Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1911-12-15
S0VNSNSV<NVVNSNNVNSSN SSNSNSVVNNS'SNVS
THE PHANTOM]
PIRATE /
A Harmless Mistake ;
By CLARISSA MACKIE 5
} Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation, 1911.
A Harmless Mistake
By CLARISSA MACKIH


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 a small, clean cut
cabined motor launch was 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 a 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 lt2" asked Abel suspicious
ly. He had been victim Of Myror
Fladd's enthusiasm in the past, and HI
resolved to proceed with caution.
Been reading the papers latelyT
demanded Mr.. Fladd impatiently.
"Of course"
Read about that Teller that's beer
playing pirate down In the East river
thought maybe you had. Well, therei
a reward out for his capture-$3O0
Want half of it?"
81 don't mind IL do. You goinl
down after him"
II don't have toll He's hanging
around the harbor here" grinned Mr.
Fladd, with sudden amiability.
Here" gasped Abel wildly. why
have you seen himT
The other nodded.
II was coming in last night just q
dark. You know there was a fog, ant
could scarcely see a boats length
ahead, when all Of sudden l heard I
la'nch coming up astern. Her engin'
was muffied. and If 1t hadn't been To-
the faint 'spit-spit' of her exhaust sh,
might have passed mo without my
catching q glimpse of her. She whizze(
by, and had q look at the chap tina
was running her" Myron Fladd paus
ed to stuff pinch of tobacco into hi
pipe.
Abel drew a deep breath. "Wha
was he likeT' he asked in an awet
voice.
Myron scratched a match on n bar
nacled timber. He had his back {,
me, so 1 couldn't see nothing" he re
piled calmly.
II want know" rasped Abel i'm
patiently. "If you didn't see him
how'd you know who he WASP Mebbt
1t was me In my la'nch."
"Was 1t you" asked Mr.. Fladd In
quisitively.
II wasn't out yesterday" admitted
Abel sheepishly.
IL know 1t was him, the phantom
pirate, because the description flts the
la'nch that passed me, and the way
he come In was sneaky-there wasn't
a sound, and he didn't even looh
around. He made right for the creek
that runs In among the cedars, be-
cause I followed him till he disap.
peared there. Today l strolled around
there on top of the blum, and could
see him down there in the creek" Mr..
Fladd paused dramatically.
"Well, what you going to do about
itT demanded Abel.
"pm going to keep watch Of the
creek all the afternoon and evening
and when she comes out Ill capture
her I'll need you. When can you
come down? or 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-
cumulatcd wrath of Deborah when he
appeared at last. Gosh, haven't
had my dinner-I forgot IT," he said
IN an uneasy tone. Just then the /
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 gladd.
"All 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.
II wasn't asleep" protested Abel
hotly. i've caught ninety-three young
mackerel for you to pickle, and-Pve
got q chance TO make hundred and
fifty dollars" he ended triumphantly.
you've got chance to go without
your dinnerp 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 It. Get aboard now, ana
well 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.
~ haven't had any dinner" he an
nOuhced woefully. Deborah was 20
an fred mad because I was late she
MONEY TO LOAN. $4,000 in sum. of
81 900 and upward on approved real estate
security