The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1906-1907, 1907-10-25
Max'S
Mission.
By LULU JOHNSON.
Copyright. 1901. by E, c, PARCELS.

Gno clean cut young chaP VIM Hnu si'~
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
'Ttss half dollar II 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 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, a slum OF the financial district,
for more than once messengers had
been held up by a 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
ave 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 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
Motheun's forgiveness. Max squirmed
a. 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 60
sGimme the note" he demanded
hoarsely. For answer the bully tore 1t
into tiny pieces and threw them into
the boys face,
'sThere II is," he said roughly. ''The
next time we catch you. and you don't
have money we are going to kill you.
geeF'
Max made a dive for the envelope
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 Metheun
house. There was no time to so back
for another letter. Miss Metheun would
be gone by then. II was not the first
time he had carried notes for the nice
looking man. and he was bound to see
him out OF this scrape.
ny dint OF stealing rides ON the street
cars, he made his way TO the reslden-
tlal section and tore madly up the front
Btoop of the Metheun town house.
The butler shook his head In answer
70 the boys demand for an audience
with Miss Metheun. Miss Metheun and
Mrs. Metheun had gone 70 the yacht
II was the Sylvia and she was lying on
the yacht station. He did not think
that there would be time to reach the
landing before the yacht sailed.
Gimme a dime" demanded Max
II Rotter run for II. / was frlsked
Hurry up" he added impatiently as
the butler stared at the demand. Some
thing In his manner compelled obedi
enco. and the stolid sorvitor handed
over the coin.
The car seemed TO creep down to the
decks, but at last they came to this
landing, and he dashed out on the pier
Tho Waterman pointed out the Sylvia
and even as no spoke the boat began t
move slowly from the anchorage
There was power boat at the landing
stage with = good natured young Eel
low at the wheel. Max dropped dOwT
to his side.
was you ever in love wit a goil 2
he demanded Of the skipper. The skip
per admitted the charge.
There's fellow what loves a gol
On that boat Sylvia" no said "Less'r
I set q message to her he won't I'll
her. WIN you take me out2"
Max's earnestness was convincing
and. with q smile. the skipper noddet
10 the boy to Jump In. Max sat gin
GeFly upon tho soft cushions, nursing
tho wrist that had been wrencheS
when he was lighting with the gam
an tho alley. He had roughly band
aged Il with the rag he called |
handkerchief. but now II was throb
hing most unpleasantly,
The power boat slipped smooth,
through the water. gaining rapidly Of
the sylvia. and presently they wer
running side by side and with
tanks; you're IN real ting" Ma,
had climbed aboard the yacht.
TO the sailor who came 10 inQuir
his business he made demand for Mis-
Metheun and was led aft to where th
party sat under the awnings.
Il got q message for you.n be an
nOuneed. at amt In writln'," he add
"a As she stretched forth her hand
'sleastwise II amt written now"
what Il itT' she asked smiltngly.
tits a private message" he sal
meaningly as he glanced at a man VIII
sat seowllng at him. For a momen