CHAPTER XIV
THE CHASE
"On, Jack, what shall I do?" asked Jennie. She was trembling, and seemedmuch alarmed.
"Do? Why you don't have to do anything," the pony express rider answered."Let this inspector ask his questions, and then we'll see what course totake."
"Oh, but suppose he finds something wrong--not the proper amount of stampson hand--I can't be sure I counted them right."
"Say, little girl, don't you worry!" Jack went on. "I don't believe thisfellow will do much questioning."
"Why, Jack, what makes you talk that way? He's a government inspector. Hetold me so! Do you know him?"
"I rather think I do, but I'm not sure," Jack answered. Again there was agrim shutting of his lips, and a determined look came into his eyes. "Iwant to hear him speak first," the lad said "Then I can tell better."
The inspector, if such he were, had stopped outside the post office tolight a cigar. He sat easily on his big horse, and Jack could not helpadmiring the noble animal. The man himself was a fine physical specimen,but he had a hard, cruel face, and shifty eyes. There was no one in theimmediate vicinity of the post office at that time, for Jack had deliveredthe mail an hour before, and he had sauntered back to the office, afterdoing some errands about town, to have a talk with Jennie. The other mailwould not arrive for another hour, so there was no excuse for the gatheringof the crowd which always awaited the incoming mail.
Having lighted his cigar, the man again advanced slowly. He looked allabout, Jack thought, to see if he was likely to be interfered with, butthis may not have been so.
He dismounted with easy grace, and tied his horse to a post in front of theoffice. Then he sauntered in. Jack sat down in a chair behind a door, outof sight. He did not want the inspector to see him until the right moment.
"Well, Miss--er--Blake, I believe you said your name was," began the man,and his tone was insolent, "I suppose you are ready to have me go over youraccounts now?"
Jack started at the sound of his voice.
"That's the fellow--I'm positive of it!" he thought "Now I've got him--gotone of them, anyhow! Oh, this is luck!"
Jack's eyes gleamed.
Jennie hardly knew what to make of the situation. She half expected Jack todo something, or say something, to help her.
Still she was postmistress, and only she was qualified to answer theofficial questions. But if something was wrong?
"Well, then maybe Jack will help me out," she thought. She was tremblingand was much upset. It was the first time an inspector had called at herlittle office.
"Now, I want to see the records of the registered mail, going and coming,Miss Blake. I also must check over your stamps and cash. Have you had in,lately, any special delivery stuff?"
"Why, yes--that is--Oh, I hardly know where to begin," said the flusteredgirl, wishing Jack would say something, "You see I've never been inspectedbefore."
"Humph!" sneered the man. "You act as though something was wrong. Mostoffices where I go don't have such nervous persons in charge. If everythingis all right you have nothing to fear. Perhaps you had better step outsideand let me go over matters myself. That would be better, and you wouldn'tbe so nervous.
"If everything is all right you have nothing to fear, and if there issomething wrong, well, I'll be as easy in my report to Washington as I can.I won't make it too hard for you. Yes, I think that will be best. Justleave the office to me for a little while."
Jennie flashed, over the man's head, a look at Jack in the corner behindthe door. The young pony express rider had arisen, and, to her alarm,Jennie saw his hand go toward the pocket where she knew he carried hisrevolver--a new one since the robbers had taken his first one.
Jennie wanted to scream.
"Just run along, little girl, and let me have the place to myself," the manurged.
It was time for Jack to act.
He fairly sprang out from behind the door and confronted the man.
"Are you sure," Jack asked, "that if she left the post office to you thatyou wouldn't run off with it?"
The man started back. He turned a little pale, and then a flood of redsurged into his face. He seemed to recover himself with an effort.
"I--I don't know what you mean. Who are you?" he demanded, curtly.
"Never mind who I am, but who are you?" and Jack fairly shot out the words.
"Why, I'm the post office inspector for this district," was the answer, andagain the man's tone was sneering. "Are you connected with the department,if I may ask?"
"I am," said Jack, grimly.
"In what capacity?"
"Pony express rider!" shot out Jack. "The same pony express rider that youand your gang of outlaws held up not long ago! I know you now. I was sureof you the minute I set eyes on you on that big horse, and when I heardyour voice I was doubly sure. Wearing your mask didn't help any. I knowyou! You're no more a post office inspector than I am. You're a post officerobber, that's what you are!"
The man started to speak, but stopped suddenly. As Jack was about to drawhis weapon to order the man to submit, the fellow with a sudden leap wasout of the place. In another instant he had jumped to the back of hishorse, yanking loose the tie rope as he leaned over the saddle. Then with aclatter of hoofs he was off.
Jennie screamed, but Jack, flashing past her to get outside, yelled:
"Stop him! Get after him! He's one of the fellows who held up the mail, androbbed me! Stop him!"
Jack fired in the air to attract attention, for the neighborhood wasdeserted. He could not bring himself to fire at the man, nor even at thesplendid horse. Though the provocation was great, and though Jack wouldhave been justified, he could not do it.
"Stop him! He's a post office robber!" Jack yelled, again firing a shotThen, leaping on the back of his pony which was waiting for him outside thebuilding, Jack gave chase after the escaping outlaw.
"We've got to get him, Sunger!" he cried. "We've got to get him!"