Part 13 (1/2)

Those letters were only a duh the mail to throw them off the scent They contained inforht be a hold-up, Jack, though I could not tell when it would occur So I had my friends send me back a dummy set of letters It was those useless documents which the hold-up h later It's a joke on those outlaws all right,” and again Mr

Argent chuckled

CHAPTER XII

A RIDE FOR LIFE

Jack Bailey did not knohat to do or say He just stood there in the h to make sure of the miner's words Finally he faltered:

”Do you really mean it?”

”Mean it? Of course I do!” was the answer ”It's a joke on those rascals

They've had all their trouble for their pains They've gone off with a set of du inforest And they'll waste a lot of ti to locate the claim Only they'll be from fifty to a hundred ht!”

Jack experienced a sudden revulsion of feeling He swayed and seeht him

”Hold on! This won't do!” the physician exclaiet him home

Why he's hurt!” he cried, as he saw the blood on Jack's hands

”It's just solass I sawed the rope on,” the ladback to hilad the robbers had not obtained the real letters It was a clever ruse on the part of thenot far fros, and he was given some water from this His cuts were also washed and attended to by Dr Brown Then on a spare horse that had been brought along Jack rode back to Rainbow Ridge, one of thethe mail and express stuff

There was considerable excitement in tohen the cavalcade returned

Already preparations were under way for the organization of a posse to hunt the robbers, and if necessary, scour the country for Jack

But he had been found, and the mail and expressleft to do was to set out after the unscrupulous men who had attacked Jack

There was little chance that they would be apprehended, however They had a start of several hours, and probably had good horses

”Besides,” said Mr Argent, ”they will very likely head for the supposed location of the hborhood,” he chuckled

”And for a good while, I hope,” said Mr Perkfeld

”Oh yes, it will take them a feeeks to find out they've been fooled,”

the ain”

”If they do we'll arrest 'ee whip

As had been expected, the posse could get little trace of the hold-upcast aside the rifled istered matter, and sous letters The stolen stuff was jewelry, and there was not much chance that it would be recovered Those to whoned would have to stand the loss