The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1901-12-27
THE BLACK FLAG.

south. "What for?' the young fel.
low spoke up, rather testify. "You
forget that | was the successful center
Of"
'Yes, | know all about that" the
doctor broke in. And l also know
that in your great strengthen the
over development Of your muscles,
there lies danger. Go south for tue
winter and rest. You can afford it. p"
And, acting upon the physicians adj
vice, Crandall went down to the gulf
coast of Mississippi and took up his
abode at Ocean Springs, a place SET
tied by the Spaniards many years be-
fore there was a New Orleans. He
rented cottage built high upon the
pine wooded bluff, hired a negro cook
and was soon at home with his guns
and fishing tackle upon the walls.
Some one asked him if be had brought
any books with him and he answered :
"No, | left them in the black shadow
of the university. What I'm looking
for il sunshine. And. hy the way,
wonder is IL now. out i'll that boat. "
That, in fact, was not the name OF a
girl sitting in boat not far out from
the end of pier on which Crandall
and a newly formed acquaintance were
standing. 1t was not the name by
which sue was known among the
neiyhbors, but a name which any
stranger might have applied to her.
Her hair, as it streamed in the breeze,
was a waving flame, SO golden was its
hue; and when she stood erect, which
she did at the moment Crandall spoke
of her, she was 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 grand
daughter of an old fellow who lives in
that queer-looking house up yonder,
the one with tue round tower. About
here it is known, and he himself boasts
of the fact, that he is the grandson of
a famous French pirate who once in-
tested the coast along here, and whose
offenses were condoned by the govern
ment Oh account of services which he
rendered Andrew Jackson's army. !
don't know what her name is."
81 believe I'll row over and have
talk with her. said Crandall.
"You may d. 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 slight
est heed TO him until he spoke, and
then turning toward him, she said !:
IL IN no. acquainted with you"
"A fact which l acknowledge with
regret" he replied.
"Oh, you do!' she said, giving him
a full view of her wondrous eyes.
"Yes, and your name is-letme see.
Isn't your grandfather grandson of
the L"Fectc-or whatever his name
was-who robbed on the sea and buill
a fort on Lake Ponchartlain?'
You seem to have read history, at
any rate"
"Y,s, l have skinned the most i'm
portant events, and can dip up a
happening all right, but dates run
through my skinner. What are you
trying to catch here?'
"Fish," she anwered; and he replied:
81 might have surmised as much = and
then she rcjoined: "Oh, as to that, a
man doesn't often take the trouble to
surmise reasonably when his only OBJ
ject is to gain an opportunity 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 displease her, he
added: 1T may be small concern to
you, but we are neighbors. l live up
yondcr among the pines.
"Oh, you arc the crazy man." she
said, looking at him closer. He look.
ed back at her in astonishment, and
she explained: "That's what some of
the ,olks believe. What else could
they think of a man who hangs up a
leather bag and hits it nearly all
night?'' He explained that he was
merely taking exercise and she asked
him why he didn't cut wood, and lie
replied that it would give him pleas
ure 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 she was going home, Of course.
He could not expert her to remain out
there with stranger. And. laughing
she rowed of from him; and shortly
aftcrward he muttered an imprecation
against himself for not having nerve
enough to follow her, and late that
night he turned from tho punching
and said to himself; "Come, old fel
low, brush that face out Of your mind
But is it in my mind? Isn't it deeper
All, didn't the heart camera take 8
snap shot at her? And, bounding up
ho furiously attacked the bag. 1t was