The Monmouth inquirer. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1865-1933, 1925-02-12
Talking Bullets

6 lANGEh, nowadays never seems
- to Turk in an odd corner and
then jump out at a fellow like it used
to when you were boy" little Tom
my Radnor was complaining to the cap
tain. AS he said these words, Tommy,
along with the captain and other nine
boys who made up the captains usual
crew of listeners, sat at the sea end
of the long, new pier and fshed.
No one said anything for moment.
"Boys," then asked the captain, do
you all think you'd like some adven-
ture? Not just a game of some sort,
but few thrilling moments when
your lives would be In grave dangerY
Again there was moment Of 81
lence.
Then blue-eyed Tommy Radnor
broke out impetuously: @Sure, I would.
We all would would like it fine"
And Tommy pulled up his chest and
tried to look brave and manly.
Perhaps" said quiet Bobby Treat.
"Perhaps it wouldn't be so much fun
as you think"
Quite an argument started. At last
some of the boys began to get angry.
The captain saw this, so he interfered.
Tommy, Bobby. all of you," he
called sharply, "this is no way to get
along on the very day your new club
is started. If the club is to be worth
while you will all have to learn to
stick together. Any arguing should be
done with outsiders, and even that
isn't in the least necessary"
Lets get in a circle and shake
hands all round suggested Bobby.
The ring was formed. They started to
shake hands
whirr-z-z-zipl something cut
through the air above their heads
with an angry hiss. Zip-z--spit-t-t-
something struck the pier and
knocked up a tiny shower of splin-
tiers. Then they heard the sound of
rifle shots. On the shore to their right
were tiny flashes:
"Quick! Down behind the logs
here p snapped the captain. There
was a ringing note of command in
his voice and the boys did as he told
them with no questions.
The rife shots kept up. But the
boys were safe, now. On looking out
toward the seward side of the pier,
they saw a medium sized steam launch.
Bullets were splashing in the water
about it. Evidently the men on shore
had been shooting toward the launch
without really intending to hit any
one on the pier.
Look See what they are doing
on the launch ~ 1t was quiet Bobby
Treats voice, and it was steady and
clear.
The fact of the matter was that the
boat was revenue cutter with a little
one-pound quick-firer mounted in the
bow. The revenue men had taken the
canvas cover, off the gun and made
ready to open fire.
Bang Bang! Bang went the gun.
Shells whistled toward the shore. In
a moment the rifle firing was silenced.
Then the revenue men stopped shoot
ing, also.
The captain climbed back on top Of
the pier and waved his hat. Alloy,
there is the cutterr' he shouted.
whats up?"
The officer in charge of the revenue
men recognized the captain and
steered the cutter alongside the pier
"Just some smugglers," he said
desperate Characters all of them. It's
a good thing we were ready. They
have stopped at nothing. and only
yesterday fred at one of our unarmed
launches. We thought we'd fool them
this time and brought the little one
FOUNDER along. Some of my men are
posted on the hills back of the swamp
over there, where the smugglers oper-
ate. No one can get through that way
and we'll get any who try to sneak
away in boats Good-by, captain, glad
none of your crew of boys was hurt. !"
And the revenue men were on their
way toward the swamp where the
smugglers were hiding.
'WelI. you've had quite bit of ad-
venture today" said the captain.
"How does it set with your"
The captain looked at Tommy Rad
nor. But Tommy just hung his head.
Then Sammy Treat said: 'rll tell
you what / think. ! think it would
have hurt like everything to have had
one of those bullets hit you. That's
what think"
Most of the boys nodded their heads
in assent to this. And they all agreed,
as they started home, that the club
had got real Initiation on the day II
was founded. Before they separated
they all formed circle and each boy
shook hands with every one of the 9th
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