Part 18 (2/2)
”Well, they'll be along any day now,” Mr Argent would say ”Be on the lookout”
Jack was idling about the Golden Crossing post office about a week after he had received the caution to be on his guard He aiting for the stage to come in with the western mail, hich he expected to er rode up on a tired and lather-covered horse, and called to Postmistress Jennie:
”Is the pony express rider here?”
”Yes,” answered Jack, coe has had a bust-up a little way out,” the et help, and to say that the driver wants to see you”
”Wants to see ot a bundle of mail that's marked '_Rush_,' and he wants to know if you can ride out there, get it and take it on to Rainbow Ridge”
”Well, I suppose I can,” Jack said, ”though it isn't regular”
”No, he told me to tell you he knowed that And he said he'd have sent the mail in by ular o out?”
”I think I'd better, yes How far out is the stage?”
”About five miles Half way between Bosford and Tuckerton,” was the answer
”All right, I'll ride out and get the mail,” decided Jack, and in due tie had been delayed because of a broken wheel The mail was transferred to Jack, and he started back with it
”I wonder if the ied Sunger onward There was no way of telling
The stage, as the er had said, had broken down half way between Bosford and Tuckerton These were two s about three h the eastern outskirts of Tuckerton he noticed that Sunger was lihtly
”hello! What's this? Got a stone under your shoe?” he exclaiot off He er had gone lah not so badly but that, with the removal of the stone, the animal could be ridden
”I'll fix you up,” Jack said, as he guided the pony to a shady spot on the trail, and proceeded to get out a siencies
CHAPTER XVII
AN INVITATION DECLINED
Jack's first idea was that he could soon and easily remove fro his pony laot to work at it, with a peculiarly shaped hook, such as is used for that purpose, the lad found the as going to take longer than he had anticipated
”But it's got to be done, old boy,” he said, addressing the little horse
”It's got to be done, and I've got to do it I can't very alk you to the blacksmith shop back in town, for you'd be lamer than ever, and I'd probably have to stable you; and I can't leave you with the ot to do the work myself I'll be a little late with the mail, but it can't be helped”