Among the River Pirates

der circumstances that the lonely boy had not contemplated. The shadow of prison walls

still, and a sickening blue haze hung over the inlet. Brown’s Basin, always more or less apathetic under th

s getting dangerously bare. He had been living on an almost exclusive diet of pancakes for more t

t was his only consolation during the interminable days and nights of his father’s continued a

soon as he reached the river. Fog horns pierced the still, hazy air with their dismal warnings and

k of his father and of what might have been, and the more he saw of them the more did the feeling grow within him that it was a strange and unjust law that could take his father away fr

ge? Skippy remembered only too well the day when the police ransacked the Minnie M. Baxter fore and aft for Josiah Flint’s money. But their search was futile, as he

hole (from which a clever and venomous prosecuting attorney drew the inference for the jury that Toby was disposing of the pistol from which the fata

ring that Josiah Flint had been shot he chased after the squatter and shouted to him, as he made off in his kic

cheated of his life savings of $300 in buying a rotten barge from Flint. That, the prosecutor insisted to the jury, furnished the motive for the cri

nch of the harbor inspectors until it was almost upon him. Inspector Jones

e said pleasantly

He could not forget that Inspector Jones’ tes

ed make things worse for him too, Mr. Jones, on account of the things you

d countenance looked

dly. “I told only what your father had

op was mad then, but he promised me before we left for the Apollyon that night that he wouldn’t lose his head. Gee,

I guess you know your Pop better than anybody, Skippy. I’m sorry, the la

’ my Pop in jail when he’s innocent

nd I doubt if my testimony alone would convict him. It’s that District-Attorney and Marty Skinner that’s made it so tough for your father.

’t near no porthole an’ besides nobody tried findin’ out about that kicker that was

ippy,” Inspector Jones nodded thoughtfully.

to see Mr. Skinner he’d help us ’cause I guess hard as he is he’ll see I don’t

e’s going on the Apollyon for a week’s cruise. You know Buck Flint has gone to Europe and now Skinner, who was only Josiah Flint’s yes-man for years, is ruling the roost and living high on a millionaire’s yacht. Buck say

turned his little motor over.

er,” he shouted, “I take it

pting it might be better for fishin’ with. But gee, I should worry about l

s interposed turning his head

w ’cause then—oh well, it’s too quick. But anyway, if I

bitter experience that tomorr