Putnam patriot., 1911-11-03
TIE PHANTOM
 PIRATE
 A Harmless Mistake By CLARISSA MACkiE Copyright by American Press Asso-
By cLARISSA MACKIE
Copyright by American Press Asso-
 ciation. lsll

 lines and bent to grasp bis basket of fish He listened down the pier toward home Then it was that voice hailed him from the 8n' hOrHee.
 Hi. there. Abel.'
 Abel stopped and teamed over the rail Standing in small. clean cut. csbned motor launch was a short stout man. red of face and blue of eye and very bleaehed as to hair and nus tache His visored cap bad a nautical tilt. and single brass button dangled from his blue pilot coat
 "Conle doWH here after dinner if you haren.t got anything else 10 do. I've got job for you.
 What is itf" asked Abel suspicious ly. He had been q victim of Myron Fladd's enthusiasm in the past, and he resolved to proceed with caution
 Been reading the papers ateiyf' demanded Nr Fladd impatiently.
 "Of course
 Read about that feIler that's been playing pirate down in the East river? I thought maybe you had Well there's reward out for his capture S3O0 Want half 5f itf"
 "t dont mfnd if I do. You going down after himT'
 .I doaj have 10. He's hanging around tHe hlrbor here. griuned Mr. Eladd with sudden amIabIhy
 'Herez easHed Abel wHdiy Why have you seen him|
 The ataee nodded
 'I was coming Tn Iast night just at dark YaH know there WH fug. and l could searcely see boats length ahead when an of Il sudden | beard a lauch coming np asteru Her engine was muiiied. and if f hadn't been for the faint 'spitspit Of ter exhaust she might have passed me without my catching glimpse of her She whizzed by, and had took at tue chap that was running her Myron fIadd paus- cd to stuff pinch of tobacco into his pipe
 Abel drew deep breath. What was he likeT' he asked in an nwed voice
 Myron scratched match on a bar naced timber He had his back to me. so 1 couldn't see nothing" he re piled calmly.
 "I want t know" rasped Abel i'm patiently If you didn't see him how'd you know who he was? Mebbe it was me in my la'neh."
 Was 1t you?" asked Mr. Fladd in quisitivelY.
 T wasn't out yesterday" admitted Abel sheepishly.
 "I know it was him. the phantom pirate. because the description fits the la'nch that passed me, and the wny he come In was sueaky-there wasn't sound. and he didn't even look around He made right for the creek that runs in among the cedars. be cause I followed him till he disap- peared there Today strolled around there on top of the bluff. and l could see him down there in the creek" MT, Fladd paused dramatically.
 "Well. what you going to do about it2" demanded Abel.
 I'm going to keep watch of the
  and when she comes out I'll capture her. I'll need you. When can you come downp Of course you've had your dinner"
 The word dinner" galvanized Abel into sudden recollection of the meal that was awaiting him and of the ac. cpInulated wrath of Deborah when he
  had my dinner-I forgot it." he said in an uneaSy tone. Just then the l o'clock whistle shriled over the water. and he picked up his basket of fish and hurried away.
 Come right back again." yelled My. ron Fladd
 "All right" replied Abel, although he knew he had promised Deborah to take her rag ba9s over 10 the carpet Near CTS that afternoon
 Deborah Watkins was Ion her ear, Went fast asleep en the pier, sup pose" she said sharply.
 'l wasn't asleep. protested Abel hotly. .l'ee eaught ninety three young mackere for you to pickle and I've got chance to make Il hundred and fifty dollars" he ended triumphauuy. You've got d chance to go without your dinner" snapped Deborah as she tramped into the next room and slam med the door
 For one instant Abel paused; then without q word he turned and left the house. making his way down to the pier, where Myron fladd's launch still hobbed aeainst the pies Myron hatl- ed him gladly
 Good for you Abel You made short job of tf. Get aboard now. and we'll run down the east shore and anchor in the lee of that old wreck If we see that pirate coming out of the creek we can run out and capture ntm easy as pie"
 Abel let himself down the gougway to the float where the launch was tied and joined MT Fladd in the tiny cab tn He looked hungrily around
 "I haven't had any dinner" he an. nouneed woetully. Deborah was so all ised mad because l was late sue -ut out the rations What you got aboardT'
 Without a word Mir. Fadd set forth 6 pot of cold coffee. can of pilot bread, some rancid butter. a cold boil ed egg and half miaee pie. ana in silence Abel Watkins slowed away the victuais By the time this eere- mony was concluded 1t was after : o'clock.
 The wind had changed to the south .Yst and the sky was overcast as they