Part 26 (2/2)

Jack did not re When he recovered he beca, and an acrid smell of smoke filled his nostrils

”Jack! Jack!” he heard Jennie and her reat effort, overco, Jack scrambled to his feet It was dead black in the place now

”I' has happened They've been here all right Stay up there until I call you”

He struck a lance into the rooht by the explosion It was not e had been used But the door of the safe was blown off, and soe was done to the fixtures and furniture of the place

The interior of the strong box--for it was that and nothingan old-fashi+oned safe--was plainly exposed to view Jack was in front of it on the juone!” he cried aloud ”He's got the Argent letters! And ht beside theers, and a deep sense of huhted a laht there was no trace of thepacket Only that seemed to have been taken, as far as Jack could htened and alar to knohat had happened There was no trace of the masked man He had slipped out while Jack lay unconscious, our hero thought Though, indeed, he felt little like a hero just then

”Oh, Jack, what is it? Can't we coed

”No, I'm not hurt Come down if you like They blew open the safe!”

”Oh!” exclaimed Mrs Blake, and there was fear and alarht fear those unscrupulous outlaho seeain their ends

For a ht for soh with safety, but which, after all, had been taken while he slept Certainly it was an unfortunate and distressing affair

”Oh, isn't it awful!” gasped Jennie, as she and her h the confusion of furniture in the room, and looked at the looted safe ”It's just terrible!”

”Jack, sound an alar the need for quick action, ”Fire your revolver out of the --yell--do so!”

”Of course! And here I stand like a booby!” Jack cried ”We et a posse after that fellow!”

An open ed how the robber had entered and gone Jack thrust his weapon outside and fired the five shots in quick succession The explosion by which the safe was shattered did not appear to have roused any of the townspeople Probably the report was tooout in the open, were heard, and soon s began to go up Heads were thrust out, and there ca on

”Post office safe blown and robbed!” cried Jack ”It was done by one et after them!”

”That's e must!” cried Tim Mullane, one of the first on the scene

Jack slipped on his shoes, and, with a lantern, hurried across to where Sunger was stabled As he approached the place the open door er--” he faltered

That hat the masked robber had done The pony's stall was vacant Jack felt a fierce longing to do soone! Sunger gone!” Jack repeated, blankly