cravat which he bn used so long. This is a sign that Mnaoter is over now. In the spring he puts It on when the Maltese catkins show themselves on the willows. Gladstone still wears the scarlet woolen socks, however, which he had in 1889, when I first visited England a poor and unknown tourist. Ho gently disengaged himself, and Matt sat down on a camp stool close by. Her face had grown very wistful "Don't you believe him, sir," said the old salt, "if 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. Ah, he's a artful one, is William Jones." lppotito. Brinkley played negliij with his knife, and watched GETTING INTO LONDON WITH A TIN pD.f ML f ' and sad. "Matt. he said, anxious to change t, two days since you were here, said he. "I was seriously ti. inpf "f coining1 to look for you. Vv liy woiildn't you come before?" "('wasn't that!" said Matt. "I TRUNK AND AN APPETITE. the bjcct, "toll me something- more Mat about William Jon Putting Up at Brown's Hotel Not-on-the- I hate William Jones.. 1 hate every- Strand, Where the BUI Grows In All Brinkley had said nothing1 of his own private suspicions, but had merely introduced in a general way the subject of Jones' worldly position. Further conversation with Tim, who had made a few straggling acquaintances in the district, corroborated the other testimony. The young man became more and more convinced that William Jones was worth studying. body—but vou." "Really?" couldn't!" "Couldn't? Kinds of Weather—Nye Plays Golf and "Yt I do." Why?" Scatters Sweetness Abroad. "Well. I feel greatly flattered. Tint about the gentle Jones? ' You say he was out all last night?" 31 att uouded. He lay for some time waiting and listening. All at once, far beneath him, the light glimmered again. Quick as thought he rose and crept away, only just in time; for he had no sooner regained the shelter of the roek and crouched there watching than he 6aw the light re-emerge, accompanied by a human head; a human body followed, and then he clearly discerned William Jones standing in the moonlight without the burden he had previously carried, and holding in his hand a lan tern. The above reflection belongs, not to the present writer, but to my adventurous discoverer, the captain of tho in: wouldn't let me, William He says he'll smash me if I bore and talk to you." spoke her bosom heaved and her eyes Hashed fire. Win- [Copyright, 1893, by Edgar W. Nye.] Loxdon, the Latter Part of ) Autumn, 1893. f (T? Jones. tJ Matt When I left America, to bring refinement and the light of the gospel into Great Britain and Ireland, I was told to go to an hotel first and lodgings afterward. A friend told me to go to Brown's hotel in the Strand. In landing at Waterloo station, which is handy to "lie goes out nigh every night," she said, "and often don't come home till morning'. Sometimes he finds things and brings "em. lie IinCls l.its o' gold, and old ropes, and bottles o' rum." "Very odd. Where?" As Brinkley proceeded on his tour of inspection he became more and more struck with wondair. Nothing' seemed too insignificant or too preposterously useless for secretion in that extraordinary ship's cavern. There were mops and brooms, there were holystones, there were "squeegees," there were canisters of tinned provisions, there were bags of weevil'd biscuits, there were sacks of potatoes (which esculents, long neglected, had actually sprouted and put forth leaves), there were ring-bolts, there were tin mugs and pannikins, and, lastly, mirabile dictu, there were books—said books lay piled on the top of a heap of sacks and were In the last stage of mildew and decay. For what purpose had they been carried there? Certainly not to form a library, for William JoneB could not read. As curiosity deepened, Brinkley opened some of the forlorn volumes covered with mildew and full of hideous crawling things. Most were In foreign tongues, but there were several English novels half a century old, and a book of famous "Voyages," also in English. Near to them were some large paper rolls—ships charts, evidently, and almost falling to pieces. And on the top of the charts was a tiny prayerbook, slime-covered and dripping wet! caravan. [CONTINUED. ] "He ain't at home to-day," she said, in answer to the young man's query concerning the ex-wrecker; "he's gone up to market-town and won't be back before night." William Jones shook his head a little angrily. "I don't know," answered the artist. "My time is my own, and I shall stay as long as the place amuses me." "Don't you come here no more, that's all!" he said, and, muttering'ominously to himself, retired. But he only ascended the neighboring cap, and, squatting himself there like a bird of ill-omen, kept his eyes on the stranger. Matt had not turned up that morning. Instead of looking after her, Brinkley took another stroll towards the vicinity of the Devil's Caldron. He had not gone far before he discovered that he was watched again. The figure of William Jones followed in the distance, but keeping him well in view. Now how different! I have come here on a Dutch steamer only to be the pet and favorite of duchesses ever since my arrival. "If I can assist in making it so I shall be happy, sir.** "Thank you." "He don't tell; I know." As Hrinkley looked at her a sudden thought seemed to strike him. "I wish you'd tell me, Matt. Do. 1 have a particular reason for wanting the information." "Matt," he said, "you and I will go wreck hunting this afternoon—that is, if you've no objection." "Do you care for rabbit shooting? If so there is some sport to be had among the sand hills." Having dressed himself, Brinkley climbed in the same direction He found William seated on the edge of a crag, looking the reverse of amiable, and amusing himself by throwing stones in the direction of the sea. Matt hesitated. Setting the lantern down, William busied himself for several minutes, and finally, having concealed the work on which he was engaged, extinguished the light. Then, after glancing suspiciously round him on every side, he walked rapidly down the sand hill and disappeared in the direction of the sea. Not until he distinctly heard the plash of oars, and saw the black sihouette of the boat pass out from the shadow of the rock on to the moonlit sea, did Brinkley again begin to stir, and even then he did so very cautiously lest his figure should be perceived against the moonlight by the lynx-eyed rower. Creeping on hands and knees, he again crawled to the mysterious spot, and found, as he had indeed anticipated, that the hole was oovered up, and the wooden lid or trap-door 60 carefully covered with stones and loose sand as to be completely hidden. Just to show a friend from Dakota my pull here, the other day while I was walking with him on St. James street I heard the toot of the tallyho coach from Hampton Court. The driver is dressed as swell as possible in fine fitting miform with" white beaver hat, and the footman looks like Thackeray's dream. "There," says I, "AHck, that's my four-in-hand coming now. How would you like to take a flier down to Hampton Court to see if I have paid too muoh for it. You go tooling 4m there with me, look at the ranche and range, water, grass for stock, etc., and then tell me what it's worth. If I've paid too much for it, I want to know it, so as to stop payment on one of my checks." When the coach got alongside the soloist blew a merry blast which made everybody look around. I threw up my hand in a courtly way, acquired while justice of the police court in Laramie City, and stopped the gorgeous eqnippage. Fortunately we were the only passengers, so I showed my friend how the brake worked, told him how I bought the off wheeler of the speaker of the house of commons and generally gave him the history and price of everything. We had a good time, and I blew him off at the Queen's Arms at Hampton to lunch. It "You won't say I told? William Tones would be downright wild, he would." She certainly had none; wherever he went she seemed to be willing to follow. In a very little while the two started off. ItwasBrinkley who led this time, Matt walking along beside him like a confiding child. "J3y the way. Matt," he saia, presently, "3'ou told me once of treasures being hidden among the sand hills. Did anybody ever find any?" "I never shoot anything," was the reply, "except, I suppose, lolly as it flies;' though with what  arm that interesting sport is pursued," he added, as if to himself, "I haven't the slightest ideal" H« walked over to the cliffs and looked down at the scene of yesterdays 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 It was certainly curious. "1 11 keep the secret faithfully Now?" "You 6eem to know this place well," said the young man, standing over him. Thus urged, Matt informed her friend that on two occasions, out of curiosity, she had followed her guardian on his nightly pilgrimages and watched him go in the direction of the Devil's Caldron. On both occasions the night was very dark. On getting slear of the coast.-irijn.rd anH among the sand hills. Jones had lighted a lantern which he carried. Trembling and afraid, she had followed the light along the cliffs; then out among the sand hills. But all at once the light and its bearer had disappeared into the solid earth, leaving her to find her way home in terror. "Well, good day," said Monk, with an uneasy scowl. "If I can be of any service to you command me!" William Jones repHod. without looking up: And raising his hat again, he stalked "I ought to; I were borr. here. Father was born here. Know it? I wish I know'd as well how to make my own "Not that I know of." "William Jones, for instance?" "No. Leastways I don't know." "Well, what would you say, Matt, if I told you that I had found one?" away "Now what in the name of all that Is wonderful,does Mr. Monk,of Monkshurst, mean by becoming so civil?" fortin'." oeneain was, to use an oin simile, UKe the roar of innumerable chariots. "And yet they tell me." observed the other, watching- him slyly, "that William Jones, of Aberglyn, has money in the bank, and is a r!oh man " He glanced over his shoulder and saw the head of William Jones eagerly watching, the body being hidden in intervening rock. This was the question the young man asked himself as he strolled away seaward. He could not persuade himself that he had wronged Monk, who was in reality an amiable person, instead of a domineering bully; no, that suggestion was contradicted by every expression of the man's baleful and suspicious face. What, then, could be the explanation of his sudden attack ot courtesy? "\ es. I wonder if you can keep a secret? Yes, on reflection, I think you can. Now, before we go on any further, Matt, first you place your hand in mine and promise never to mention until 1 give you permission what I am about to confide in you now." "If you!" He saw William's color change at once; but, recovering himself at once, the worthy gave a contemptuous grunt and aimed a stone spitefully at a large gull which just then floated slowly by. "Strange!" he reflected. "My predatory friend can't keep his treasure, if he possesses any, down in that watery gulf. Yet, whenever I come near it, his manner tells me that I am 'warm,' as they say in the game of hide and seek." The explanation of all this was, in Matt's opinion, very simple. William Jones was a bad man and went t« "visit the fairies." "Who told you that?" he asked, glancing quickly up. and then looking down again. "Some tomfool, wi' no more sense in 'un than that gun. Rich! I wish I was, I do!" His first impulse was to displace the debris and at once to explore the mysterious place; but reflecting that he was unprovided with lights of any kind, and that the cavity below would most certainly be in total darkness, he determined to postpone his visit of inspection until daylight. By this time there was no sight or sound of the boat. Rising to his feet, he mused. It was all very well to talk of returning auother time, but how was he to find the spot? The sea of sandy hillocks stretched on every side, and he knew by experience how difficult it was to distinguish one hillock from another. As to the cairns of loose stones, such cairns were nearly as numerous as the hillocks themselves. Matt's curiosity was aroused. "All right," she replied, eagerly, "1 6han't tell." BLOWING UP A PAPER BAG. What possessed Bfinkley to examine the prayerbook I cannot determine, but in after years he always averred that it fras an inspiration. At any rate he did open it, and taw that the flyleaf was covered with writing, yellow, difficult to decipher, fast fading away. But what more particularly attracted his attention was a loose piece of parchment, fastened to the title-page with a rusty pin, and covered also with written characters. the postoffice and courthouse, I took a four wheeler and had my nice new tin trunk put on the top. This trunk I borrowed of our hired girl, Josephine Pinnero, heir apparent to the throne of Ranpano, king of the common people on the coast of Africa. To test the matter a little further he set off on a brisk walk along the cliffs, leaving the caldron behind. He found, as he had suspected, that he was no longer followed. Returning as he came, and resuming his old position, he saw William Jones immediately reappear."Yes," she cried, "and every time he goes the fairies give him summat, and he brings it home." "Very good," replied Brinkley; will now proceed." An ideal an inspiration? As it flashed into his mind the young man gave-vent to a prolonged whistle. Possibly Monk was—jealousl "we Brinkley was amused, and a little curious. Laughing gayly, he threw himself down by William's side. William shifted his seat uneasily, and threw another stone. They passed on among the sand bills and came to the entrance of the cave. Brinkley removed "the stones and sand from the hole and entered. Breathless with curiosity Matt followed- They reached the bottom. Brinkley struck a light and pointed out to her all the wonderful treasures which the cave contained. It was such a surprise to the girl that for a time she could do nothing but stare and stare in speechless wonder. Whistling gayly, Brinkley turned about the casks of rum and brandy and thrust his hands into the bags and let the gleaming gold slip through his fingers. "Each time you followed him," asked Brinkley, thoughtfully, "he disappeared at about the same place?" The idea was a preposterous one and almost amusing. It was not to be conceived, on the first blush of it, that jealousy would make a surly man civil, a savage man gentle; it would rather have the contrary effect, unless —here Brinkley grew thoughtful—unless his gloomy rival had some sinister design which be wished to cloak with politeness. "Yes," said Matt; "and the light and him sunk right down and never come She loaned me her trunk. It is of tin, painted to resemble a typical sunset, and has a handle on the top. I had to pay my board in advance while I carried this truck. If it had been full of coupons, it would have made no difference. With that and a soft felt hat I could have boarded among pickpockets all winter with safety. "My dear Mr. Jones," said the young man. assuming the flippant style which Matt found so irritating: "I have often wondered how you get your living." William started nervouslv. 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. up again." The result of the information thus communicated was to leave the young man of the caravan far more curious than ever, lie determined to turn the tables on William Jones, and to watch his movements, not in the daytime, but during the summer night, waiting for his appearance in the immediate Neighborhood of the Devil's Caldron. Fixing the candle on a nook in the damp wall he inspected the title-page, and deciphered these words: "You are, I believe, a fisherman by profession; yet you never go fishing. You possess a boat, but you are seldom seen to use it. You are not, I think, of a poetical disposition, yet you spend your days in watching the water, like a poet, or a person in love. I conclude, very reluctantly, that your old habits stick to you, a nd that you speculate on the disasters of your fellow creatures." "Christmas-eve, 1864, on board the ship 'Trinidad,' fast breaking up on the Welsh coast. If any Christian sopl should find this book and these lines where I place them, if they sink not with their bearer (on whom I leave my last despairing blessing) to the bottom of the sea, or if God in His infinite mercy should spare and save the little child." (The book trembled in his hand as he read. The writing went on:) "I cast her adrift in her cradle in sight of shore, on a little raft made by my own hands. 'Tis a desperate hope, but He can work miracles, and if it is His will she may be saved. Attached to this holy book are the proofs of her poor dead mother's marriage and my darling's birth. May she live to inherit my name. Signed, Matthew Thorpe Monk, Colonel Fifteenth Cavalry, Bengal." "Where to, sir?" came the gentle, ginny voice of the cabman. But jealous of little Matt! Brinklev laughed heartily when he fully realized the absurdity of the notion. On the morning of the third day—a lark, chilly morning, after a night of rain—Tim put his head into the caravan, where his master was seated at his easel, and grinned delightedly. At last he thought gf the rock where he nad first concealed himself. Such rocks were numerous too. but, pulling out his case of crayons, he marked the base of the rock with a small streak of color. Finally, remembering that the drift sand might cover this mark, he made a large cross in the hard sand. Having taken these precautions, he niudo the best of his way down the cliffs, and following the open greensward which fringed the crags wandered back to the caravan. "Brown's hotel, Strand," I answered as I finished up a bag of popcorn which I brought from home. He crossed the sand hills and came again to the path which he and Matt had followed the previous day. A smart breeze was coming in from the sou'west and the air was fresh and cool, though sunny; but clouds were gathering to windward and the weather was evidently broken. Reaching the cliffs, he descended them and Matt's amazement turned into awe. "Don't," she said, in a fearful whisper; "it belongs to the fairies." The first night he saw nothing—it was stormy, with wild gusts of rain. The second night was equally uneventful. Nothing daunted, he went for a third and last time, and lay in the moonlight on the cliffs, looking toward "Mr. Charles! She's come, sor!" "Who the deuce has come?" cried Brinkley. Brinkley laughed. "There is no Brownsotel on the Strand, sir," says the driver, who was much better dressed than I and declined in a stiff manner to help me close out the popcorn. "Well, is there another Brown's hotel?' I asked as I blew up the paper bag and busted it in the ear of a policeman, with a ringing laugh. "What dye mean, master?" grunted William, puzzled and a little alarmed by this style of address. "It belongs to a very substantia] fairy, Matt, but I don't think that today I will mention that fairy's name. Did you ever see so much money in all your life before, Matt?" "The lady, your honor, to have her picture taken. Will I show her into £he parlor?" "A nice wreck jow would admirably suit youjr tastes? A well-laden Indiaman, smashing up on the reef yonder, would lend sunshine to your existence and deepen your faith in a paternal Providence. Eh. Mr. Jones?" The night was dark and cloudy, but from time to time the uivon came out with sudden brilliance on tliu sea, which was gently stirred by a breeze from the land. the villa1.*' But as he spoke Matt pushed him aside and entered. She wore her best clothes, but looked a little pale and inxious, Brinkley thought, greeting her with a familiar #od. She shook her head, but her eyes were still fixed upon the gold. "Yes, sir. There's one on Dover street, At daybreak the next day he strolled back along the crags, first taking a bird's-eye view of the village, and per* ceiving no sign of William -1 ones, who had doubtless no suspicion that be would rise so early. He soon found the spot where he had stood overnight watching the approach of the boat, and. first reconnoitering the neighborhood, struck off among the sand hills. At first he was guided by footprints, but as the sand grew harder these disappeared. At length, after a somesomewhat bewildering search, he found the sand hill hg sought, the rook with his mark upon it, the cross marked in the ground, and finally the well-concealed mouth of the hole. "I sec," observed Brinkley, flippantly, "the sight of that gold fascinates you. Well, so it did me at first, but you see what use does. I can regard it now with comparative calmness. However, I have a particular wish to accustom you to the sight of wealth; therefore, I shall bring you here and show you this now and again. Come, Matt, tell me what you would do if yon were very rich, if all this flotsam and jetsam, in fact, belonged to you?" sir." He waited for several hours. Al»out midnight he rose to ffo home. "Well, go there, colonel," said I, "and don't spare your stock. Pound him on the back, for I'm as hungry as a grizzly at an afternoon tea." "I don't #know nowt about no wrecks," was the reply. "They're no "So you've come at last? Tim, get ant, you rascal. I thought you had given me up." consarn o' mine." As he did so he was startled by the sound of oars, and, down, perceived a small boat approaching on a silver patch of moonlit sea. "Ah, but I have heard you lament the good old times, when wrecking was a respectable occupation and when there were no impertinent coast guards to interfere with respectable followers of the business. By the way, I have often wondered, Mr. Jones, if popular report is true, and if among these cliffs or surrounding sand hills there is buried treasure cast up from time to time by the sea and concealed by energetic persons like yourself?" I entered London at night as Julius Caesar did, so that people would not desert their business to come to the train, thus leaving their homes and shops a prey to burglars and robbers. The ruse was successful. No one was there to crowd the streets and congest traffic. PLAYING GOLF. * He assumed a coldness, though he felt it not, for he had made up his uind not to "encourage" the young person. The mystery was deepening indeed! At last Brinkley thrust the book and its contents into his pocket and, after one look round, took the candle and made his way up the rocks and out of the cave. When he saw the light of day above him he blew out the light and crawled up through the aperture. Then, standing on the lonely sand hill, he surveyed the scene on every side. There was no sign of any living soul. was a mighty tough ltcich I must admit. A hot IriBh stew with "shillalys" in it and a mug of bitter constituted the entire programme, and to one who is not used to it beer from a metal mug tastes like boaeset drunk from a new zinc lined sink. The moon came out, "and he saw that the occupant of the boat was a solitary man. "I couldn't come before, they wouldn't let me. But last night William Jones he didn't come home, and It approached rapidly, making-direct for the Devil's Caldron. Lying1 down on his face and peeping' over, Brinkley Raw it stop just outside the foaming passage, while the man stood up, stopped, lifted something- heavy from the bottom and threw it overboard. Then, after watching- for a moment a dark object which drifted shoreward, right into the Caldron, he rowed away until he reached a sheltered creck, close to the scene of the swimming adventure. Here he ran the boat ashore and leaned out. Without the slightest hesitation Matt replied: We drove to Brown's hotel on Dover street, and I was soon assigned to the room which- seemed to match my steerage trunk and Ellis island bag. It was 9 shillings per day, but that did not include amount brought forward, attendance, use of electric light, bath, use of poker and fire shovel, use of fire escape, breakfast, luncheon, dinner, tea and coffee, sugar, milk, use of sugar tongs, desserts, ices, suppers, wear and tear of napkin, children's board, board of valet, sherry, madeira, corkage, port, use of corkscrew, claret, sauterne, burgundy, chablis, hock, moselle, champagne, use of nut crackers, liquors, spirits (of just men rectified, I presume), ale and stout, aerated waters, cigars, sundries and breakage. But we had a good time. I asked the driver now and again how the leaders were standing it since the rainy weather, and all such things, till my friend Alick said: "I should give it to yon—leastways half of it." Carefully, but rapidly, he returned the trapdoor to its place, covered it with the stones and liberal handfuls of loose sand and walked away, taking care for the first hundred yards to obliterate his footprints as he went. "Ah, the reply is characteristic, and clearly shows you are not at present fitted to become the possessor of riches. But I shall bring you to the proper state of mind in time, no doubt. The next time I ask you a sirftilar question you will propose to give me a third, the next an eighth, and so on, until you will finally come to a proper state of mind, and decline to give me any at all. And now that I have made you the sharer of my secret we will go." William Jones could stand this no longer. Looking as pale as it was possible for so rubicund a person to become, and glancing around him suspiciously, he rose to his feet. He looked keenly to right and left. No one was visible. Stooping down he disclosed the trap-door with Its iron ring. A long pull, a strong pull, and up came the trap. Open sesame! Beneath him was a dark cavity, with % slanting path descending fcito the bowels of the earth. "Yer a regular oner, ain't ye? Lord, but don't yer put it on over here, though? But I knew ye, Bill, when yer was poor; didn't I, Bill? I knew ye wlien yer hadn't struck a lick at litteryture and was pifecticin law and had to go to the other law office to get warm. Remember that? Now look at yet Too proud to drive the Deadwood and Sydney stage. Set here, by gawney, and let a judge of the soupreme cote, with a high hat, drive yer 6tock for ye. And too dam biggity yer air, Bill, to even blow yer own horn, but hire a 'Piscopple clergyman fer to do it fer ye. BKI2TKXET TOOK TIIE WARNING AND 8TBUCK OCT FOR SHORE. came down on the rocks beneath. A long, jagged point ran out from the point where he stood and the water to leeward of the same was quite calm, though rising and falling in strong, troubled swells. So bright and tempting did it look in that sheltered placa that he determined to have a swim. "I know nowt o' that," he said. "If there is summat I wish I could find it; but sech things never come the way of honest chaps like me. Good morn in', master'. Take a poor man's advice and don't you go swimming no more near the Devil's Caldron!" CHAPTER XL The next minute Brinkley heard him coming up the cliffs. MYSTERIOUS BEHAVIOR O* THE YOUNG GEN- Trembling with excitement, he lay down flat ou his faco and waited. Presently the man emerged on the top of the cliffs, within a few yards of Brink-ley's hiding-place. Just then the moon flashed brightly out, and Brinkley recognized him. Anxious to lose no time, he squeezed himself through the aperture and began descending. While he did so he heard the hollow roaring he had heard the ni~ht before. As he proceeded he drew out a box of matches and a candle, which he lit. Proceeding cautiously on his back, and restraining himself with his elbows from too rapid descent, he found himself surrounded, not by sand, but by solid rock, antl, peering downward, saw that he was looking down into a large subterranean cave. About this time Matt noticed a curious change come over her artist friend. He was more thoughtful and consequently less entertaining. Often when she appeared and began chatting ta him about affairs in which she thought he might take some interest she had the mortification not merely of eliciting no reply, but of finding that he had not heard a word of her conversation.TLEMAN. They lett the cave once more and made their way back across the sand hills, Brinkley pausing to obliterate their footprints as they went. WheD they had proceeded some distance he paused and took the gini's hand. So saying, he walked off in the direction of the deserted village. Presently r.rinkley rose and followed him, keeping him steadily in view. From time to time William Jones looked round, as if to see whether the other was coming; lingering when Brinkley lingered, hastening his pace when Brinkley hastened his. As an experiment, Brinkley turned and began walking back towards the cliffs. Glancing round over his shoulder, he saw that William Jones had also turned, and was walking back. He stripped leisurely, and, placing his clothes In a safe place, took a header off the rocks. It was clear at once that he was a powerful swimmer. Breasting the smooth swell, he struck out from shore, and, when he had gone about a hundred yards, floated lazily on his back and surveyed the shore. I did not remember that I broke anything, so I asked about it. No bill at a hotel is correct without an item for breakage. It was William Jones, carrying on his shoulders something like a loaded sack, and dangling from his left wrist a horn lantern. "Good-by, Matt," said he. •'If it wasn't for that promised smashing 1 should certainly see you home." "Work my pelt up into dyplomys, Bill, but yer put on more side than what Victoria does. I like this sort of ride first class; but, Bill, if they knew back at Cheyenne how yer carried on here in good society, yer life wouldn't be worth a steer calf born on the trail of a Christmas eve." "WHY MATT, YOU LOOK MAGNIFICENT." I broke open the box and took out my clothes and ran straight off here." "Beg pardon," said I, with wonderful grace and civility, "but I cannot remember that I have broken anything except the shell of a soft boiled egg day before yesterday, and that is a common offense." He looked round once or twice and then hurried toward the sand hills. Brinkley followed stealthily. The moon now went in, and it became pitch dark. Presently Jones paused, set down the load and lit the lantern; then ho hurried on. Now this style of proceeding would certainly have caused her some annoyance, but for one compensating fact which put the balance entirely on the other side. It was evident that, despite the change, Brinkley's interest was not lessening, nay, it rather seemed to be on the Increase—and this fact Matt, very woman as she was, was cpiick to perceive. "Then do," returned Matt. "I don't care if he does smash me!" The clifts were not very high, but their forms were finely picturesque Here and there were still green creeks, fringed with purple weed: and larCre snadowy caves, newea rougniy in tne aide of the crags; and rocky islets, cov* ered with slimy weed awash with the lapping water. A little to the right of the spot from which he had dived the cliff seemed hollowed out, forming a wide passage which the sea entered with a tramp and a rush and a roar. Her face fell as she proceeded, for she could not fail to notice the coolness of the young man's greeting. "Probably not, but I do. It would be an episode in your career which it would not be pleasant to reflect upon— therefore, good-by, Matt—and—and God bless you, my girl!" Just beneath him was a flight of steps cut in the solid rock. Descending these carefully, for they were as slippery as ice, he reached the bottom, and found it made of sea gravel and loose shells, forming, indeed, a declina like the seashore itself, to the edge of which, filling about half the cavern, the waters of the sea crept with a long, monotonous moan. Approaching the water's edge he saw facing him the solid uacg oi the cilir, but just at the base there was an opening, a sort of slit, almost touching the waves at all times, quite touching them when the swell rose, and through this opening crept beams of daylight, turning the waves to a clear malachite green. "Well, since you have come, we'll get to work," said Brinkley. "It's chilly and damp outside, so we'll remain here In shelter." "Very true, indeed," said the cashier, a beautiful, long waisted girl, with a voice like a meadow lark, "but you forget that the egg was a surprise and shock to you, sir, and that you broke one of the commandments at the time." "Curious!" he reflected. "The innocent one is keeping roe In view. I have a good mind to breathe him!" He gave her a fatherly salute upon the forehead; a bright flush overspread her cheek as she bounded a~#ay. Brinkley watched her until she was out of sight, then he turned and strolled quietly on in the direction of the caravan. For fifty or sixty yards a coarse carpet of greensward covered the cliffs; then the sand hills began. Passing over the first sand hill, Jones disappeared. Quick as thought the young man followed, and, peering over, saw the light in the hollow beneath; it rose higher and higher till it reached th« top of the next sand hill, where il He struck off from the path, and hastened, running rather than wa.1 Icing, towards the sand hills. So soon as he was certain that he was followed he began to run In good earnest. To his delight, William began running too. He plunged among the sand hills, and was soon engaged busily running up and down them, hither and thither. From time to time he caught a glimpse of his pursuer. It was an exciting chase. When he had been engaged in it for half an hour, and was almost breathless himself, he suddenly paused in one of the deep hollows, threw himself down 011 his back, and lit a cigar. A few minutes afterwards he heard a sound as of violent pufllng and breathing, and the next instant William Jones, panting, gasping, perspiring at every pore, appeared above him. Matt took off her hat and then proceeded to divest herself of her coarse jacket, revealing for the first time the low-necked silk dress beneath. Meantime the young man placed the sketch in position. Turning presently, he beheld Matt's transformation. Faker T«tdm. Very often on looking suddenly at him she found his eyes fixed wonderingly and sympathetically upon her. She asked him on one occasion what he was thin King about. I was so knocked out that she stood with her watch in her hand and counted me out according to ring rules. I did not even venture to say what was true, that they were not her commandments, but I paid the charge, which was two and six. / A /A \ m \: Toward this passage Brinkley swam. He knew the danger of such places, for he had often explored them both in Cornwall and the west of Ireland; but ae had confidence in his own natatory skill. Approaching the shore leisurely, with strong, slow strokes, he paused outside the passage, and observed that the sea-swell entering the opening rnshed and quickened itself like a rapid sbooting to the fall, turning at the base of the cliff into a cloud of thin, prismatic spray. Suddenly through the top of the spray, a cloud of rock pigeons emerged, winging their flight rapidly along the crags. "It's a strangle game," he said, "and requires careful waiting. I wonder what my next move ought to be?" Old and shabby as the dress was, torn here and there and revealing beneath glimpses of coarse stockings and clumsy boots, it became her wonderfully. As a result of much polishing with soap and water her face shone again and her arms and neck were white as snow Thus attired. Matt looKeu no longer a long, snamoung girl, but a tali, bright, resplendent youug lady. "You, Matt," he answered, promptly. "J was trying to imagine," he continued, seeing her blush and hang her head, "how you would look in silks and velvets; got up, in fact, like a grand demoiselle. What would you say, now, if a good fairy were to find you out some day and were to offer to change you from what you are to a fine young lady—would you say yes?" lie tought very deeply, but when he reached the caravan he found he had come to no definite conclusion as to his plans. He therefore partook cheerfully tif the repast which Tim had prepared for him, and after he had smoked a couple of pipes in the open air he retired to rest. Yet Brown's is a good hotel, and the price of board and lodging there is not high. It is when you ask whether it is likely to rain or not, or use the inkstand or door mat that the bill runs up. Your receipted bill also has a stamp on it, which I presume you pay for under the heading of lick yours (liqueurs) (Scotland Yard joke). •■'^\miW^p *;■•*"Ssje±- • .'• T '%? c^As^.— &L The mystery was now clear enough. The cave communicated directly with the sea, but in such a way as to make an entrance for any large object impossible from that direction. Matt reflected for a moment, then she followed her feminine instinct and nodded her head vigorously. The next morning he began ponder- It was no use. Brinkley could not conceal his admiration. Matt's arms alone were enough to make a painter wild with delight. Turning his back upon the water, and holding up the candle, he examined the Interior. The damp, black rocks rose on every side, and from the room hung spongy and hideous weeds, like those fungi to be seen In sunless vaults of wine; but piled against the inner wall was a hoard of treasures to make a smuggler's mouth water or turn a wrecker's brain. "I have got my trump card," he said to himself, "but how to play up to it? I have a splendid hand, but it will want skillful managing if I am to win the game. One false move would do for me, for my opponents are crafty as foxes; and there are two against one. What is my right move, I wonder? I wish some good fairy would guide me!" tng again, Yesterday most all day I played golf. I took Clarence along to carry my golf swatters. These swatters are a compromise between a street car hook and a crop. Clarence took the umbrella stand full of these things—a receptacle made for the purpose of holding six or seven kinds of swatters. MAKING IT (MOD. Brinkley knew by this last phenomenon that the spray concealed the entrance of some large subterranean cavern. If any doubt had remained in his mind it would have been dispelled by the appearance of a solitary pigeon, which, leaving its companions, wavered lightly, flew back through the spray with a rapid downward flight and disappeared."Ah—by the way, Matt, can you read?" / \- j j *» | \ ~V-  "IIow d'ye do, Mr. Jones?" ho cried, gayly. "Come and have a cigar." "Why, Matt, you look positively magnificent! I had no idea you were "Print, not writing." "And write?" "Just a bltP Instead of replying, William Jones looked completely thunderstruck, and after glaring feebly down and muttering incoherently disappeared as suddenly a* he had come. so pretty." The girl blushed with pleasure. 4 m "Who taught you? William Jones?" The young man worked away for a good hour and a half, at the end of which time he put the finishing touch to the sketch. "No, that he didn't; I learned off Tim Penrenn down village. William Jones, he oan't read and he can't write; no more can William Jones' father." The field consisted of a paddock owned by the Duke of Devonshire containing 40 acres of ground and seven decayed horses. It might have been one of the decayed nobility, but when I saw the wind was from that quarter I could not help noticing it. Puncheons of rum and other spirits, bales of wool, planks of mahogany and pine, oars, broken masts, coils of rope, tangles of running' rigging, flags of all nations and articles of such material as is used on shipboard, swinging tables, brass swinging lamps, masthead lanterns and hammocks; enough, and to spare, in short, to fit out a small fleet of vessels. Lost in amazement, Brinkley examined this extraordinary hoard, the accumulation, doubtless, of many years. All at once his eye fell He took out his pipe, which was his usual consoler, and smoked while he took a few turns on the greensward outside the caravan. Brinkley finished his cigar leisurely and then strolled back to the caravan. He was floating a little nearer with an enjoyment deepened by the sense of (danger, when a figure suddenly appeared on the rocks close by him, wildly waving its hands. CHAPTEH IX A DISCOVERT IT WAS WILLIAM JONES, CARRYING ON This last piece of information set the young man thinking so deeply that the rest of the interview became rather dull for Matt. When she rose to go, however, he came out of his abstraction, and asked her if she would return on the following day. "Finis coronal opus!" he cried "Look, Matt!" 1IIS SHOULDERS A LOADED SACK. Suddenly an idea struck him. The young man of the caravan was now thoroughly convinced that one of two things must be true: Either that William Jones had been instructed to keep a watch on him, or that he (William Jones) had a secret of some sort which he was anxious not to have revealed. After both suppositions had been duly weighed the second was accepted as the most likely, and it forthwith received the young man's consideration. Matt examined the picture with unconscious delight. It was herself, a littlo idealized, but quite characteristic and altogether charming. paused. Crawling on hands and knees, Brinkley slipped down into the hollow, and then crC?pt upward half way up the mound; he found a huge rock, behind which he crouched and peeped. "I think I'll pay a domiciliary Tislt to Mr. Monk," ho said. "I oan meet him now on pretty equal terms. If I :int u few tilings to him the amiable •itloman may think of beeoming I wore my new golf clothes, and Clarence cheered me with his presence. The day was cold and kept me active. Clar- "Keep back! Keep back!" cried a ▼olee. "May I take it home?" she asked ence told me of his past life and ordered a lunch to be brought to nie at the end of the link. The link is the round one has to make, a sort of tour over the 'eath, as Clarence calls it, with gopher holes so far apart, which yon go for with your ball. The winner is the man who gets his ball in these gopher holes with the least number of swats. That's swat's the matter. He looked at the figure and recogr nized William Jones. Ue answered him, but the sound of his voice was drowned by the roar from the rocks. Then William Jones shouted again more indistinctly, and repeated his excited gestures. It was clear that he was warning the swimmer against some hidden danger. Brinkley took the warning, and struck out for the shore, and then back to the place where he had left his clothes. eagerly As he did so William Jones, light in hand, seemed to dive down into th« solid earth aud disappear. "I don't know—p'rapsl" she said. "Ah," returned the young man, assuming his flippant manner, "you find me tedious oompany, I fear. The fact is, I am generally affected in this manner in the present state of the moon. But come to-morrow, Matt. Your presenoe does me good." [to be continued ] "I'll get you to leave it a few days longer. I must get a frame for it, Matt, and then you shall have it all complete. Now, let me look at yon again," he said, taking her by both hands and looking up at her sunny face. "Are you pleased? Will you take care of the picture for the paint- SHY. —Life. Two young men of Louisville, salesmen in a dry goods store, hired bicycles and took a spin into the country. When they were perhaps 10 miles out, they decided to have a race. Past IvevCognitlon. CHAPTER X Ethel—George, mother was looking when you kissed me last night. George—Oh, how did she take it? Ethel—Well, she said she felt satisfied now you mean business.—Tit-Bits. Believed Him. THE SKC T 11F TUB CAVK. If there was a secret, he argued, it icas in some way connected—firstly, ivith William Jones' worldly prosperity; secondly, with the reports current of treasure hidden in times past »monsr the sand bills of the dangeroui averns 01 tne sea. nas it possioie, after all, that these reports were true and that in some mysterious manner Jones had become acquainted with the hiding place? It seemed very improbable, for many reasons, one of the chief being the man'sextreme poverty, which appeared to touch the very edge of sheer starvation. For a minute after the disappearance Charles Brinkley lay as if petrified, and, indeed, he was altogether lost in wonder. What had happened? Had an earthquake swallowed the mysterious one, or had he tumbled down in a fit? Brinkley waited and watched; five minutes had passed, ten minutes and tit ill the light did not re-emerge. However, the next day passed and the next again, and there was no sign of Matt. He began to think the child had taken offense, and that he would have to seek her in her own home, when her opportune appearance prevented the journey. lie was taking his breakfast one morning inside the Caravan, when he suddenly became Conscious that Matt was standing outr side watching him. One of them got far ahead of the other, and in dashing round a turn ran into a pile of stones. The wheel was demolished, ami the rider found himself lying among the spokes. You hit the ball as hard as possible in getting from one hole to another, and the game is fraught with as much excitement as kicking a frozen fried cake along a wintry road. When you get near the hole, however, you must be more careful, or yon will miss. You must also get your ball out of any bad place, too, where you have driven it, and must use the golf club to do it with too. er's sake?" Matt's answer was embarrassing. She quietly sat down on his knee and gave him a smacking kiss. The Same Boy. Watching his opportunity, he found • suitable spot and clambered in upon the rocks. Ha had just dried himself and thrown on some of his clothes, when he saw William Jones standing near and watching him. Proud Papa (playfully)—Who»s little boy are you? "Matt! Matt!" he cried. "You An aged woman who happened to be passing was met by the second rider. Little Jehnny (seriously)—I'm your little boy, but I has boon washed.—Good News. IJut she put her warm arm round his neck, and rested her cheek against his shoulder. mustn't." fVt last, overcome 1 Brinl "My good woman," said he, "have you seen a young man riding a bicycle on ahead?" ley rose, and, stooping close to the ground, crept from the rock behind which he had lain concealed, aud crawled across the summit of the sand hill. .Suddenly he stopped short and went down on hands and knees, for he now clearly discerned, coming out of the solid earth or sand, the glimmer of the light. "How are you?" asked the young man, with a nod. "Pray what did you mean by going on in that absurd way just now?" Overtime. "I should like to have pretty dresses and gold bracelets and things, and go away from William Jones and to stay with you." "Oh, you are there.are 3'ou?" he said, coolly. "Come in and have some breakfast, Matt." "No," said the "woman, "but I saw a young man up the road a spell ago who was sittin on the ground mendin umbrellas,"-.-Louisville Courier-Journal. "Say," said the office boy, "I think the boss ought to gimme a half bone extra this week, but I guess he wqp't." You can imagine how I felt when I drove my ball into the midst of a picnic here, and it landed in the marmalade glass of a young lady of rare beauty. Knowing the rules of the game, she remained like a statue until I came up and with wonderful skill drove the ball safely across the field, leaving a track of marmalade " 'arf way across the 'eath," as Clarence said. This incident was printed and commented upon adversely by the London press, so I give-it here correctly in order to set myself right. "What did I mean?" repeated William, with a little of his former excitement. "Look ye, now, I was waving ron back from the Devil's Caldron. There's many a man been drowned there and been washed away Lord knows where. I've heerd tell," he added, solemnly, "they are carried right down Into the devil's kitchen." A littlo inquiry in the neighborhood, however, elicited the Information that Jones, despite his abject penury, was certainly well to do and had money in the bank of the neighboring market town; that the ruined village of Aberglyn belonged almost entirely to him, and that, in short, he was by nature and habit a miserly person, who would prefer hoarding up whatever he posr sessed to purchasing with it the commonest necessaries of life. lie rose negligently, went to the door, and held forth his hand; Matt took it, gave one spring, and lauded inside the vehicle. "What tor?" asked the bookkeeper. "My dear," said Brinkley, laughing, "you couldn't. It wouldn't be proper." "Fer overtime. I wqD dreamtn about me work all las' night."—Indianapolis Journal. "As it is getting pretty close to 1 o'clock in the morning," said the burglar to himself in an undertone, "and as I don't want to get into any trouble with the police I think I'll not stay out any longer." Avoiding Trouble. "Why not?" asked Matt, simply, It glimmered, then disappeared again. Just then the moon slipped out of her cloud, illuminating the hillocks with vitreous rays, and he perceived, close by him, a dark hole, opening in the very heart of the hillock. TIIE BOOK TREMBLED IS HIS 1IAND, "The world 1b censorious, little one. I am a young man; you are a young lady. We shall have to shake hands soon and say good-by. There, there," he continued, seeing her eyes fill with tears, "I'm not gone yet. I must stay as long as I can, only—really—you must look udou me as auite an old fel- upon a large canvas bag, rotten with igd, and gaping open. It was as full is it could hold of pieces of gold, bearing the superscription of the mint of Spain. "Tim, another knife and fork for the young lady—some more eggs and milk; in fact, anything you've got!" said Brinkley, as he placed a seat for Matt at the little table. Physiognomy. "Do you approveof this museum business?" queried the man who had bought a photograph and biography. "Well, I give countenance to it of course," rejoined the dog faced boy.— Detroit News-Tribune. "I'm much obliged to you, Mr. Jones, but I'm used to such dangers, and I Juiow how to take care of myself." And he softly raised the window he had selected, removed his shoes and went in.—Chicago Tribune. He crept closer iked down, but C) William Jones! William Jones! And all this was yours, at least by right qt Tim gave a grunt of dissatisfaction. This "bold colleen," as he called her, was berominc too much for him. but could The uress in statintr that I scattered a