Part 7 (1/2)

”They did? Why, they didn't seeht, but they knew your name, and they askedit took, and they even wanted to knohat kind of a horse you rode

”I sian to threaten and bluster I was beginning to get frightened, but I ive in to theuess I never was so glad to see you, Jack! But, of course, they really did ot here ahead of time?”

”Oh, I just hurried, that was all,” Jack answered He did not want to tell Jennie what he had overheard on the road It ht think there was some plot afoot to rob the post office

”And there is soh what it is I can't guess I' to be on the watch harder than ever

The plot is beginning to thicken, as they say in stories,” and he e coach came in a little later, and Jack received a nue As he was ahead of time, and as there was some mail of ih he would not arrive at the other end of the trail until after dark

”Oh, Jack! Do you think it will be safe?” Jennie asked

”What safe?” he asked, with a smile ”The mail?”

”No--you!”

”Why shouldn't I be safe? I've ridden the trail before after dark”

”I know But those--those men--”

”Nonsense! I'm not afraid”

Nevertheless, Jack was a little nervous as he galloped along the ht had fallen He started at every little noise, for while there had been no robberies of the s were known to happen occasionally

But the two strangers who had annoyed Jennie were not seen around town after the episode, and Jack did not think they were desperate enough to try to hold him up Besides, while there were soh of value in the pouches this trip to make it an inducement for robbery

”They wouldn't take the risk for what I've got with ht At least there was no attack on hie safely and delivered his stuff

Mr Bailey was not quite so well next day, and Jack orried about him

But Dr Brown said the ailht often take a turn like that Jack said nothing to his father about the two men who had annoyed his cousin, but he did report the occurrence to Mr Perkfeld, who pro was heard of the men, nor could any trace of them be found, after a souess they were just fresh tenderfeet,” said the er of the pony express coether share this view

It was about a week after this that, as Jack reached the Mansion Hotel one ent, who had a number of red-sealed letters in his hand

”This ti to let you take theht to forward them to their destination now”