Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1912-04-19
THE PHANTOM
PIRATE
A Harmless Mistake
By CLARISSA MACKlE
By CLARISSA MACKE
Copyright by american Press Asso-
citation, 1911.

the long pier DSnlnS loF mdckerei.
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.
Hi. 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 nautical
tilt. and a single brass button dangled
from his blue pilot coat.
Come down here after dinner II you
haven't got anything else to do. I've
got job for you
What is it," asked Abel suspicious.
". He had been victim OF Myron
Fladds enthusiasm in the past. and be
resolved to proceed with caution.
Been reading the papers ately?'
demanded Mr.. Fladd impatiently.
"Of course"
Read about that feller that's been
playing pirate down in the East river
| thought maybe you had. Well. there's
reward out for his capture--s3Oo
Want half Of it,
~ don't mind if | do. You going
down after him."
~ don't have to. Hes hanging
around the harbor here" grinned Mr.
Fladd, with sudden amiability.
"Here?" gasped Abel wildly. why
have you seen him?"
The other nodded.
Il was coming In last night inst al
dark. You know there was a fog. and
| could scarcely see a boats length
ahead. when all of sudden | heard 6
la'nch coming up astern. Her engine
was muhled. and If it hadn't been fol
the faint .spit-spit' Of her exhaust she
might have passed me without my
catching glimpse of her. She whizzeo
by, and had a loo:i al the chap thai
was running her" MyroI Fladd paus
ed to stuff pinch OF tobacco into his
pipe. .-.-.....
Abel drew deep breath. What
was he like?" he asked in an awec
voice.
Myron scratched match on bar
nacled timber. "fIe had his back tt
me, so couldn't see nothing lie 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
it was me in my la'nch."
"Was it you?" asked Mr.. Fladd in
quisitively.
II wasn't out yesterday" admitted
Abel sheepish!y.
81 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 looR
around. He made right for the creek
that runs In among the cedars. be-
cause | followed him till he diSap-
peared there. Today strolled around
there on top of the bluff. and l 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 III need you When can you
come down! Or course you've hao
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 ne
appeared ut last. Gosh. | maven
had my dinner-l forgot 1t" he SAID
in an uneasy tone Just then the
o'clock whistle shrilled over the water
and be picked up his basket OF fish
and hurried away.
Come right back again" yelled My
ron Fadd
"All right replied Abel. although he
knew he had promised Deborah 70 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 Abe
hotly. i've caught ninety.tbree young
mackerel for you to pickle. and-IVe
got II chance to make Il hundred ana
fifty dolarsr' be ended triumphantlv.
You've cot a chance To 30 without
your dinner" snapped Deborah as she
tramncd into the next room and slam
med the door.
For one instart Abel paused: then
without word he turned and left the
house, making; his way down to the
pier. where Myrou i'ladd's launch still
hobbcd against the piles. Myron hail
ed him gladly.
Good for you. Abel. You made q
short job o. il. Get aboard now. ano
we'll run down the east shore and
anchor in the lee of that old wreck.
IF we sec that pirate coming out Of the
rreck we ,an rnn out and capture him
easy rs pie,
Abel let himself down the gangway
10 the lloar where the launch was tied
and Joined Mr.. Fladd in the tiny cab
in. He looked hungrily around.
81 haven't had any dinner" be an
nounced woefn!Iy. Deborah was SO