The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1907-10-17
MGx's
Mission.
BY LULU JOHNSON.
Copyright, 1907. by E. c. PARCELS.

Max would not have taken the short
cut through the alley had not Tengroye
the clean cut young chap who had Civ,
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
/ ITS 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 mcssen-
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, 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
five minutes, and SO Max took chances.
He had almost reached the far end Of
I 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 tho
boys pockets, relieving him Of what
small coins he had, the leader read
aloud the tender ploadIngs by which
rengrove lpld hoped TO win Dorothy
Methcun's forgiveness, Max squlrmed
as the youths shouted in coarse glee at
the burning words, but he could not
wrlggle out OF the grasp on bis coat
collar. Not until the letter had been
ftda hlh titA icl ililh ~.
Gimme the note" he demanded
boarsely. For answer the bully tore II
into tiny pieces and threw them into
the boys face.
There II is he said roughly. The
next lime we catch you, and you don't
have money we are going to XIII yon.
SeeF"
Max made a dive for the envelope
and darted out Of the entry skillfully
evading the kick aimed al him by his
torlnentor. He had no thoughts OF the
poIfic. lie must hurry TO the Methem
house. There was no time TO 90 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, aud he was bound to see
him ont Of this scrape
BY dint Of stealing rides on the street
cars, he made his way 10 the residea-
tial section and tore mady up the front
stoop Of the Meiheun town bouse,
The butler shook bis head ia apsYey
TO the boy's demand for an anGienci,
with Miss tictheun Miss Mctheuif add
Mrs. Me;heeu had gone 10 the yaHHfl
II was the gylyla and she waslaihzJfi
the yacht station he did not tAfsG.
thar there would lie time 70 reach the
laHiine before the yacht fplie1
; sGlnpe q dime" demanded Max.
Fl -g5iter run for Il ! was frlsked
Hurry up" be added lHra'icnily ae
the iHiler stared at the Aeaagad sogc
thing IN hls manner confeiled o56df
enee. and the st0lid eerglfJr ilaBded
over The coin
The car seemed TO creep down 70 she
docks. hut at Test they came 70 tbe
in1IIng. aud ne dashed oui % Tie pier
Tie watehmaH pointed out tie syiFia.
aud even as be spoke The boat san 70
move slowly from the aaeho- e..
There nasa power boat n the landing
stage With good naiured ysung fel-
los at the wheel Max dropped down
70 bis side
WAS sou ever IL love wit a gollY'
he demanded ~ The skipper The skip
per admitted tlie charge
There's feilow what loves . goa
'Sh that boot silvia" be said @Lessn
get message % her be- won't sit
hsr. WIN yoq take ne ogtf''