The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1911-10-03
THE PHANTOM
PIRATE
A Harmless Mistake
Ru IAPIcSA MAcYIp
By cLARISSA MAcKIR
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation, 1911.


citation, 1911.
Abel Watkins sat out at the end of
the long pier fishing for mackerel.
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 1t was that voice hailed
him from the anchorage.
eli, there, Abel!''
Abel stopped and leaned over the
rail. Standing in small. clean cut,
cabined motor launch was a short,
stout man, red of face and blue Of eye
and very bleached 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 If you
haven't got anything else to do. I've
got job for you
what is it?" asked Abel suspicious
ly. He had been victim of Myron
Fladd's enthusiasm in the past. and he
resolved to proceed with caution.
Been reading the papers lately7'
demanded Mr.. FIadd impatiently.
"Of course"
Read about that Teller that's been
playing pirate down in the East river
thought maybe you had. Well. there's
reward out for mis- capture-sS00
Want half of it?"
II don't mind If do You going
down after him?'
II don't have to: He's hanging
around the harbor here. grinned Mr.
Fladd. with sudden availability.
"Here?" gasped Abel wildly. why
have you seen him?"
The otller nodded
II was coming in last night just al
dark. You know there was fog. and
| could scarcely see a boats length
ahead when all of sudden | heard q
la'nch coming up astern. Her engine
was muffied, and If it hadn't been for
the faint 'spit-spit' of her exhaust she
might have passed me without my
catching glimpse of her. She whizzed
by. and l had look at the chap that
was running her" Myron Fladd paus-
ed to stuff pinch of tobacco into his
pipe.
Abel drew a deep breath. What
was he lfkeT' he asked in an awed
voice.
Myron scratched a match on bar
nacled timber. HE had his back to
me, SO couldn't see nothing" he re-
piled calmly.
Il 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 Ia'nch.v
''Was it your" asked Mr.. Fladd in
quisitively.
81 wasn't out Yesterday" admitted
Abel sheepishly
Il know it was him, the phantom
pirate. because the description fits the
la'nch that passed me, and the way
he come in was sneaky-there wasn't
sound. and he didn't even look
around He made right Cor the creek
that runs in among the Z lars, be-
cause followed him till he disap-
peared there. Today 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.
I'm going to keep watch of the
creek all the 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 ac-
cnmulated wrath of Deborah when he
appeared at last. Gosh, | haven't
had my dinner-I forgot it, be 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.
"Con1e right back again" yelled My
ron Fladd
all tCRilCu AOCis dIl4Ouku Ac
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
II wasn't asleep" protested Abel
holly. i've caught ninety three young
mackerel for you to pickle. and-I've
got a chance to make hundred and
fifty dollarsr' he ended triumphantly.
You've got chance to go without
your dinnerl" snapped Deborah as she
tramped into the next room and slam
med the door.
For one instant Abel paused: then
without a word he turned and left the
house, making his way down to the
pier. where Myron Fladd's launch still
bobbed against the piles Myron hail
ed him gladly.
Good for you. Abel You made a
short job of 1t. Get aboard now. and
we'll 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
and joined Mr. Fladd in the tiny cab
In. He looked hungrily around
81 haven't had any dinner" he an
nounced woefully Deborah was so
ali fred mad because | was late she
cut out the rations. What you got
aboard::'
Without word Mr.. Fladd set forth
pot of cold coffee. a can Of pilot
bread, some rancid butter. cold boil
ed egg and half a mince pie, and In
silence Abel Watkins slowed away
the victuals. BY the time this cere-
mony was concluded 1t was after 2
I o'clock.
! The wind had changed to the south
east. and the sky was overcast as they
| shot out from under the shadow of
the long pier and headed across the
bay. 1t was three miles to Cedar
creek. where the phantom pirate was
supposed to be In hiding. They made
the wreck near the creeks mouth and
made fast to her rotting timbers. She
doomed big and black above the natty
little launch and afforded a measure
of protection from observation. Abel
and Myron Fladd lounged in the cab
In and took turns watching through
the tiny portfolios for some sign OF
life near the mouth Of the creek.
There was nothing save an occasion
al kinghsher to disturb the solitude
Hour after hour passed in tedious
waiting
Maybe he went while you wert
across the bay" suggested Abel Wat