Part 22 (1/2)

It was about this time that Ryan, who, by a roundabout road, had reached the trail leading fro, looked at his watch in a secluded place where he aiting, and reuess I'll aet the letters without any trouble I certainly dosed his coffee good and strong,” and he s into the saddle he urged his horse along the trail He did not hurry, for he wanted to give the drug ti effect Ryan was a different sort of worker froh and ready s, that were often no less successful

”This hold-up work doesn't pay when you can get the sa so much attention,” he murmured as he rode on ”Noonder if I had better take that last package they gave hih They must be in the sacks I hope I have a key that will fit the lock I don't want to cut the bags if I can help it

”If I can coet out what I want, I can lock the ain, and he won't know he's been robbed for soet away

Yes, that'she examined several keys which he took from a pocket He had made his plans carefully

It was not until the outlaw had reached a point near the spring that he began to be at all concerned Up to then he had felt sure of the result of his desperate work

”Why, I ought to have coly

”That stuff would knock out a strong ht to have fallen off, or have gotten off, and become unconscious before this I wonder if I made any mistake”

He went over in his mind the different points of his plot It seemed perfect But where was his victi unconscious beside the road?

”So He looked about The trail was dusty, but he could sec no signs of Jack's having disotten up to the saddle again

”So,” Ryan repeated Then he put spurs to his horse and galloped down the trail toward Golden Crossing

CHAPTER XX

AT GOLDEN CROSSING

”Jack is late, isn't he, Jennie?” asked Mrs Blake, as she sat in the Golden Crossing post office She had finished her sewing, and had stopped for a little chat

”Well, you know he had to ride out and get the irl, as she o farther than the h”

”Well, he's late,” Mrs Blake repeated ”I hope he doesn't have to hter ht of the tih You know, Mr Perkfeld said he needn'tvery important”

”You never can tell when soh,”

resuone to theto peer down the trail in the direction fro for Mr Argent?”

”Yes, and that is the only thing I' about,” confessed Jennie ”If those letters come in Jack will be sure to want to ride off with theht or day And on't knohen the letters do arrive until the mail sacks come here and I open them”

”Well, it certainly is a risky business, this pony express,” sighed her mother

”It wouldn't be so risky if it wasn't for those desperate outlaws, and the other men ant Jack's position,” Jennie said, her eyes flashi+ng ”It e they take that I wish I were a hed Mrs Blake ”But I guess you're better off inside here, than out on the mountain trail”

”Yes, I suppose so That's all oood for, anyhow, to sit and wait and worry!”

”Any one would think you were twice as old as you are,” said Mrs Blake with a s?”

They both started toward the door, but, with a sigh of disappointment, Jennie said: