CHAPTER XVIII
A QUEER FEELING
Jack's first thought was that Ryan had ridden off in haste after havinghelped himself to a drink from the flask, but, somewhat to his surprise, hesaw the man who had removed the stone from the pony's hoofs still standingbeside his horse. The galloping came from another rider who seemed inhaste. He waved his hand to Jack, and cried:
"Hold on! Wait!"
"Well, I wonder what's up now?" mused the pony express lad. "He seems towant me."
"I was afraid I wouldn't catch you," exclaimed the young fellow who hadridden up in such haste. Jack recognized him then as Harry Montgomery, anemployee of the stage line that ran out of Golden Crossing to the west.
"Do you want me?" Jack asked.
"Yes. They forgot to give you some important mail stuff when you rode outto the stage a while ago. The stage has come on into Tuckerton now, and thedriver sent me on to see if I could catch you. He wants you to ride backinto town, if you will, and get the stuff he forgot to give you."
"Why didn't he let you bring it?" asked Jack, not much relishing the rideback. It would delay him still further, and he had enough valuable mail inhis possession now without wishing for any more.
"The driver said he didn't like to have me carry it, as I'm not supposed todo that. Besides he wants you to receipt for it. But if I couldn't catch upto you I guess he intended to hold the stuff over until your next trip."
"Oh well, as long as it's only a case of a mile's ride back to Tuckerton, Isuppose I'd better do it," Jack reasoned. "You wouldn't have caught me,only my pony went lame and I was delayed getting the stone out," he said toHarry. "This gentleman helped me."
"Oh, it wasn't much," said Ryan, nodding to Harry. The latter did notappear to know him. The flask which had been in so much evidence a littlewhile before was not in sight now.
"Yes, I'll ride back and get the stuff," Jack decided. It had come into hismind that perhaps the forgotten package contained the letters Mr. Argentwas expecting. They might have been sent by special mail, and not be in theregular sacks. It would be best for Jack to go, though he would be delayed.
"And if it's too late, and if I think they are the letters about the secretmine, I won't do any night-riding," Jack decided, mentally.
"Well, I'm glad I caught you," Harry said, as he turned his horse about.
"Yes, it would have been too bad if you had had your ride for nothing," thepony express lad said. "Well, Sunger, old boy, we'll hit the back trailagain for a little while," and Jack swung himself up into the saddle.
Somewhat to Jack's surprise, when Ryan mounted, he, also, turned hishorse's head in the direction of Tuckerton.
"Are you going back, too?" Jack asked him.
"Yes, I guess I might as well."
"But I thought you were going to Golden Crossing."
"So I am. But it just occurred to me that I am hungry, and there's aneating place in Tuckerton, isn't there?"
"Yes," answered Harry. "But it isn't a very good one."
"Oh, well, when a man's hungry he can't be too particular. I guess I canstand it."
The three rode back together, and in a short time had reached the smalltown. The stage had pulled in, temporary repairs having been made, and thedriver who handed Jack a sealed package expressed regret at having to bringhim back.
"It was all my fault, too," the driver said. "I ought to have rememberedabout this special package, for they told me there was some hurry about it.But I was sort of knocked out by the accident, and it slipped my mind. I'mglad you've got it now."
Jack looked at it. The packet might contain letters, though it did not looklarge enough to hold maps of any size. And, to Jack's surprise, it wasaddressed, not to Mr. Argent, but to the postmaster at Rainbow Ridge. Hehad been so sure that it was the valuable letters and papers the minerexpected that for the moment Jack almost expressed his astonishment. ButRyan and some others were standing near-by, and the lad felt it better tokeep still.
Besides, the letters Mr. Argent expected might be in the regular mail bags,which Jack carried on his saddle, those bags not having been opened sincehe received them from the broken-down stage.
"Well, I guess now you're all right," the stage driver went on. "You canget on your way, Jack. I won't have to call you back again."
"I hope not. I'm late enough as it is."
"I'm sorry, my boy."
"Well, it couldn't be helped, I suppose. I don't want to make a night trip,If I can help it."
"Do you often do that?" asked Ryan.
"Oh, occasionally. But since I was held up once I don't hanker after it."
"Were you held up?" Ryan seemed much interested.
"Yes," Jack said, but he did not go into details. He had no time.
"I say!" exclaimed Ryan, as Jack was about to ride off again. "It wouldn'tbe a bad idea for you to have a blacksmith look at that shoe I fixed. I didthe best I could, but I can't guarantee that it will stay on. There's asmithy right across the way."
"I believe I will do that," Jack said. "It won't be any joke if Sungercasts a shoe when I get on the mountain trail. I'll take him over to theshop."
The smith was busy, but Jack decided to wait.
"I'll have plenty of time if I don't have to make a night ride," heremarked.
"Say, while you're waiting," suggested Ryan, who had followed Jack over tothe blacksmith shop, "why not come and have a bite to eat with me. Youwouldn't drink with me, but you can't object to eating."
He seemed so much in earnest about it, and so friendly, that Jack did notlike to refuse. After all, Ryan had been very helpful to him, and thematter of drinking Jack could overlook. It was more or less a settledcustom in the West, anyhow.
"I'm not very hungry," Jack began, "but--"
"Oh, well, come and have a cup of coffee," suggested Ryan. "It won't takelong, and by the time we're through with our little snack your pony will beready for you. Come along."
"All right," Jack agreed, and he followed his new acquaintance across thestreet to a small restaurant. Jack ordered a sandwich and a cup of coffee,but Ryan called for a more substantial meal.
"And I'll have mine in a hurry, if you don't mind," said Jack to thewaiter. "I've got to get back on the trail."
"Have it right away," was the answer.
Jack sipped some of his coffee, and ate the sandwich. He was waiting forthe beverage to cool somewhat before taking the remainder, when Ryan,nodding in the direction of the entrance to the restaurant, toward whichJack had his back, said:
"Is that a friend of yours? He seems to be looking for some one."
Jack turned. A man was standing in the doorway of the eating place, hiseyes roving about as though looking for somebody, but Jack did not knowhim, nor did the stranger show any sign of interest in the pony expressrider.
Jack turned back in time to see Ryan setting down the cup of coffee fromwhich Jack had been drinking.
"Huh! That's one on me!" laughed the man. "I picked up your cup for my own.Don't worry though. I didn't drink any of your coffee."
"That's all right," Jack said, pleasantly. "I'll finish now, and getalong."
"Well, good luck to you," returned Ryan. "I'll stay and finish my meal," headded. "Good-bye. Glad to have met you."
"Good-bye," answered Jack. "Much obliged for your help, and for this feed."
"Shucks! I don't call that much of a feed. Leave me the checks, waiter.Well, I may see you again," he called, with a wave of his hand as Jack wentout.
"Yes, I'm back and forth quite often, though I seldom get to Tuckerton,unless there's some accident to the stage," the lad said.
He found his pony's shoe had been properly tightened, and the animal wasnow ready for him. Jack paid his smithy bill, jumped up to the saddle androde on through the town again.
"We'll have to make time," whispered the lad to his pony, making sure thatthe mail sacks were securely fastened, and that he had the sealed packetwhich he had ridden back to get. "Yes, Sunger, we'll make time,
so in casewe do have to make a night ride we won't be delayed too long. Queer chap,that Ryan," mused Jack. "It was good of him to blow me to coffee. But Ican't say I think much of that eating place. That was about the poorestcoffee I've had in a good while. Whew! The bitterness of it is in my mouthyet! I'll wash it out with a drink of water when I get to the spring again.I wonder what Ryan's business is, and where he is headed for? He must bepretty hungry to order so much eating stuff."
If Jack could have looked back into the restaurant he would have beensurprised to see the same Ryan hastily leave, soon after he himself hadcome out. And the same Ryan left most of his dinner untouched.
"What's the matter, don't you like the grub?" asked the waiter, as Ryanhurried out.
"Sure, it's all right!" and he tossed him a tip. "But I forgot I had anengagement," and with that he jumped into his saddle and rode off. But notin the direction Jack had taken.
"My, my!" said Jack, talking to himself as he galloped along, "that coffeecertainly was bitter. It seems to be getting worse--that taste in my mouth.I believe it's giving me a head ache, too. I certainly do feel queer--sortof dizzy. Maybe it was the hot sun. I'll cool off at the spring. But I dofeel so queer," and Jack passed his hand across his forehead.