The Ekalaka eagle. [volume] (Ekalaka, Mont.) 1909-1920, 1916-04-07
The Bold
Kdnaper
Why the Charge of Piracy
Was Not Pressed
By BARNEY PRESTON

philosophers and to sleep. 10 many
minds these two pastimes may APP
pear synonymous, but Billy Nc
Wicker, withal a rather serious per-
sonage, while he found them each
equally pleasant, was never more
awake than when, with his short
sighted eyes close to one of his ia
voritc and we'll thumbed volumes,
ne absorbed philosopkic reflections
on life in general to his hearts con-
tent.
The philosophical tones were
ubiquitous with him. They bulged
his pockets or were trundled-if
they happened to be larger-be-
meath his arm with a patience wor-
thy of better things.
Therefore on a certain perfect
early summer day, when Mr.. Nc
Wicker walked slowly down the
winding path that led to the anchor
age in the bay, a brown book stuck
out Of the hip pocket Of lis yacht
ing trousers and a lean forc1ingcr
rested between the pages Of another
which he carried in his hand.
Between his periods of reading
and sleep Billy McVickcr was some
thing Of a sailor, and today, with
just enough breeze for a spin with
a whole sail, he united the painter
of the little tender, floating ut the
end of the pier, pushed off and
sculled leisurcly to his knockabout,
which lay at her moorings in the
bay.
Once aboard the k,1ocl5about, the
breeze, to McVickcr's unuttcrablc
disgust, began to die out. The ruff
fled surface Of the bay began to take
on an oily smoothness, Indicative Of
the coming calm. McVicker, be-
holding it, gruntcd disgustedly.
However, there would be plenty
Of other days with a good breeze.
There a vcn a chance that one
might spring up a bit later. A pa
ticnt and accomplishing soul was
Billy McVicker-when he was arm
ed with n of his philosophical
tones.
Therefore he cnsconced himself
comfortably on the cushions Of the
cockpit, opened the volume in his
hand and, forgctful alike of sun
and calm, was soon cngrossed in his
reading.
Long and thoughtfully did Nc
Wicker follow the text. Then, paus-
ing for a moment to digest what he
had just been pcrusing, he was
aware that the second OF his pas
times was crying strongly for recog-
milton. In other words, Billy Nc
Wicker was beautifully and ]uzuri-
ously drowsy.
The breeze by this time had died
out completely. Tie sun was be-
coming intentionally hot. Mr..
McEickcr retired to the diminutivc
cuddy, half closed the doors to shut
out the reflected glare Of the sun
on the quiet water and, curling him
self up, lost himself in profound
and dreamlcss slumbcr.
He was awakened by the noisy
rattle of the sail and the squeak Of
the blocks as the peak vas hoistcd.
lazily he opened his eyes, and as he
did so his ear caught the sound of
light footballs Oh the deck.
This was followed by a loud
splash as the knockabout's moor
ings were thrown off and the sharp
cracking of the sail as it filled. With
these sounds also came the tapping
Of water about the bow, which told
him plainly that the knockabout
was under way.
lie yawncd lazily and collected
his scattered wits. Why should the
sail be up and the knockabout start
ing out of the bay? There was no
reason whatever, he told himself.
The footballs sounded along the
deck again, thuddcd into the cock
pit, and Immediately McVicker re-
allied that his kidnapcr, whoever it
might be, had taken the tillcr, for at
once the knockabout hcc]cd sharply
and went scudding out of the bay
toward the sound beyond.
by George, this is pretty cool
and ncrvy," McNicker observed to
himself, and then he crcpt to the
cudly doors and through a crack
pccred cautiously aft.
One glance was sufficient to make
Mr.. McNickcr gasp in whole souled
surprise, for there by the tiller
stood Helen Weldon, who was spend
ing the week with the Grays and
for whom, eyer since her first APP
pearance at Bayport the summer be-
fore Billy McVicker had eyinced