The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1924-09-26

tackle when he saw her approaching
with Blackboard, her sooty Persian
cat, trotting at her heels His habit
of following, dog-fashion, was one Of
Blackbeards distinguishing peculiari-
ties.
"Has Uncle Alpheus reIented?" asked
Jimmy, eagerly, as the girl drew near.
''No," she answered. "At last,
though, he's consented to explain why
he won't relent. So come quickly be-
fore he-why, Blackboard Teach, what
are you doing?"
Hastily withdrawing the paw that
he had inserted under the closed lid Of
Jimmy's fishing creel Blackboard gazed
into space with an air Of injured inno-
cence. Picking up the creel, Jimmy
dropped his reeled line into it and
started, with Molly at his side, back
along the path by which she had
come. They went In silence, Black
beard, his plume-like tail raised grace
fully, following as before. Jimmy was
thinking hard.
Alpheus Teach, childless widower,
was Molly's grand-uncle and the only
parent she had ever known. Adored
by Molly, she never would marry with
! out his consent, as Jimmy knew only
too well. But why Uncle Alpheus
should refuse his consent, without
even having seen the young man to
whom he objected, had been an utter
mystery even to Molly.
He's waiting for US up in the
Lantern" said Molly, as they neared
the house, nodding toward a, huge,
square cupola that surmounted it. 81
don't know why he loves that place."
she added wistfully HE has some
queer little ways, but I know you'll be
patient, JIM"
Jimmy promised. Together they
climbed upstairs and into the Lantern,
with its view of the gray, Atlantic.
There Jimmy discovered, with sur
prise, that Uncle Alpheus was mere
wisp Of a man, with dreamer's eyes
and smile of winning sweetness.
II fear that you had poor sport If
you fished Teach's brook" said he,
taking Jimmys hand II doubt if it
can boast anything larger than a min
now
"The one trout that caught wasn't
much larger" replied Jimmy, setting
rrod and creel in a corner. "But-par-
don my abruptness, Mr.. Teach-I'm
awfully anxious to-"
Il understand" interrupted the
Aother. you want to know why OBJ
ject to your marrying Molly. Be seat
ed, please. 1t isn't easy to convey my
exact point of view. Perhaps would
best begin with the statement that
i am an absolute believer in the doctrine
Of heredity. Thell-do you see that
bell?"
Jimmy saw It. It hung by chain
from the ceiling and seemed to be very
old
-"That bell was taken from Span
ish ship by an ancestor Of ours, Ed
ward Teach, who was killed in ITO.
He was better known as Blackboard,
the pirate. You've heard Of limp"
"Ratherl" nodded Jimmy. But d.
you suppose I'd let that make any diff.
ference?"
"You misapprehend; the point Is
this" returned the older man. you
know, for l have investigated-are
descended from the villiers, who were
dukes Of Buckingham. That is, from
family pampered in royal courts"
"That was three centuries agom OBJ
jected Jimmy; but the other, now
fairly in the saddle of his hobby, gal
toped unheedingly on.
Blackboard he continued, twas
far more than mere cutthroat. He
possessed personality so strong, SO
Incredibly dynamic. that-as 1t is said,
and as am strongly inclined to be-
tieve-it did not cease with his death.
but persists tc the present day. AL
most certainly, in my opinion, 1t is
with us at this present moment"
"Good .heavensw cried Jimmy, as
uncomfortable little shudders chased
each other down his backbone. "How
Is this ghost supposed to manifest it.
self?"
by jlngllng that silly old bell!"
answered Molly with scornful sniff.
"More like grinders spook
than pirate'si"
"MollyI" rasped Uncle Alpheus, in
Mortified reproof; but Molly only
shifted again. so, after little. he went
on, once more addressing Jimmy:
"As matter of fact, blackboard
never has directly manifested himself
to me, though often have hoped that
he would. In times of dire family
emergency, In order to prevent some
great error about to be committed, 1t
is true that he is said to have sounded
this bell. 1t never has happened since
my birth, but can cite instances, re-
corded by my forefathers-"
"Cite 'em downstairs, where there's
more light; it's nearly pitch dark
here" Molly broke in. "You two go
on. I'll find my Blackbeard-the cat
and follow"
Obediently the two CROPPED their way