Part 3 (1/2)

”Oh, no indeed!” Jennie answered ”We like it too well here But , at which she can make some much-needed money, and she realized that she would be too busy at that to look after the post office properly So I said I'd apply for the place I know all about the work,” Jennie went on, ”for whenever mother went away I used to look after the es and all that,” and she indicated a red-haired and freckled lad naenial Irish chap, who did odd jobs around the post office, and in the settle

”So, with Tiht just as well be the full-fledged posted to do this sewing I applied for the place to the President--”

”To the President--in Washi+ngton?” cried Jack, in surprise

”Well, I wrote to the President, though I don't suppose he ever saw ht he appointed all postmasters and postmistresses But I had an answer from some official of the post office departhed in conclusion

”So after this, Mr Jack Bailey, of the pony express, you'll get the reater pleasure, I'hed ”When did all this happen?” he asked

”The letter came yesterday,” Jennie answered

”And I received ,” Jack said ”You didn't beat ood fellowshi+p, Jack held out his hand, irl

The two young persons found much to talk about Jennie was sorry to hear of the illness of ”Uncle Pete,” as she called hireet Jack, Mrs Blake had to hear the whole story over again

Mrs Blake was a hose husband had been killed in aaccident

She was left with Jennie, then a little girl, to bring up, and friends secured for her the place as post fro she was able to do for the residents of the settlement

And now, as she explained to Jack, her needleould take up much of her time, so she and Jennie planned that the latter should be made postmistress so that she could act officially when her mother was not on hand

”Of course, I'll help her, Jack,” Mrs Blake said, ”for it isn't easy for a young girl to have to do this work”

”And I'll help, too!” cried the young pony express rider

”I knew you would, Cousin Jack!” Jennie exclai her hands ”But noe n, and here is a registered letter that you'd better put in an inside pocket where the stage robbers won't find it,” and she laughed merrily at her joke

There was considerable routine work attached to the post office and to the pony express route, and for some time Jack and Jennie were busy over this

The ht in on the back of his pony, Sunger, had already been sent off on the outgoing stage

”Will you ride back to-night, after the other stage couess I'll stay,” Jack said ”But I can go back as far as Painted Post,”

na ”I stopped there onto ride in to Rainbow Ridge to a dance to-night I can have hi the mail will be late And he can also tell ht, and be in early to-ood idea,” said Mrs Blake ”We'll try and make you comfortable, Jack”

”Oh, you won't have to try very hard,” he laughed Jennie blushed and smiled, and Mrs Blake looked wise

Jack spent that afternoon helping Jennie straighten up her post office, for she had deterement of tables and desks, which Mrs

Blake had never had time to settle on

”It's your post office, Jennie,” her ulations per mail was later than had been reported, and did not arrive until nearly dark In such cases, when a night trip would be necessary over the e, the pony express rider was permitted to postpone his trip until the next day The trail was rather dangerous at night, though on occasions, when there had been a bright es had coht trip Jack had done so once, but he did not greatly care to do so again