CHAPTER VIII
A NIGHT ATTACK
Naturally, after the little experience of the morning, having received thesealed letters, and having again seen the two men who had acted so roughlytoward Jennie, Jack was a little apprehensive as he rode along the trailtoward Golden Crossing. There were several places very favorable forholding up a stage coach, had one used the mountain road, but, as has beensaid, the route was too difficult for a vehicle to traverse.
"Though they might hold me up, more easily than they could a coach if theywanted to," reflected Jack. Consequently he approached all suspiciousplaces with more than his usual caution.
But as he covered mile after mile and nothing happened, he became easier inhis mind.
"I guess they aren't going to have a try for us, after all, Sunger," hesaid to his faithful pony. The plucky creature whinnied in answer, as Jackpatted his neck.
"It wouldn't do 'em much good to make us stand and deliver," mused theyoung express rider. "For Mr. Argent said these letters weren't of primeimportance. Still, I wouldn't like to have them taken away from me, or losethem, and get a bad reputation in this business. I don't want to lose myjob just now, when dad is laid up."
Jack had feared that the two strangers who had fled in such a hurry fromthe hotel in Rainbow Ridge, might at least try to annoy him on the road, asthey had taken the trail leading up the mountain to Golden Crossing.
But nothing like this happened, and in due time Jack arrived at the otherpost office and was greeted by Jennie. Jack gave Jennie the message aboutMr. Argent's letters, but said nothing to her about having again seen thetwo men who had annoyed her.
"It would only worry her," he reflected, "and she has worries enoughwithout my adding to them."
Jack remained that night in Golden Crossing, spending a pleasant eveningwith Aunt Matilda and Jennie. He was off early the next morning for theride to Rainbow Ridge. Having delivered the mail, and before going to seehis father, Jack made some inquiries around the Mansion Hotel about the twostrangers who had left so suddenly.
No one knew much about them, except that they had ridden in early theprevious morning, and had eaten a hasty breakfast It had been observed thatthey kept well to themselves, and conversed in low tones.
Then had come the episode of the listening on the part of one, and theflight of both of them. That was really all Jack could learn.
"And as long as you didn't see anything of them on the road," said Mr.Argent, "I guess you needn't worry. You got my letters off all right?"
"Oh yes."
"Well, now the next thing will be the replies. Watch out for them."
And Jack said he would.
The young pony express rider had a few hours' spare time that day, and hespent them with his father. Mr. Bailey was discouraged at the progress hewas making.
"I don't seem to get at all better, Jack," he complained.
"Well, Dad, it takes time, Dr. Brown says," his son observed.
"I know. But it seems as if I ought to get stronger. I want to be back atwork."
"Oh, don't worry about that, Dad! I'm on the job, you know. I may not bedoing as well as you, but I'm taking the mail and express stuff back andforth, and I haven't heard any complaints yet."
"Then you haven't lost anything, Jack, and nothing has been taken fromyou?"
"No, Dad. Not a thing."
"And the contents of no important letters have leaked out?"
"Not yet. But I know what you're thinking of, Dad. It's about thatHarrington letter."
"Yes, Jack, I am. I wish I could prove that it wasn't my fault."
"Don't worry, Dad! Your friends know it wasn't your fault, and some day wemay be able to prove to your enemies that it wasn't."
"I hope so, Jack, but I've about given up," was the weary answer.
Jack had carefully kept from his father all the little worries that hadoccurred since the change in the pony express business had been made. Hehad said nothing about the misplaced planks of the bridge, nor about thetwo strangers.
"What's the use of worrying dad?" reflected our hero. "He has troublesenough of his own. I'll keep mine to myself."
That afternoon, late, as Jack was waiting at the Golden Crossing postoffice for the mail, a messenger rode in to say that the stage would bedelayed because of a slight accident.
"But the driver wants you to wait," the messenger told Jack, "as there aresome important letters to go to Rainbow Ridge, and be forwarded from thereon."
"All right, I'll wait," promised Jack.
"It will mean a night ride," suggested Jennie.
"I know it, but it can't be helped. It's part of the game. I'm not afraid."
But when Jack helped Jennie sort the mail a little later, and found amongthe letters and parcels some large envelopes addressed to Mr. Argent andsealed with red wax, a strange feeling came over him.
"Here are those answers," he thought. "These must be the important papersabout the secret mine. And I've got to carry them through on a night ride.Well, I wish they hadn't come just at this time, but there's no help forit. I've got to take them through."
He paused for a moment, with the important letters in his hand.
"What are those?" asked Jennie.
"Oh just some stuff for our town," Jack answered, indifferently.
In a flash he had made up his mind not to tell his cousin of the value andimportance of the mail that night. She would worry if she knew what he wascarrying along the trail after dark.
And Jack had another plan. He realized that the enemies, or business rivalsof Mr. Argent, (call them what you will) might know of the arrival of thedocuments.
"They may try to get them away from me," reflected Jack. "Now, I've' readsomewhere that the best way to throw off suspicion is to make somethingimportant look unimportant. That's what I'm going to do."
There were a number of newspapers in the mail. While Jennie was out of theroom a moment Jack opened one bundle of papers, folded the red-sealedletters up in one of the papers, put back the wrapper and tossed thepackage into the pouch he would carry over his saddle.
"There!" he thought. "That doesn't look like anything of value. If I amheld up, the thieves will throw away the newspapers anyhow, and I can getthem later. I think that's a pretty good scheme, myself."
An hour later Jack was on his way along the mountain trail. It was quitedark, for there was no moon. But Jack laughed and sang as he parted fromJennie. He pretended that his heart was light, though, truth to tell, hewas a bit apprehensive.
"Maybe those fellows don't know that the letters have arrived, and, if theydo, my newspaper stunt will fool 'em," he decided.
It was near the bridge where once he had so nearly had a serious accidentthat, as Jack was riding along, he heard a sudden command:
"Halt!"
"Go on, Sunger! Go on!" yelled Jack in his pony's ear, as he slapped theanimal on the flank. Then Jack felt himself suddenly attacked, as some onerode up alongside him, and dealt him a blow on the head.