CHAPTER XV
A CAUTION
Shots always attract attention, especially in a western community wherethey usually mean something. In cities there are so many noises constantlybeing heard, and back-fires and tire blow-outs from automobiles so nearlyresemble the discharge of firearms, that if a revolver actually were to befired in a crowded street it is hardly likely that it would attract notice.
But in the quiet little western town of Golden Crossing shots were rather anovelty. The place was peaceful and law-abiding, and, as was said, whenpistol reports were heard, there usually was some good reason for them.
In consequence, when Jack shot off his revolver, it was not long before themain street in front of the post office was thronged.
Men came rushing out of stores and houses, and there appeared also not afew women and children. Jack, racing down the street after the escapingoutlaw, looked back and saw that he was able to call for reinforcements.One man had already jumped on his horse and was joining in the chase.
"What's the row?"
"It's one of the men who held me up!" exclaimed Jack in answer.
"We'll get him!" was yelled back, and several more men hurried to loosenthe tie-straps of their horses to lend their aid.
"I don't know whether we'll get him or not," Jack mused, as he urged hispony on. "He's got a good start of us, and that horse of his can go some,or I miss my guess. Besides, he's a regular ox, and can keep going forhours at a time.
"You're all right, Sunger, and there isn't a better pony living," Jack wenton, "but it's like putting a little runabout auto up against a big racingcar. It isn't equal. Still we'll do our best."
Several men were now taking part in the chase. The first one who had heardwhat Jack said had passed the word to the others, and the posse, so hastilyorganized, understood what sort of man they were after.
Some of the men were miners, and others were rough characters--that isrough in the sense that they lived in the open and were ready for whatevercame along. Some of them began firing their "guns," as they called theirrevolvers, but there was no chance of hitting the fleeing man, as he wasnow out of sight beyond a turn in the trail. Realizing this the men firedin the air, hoping, perhaps, that the sound of the shots would intimidatethe fellow, and cause him to stop.
But the man ahead was made of as stern and as desperate stuff as were themajority of his pursuers. He must have known that Jack had recognized him,and he realized the penalty if he were caught. So he made up his mind thathe would not be taken.
Jack was the nearest to him, and as the pony express rider caughtoccasional glimpses of the fellow, he saw him beating his horse to urge themagnificent animal to still greater speed.
"There's no use trying to catch him," thought Jack, "he's got too much of astart, and his horse can beat anything around here. I guess he knows that."
Still Jack would not have given up had not something occurred that made itabsolutely certain that the chase was useless.
Coming to a bit of soft ground Sunger stumbled and fell, throwing Jackcleanly over his head. Fortunately the lad landed on a bank of thick ferns,so that his fall only jarred him. The pony was not hurt, and soon scrambledto his feet and looked at his owner, Jack imagined, with a sort ofapologetic expression.
"I know you couldn't help it, Sunger, old boy," the lad said. "It wasn'tyour fault."
He limped toward his steed and patted him. Then Jack saw that one of hissaddle girths had broken. With that unmended it would be useless to try tocontinue the pursuit. The saddle would slip from under him, and barebackriding on the mountain trail is out of the question.
Jack realized this, and when the first of the posse came up it was decidedto abandon the pursuit for the time being.
"We can't get him now, but maybe we can trail him later," said Jack."There's no use in my going on."
"No. And you'll be needed to carry the mail," a man replied. "The stagewill be in soon. You'd better get back. Some of us will plan to follow thefellow. We can ask along the way, and maybe get trace of him. If so, we'lllet you know."
One or two of the pursuers who had no special duties to take them back tothe town agreed to follow the trail of the pursued one for some distancefurther. The others went back with Jack, temporary mending having been doneto the saddle girth.
"Well, he got away, Jennie," said Jack, regretfully, as he entered the postoffice again.
"I'm glad of it!" she exclaimed impulsively.
"What!" he cried
"I mean for your sake," she added. "He might have shot you, Jack!"
"Oh, thanks for your care," he laughed, "But I wish we could have gottenhim. It would be a big feather in my cap."
"I don't care for caps with feathers," Jennie retorted. "But what in theworld do you suppose he wanted, Jack? And why did he pass himself off as apost office inspector?"
"So he could have a chance to look over your records And he may havethought there was something of value in the waiting mail that he could takeaway with him, if he got you out of the place.
"That was his game. You see the gang of outlaws didn't even make what mightbe called expenses out of their hold-up of me. They had their trouble fortheir pains, and I suppose they were wild when they found out the valuableletters they took were only dummies.
"Probably the fellow thought the real letters might be coming along soonnow, and he wanted to get them. I guess he must be the head one of thecrowd that is trying to get control of the secret mine Mr. Argent is goingto work. Those fellows are desperate. But this one didn't get anything."
"He came near it, though," Jennie said. "Only for you I suppose I wouldhave been foolish enough to go out and leave him in the office alone. Therewasn't much he could take, however. But I did get a new supply of stampsyesterday, nearly fifty dollars' worth. If he had taken them--"
"He wasn't looking for any such small change as stamps," said Jack. "I knowwhat he was after--it was the real Argent letters. Well, he got away fromus, more's the pity, though the men may overhaul him later. Now I've got toget ready for the back trip."
But Jack did not have to make it that night. The incoming mail was late andas there was nothing of importance to go through, Jack followed theprevious instructions he had received and remained in Golden Crossing.
He was glad he did not have to take the night Tide. His pony was quiteshaken up by the fall, and a little lame. Jack himself felt sore and stiff,and it was much pleasanter to remain with his relatives, spending theevening in Jennie's company, than to ride the lonely mountain trail afterdark.
Late that night the men who had kept on with the pursuit came back toreport that they had lost the trail of the man they were after. He had madegood his escape, at least for the time being.
"But we'll get him yet!" some of them boasted.
"They won't if he gets a start on that horse of his," thought Jack.
When Jack made his appearance at the Mansion Hotel the next morning todeliver the mail, and take that which was to go back to Golden Crossing,the pony express rider was met by Mr. Argent.
"Just a word with you, Jack," said the miner. "You remember the bogusletters that were taken away from you, I suppose?"
"I should say I did!" Jack exclaimed. "Why, have they found them?"
"No. But it doesn't matter about them. I want to tell you now that the realpapers and letters--the ones that contain the information about themine--may be along any day or night now. And I want to ask you to bespecially careful about them."
"I will, Mr. Argent."
"I know you will, Jack, but I want to caution you, not only about them, butabout your own safety. There are a number of desperate men who would goalmost any length to get possession of that package of documents. So be onyour guard."
Mr. Argent suddenly ceased speaking and looked around. They were out infront of the hotel, near a clump of bushes. Without saying anything furtherMr. Argent suddenly made a leap behind the shrubbery.