Part 1 (2/2)

The latter had been interested inhealth, so he had secured the pony express contract, which he had carried on now for several years

”It certainly is a shame to have this fine supper spoil,” mused Jack, as he lifted the cover frolanced at the pile of browned biscuit in the war oven

”I can't understand what makes dad so late,” he went on ”Of course, the ht not have been ready for him to take It's been pretty heavy of late, and is alh I suppose Jennie gives her a hand now and then,” and as he said that Jack looked at the photograph on the irl, who seemed to smile at him Jack looked cautiously around the room, and then raised a hand to his lips and threw a kiss froers at the picture

This done he blushed--but you would not have known it, he was so bronzed by the sun and the wind Mrs Matilda Blake was a distant relative of Mr

Bailey's, and Jack called her ”Aunt Matilda,” though she really did not bear that relationshi+p to hiirl of about sixteen, lived in Golden Crossing, where Mrs Blake was postmistress Jack and Jennie were the best of friends

”Well, if dad doesn't co to eat,” decided Jack

”He won'thim I hope he hasn't had any accident His pony is sure-footed, I know, but I'd feel better if he had Sunger”

Jack was plainly nervous--that is as nervous as a young, healthy lad can be He went outside again, and walked a little way back along the trail over which his father would coe was in a rather lonely location, there being no other habitation in sight

There were other houses not far away, and a nu nature of the trail, and the ruggedness of the mountains, they could not be seen from where Jack stood

As the lad was about to turn back and again enter the cottage with the deter which caused him to start

”Here he co his horse! That's queer!

So must have happened!”

Speed was one of the prime requisites of the pony express The men who rode the routes over plains and mountain trails secured the speediest horses or ponies possible Their life, when in the saddle, was a continual rush, for the h as quickly as possible, and where no steam and railroads were available recourse was had to horseflesh

And knowing the value of speed Jack wondered when he heard the approach of a horse at a walking pace

Mr Bailey was supposed to arrive at Rainbow Ridge in tie coach going east, and the hour for its leaving had passed soe would wait for the pony express, but thisthe rest of the route

”So sure o toback

”I'll get Sunger,” he told hiendered by the loneliness of the er will h the sound of the approaching footsteps of the horse of the pony express rider could be plainly heard by Jack, so clear and resonant was the mountain air, he realized that his father had yet nearly half ato the saddle of his pony, and patting the anily on the neck, Jack set off once er

In a few reat rocky ledge, and in front of him, almost collapsed in the saddle was a reat effort, and on his face was a drawn look of pain

”Why, Dad!” cried Jack ”What's thehappened? Did they hold up the ht,” was the answer, broken by an excla to be quite ill It was all I could do to ride the last few ive in”

Jack was at his father's side in an instant

”Get on Sunger,” he urged ”He's easier for you to ride Let me help you

What is the trouble? How did it happen?”