Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1911-09-28
THE PHANTOM
PIRATE
A Harmless Mistake
By CLARISSA MACKIE
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation, 1911.

The noon whistle from the mill cut
the stiffness. and Abel pulled in his
lines and bent to grasp his basket OF
fish. He listened down the pier toward
home. Then it was that voice hailed
him from the anchorage.
iii, there, Abel"
Abel stopped and leaned over the
rail. Standing in small. clean cut,
cablned motor launch was short,
stout man, red Of farce and blue OF eye
and very blcached as to hair and mus
tache. His visored cap had a nautical
tilt, and single brass button dangled
from his blue pilot coat.
"Come down here after dinner IL you
haven't got anything else to do. I've
got job for you"
"What is it? asked Abel suspicious
". He had been a victim Of Myron
Fladds enthusiasm in the past, and he
resolved to proceed with caution.
"Been reading the papers lately"
demanded Mr.. Fladd impaticntly.
"Of course"
"Read about that Teller that's been
playing pirate down In the East river?
I thought maybe you had. Well, there's
q reward out for his capture-$30O.
Want half OF IT."
II don't mind IL do. You going
down after him"
81 don't have to! He's hanging
around the harbor here" grinned Mr..
Fladd. with sudden amlability.
"HereT gaspcd Abel wildly. "Why.
have you seen hlmW
The other nodded
II was coming In last night just ut
dark You know there was n fog, and
/ could scarcely see bonts length
ahead, when all Of a sudden l heard n
la'nch coming up astcrn. Her engine
was muilled and II it hadn't been for
the faint 'spit.spit' OF her exhaust she
might have passed me without my
catching glimpse of her. She whzZed
by, ana | had look at the chap that
was running her" Myron Flndd paus-
cd to stuff pinch of tobacco into his
pipe.
Abel drew deep breath. what
was he liker he asked in an awed
voice.
Myron scratched match on bar
nacled timber. "Iie had his back to
me, 80 couldn't SEQ nothing" he re-
piled calmly.
II want t. know" rasped Abel i'm
patiently. IF you didn't see him
how'd you know who he was? Mebbe
a. mac mo In INV IN 'pnh ~
"Wns 1t your" asked Mr.. Fladd In
quisitively.
IL wasn't out yesterday" admitted
Abel sheeplshly.
III know It was him, the phantom
pirate, because the description fits the
lanch that passed me, and tho way
he come In was sneaky--there wasn't
sound, and he didn't even look
around. He made right for tho creek
that runs In among the ccdars, be-
cause followed him TIL he disap-
peared there. Today l strolled around
there on top OF the bluff, and | could
see him down there In the creek Mr..
Fladd paused dramatically.
"Well. what you going to do about
IT." demanded Abel.
"rm going to keep watch OF the
creek all tho afternoon and evening.
and when she comes out I'll capture
her I'll need you. When can you
come down? 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 nc
cumulatcd wrath of Deborah when he
appeared Mt last. Gosh. | haven't
had my dinner-l forgot it," he said
In an uneasy tone, Just then the l
o'clock whistle shrilled over the water.
and he picked up his basket of fish
and hurried away.
"Come right back again." yelled My
ron Fladd,
"AI right" replied Abel. although he
knew he had promised Deborah to take
her rag balls over to the carpet weav
ers that afternoon.
Deborah Watkins was Ion her ear"
Went fast asleep on the pier | sup
pose" she said sharply.
~ wasn't asleep" protested Abel
hotly. I've caught ninety three young
mackerel for you to pickle, md-lve
got chance to make hundred and
fifty dollarsv he ended triumphantly.
you've got chance TO 20 without
your dinnerr snapped Deborah as she
tramped into the next room and slam
med the door.
For one instant Abel paused; then
without word he turned and left the
house, making his way down to tho
pier, where Myron Fladds launch still
bobbed against the piles, Myron hail
ed him gladly.
Good for you. Abel. You made n
short job Of It. Get aboard now, and
Wen run down the east shore and
anchor In the lee of that old wreck,
II we see that pirate coming out OF the
creek we can run out and capture him
easy as pie"
Abel let himself down the gangway
to the float where the launch was tied
UAi.