The Washington herald., 1915-12-19
The Christmas
Pirate
BY TEMPLE BAILY.

| kSopy1snt, nis, py McOiure NewHApf synoicate)
| well. we can't cross now," said Ted.
desperately. THE causeway Is covered.
and.it won't be low tide until morning"
| Have We got to stay all night?" Tom
my tried to keep the fear out of his voice.
but Sara walled. "Oh. well freeze to
death. Ted"
mo, we won't" Ted declared stoutly.
I'VE must find some shelter
| They tramped along in the gathering
darkness. while the wind howled. and
the waves doomed. and the willow trees
which lined the road sighed and whisper
ed Of the wildness of the coming night.
Who would have thought" Sara whis-
pered, that II would be a storm like
this? Why, It was lovely when we came
across.
And the worst of it is,' said Ted.
that nobody knows We are here. Mother
and father think we are at grandmoth-
er's. and grandmother thinks We are at
home"
Serves us right" said Tommy" for
trying to find a pirate on this old island.
or peninsula. or whstever 1t is
Its an island now" said Ted. with
| the sea coming up over the causeway.''
Well" Tommy grumbled. there won't
be any hanging up of stockings for. US
this Christmas Eve
shut up. Tommy said Ted, inelegant-
ly. III we've got to face a night over
| here. We might as well be cheerful about
| wrecked, and this scenes to be the next
| thing to IT.
Tommy frightened up at once. Why
So it is he said. and If We We're ship
wrecked. the first thing, We would do
would be to build a fire."
We haven't any matches"
"Aw. this place is too civilized said
disSusted Tommy. in the summer III,
hotels are open and there's lots oi
houses-''
They are all closed now. worse luck.
said Ted. "Our only hope is the ligh:
house. way up at the other end
Il didn't believe We would find a pirat.
over here Sara complained.
Well. the men on the train said ther,
was one Tommy replied. "or a SNUG
gler. or something"
They trudged on until they reached d
rocky stretch. where only few lonely
huts used by the fishermen in certain
seasons. but now empty. We're set just
beyond the reach of the tide.
Suddenly Ted stopped still Tommy"
he said. with a catch in his voice. lis
that lighthouse on the peninsula, or is
it on an island beyond
It's on an island now" said Tommy.
tremulously, "for it's cut OF from us by
the tide. just as this part is cut on from
the mainland
Then We can't get there
Sara sank down. sobbing little heap.
Il can't go another STEP" she declared.
"and I'm most frozen-and, oh. dear.
want my mother
Ted said Tommy. suddenly. isn't
that light-over thereto the left?"
sure it Is" said Ted. joyfully. and
back. ''oh. Ted" he whispered. sup
pose 1t should be-the pirate"
You stay here with Sara" Ted COM
manded. land I'll see
So off he started, and Tommy and Sara
hating to be left alone. crept after him.
AS they approached the light, they saw
that 1t was a lantern swinging from the
hand OF q little man dressed in oilskins.
He was closing the shutters OF his tiny
house. which was set snugiy between
light high. the three children gave a
gasp. for right across the top of the door
was painted in big black letters, Pirates
house-Built 1850"
Now what do you think of that" said
Tommy. and Sara shivered and shook
and cried. "oh. let's run away But
Ted said. I'm going closer"
The pirate went in and shut the door.
and. except where the yellow light
streamed through a wide crack in the
shutters. blank darkness faced the cast
Always.
Through the crack, the children saw
the little man lift heavy basket to the
table and take from It a number Of
bundles which he stored away In a deep
cupboard. with a little low door, and as
he worked he sang q song with a re-
frain:
"Ho. no. no, no.
Ho. no. no. no."
In the dark Tommy clutched Teddy's |
arm. Listen" he whispered. Its a |
regular pirates song. He's a smuggler-l
that's what he is
Il don't believe he is a pirate" said |
Sara, land anyhow. I'm going in and
ask him.
You are not" said Ted.
Breathlessly the three watched the
pirate build up a roaring Are in his little
round stove. and slice bacon into a pan,
and when the fragrance Of the frying
meat stole out through the cracks. Sara
declared once more. I'm going in"
WELL" Ted agreed. slowly, II guess
We will have to-we'n freeze out here"
So. very timidly. they tapped at the
door. and they saw the pirate lift his
head and listen. They they tapped again.
and presently a gruff voice shouted.