Smyrna times., 1907-11-06
Mux'S
Mission.
By LULU JOHNSON.
By LULU JOHNSON.
Copyright. 1907. by E. c. PARCELS

en- him the note, impressed upon him
the need of great speed.
"She will be leaving the house for the
boat at H." he had said as Max tucked
the envelope into his breast pocket.
It's half dollar if you get there be-
fore she leaves"
Max grinned with the wisdom of his
fourteen years. For two yeaSs he had
worn the blue uniform of the messen-
ger service, and one learns a very great
deal in two years. He winked at Ten
grove and darted out of the office.
All of the boys steered clear of the
alley, slum of the financial dinlict,
for more than once messengers had
been held up by a gang of roughs who |
had Il pull with the political leader of |
the district.
But this letter did not contain money,
and the short cut meant a saving of
| five minutes, and so Max took chances.
He had almost reached the far end Of
the alley when an arm shot out from a
dark doorway and dragged him inside
the gloomy hall. Three or four half
grown boys were drinking out of a
can, but the vessel was set down as
| they crowded about their capture.
With unsteady hands the leader drew
out the letter and eagerly opened it in
search of the money he thought might
be within. His face grew black as he
laboriously read the note, and while
one of the others went through the
boys pockets, relieving him of what
small coins he had, the leader read
aloud the tender pleadings by which
Tengrove had hoped to win Dorothy
Metheun's forgiveness. Max sQuirmed
as the youths shouted in coarse glee at
the burning words, but he could not
wriggle out of the grasp on his coat
collar. Not until the letter had been
read did they let him go.
Gimme the note" he demanded
hoarsely. For answer the bully tore it
into tiny pieces and threw them into
the boys face.
There it is" he said roughly. "The
next time we catch you, and you don't
have money we are going to kill you
SeeY
I1dA ultltlC d NANC AOA bAC NA'NASEN
and darted out of the entry, skillfully
evading the kick aimed at him by his
tormentor He had no thoughts of the
police. He must hurry to the MetheuI
- house. There was no time to go bacl
;r for another letter. Miss Metheun would
If be gone by then. 1t was not the frs
< time he had carried notes for the MIC
looking man, and he was bound to Sc
him out of this scrape.
BY dint of stealing rides on the stree
cars, he made his way to the residen
tial section and tore madly up the iron
stoOp of the Metheun town house.
The butler shook his head in answe
to the boys demand for an audienc
with Miss Metheun. Miss Metheun an
Mrs. Metheun had gone to the zach
1t was the Sylvia and she was lying o
Is the Yacht station. He did not thin
49, that there would be time to reach tt
ed landing before the yacht sailed.
90 "Gfmme a dime,' demanded Ma
OF ST gotter run for it. l was friske
Sr' Hurry up" he added impatiently
ess the butler stared at the demand. Som
ard thing in his manner compelled obe(
ence. and the stolid servitor hand'
over the coin.
The car seemed to creep down to t
docks but, at last they came to t
landing, and he dashed out on the pi'
The Waterman pointed out the Sylv
and even as he spoke the boat began
move slowly from the anchOrai
There was power boat'at the landi
y stage with good natured young +
low at the wheel. Max dropped do7
- to his side.
"Was you ever in love wit goi
"a be demanded of the skipper. The SIX
81 per admitted the charge.
'There's a fellow what loves E
most on that boat Sylvia" he said. lies
tlolI I get a message to her he won't
ner- her. Will you take me out?
sell Max's earnestness was convinci
own and. with smile, the skipper nod
70 TO the boy to jump in. Max sat
mess gerly upon the soft cushions, nurs
You tbe wrist that had been wrenc
risk when he was fighting with the g
Inns in the alley. He had roughly ba
( ex- aged it with the rag he calle'
ne to handkerchief, but now it was tn
abso- hing most unpleasantly.
! the The power boat slipped smoo
cost. through the water. gaining rapidly
~ the Sylvia, and presently they '
- running side by side and wit
.STonks; you're. tn real ting"
MA had climbed aboard the yacht.
" To the sailor who came TO mo
even his business he made demand tor
Metheun and was led aft to where
party sat under the awnings.
. 81 got a message for you" he
nounced. at amt in writln';" ne ;,
- cd as she stretched forth her b
sTeastwise it amt written now"
"Wbat is itT' she asked smiling
,,r,,,ote message" he