The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1907-10-29
Mdx'S
Mission.
By LULU JOHNSON.
By LULU JOHNSON
Copyright, 1901, by E. c. PARCELS.

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 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 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 district,
for more than once messengers had
been held up by gang of roughs who
had 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 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 60
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. 1.-THE
next time we catch you, and you don't
have money we are going to kill you.
Seer
Max made 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 go back
for another letter. Miss Metheun would
be gone by then. 1t was not the fist
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 street
cars, he made his way to the residen-
tial section and tore madly up the front
stoop of the Metheun town house.
The butler shook his head In answer
to the boys demand for an audience
with Miss Metheun. Miss Metheun and
Mrs. Metheun had gone to the yacht
1t was the Sylvia and she was lying of
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
Il gotter run for It. was frisked
Hurry up" he added impatiently as
the butler stared at the demand. Some
thing in his manner compelled obedi-
ence, and the stolid servitor handed
over the coin.
The car seemed to creep down to the
docks, but at last they came to the
landing, and he dashed out on the pier
The Waterman pointed out the Sylvia
and even as he spoke the boat began to
move slowly from the anchorage.
There was power boat at the landing
stage with good natured young fell
low at the wheel. Max dropped down
to his side.
WAS you ever in love wit goil 2"
he demanded of the skipper. The skip
per admitted the charge.
There's fellow what loves a goil
on that boat Sylvia" he said. ''Less'n
! get message to her he won't git
her. Will you take me out?"
Max's earnestness was convincing,
and, with smile, the skipper nodded
to the boy to jump in. Max sat gin
gerly upon the soft cushions, nursing
the wrist that had been wrenched
when he was fighting with the gang
in the alley He had roughly band
aged it with the rag he called a
handkerchief, but now it was throb-
bling most unpleasantly.
The power boat slipped smoothly
through the water, gaining rapidly on
the Sylvia, and presently they were
running side by side and with
Tanks; you're TIL real ting" Max
had climbed aboard the yacht
To the sailor who came to inquire
his business he made demand for Miss
Metheun and was led aft to where the
party sat under the awnings
II got a message for you," he an
nounced. ut amt In writin'," he add
ed as she stretched forth her hand;
'1eastwise it amt written now
"What is itT' she asked smilingly.
TITS a private message" he said
meaningly as he glanced at man who
sat scowling at him. For moment
the girl hesitated, but for third time
Max's earnestness carried the day, and
she followed him to the side of the
boat. He drew out the envelope be
had saved from destruction.
That's all that's left Of it," he apol-
ogized. "You know who he is. He
told me to hurry, and was runnin'
through tn alley. and TIL gang frisked
me-"
''They what?" she demanded
~Frisked me-" he explained-"went
Though me clothes, took me cush and
read tn letter"
"The envelope is not sufficiently i'm
portant to warrant such strenuous eff
forts to deliver it." she said little
coldly.
But tn letter was peach" he ex-
planned. 9Th gang read it out, and I
remembered it, l come to tell you
what was in it. Tn nice lookin' guy
said he was darn fool to put up such
a boiler, and he was sorry he made tn
beef. He took it all back in big words
L can't remember 'em-but he laid
down all right"
"What do you mean?'' she asked
MIR. Tengrove apologized. Is that itY'
"Apologized amt no word for It,"
said Max expansively. at was down
In the gutter for his. You cd make him
jump over a stick If you wanter. He
backs up about not wantin' you t go
on the sail wit dis guy, but he wants
yer t come back an marry him aft
erward an not hitch up wit tn pirut
over there" He indicated the scowling
host, and Miss Metheun smiled family.
Max thought that her smile was ono
of discredit, and his heart sank.
II can't spiel no big words" he said
disconsolately. "but on tn level II Won