Part 7 (2/2)
”Are they as important as ever?” asked Jack, with a sive you a hint,” the miner said, in a low voice ”Wayde and I have discovered a secretfor us”
”A secretpony express rider
”Yes It was one located by a prospector soo, but he died after he caave the location of the mine to a friend, but the latter lost the papers and never could find the claim Lately a relative discovered the docu that ork the claim on shares
”I went into it with Wayde, and we've found the mine It's rich, too, and it isn't far froal forin work, and these letters refer to those matters The reason Wayde didn't want to send thealto locate the et it away frohtened out, and I' to send off these letters by you I'll expect answers back soon, and when they coent paused suddenly, for a sound came from around the corner of the porch where he and Jack had been standing during their talk The miner suddenly turned the corner of the hotel, with Jack following They saw athe other part of the porch
CHAPTER VII
THE STRANGERS AGAIN
”Was he listening?” asked Jack of the ht I heard so to you, and I wanted to rimly ”Do you knoho he is?”
”No, but--”
”Say! Wait a li familiar about the manner in which the man walked off Like a flash it came to Jack
”I think I know him--at least I've seen hi to find out for sure”
In a flash Jack had sprung over the porch railing, and was rapidly running alongside the porch on the soft grass He did this in order to get ahead of the retreating man Had he remained on the porch Jack's footfalls on the boards would have given the alaret ahead of the eavesdropper, and obtain a view of his face And Jack was not mistaken in his surmise It was one of the two men who had annoyed Jennie in the post office The fellow see our hero
”So you're here now, eh?” asked Jack
”Well, is that any of your business?” was the challenge ”Isn't this a free country?”
”Of course,” Jack answered ”But even in a free country there are certain laws about causing trouble, and listening to private talk”
”Who was listening?” demanded the fellow
”You were!” Jack exclai the piazza The fellow turned sharply Neither appeared to recognize the other
”This chap is the saht he was,” explained Jack, ”It was he and a partner of his who ent If you could find Mr Perkfeld we ainst hie? What charge?” he blustered
”You'll find out soon enough,” Jack replied