Part 28 (1/2)

”Well, you'd gone through enough, in that drugging business, to h to sleep hard,” one reed another

But Jack blamed himself He felt that he had failed in his trust He did not knohat to do His brain see If he could only catch the robber and get back the letters!

As he went along with the others over the erly about, as though he n of the much-wanted rascal But the trail was deserted, save for the posse

They rode into Rainbow Ridge, and that place was soon buzzing with the startling news As soon as possible a nuh the mountains, to cover even the bridle paths and trails seldoood account of theent was told of the stealing of the valuable letters He looked grave when Jack explained what had taken place

”Of course it isn't your fault, Jack,” theyou”

”I wanted to coht, but--”

”It probably wouldn't have done any good, and you lad that didn't happen Of course losing the papers is going to ood our claim to the mine But it can't be helped You did the best you could No one could have doneyourself on the pony's back when you felt you were going to becoood in the end,” said Jack bitterly ”And now Sunger is gone, too”

”That's too bad But still we e was the only one he took?”

”Well, I didn't stay until all the mail was checked up,” answered Jack, ”but I' froht be another duht be in the one addressed to the postmaster here”

”No such luck!” exclaie addressed to me contained the real and i so long There was soe you mention, but it isn't important

”I wish now,” he went on, ruefully, ”that I had had a duh But I worked that plan once, and I didn't think it would have an effect a second ti I may make it up later But whatever happens, Jack, don't in the least feel that I blaood of you to say so,” replied the pony rider, ”but I can't help feeling bad about it”

”Oh, I feel badover spilled molasses”

”I think you mean milk,” Jack corrected, with a s to do now is to see if we can't round up these fellows For there were h you only saw one at the safe I have an idea who some of them are, too”

As soon as it was seen that a hasty and quick search was not going to result in the capture of the robber and his confederates, a well-planned organized hunt was instituted, to take in asmountain country Jack could not take part in this, as he had to ride the express route

At first he feared lest hebeen robbed, but, as a matter of fact, technically he was not in the least to blae, but was in the safe in a post office, and his responsibility ended with the delivery of the mail Nor was Jennie Blake blamed The post office authorities did not in the least censure her or her mother In fact they paid the that extraordinary precautions had been taken, but that the robbery had occurred in spite of them

Another point was that no express stuff was taken, but only United States'

ainst Jack, or any one else, as they had lost nothing Such being the case, there was no good reason for displacing Jack, especially as the robbery had not occurred on his route So those who hoped to get his position were disappointed

”You can keep right on riding for us, Jack, lad to have you It isn't often we get as plucky a lad as you And when your father gets well, and wants his place back, he can have it, and I'll find an opening for you on another route, if you like”

”I certainly would like!” Jack exclaianized in Golden Crossing and Rainbow Ridge the post office authorities also sent out inspectors and detectives to try and round up the robbers This was done the day after it occurred, so that within forty-eight hours the er to apprehend the offenders And in the mountains, off the trails, were others on the same errand Jack wished he could be with them, but he had to keep to the ent could learn, no use had yet been n,” he said to Jack ”I've been in touch with matters, and I and my friends would know as soon as some use was made of them The people who could best use those docuainst us in a jiffy, and be in possession of the mine as soon as they laid their hands on the papers But they haven't got them yet, that's sure”

”What does that ain the greatest advantage froive the themselves They hired these outlaws to do it, and from the fact that no action has been taken makes me sure that the robber who blew open the safe and took the letters, has not had a chance to deliver them”