CHAPTER XXIV
JACK'S IDEA
Morning came. At least the dawn was heralded in the east, where the darkclouds turned to pink, growing brighter and brighter, until the sun himselfpeeped above the horizon.
The posse with which Jack was riding had come almost all the way to RainbowRidge, and so far had not had a sight of the robber or any of hisconfederates, if he had any, which was scarcely to be doubted.
"Well, boys, we may as well go back, I guess," the marshal said. "We'llhave to organize a regular hunt, and scatter through the mountains. Butwe'll have to go back and get some grub. I'm getting hungry, and a mancan't hunt a horse thief on an empty stomach."
"That's right!" several of the men agreed.
"Why not keep on?" some one asked. "We can get to Rainbow Ridge quickerthan we can to Golden Crossing."
"That's true," added Jack. "I'd ask you all to our cabin, but there'snothing there to eat, since dad is being taken care of by Mrs. Watson."
"Oh, we can get grub easily enough," the sheriff said. "I guess it will beas well to go on to Rainbow Ridge. We want to spread the news there anyhow,and get some men out after the robbers from this end. And I suppose you'llhave to report the robbery, won't you?" he asked Jack.
"Yes," replied the pony express rider, and his voice was sad. "I'll have toadmit that they got the best of me."
"Oh, shucks! It wasn't your fault at all!" declared the marshal. "Thosefellows were bound to get the letters, and if they didn't one way theywould another. You couldn't help it."
"But I was asleep right alongside the safe."
"Yes, but maybe they chloroformed you. Such things have been done."
"No, that wasn't done," declared Jack with conviction.
"Well, you'd gone through enough, in that drugging business, to makeanybody tired enough to sleep hard," one man said. "They can't blame you."
"No indeed!" agreed another.
But Jack blamed himself. He felt that he had failed in his trust. He didnot know what to do. His brain seemed incapable of thinking. If he couldonly catch the robber and get back the letters!
As he went along with the others over the mountain trail in the earlymorning, he looked eagerly about, as though he might see some sign of themuch-wanted rascal. But the trail was deserted, save for the posse.
They rode into Rainbow Ridge, and that place was soon buzzing with thestartling news. As soon as possible a number of men were started outthrough the mountains, to cover even the bridle paths and trails seldomused. All strangers who could not give a good account of themselves were tobe brought into the town.
Mr. Argent was told of the stealing of the valuable letters. He lookedgrave when Jack explained what had taken place.
"Of course it isn't your fault, Jack," the miner said, "and I'm not in theleast blaming you."
"I wanted to come through with them last night, but--"
"It probably wouldn't have done any good, and you might have been attackedand hurt. I'm glad that didn't happen. Of course losing the papers is goingto make it very bad for my friends and myself in making good our claim tothe mine. But it can't be helped. You did the best you could. No one couldhave done more. That was a plucky thing you did--tying yourself on thepony's back when you felt you were going to become unconscious."
"But it didn't result in any good in the end," said Jack bitterly. "And nowSunger is gone, too."
"That's too bad. But still we may catch this fellow. So my package was theonly one he took?"
"Well, I didn't stay until all the mail was checked up," answered Jack,"but I'm sure that was missing from the opened safe. I half hoped that thismight be another dummy package," said Jack, "and that your other lettersmight be in the one addressed to the postmaster here."
"No such luck!" exclaimed the miner. "The package addressed to me containedthe real and important letters and mine plans that I've been expecting solong. There was some stuff for me in that other package you mention, but itisn't important.
"I wish now," he went on, ruefully, "that I had had a dummy package comethrough. But I worked that plan once, and I didn't think it would have aneffect a second time. Well, it's all in the game, and if I lose this inningI may make it up later. But whatever happens, Jack, don't in the least feelthat I blame you."
"Well, it's awfully good of you to say so," replied the pony rider, "but Ican't help feeling bad about it."
"Oh, I feel bad myself," the miner said. "But there's no use crying overspilled molasses."
"I think you mean milk," Jack corrected, with a smile.
"Well, perhaps I do. Anyhow the thing to do now is to see if we can't roundup these fellows. For there were more than one of them, though you only sawone 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 toresult in the capture of the robber and his confederates, a well-plannedorganized hunt was instituted, to take in as much as possible of thesurrounding mountain country. Jack could not take part in this, as he hadto ride the express route.
At first he feared lest he might be discharged for having been robbed, but,as a matter of fact, technically he was not in the least to blame. Thematter taken was not in his charge, but was in the safe in a post office,and his responsibility ended with the delivery of the mail. Nor was JennieBlake blamed. The post office authorities did not in the least censure heror her mother. In fact they paid them the compliment, and Jack, too, ofsaying that extraordinary precautions had been taken, but that the robberyhad occurred in spite of them.
Another point was that no express stuff was taken, but only United States'mail. And so the express people had no complaint against Jack, or any oneelse, as they had lost nothing. Such being the case, there was no goodreason for displacing Jack, especially as the robbery had not occurred onhis route. So those who hoped to get his position were disappointed.
"You can keep right on riding for us, Jack, my boy," said Mr. Perkfeld."We're glad to have you. It isn't often we get as plucky a lad as you. Andwhen your father gets well, and wants his place back, he can have it, andI'll find an opening for you on another route, if you like."
"I certainly would like!" Jack exclaimed, warmly.
In addition to the posse organized in Golden Crossing and Rainbow Ridge thepost office authorities also sent out inspectors and detectives to try andround up the robbers. This was done the day after it occurred, so thatwithin forty-eight hours the mountain trails were being well patrolled bymen eager 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 hehad to keep to the mail and express route.
As far as Mr. Argent could learn, no use had yet been made of the stolendocuments.
"And that is a good sign," he said to Jack. "I've been in touch withmatters, and I and my friends would know as soon as some use was made ofthem. The people who could best use those documents would have aninjunction out against us in a jiffy, and be in possession of the mine assoon as they laid their hands on the papers. But they haven't got them yet,that's sure."
"What does that mean?" asked Jack.
"Just this. Those who would gain the greatest advantage from the possessionof our papers, which would give them control of the mine, didn't do theactual stealing themselves. They hired these outlaws to do it, and from thefact that no action has been taken makes me sure that the robber who blewopen the safe and took the letters, has not had a chance to deliver them."
"You mean he has them in his possession yet?"
"That's about it, Jack. He is probably hiding out somewhere in themountains, waiting for a chance to deliver them. He dare not mail them, andhe can't get in touch with the rascals who hired him or worked with him.And if any of our men see him first, why we'll save the day yet."
"Good!" cried Jack. "I wish it would be my luck to nab him!"
"Yes. And I suppose you want your pony back?"
"Do I?" cried Jack, and there was no mistaking his
longing.
He had provided himself with another horse to ride the mountain trail, and,though it was good, still it was not Sunger.
Mrs. Blake and Jennie were very nervous after the safe robbery, and Mrs.Blake wanted her daughter to give up the post office. But the plucky girlwould not.
"They won't bother us again," she said. "It's like lightning. It won'thappen the second time In the same place. I'm not afraid, though I am alittle shaken."
The damage done by the explosion was soon repaired, and a new and moreup-to-date safe provided by the post office department.
It was a week after this momentous occurrence that one afternoon, as Jackwas riding along the trail from Golden Crossing to Rainbow Ridge, hestopped to water his horse at the lonely cabin where the old man, on thenight of the chase, had told of hearing some one riding past, he thinkingit was the pony express.
"Well, Jack," asked the old man, as the lad paused for a moment's chat,"they didn't catch that there safe burglar, did they?"
"No, haven't seen a trace of him, worse luck! Anybody been along to-day?"
"Why, yes, there was a feller here not long ago. He stopped for a drink,and asked for a bite to eat. He looked as if he was in hard luck."
"What sort of a fellow was he?"
"Oh well, I didn't take particular notice. He was afoot."
"Afoot?" cried Jack. "That's queer."
"I thought so myself," agreed the old man. And it was queer to see a mantraveling afoot in a country where riding and driving was universal. "Iasked him where his horse was, and he said down the road a piece!"
"That was also queer," Jack said. "I wonder why he didn't ride right uphere? No excuse for walking when one has a horse."
"That's what I thought," the old man went on. "But I didn't want to ask toomany questions. He didn't seem relishin' answerin' 'em."
"Which way was he going?" asked the pony express lad.
"Towards Rainbow Ridge. It wa'n't more'n ten minutes ago."
As Jack rode off a sudden thought came to him.
"I wonder if this could be a clew to the robber?" he asked himself. "Queerthing about his not riding his horse up to Ford's cabin. Why should he dothat unless he was afraid the horse would be recognized. Why shouldhe--Great Scott!" suddenly exclaimed Jack aloud. "I believe I know why. Hehad Sunger, and didn't dare let Ford see him! That's it! I believe I'm onthe track of the man who has my pony and the Argent letters!"