Part 27 (1/2)
He did not want to believe it, but there was nothing else to do The masked robber had made his escape on Jack's speedyin the vicinity of the post office were aroused They came, hastily dressed, mostly men and boys, to crowd into the small place and look at the wrecked safe
”That job was done by professionals all right,” said the town marshal
”That's no alycerine in a crack between the door and the casing, or maybe in a hole he bored, and touched it off with a fuse Yes, it was a neat job”
”Neat!” Jock exclaie? Neat!”
”Oh well, you knohat I et these fellows, and get after them hard!”
”I only saw one,” Jack put in
”Well, he probably had confederates Now, boys, get your horses and we'll hit the trail There's only two he could take, and we'll cover 'e, too, Jack, that is if you feel able I see you got a cut on your head”
Jack put up his hand It came away bloody, and Jennie screamed
”It's only a little cut where I fell, when the force of the explosion knocked reat had been the exciteht injury
”Well get on your pony then, and coed him ”We'll want you to identify the felloe catch him That is if you can”
”I'm not sure I could,” Jack said ”I only saw his back, and he wore aanyhow Hop on your pony and--”
”I can't!” Jack exclaier!”
”He did!” the et him! If he's a horse thief, as well as a safe-bloe sure will get him! Scatter, boys! Be lively! Jack, I'll lend you a horse Come on now Jim Hickey, you lead one bunch over the Tuckerton trail, and I'll head another on the road to Rainbow Ridge But most likely the felloill take to the mountains and hide out for a spell”
”He won't be very likely to go to Rainbow Ridge,” said Jack
”Why not?”
”Because he's got a valuable package of letters and ent of that place He wouldn't go there”
”I don't know,” returned the h that way”
It did not take long to organize two posses, and Jack ith the one led by theexpress rider bestrode a borrowed steed, and though it was good enough, as horses go, it was not at all like his beloved Sunger
”I wonder if I'll ever get hi beside the others
”A et hi is a cri; for out there a man's life often depends on his horse, and if a thief takes the horse away he may also be responsible for the death of theis visited with such swift and sure vengeance when the culprit is caught
Since there was a ht to see to follow the mountain trails The robber had notJack's fleet pony, and that, in itself, reat deal, for there were few horses in that part of the country who could distance him