Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1906-01-26
PIIIRIAITI EISl,

ing carpet OF leaves on the river pdlus
meditating vengeance. At a pretty
spot where white birches leaned over
the bank, forming a little nook, the
boy discovered man stretched out in
boat, reading. Reggie scrutinized
the stranger closely.
Gay pillows formed soft nest for
the readers head, and it was while
staring at the giddy cushions that he
exclaimed
Il say! are you a pirate?"
The man sat up with sudden start,
nearly capsizing the boat. For the
first he was aware of the small boys
presence.
"Eh? Pirate?" he repeated, with
slow grin. "Why-ye-es! How did
you guess?"
Reggie looked knowingly, and point
ed to pillow, black satin with white
skull and bones embroidered thereon
in white-a college relic.
The man laughed.
"A clever youngster,' he thought.
Then aloud: I've just come from the
Spanish Main and my crew is hiding
in these woods.
Reggie looked interested and re-
spectful
But did you ever kill anybody" he
demanded.
The man looked hurt.
Evidently you don't think much of
meas pirate"
Reggie FASTENED to square himself.
You haven't got black whiskers,"
he said. And you look kind"
ooh! I'm just disguised now, you
know" explained the man in the boat.
'Tm on my holiday for even pirate
can't work all the time"
as it awful hard work-pirating?
asked the boy.
Its very dangerous" admitted the
man.
"Will you let me go with you on
your ship next trip
We'll see," said the pirate. ''You
might have to wait until you get big
that's one of the rules"
1--WE outgrown all my pique suits
so quick this season" declared Reg
gle, proudly. ''My-but you are big!
/ bet you could lick Atkins and Bur-
nett"
"What?" cried the pirate. What
do you know about Atkins and Bur-
metz"
81 hate 'em!" declared the boy.
"And l want to be pirate SO that l
can kill EN-"
The man looked up at the speaker in
amazement.
Where have you ever seen them?"
he asked.
''They are up at our house. am
Mrs. De Malden's little boy, and she is
giving house party<D Dolly there,
too.
.s.Zes6sIy?" The mans face grew
White.
"She's splendid" explained Reggie
ss'Her stories are nicer than nurses,
cause they amt about bears. She
used to play with me all the time be-
fore they came-and now she always
says run along cause she's going to
play golf or something with them"
well, I'll be hanged" said the
man in the boat
"Oh! l hope not" said Reggie. q
won't tell anybody that you are here"
The man looked puzzled, then
laughed
80 Dolly has thrown you over.
too?"
The youngster fidgeted and the red
Of his cheeks swept back to his ears.
would you kill them for me?" ask
ed Reggie. '1'd give you a lot if you
would l have over a pound in my
bank"
Reggie looked at the man as if he
feared another outburst of laughter;
but the man did not even smile as
he had at most Of his remarks.
Come here, little man. said the
pirate, gently, and tell nae all about
st."
Something in his manner won Reg
gle, and climbing into the boat he put
his little head against the pirates
knee and poured out his little ro-
nance to sympathetic ears.
i At the conclusion the pirate said:
Now, suppose that instead of kill
ing these men we steal Dolly back
from them? We'd be partners, you
and 1; and wouldn't Atkins and Bur-
net feel much worse about it than if
we killed them? That's the way to
serve such chaps
Reggie looked at the late terror of
the Spanish Main with admiration.
Well pirate her off and take her
to the island in the sea-
The man laughed and nodded
You'll have to carry out the plot
Reggie. Think you're up to it?'
'Rather!" said the second conspira-
tor
'All right. You must entice Dolly
down here. I'll tell you how to do it,
Tell her you want her to play a game
called Pirate and that she is to be
captured for a ransom"
The pirate spent all that afternoon
in rehearsing his assistant in the
Fauntleroy suit in his part When
the sun sank low the arch-plotters
parted with many farewell injunc-
lions regarding tomorrow"
Dolly was seated before her desk,
gazing up at two photographs in sill
yer frames. She was studying them
critically.
Il must give them their answers
tonight" she sighed. Il suppose 1
must choose and yet-and yet
They are both nice-I like them i'm
mensely; but
She drew out small locket attach
ed to tiny chain around her neck,
and opened it by a spring.
AS she looked into the face that
smiled out a sudden burr blotted it
out. When Reginald Harold De Nal
den entered, after several knockings,
he foEnd her with her face buried in
her arms on the desk, sobs shaking
the graceful form. He pulled at the
lace sleeve.
DON'T" commanded the little man.