The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1911-10-03

and half hidden In the tall salt grass.
was a narrow, dark gray motorboat
Lounging on the deck was long limb.
ed young man, who shot to his feet
as they approached.
We'll, what is ii ?" he asked sharply
as Fladd's launch grounded in the soft
mud
MyrOn Fladd stepped ashore and
crashed through the grass to the side
Of the gray launch. He drew short
barreIed shotgun from underneath his
pilot coat. and, throwing back the lapel
Of the garment. he flashed brief
glimpse of his freman's badge and
cried auth0ritatively:
Hold up your hands. in the name
of the laww
The stranger threw up his hands.
With one be caught. the gun, barrel
and twisted the weapon out Of Myr0n's
hands; with the other he lifted that
stout gentleman to the deck OF ths
craft by way OF strong grip inside
the collar of his coat With lightning
like rapidtty he snatched up a rope
and tied the ambitious pirate hunter
with dozen hard knots.
Then the stranger leveled the shot
gun at the shrinking form Of Abel
Watkins and beckoned with long and
crooked forefnger. "Come hereY' he
ordered unkindly
Abel went and was trussed quite as
neatly as his friend Together they
watched the strange young man dive
into the cabin Of his launch. come
forth with suit case and shrug him
self into a warm overcoat.
I'm borrow your boat for awhile,
and I'll leave mine for security
had breakdown, confound I'll III
send somebody after you. Sorry
can't take you along. but I've got an
important engagement with a lady.
By, byY' He waved a hooking fare
well at his sputtering captives. push
ed Fladd's boat out of the mud. leap
ed nimbly aboard after his suit case
and was soon chugging quietly from
sight in the gathering mist
When all was still again Myron
Fladd turned uneasily to his compan-
lon
abel. did you recognize that fell
low? Seems like Pye seen him be-
fore"
II don't know. Looks IKE q chap
that was boarding over to the hot
last summer. took him out fishing
once. and he gave me $40. | heard
he had lots of money. | don't believe
it's the same. What would he be do
ing around here this wayT
Hes the pirate. all right" uttered
Fladd gloomily. yet he looks con-
foundedly like that chap that used to
come and see my daughter Mabel last
summer. | told her | wouldn't hear
OF no city chaps for sons-in-law, and
so give him to understand He was
staying to the hotel too His name
was Turner"
What's he got TO do with that
phantom pirate and $500 rewardg'' de-
manded Abel sourly working at bis
bonds
There was the sound OF oars and
voices of men. and presently a light
blurred through the fog and a boat
came cautiously up the creek Five
minutes afterward Abel Watkins and
Myron Fiadd were free men. and sew
eral of their neighbors were breaking
the news to Mr. Fladd that his daugh-
ter Mabel had eloped in a motorboat
with a young man Of the name OF
Turner and that Mrs Fladd had said
she was glad Of it If Mabel was happy.
Somebody had telephoned one Of the
men that Abel and Myron were ma
roOned In Cedar creek-hence their
timely arrival
1t was silent party TINT rowad
across the choppy bay in the leaking
fat bottom boat Myron Fladd was
planning all sorts Of revenge upon his
newly acquired son-in.law for his
harsh treatment. while Abel took con-
ISOLATION in his disappointment aud
fatigue by recoIlecting that frighten-
ed Deborah would gladly prepare .
bountiful meal when he returned to
her.
At last one of the men spoke: II
see by the paper that they caught that
there phantom pirate away down by
Barnegate light Myron | wouldn't
mind having that three hundred re-
ward. would your
But Myron only grunted irritably in
reply.