Part 25 (1/2)

”You may feel fine,” said Mrs Blake, deter when thereIf you fell off your pony in the dark, at soht not only suffer yourself, but it would give Mr Argent's ene”

”Well, that's so,” Jack ado?” asked Jennie

”No, I think perhaps I'd better not But is there a good place here to keep the package?”

”We have a safe,” replied Mrs Blake ”It isn't a very big one, and I suppose a real burglar wouldn't have lars around here--there lars They can't work the combination Besides, we'll be on the lookout and watch, and you'll stay here all night, Jack, of course”

”Oh yes, thank you, Aunt Matilda I'll stay as long as I'e And if any attempt is made to rob the safe, well, there'll be some trouble,” and Jack took out his weapon to make sure that it was fully loaded

”Oh!” Jennie exclaimed, ”I wish you wouldn't do that”

”Do what?”

”Flourish that revolver so recklessly It makes ot to be sure it will go off if I need it”

”I hope you won't need it,” said the girl in a low voice

Thebeen decided, he helped Jennie sort the mail and expressFor the pony express rider had deteret those letters in the hands of Mr Argent just as soon as I can,” he said ”Then the worry will be off my mind”

”And it is a worry,” Jennie adht think that to have a mail route over these s seem to have crowded in on you lately”

”You haven't had it altogether easy yourself,” said Jack, as he thought of the bogus inspector ”Ever since I took dad's place there has been so to worry you”

”Well, it isn't your fault, Jack,” she said ”It just seems to be a combination of circuent'swill go along all right I hope so!”

”So do I!” Jack declared ”Now I think I'll go over and have a look at the pony Ito do to-ood shape”

”Do you think they'll try again to-e away fro around the roo in the shadows

”There's no telling,” Jack responded

He was glad to get out in the air again for a little while There was a fresh breeze blowing fro from the distant mountains, and the air cleared away fro

”Well, Sunger, old boy, they didn't get us that time, did they?” he asked as he went into the stall and petted his faithful aniave theain if they make another try How are you, anyhow?”

He talked to the pony as though the plucky little felloere huave hience that day

Having seen that his mount, on which so h food and water, Jack went back to the Blake hoested Jennie ”We'll have a gah you didn't give me half a chance the last ti

”No, indeed!” she exclainantly ”If I can't beat you evenly I don't want to win at all Just because I'irl you'll handicap yourself!”