The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1906-06-19
TIL GIVE YOU A DOLLAR APIECE AS
RANSOM" HE SAID.

RANSOM HE SAID.
as dutiful pirates should, and set out
with Alice for the pier, while EVAN
hurried over to the postoff1ce to make
sure that a belated business letter was
properly posted.
He cursed his fate with true piratical
fervor when he came to the dock and
found that Alice had returned to the
hotel without goodby for himself,
but once on board and under way he
became absorbed in the twins play.
1t was one Of their greatest charms
that they could make believe" with
such absolute seriousness as to con
vince an outsider that their pretense
was real, and Evan grinned over their
circumstantial account of the capture
Of beautiful maiden, whom they were
holding for ransom.
1--WE just tied a handkerchief over
her mouth" exclaimed Dudley, IAN
says, LESS we get ten thousand dub
Inns from your father wen send him
your ears"
"An' she cried" supplemented Cor
don, "an' tried to take the bandage of,
an we tied her hands, an 1t was dou-
bleoons. not dublins, what we said"
"'Taint. it's dublins," defended Dud-
ley, and by the time the arbitrator had
decided that neither was right on the
pronunciation of doubloons the twins
were ready to go down into the cabin
and decide upon their course.
vho<
EVAN, SIS to get out in the gulf and
wait for the galleons from the mines.
They should have left Vera Cruz day
before yesterday. Shall we do that or
shall we set sail for Brazil, land
force and plumber the storehouses of
the natives?"
Il don't think mother would like it."
objected Dudley. ITS too far away.
Besides, we've the beauteous maid
en- to ransom. We ought to cable her
father as we promised"
Pirates don't cable" suggested Cor
don. "They send messengers in dis
guise"
Il guess modern pirates use the ca
ble," laughed Evan. stopping demon
stration. "You youngsters had better
pile on deck and keep a sharp lookout
for treasure ships"
The twins departed, still arguing tho
question Of to cable or not to cable,
and. lighting a cigar, Evan gave him
self over to wondering why Alice had
not waited to bid him goodby. She had
holf Y1rounicod thot hn rxr011ld N on
hand to wish him good luck on his first
piratical adventure. 1t was not like
her to break her word
He was still lost In thought when the
steward came in to set the table for
lunch
BEG pardon, SIR" he asked, shall l
set place for the ladyr
"Have the boys been telling you
about their captive?7 laughed Evan.
II supposed that captives on pirate
ships were fed on bro: and water"
"The young lady in the cabin, sir, the
one the young gentlemen were telling
you about, sir"
There's no young woman in the cab
in," denied Evan. IT'S a part of their
make believe"
II thought you knew. sir" persisted
the steward There's a lady In that
cabin"s
Hoffman made two steps to the door
indicated and threw 1t open. There on
the bunk lay Alice Cutler bound hands
and feet and with a towel across her
mouth. 1t was the work of a moment
to release her, but it was FIVE minutes
before her lips permitted her to speak.
Don't mind" she smiled as she lis
tened to Evans horror stricken expla-
nations. 81 imagine that the boys took
their piracy too seriously. 1t was all
done so suddenly that could not help
myself, but was sure that you would
find it out when you came on board"
"And to think" he groaned, that
was sitting in the cabin all the fore
noon. and you were lying here suffer
ing"
1T wasn't so very bad" she concii-
lated, "and the boys were so full OF
their cruise that you really cannot