Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1911-09-28
What you got

| IL
bread. some rancid butter, cold boil
ed egg and half a mince pie, and in
silence Abel Watkins slowed away
the victuas BY the time this cere-
mony was concluded it was after 2
! o'clock.
The wind had changed to the south
east, and the sky was overcast as they
shot out from under the shadow or
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 umbers. She
loomed 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 king6sher to disturb the solitude.
Hour after hour passed in tedious
waiting.
"Maybe he went while you were
across the bay" suggested Abel Wat
kins.
"There wasn't five minutes / didn't
have my glasses trained on that
creek" said Myr0n sharply. Con
found him! Why can't he come out"
Lets go after him." suggested
Abel. I'VE might as well catch him
in there as to chase him all around
Little River bay"
Myron Fladd agreed, and just as the
day was fading they painted into Cedar
creek and made for It's upper reaches.
There, drawn on little pebbly beach
and half hidden In the tall salt grass,
was narrow, dark gray motorboat.
Lounging on the deck was long limb
ed young man, who shot to his feet
as they approached.
"Well what Is III" he asked sharply
as Fladd's launch grounded in the soft
mud
crashed through the grass to the side
OF the gray launch. He drew a short
barreled shotgun from underneath his
pilot coat. and. throwing back the lapel
of the garment, he flashed a brief
glimpse OF his freman's badge and
cried authoritatively:
"Hold up your hands. In the name
of the law!'
The stranger threw up his hands.
With one he caught the gun barrel
and twisted the weapon out of Myron's
hands; with the other he lifted that
stout gentleman to the deck Of the
craft by way OF strong grip inside
the collar of his coat. With lightning
like rapldity he snatched up rope
and tied the ambitious pirate hunter
with dozen hard knots.
Then the stranger leyeled the shot
gun ut the shrinking form Of Abel
Watkins and beckoned with long and
crooked foreAnger. "Come here" he
ordered unkindy.
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 a suit case and shrug him
self into n warm overcoat.
"lll borrow your boat for awhile,
and I'll leave mine for security. l
had breakdown, confound 1t! I'll
send somebody after you. Sorry l
can't take you along, but I've got an
important engagement with lady.
BY, by! He waved hooking fare
well at his sputtering captives. push
ell 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-
ion.
abel, did you recognize that fell
low? Seems like I've seen him be-
fore"
Il don't know. Looks like n chap
that was boarding over to the hotel
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. l 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"
whats he got to do with that
| phantom pirate and $500 reward?" de-
manded Abel sourly, working ut his
| bonds.
There was the sound OF oars and
voices of men, and presently light
blurred through the fog, and boat
came cautiously up the creek. Five
minutes afterward Abel Watkins and
Myron Fladd were free men, and sew
eral OF their neighbors were breaking
the news to Mr.. Fladd that his daugh
ter Mabel had eloped in motorboat
with young man of the name Of
Turner and that Mrs. Fladd had said
she was glad of 1t IL Mabel was happy