Part 6 (2/2)
”Trouble? There's no trouble,” said one of the men in surly tones. ”Who are you, anyhow, to come b.u.t.ting in?”
”Oh, Jack!” exclaimed Jennie. ”They want--”
”I'm the pony express rider on this route,” interrupted Jack, with a nod at Jennie, as if to beg her pardon for not letting her finish. ”I just came in with the mail. It's outside, but I thought I heard some trouble in here, so I just jumped in--just in time, perhaps, too,” he added, significantly.
”If you're looking for trouble,” began one of the men, ”I guess we can accommodate you.”
”That's enough,” his companion said. ”Come on out. Don't you know when to quit?”
”Oh, Jack, they were so annoying!” cried Jennie. ”They came in here when I was all alone, and insisted on knowing the times when all the mails and express s.h.i.+pments went out and came in. I said I wasn't supposed to tell strangers that unless there was a particular reason why they should know.
Ought I to have told them? They said if I didn't they would make trouble for me.”
”They'd better try it!” Jack exclaimed, with flas.h.i.+ng eyes. ”Now, look here, you fellows!” he went on. ”I don't know who you are, nor what your game is, but you'd better get out of here. This is government property, and I'm a government employee for the time being, and I've got authority to order you out of here. Now, you--get!”
For a moment one of the men hesitated, though the other seemed anxious to leave. Jack threw open the door, and pointed in the direction of the trail outside.
”Get out!” he exclaimed again, ”and if you think I'm not big enough to handle you I can get help. Tim!” he called, as he saw the doughty red-haired youth who helped Jennie, ”just come in here, will you?”
”Why sure I will, Jack,” was the answer, Tim having just loomed into sight.
”I didn't know you were here. Is there mail to carry out?”
”Well, there are a couple of _males_ who need putting out, if not carrying out,” said Jack, smiling grimly at his play upon the words.
”Come on!” muttered the more conciliatory of the two intruders, and with black looks at Jack and Jennie, the two men left the post office.
”Were those the men?” asked Tim, coming in as the two went off down the rail.
”Yes,” said Jack. ”But they saved us the trouble of carrying them out. Now, Jennie, what was it all about?”
For a moment the girl seemed on the verge of tears, and Jack found himself earnestly hoping that she would not have hysterics. But she bravely conquered her inclination.
”Oh, Jack! I'm so glad you came!” she exclaimed, as she held out both her hands, which the young pony rider clasped warmly.
”I guess this is no place for me!” muttered Tim, with a sly wink.
”Oh, yes, Tim, stay!” Jennie begged. ”I'll tell you about it, too. You'll want to know in case these men ever come back.”
”If they do!” exclaimed Jack, doubling up his fists, ”I'll--”
”Oh, please don't fight with them!” pleaded Jennie. ”Just let the sheriff deal with them, Jack.”
”Well, if I can't manage them myself, I'll call for help,” promised the youth. ”But now tell me about it. Who were they?”
”I don't know, Jack. They are strangers around here. I was working all alone in the office, getting my reports into shape, and was just going to check up my stamps, when they came in. I had left the private door open, as I didn't expect any one. Mother is away for the day, but I didn't in the least mind being left, as I had a lot of work to do.
”Well, these men began asking all sorts of questions. I don't mind giving information to strangers if it's the kind I can safely let out of the office, but they wanted to know too much. Why, they even asked about you!”
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