The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1900-12-29
THE BLACK FLAG.

A physician ordered Cranda1l to go
south. "What for?" the young fel-
low spoke up, rather testify. "You
forget that I was the successful cen
ter Of"
eyes, l know all about that" the
doctor broke in. "And I 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 afford it. !"
And, acting upon the physician S ad-
vice, Crandall went down to the gulf
coast of Mississippi and took up his
abode at Ocean Springs, place set
tied by the Spaniards many years be-
fore there was New Orleans. He
rented a cottage built high upon the
pine wooded bluff, hired a negro
cook and was soon at home with his
gums and fishing tackle upon the
walls. Some one asked him if he
had brought any books with him and
he answered: mo, / 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 tact, was
not the name of girl sitting in
boat not far out from the end of the
pier on which Crandall and a newly
formed acquaintance were standing.
1t waSnot the name by which she was
known among the neighbors. but
name which any stranger might have
applied to her. Her hair, as it
streamed in the breeze, was waving
flame, so golden was its hue; and
when she stood erect, which she did
at the moment Crandall spoke of her,
she was a picture 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 enlightened: "She is the
granddaughter of an old fellow who
lives in that queer-1ooking house up
yonder, the one with the round tow
er. About here it is known, and he
himself boasts of the fact, that he is
the grandson of a famous French
pirate who once infested the coast
along here, and whose offenses were
condoned by the government on ac-
count of services which he rendered
Andrew Jackson's army. 1 don't
know what her name isl
''I believe I'll row over and have
talk with her, said Crandall.
You may do as you like, but the
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 approach-she paid not the
slightest heed to him until he spoke,
and then, turning toward him, she
said "I'm not acquainted with
you"
"a fact which 1 acknowledge with
regret" he replied.
ooh, you do p she said, giving
him a full view of her wondrous eyes.
eyes, and your name is-let me
see. Isn't your grandfather grand
son of the LeFeete-or whatever his
name was-who robbed on the sea
and built a fort on Lake Ponchar-
tramp
"You seem to have read history,
at any rate" !"
Eyes, 1 have SKINNED the most
important events, and l can dip up a
happening all right, but dates run
through my skinner. What are you
trying to catch here?"
"Fish," she answered; and he re-
piled 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 op-
portunity to ask questions. ;"
"By George, Miss Pirate, you are
as sharp as your old ancestors, and
when she had looked at him and
laughed, for the remark did not dis
please her, he added: "It may be
small concern to you, but we are
neighbors. I live up yonder among
the pines"
ooh, you are the crazy man." she
said, looking at him closer He
looked back at her in astonishment,
and she explained: "That's what
some of the folks believe. What else
could they think of a man who hangs
up leather bag and hits it nearly all
night?" He explained that he was
merely taking exercise and she ask
ed 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 laugh
ed. They had been drifting along to-
gether. Now she took up the oars.
He asked her what she was going to
do, and she replied that she was 60
ing 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 imprecation against
himself for not having nerve enough
to follow her, and late that night lie
turned from the punching bag and
said to himself: Come, old fellow,
brush that face out of your mind.
But is it in my mind? Isn't it deep
er? All, didn't the heart camera
take a snap shot at her? And,
bounding up, he furiously attacked
the bag. 1t was his intention to go
out upon the water early the next
morning in the hope of seeing her,