Part 21 (1/2)
Jack turned Aplace, his eyes roving about as though looking for soer show any sign of interest in the pony express rider
Jack turned back in ti down the cup of coffee fro
”Huh! That's one on hed the h I didn't drink any of your coffee”
”That's all right,” Jack said, pleasantly ”I'll finish now, and get along”
”Well, good luck to you,” returned Ryan ”I'll stay and finish my meal,” he added ”Good-bye Glad to have ed for your help, and for this feed”
”Shucks! I don't call that much of a feed Leave ain,” he called, with a wave of his hand as Jack went out
”Yes, I'et to Tuckerton, unless there's soe,” the lad said
He found his pony's shoe had been properly tightened, and the animal was now ready for him Jack paid his sh the town again
”We'll have tosure that the mail sacks were securely fastened, and that he had the sealed packet which he had ridden back to get ”Yes, Sunger, we'll ht ride on't be delayed too long Queer chap, that Ryan,” ood of him to blowplace That was about the poorest coffee I've had in a good while Whew! The bitterness of it is in et to the spring again
I wonder what Ryan's business is, and where he is headed for? Hestuff”
If Jack could have looked back into the restaurant he would have been surprised to see the same Ryan hastily leave, soon after he himself had come out And the same Ryan left most of his dinner untouched
”What's the rub?” asked the waiter, as Ryan hurried out
”Sure, it's all right!” and he tossed hiement,” and with that he jumped into his saddle and rode off But not in the direction Jack had taken
”My, , ”that coffee certainly was bitter It see worse--that taste inme a head ache, too I certainly do feel queer--sort of dizzy Maybe it was the hot sun I'll cool off at the spring But I do feel so queer,” and Jack passed his hand across his forehead
CHAPTER XIX
A DESPERATE RIDE
Nearing the spring, where he had taken a drink before that day, Jack was about to dis of weakness and dizziness came over him that he had to hold hiet out I won't be able to get up again,” he er, what's the matter with , like a flash an idea ca of it all caed!” he said, hoarsely ”That Ryan! That was his gaed my coffee, that ti backin my coffee to ht of the desperate trick that had been played on hi off the feeling of weakness and dizziness But it was only for adistress
”That was the game,” he murmured, scarcely able to see now ”He probably had doped the whiskey in that flask, but I didn't take that Then he watched his chance, urgedin my coffee No wonder it tasted bitter and queer! What a simpleton I was to take it! But I did not know”
Jack was reeling in the saddle The pony sensed that so with his ed Jack ”Oh, what a to do?” he murmured ”I'm on a lonely trail, with the valuable mail and express