Part 24 (1/2)
Just what sort of drug it was that Ryan used on Jack was never revealed It was said later that the man himself had once been an expert ches better than the average criave Jack, it left no harmful after effects, and for that the pony rider was thankful
”Do you want a doctor?” asked Mrs Blake ”We'll send for one, Jack, if you say so”
”No, I think I'll be all right,” he answered ”I' better by the minute Oh, but I was sick!” and he shuddered at the recollection ”But where is the mail?” he de up ”Where is it?” he repeated
”Tiht it in,” Jennie replied ”I haven't opened it yet There was so much excitementwhat a state you were in that I let theto hear the story”
”Well, I don't feel like telling theht?”
”Yes,” Mrs Blake reported ”I'll go out and tell the folks so of what happened Later on they can hear the whole story But shan't I notify the sheriff or soet after this Ryan? What became of hi in the restaurant,” Jack answered ”He said good-bye in the friendliest fashi+on And to think of the trick he played on ain, the scoundrel!”
”And did he see you again?” asked Mrs Blake
”No,” Jack answered But he did not kno Ryan had pursued hiured out,” the lad went on ”He planned to come up to me after I had fallen unconscious Then he'd take the ain
”Yes,” replied Jennie ”I'll bring it in here and let you see it if necessary”
”No, I'll go out to it,” replied Jack ”I'ain”
”Better take a little one outside to explainhad its curiosity satisfied, in a er lads went over to the stable where Sunger was resting
They wanted to look at, and uard Jack and the ot to his feet He had, however, overestith, for he tottered and would have fallen had not Jennie put out her hands to steady him
”Look out!” she cautioned hiirl!” complained Jack, somewhat ashamed of his weakness
”Take care!” Jennie playfully retorted ”Girls are a whole lot better than boys, in many ways”
”Yes, I know,” confessed Jack ”If it were not for you and your uess I can walk now Queer how that stuff, whatever it was, knocked ested Mrs Blake, and she held out a cup of coffee she had brewed
”Coffee!” Jack exclaiht?”
”No drug in that,” Jennie's mother assured hiet supper You can eat, can't you?”
”Yes, my appetite doesn't seeh I didn't take et aith the mail”
Jack drank the coffee, and it made him feel better Then he said:
”Now for the mail I want to see it opened, Jennie, so I'll know just what it was I brought through”