Part 20 (1/2)

CHAPTER XVIII

A QUEER FEELING

Jack's first thought was that Ryan had ridden off in haste after having helped himself to a drink from the flask, but, somewhat to his surprise, he saw the man who had re beside his horse The galloping came from another rider who seemed in haste He waved his hand to Jack, and cried:

”Hold on! Wait!”

”Well, I wonder what's up now?” mused the pony express lad ”He seems to want me”

”I was afraid I wouldn't catch you,” exclai felloho had ridden up in such haste Jack recognized hie line that ran out of Golden Crossing to the west

”Do you want ive you soe a while ago The stage has come on into Tuckerton now, and the driver sent me on to see if I could catch you He wants you to ride back into town, if you will, and get the stuff he forgot to give you”

”Why didn't he let you bring it?” asked Jack, notthe ride back It would delay hih valuablefor any more

”The driver said he didn't like to have me carry it, as I'm not supposed to do that Besides he wants you to receipt for it But if I couldn't catch up to you I guess he intended to hold the stuff over until your next trip”

”Oh well, as long as it's only a case of a mile's ride back to Tuckerton, I suppose I'd better do it,” Jack reasoned ”You wouldn't have caughtthe stone out,” he said to Harry ”This gentle to Harry The latter did not appear to know him The flask which had been in so ht now

”Yes, I'll ride back and get the stuff,” Jack decided It had coe contained the letters Mr Argent was expecting They ular sacks It would be best for Jack to go, though he would be delayed

”And if it's too late, and if I think they are the letters about the secret ,” Jack decided, ht you,” Harry said, as he turned his horse about

”Yes, it would have been too bad if you had had your ride for nothing,” the pony express lad said ”Well, Sunger, old boy, we'll hit the back trail again for a little while,” and Jack swung himself up into the saddle

Somewhat to Jack's surprise, when Ryan mounted, he, also, turned his horse's head in the direction of Tuckerton

”Are you going back, too?” Jack asked hiht you were going to Golden Crossing”

”So I ary, and there's an eating place in Tuckerton, isn't there?”

”Yes,” answered Harry ”But it isn't a very good one”

”Oh, well, when a uess I can stand it”

The three rode back together, and in a short tie had pulled in, te been e expressed regret at having to bring him back

”It was all ht to have ree, for they told me there was some hurry about it