Hattiesburg daily news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1907-1908, 1907-09-29
Max'S
Mission.
By LULU JOHNSON.
By LULU JOHNSON.
Copyright. 1907. by e. 9. PARCELS.



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 a half dollar if you get there be-
fore she leaves"
Max grinned with the wisdom of his
fourteen years. For two years he had
worn the blue uniform of the messen-
ger service, and one learns 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 district
for more than once messengers had
been held up by gang Of roughs who
had a pull with the political leader Of
the district.
But this letter did not contain money,
and the short cut meant 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
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 1t 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 1t
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.
Seer
Max made a dive for the envelope
and darted out Of the entry, skillfully
evading the kick oimed at him by his
tormentor. He had no thoughts of the
police. He must hurry to the Metheun
house. There was no time TO go back
for another letter. Miss Metheun would
B.N NV thO 1Aft hn Gt.t
time he had carried notes for the nice
looking man, and he was bound to SEE
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 from
stoop of the Metheun town house.
The butler shook his head in answe
to the boys demand for an audience
with Miss Metheun. Miss Metheun an,
Mrs. Metheun had gone to the yacht
1t was the Sylvia and she was lying OF
the yacht station. he did not thin
that there would be time to reach til
landing before the yacht sailed.
Gimme dime," demanded Ma,
IT gotter run for it. was frisket
Hurry up" he added impatiently a
the butler stared at the demand. Som,
thing in his manner compelled obed
ence, and the stolid servitor handle
over the coin.
The car seemed to creep down to th
docks, but at last they came to th
landing, and he dashed out on the pie
The Waterman pointed out the Sylvi
and even as he spoke the boat began
move slowly from the anchorag
There was a power boat at the landin
stage with a good natured young fe
low at the wheel. Max dropped dow
to his side.
"Was you ever In love wit goil
he demanded Of the skipper. The ski
per admitted the charge.
There's fellow what loves &C
on that boat Sylvia" he said. LESS
get a message to her he won't 6
her. Will you take me out?'
4 Max's earnestness was convincin
and, with smile, the skipper nodd
to the boy to jump in. Max sat 81
gerly upon the soft cushions, nursil
the wrist that had been wrench
when he was fighting with the gal
in the alley. He had roughly ban
aged it with the rag he called
handkerchief. but now 1t was thrc
bling most unpleasantly.
The power boat slipped smooth
through the water, gaining rapidly
the Sylvia, and presently they we
running side by side and with
Tanks; you're tn real ting" M
had climbed aboard the yacht.
/. To the sailor who came to inqui
his business he made demand for Nj
Metheun and was led aft to where t
party sat under the awnings.
II got message for you" he {
nounced. ut amt In writin'," he az
ed as she stretched forth her har
''leastwise 1t amt written now"
nj what is it?'' she asked smillngiy
i. "It'sl a private message" he 81
meaningly as he glanced at a man "
sat scowling at him. For nome
fba orfrI hoegfa TOD huf FOR a third III