Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1900-12-28
THE BLACK FLAG
A NEW YEARS STORY.
By opie Read.
BY opie Read.

T0N PHYSICIAN ordered Crandall to
INK so south. What for?" the young
l9NHJ fellow spoke ur, rather testify
"You forget that l was the successful CEN
ter rush Of"
Eyes, 1 know all about that" the doctor
broke in. And also know that in your
great strengthen the over development
Of your muscles, there lies danger. Go
south for the winter and rest. You can af
ford it." And, acting upon the physician's
advice, Crandall went down to the gulf
coast of Mississippi and took up his abode at
Ocean Springs, Place settled by the Span
iards many years before there was New
Orleans. He rented cottage built high
upon the pine wooded bluff, hired negro
cook and was soon at home with his guns
and fishing tackle upon the walls. Some one
asked him if he had brought any books with
him and he answered. "No, left them in
the black shadow of the university. What
I'm looking for is sunshine. And, by the
way, yonder it is now, out in that boat"
That, in fact, was not the name of girl sit.
ting in boat not far ont from the end Of
the pier on which Crandall and newly
formed acquaintance were standing. It
was not the name by which she was known
among the neighbors, but name which any
stranger might have applied to her. Her
hair, rs it streamed in the breeze, was a wav
ing flame, SO golden was its hue; and when
she stood erect, which she did at the mo-
ment Crandall spoke Of her, she was pic
ture of grace so true as might never be
effaced from the mind.
''Who is she?" he asked Of the man who
stood beside him; and thus was he enlight.
ened: "She is the granddaughter of an old
fellow who lives in that queer-looking house
up yonder, the one with the round tower
About here it is known, and he himself
boasts of the fact, that he is the grandson Of
afamous French pirate who once infested the
coast along here, and whose offenses were
condoned by the government on account of
services which he rendered Andrew Jack.
sons army. don't know what her name
is"
II believe I'll row over and have . talk
with her." said Crandall.
You may do as you like, but the old man
is dead set against any attentions that
strangers pay her."
BY this time Crandall was in his boat.
The girl did not take notice of his az.
proach--she paid not the slightest heed to
him until he spoke, and then, turning to.
ward him, she said: "I'm not acquainted
with you"
"a fact which acknowledge with re.
greet" he replied.
ooh, You do" she said, giving him full
view of her wondrous eyes.
Yes, and your name is-let me see. Isn't
your grandfather grandson of the lie.
Feete-or whatever his name was-who
robbed on the sea and built fort on Lake
Ponchartrain?"
you seem to have read history, at any
rate"
Eyes, have skinned the most important
events. and I can dip up a happening all
right, but dates run through my skinner.
What are you trying to catch here's"
Fish," she answered; and he replied:
II might have surmised as much;" and then
she rejoined: "Oh, as to that, man doesn't
often take the trouble to surmise reasonably
when his only object is to gain an oppor.
tnnity to ask question"
by George, Miss Pirate, you are as
sharp as your old ancestor" and when she
had looked at him and laughed, for the re-
mark did not displease her, he added: at
may be small concern to you, but we are
neighbors. l live up yonder among the
pines"
ooh, you are the crazy man" she said, look
ing at him closer. He looked back at her in
suS eNl'idlucC. nat
what some of the folks believe What else
could they think of man who hangs up
leather bag and hits it nearly all night"
He explained that he was merely taking ex-
ercise and she asked him why he didn't cut
wood, and he replied that it would give him
pleasure to make chips fly for her. She tried
to frown at him, but laughed. They had
been drifting along together Now she took
up the oars. He asked her what she was
going to do. and she replied that she was
going home, of course. He could not expect
her to remain out there with stranger.
And, laughing. she rowed off from him; and
shortly afterward he muttered an impreca
ton against himself for not having nerve
enough to follow her. and late that night
he turned from the punching bag and said
to himself Come, old fe..ow, brush that
face out of your mind. But is it in my