The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1917-02-17

"Ship ahoy |" he called Out. Then
he noticed the ~bandage around her
wrist. Had an accident?' he asked.
"Oh just a little sprain. 1 turned 1t
yesterday"
"And you're trying to row with
that" he exclaimed. "Now don't do
1t. I'll give you a tow right away"
And he shut off the engine and started
up for the rope.
She stopped him with "No please
I'm looking for Teddy, and 1 may be
gone quite a while"
"And I'm looking for Birch. I'll
bet my hat they're together, and we
might as well join forces. I'll give
you a slack line, then you come in
here
1t seemed quite useless for Vera to
demur. He declared he was FIRST aid
to the injured" and almost lifted her
into the launch.
II believe l know what those small
sons of Belial are up to-" he said after
Vera was comfortably settled. "They
have turned bold buccaneers, and are
searching for treasure"
81 think" added Vera, "by what I
gathered yesterday, it's buried treas
ure, and it's located on a desert island
under a blasted oak"
"Oh. that's the wild adventure, is
IT." he laughed. well, then we'd bet
ter put in to the first island we find"
eyes said Vera. that's what |
thought of doing. 1t won't matter
whether it's oak or pine trees, and
their Imagination will supply the
blasted part"
II can supply the blasted part with
out any imagination" remarked Jerry
with some vexation. Here's mother
having a fit over the young pirate"
"Yes, my mother was beginning to
be a bit anxious, but l told her 1
thought 1 could find him, and l hope
she won't worry. l laughed so when l
overheard that pirate scheme, l came
pretty neal being branded as a spy.
Oh, 1 think the imagination of boys is
lovely! 1 just wish they didn't lose
it,"
But suppose" he said, at should
go on leading them on such a wild
goose chase as this?"
"Men will be always led by magma
ton, and will always be going on wild
goose chases. I only think that If
they kept the boys imagination they
would go on finer quests"
Jerry stared wonderingly at the
girl. Then he fell to thinking. She
had said something that made him
think.
They explored the two small islands
quite thoroughly, but there was no
trace of the bold buccaneers. Jerry,
who wished to prolong his stay with
Vera, was for starting on a still further
cruise several miles away, but she sug-
gested the boys might be home by this
time, and they had better turn back.
Jerry discovered his supply of gasoline
was low, and reluctantly changed his
course.
I'm about starved, too, aren't your
he asked.
"Well 1 think it must be about din
ner time. Perhaps l can be first aid
this time. 1 put up a lunch for the
boys, and if you'll reach for that bas
ket-"
Jerry reached for it, and they be
came more chummy than ever over the
sandwiches which Jerry declared were
the best he ever had in his life.
Much to their surprise they found
on arriving the boys had not returned
Vera determined to start out alone tC
n spot they had not visited. She re
%membered a little rocky cove further
down the shore on the mainland. She
put up a light on the boat, and start.
ed out. Nearing the place she heard
n ~well-known voice raised in a cry OF
distress. A sOrrier, more forlorn pair
of pirates were never seen. They had
clambered along the rocks. to an iso.
lated point, and the rising tide had cut
/, them off from the shore just as they
had concluded to try to swim fol
safety. Birch Parks had fallen on the
slippery rocks. and either broken OF
=, put out of joint a bone in his ankle
1t was so badly swollen Vera could moi
!, tell. With the help of Teddy he was
lifted into the boat, groaning with the
r pain.
No one seemed to be at hand wher
, they landed, and the Carr home be
ing nearest, they carried him to th'
house and hastily informed the Parks
r family.
AS Don as possible a car appeared
p with Jerry and his distracted mother
After the first meeting with her boy
: she stopped and stared at Mrs. Carr
y Mabel Thurston !" she cried. "AnC
here you've been living right near me
and 1 didn't know" And she flew q
the little woman, and Rugged her.
When Jerry and Vera came bacl
from their wedding tour they brough
gold watches to Birch and Teddy.
"Tf 1t hadn't been for those pirates,
they said, 1--WE wouldn't have found tn
> treasure"