Jack of the Pony Express | Page 6

To Jack's relief Mr. Perkfeld made no objection to the young man's
taking his father's place.
"I can't say just how long it will last," went on the manager, "but we'll
make it a temporary arrangement, anyhow. You've ridden the route
before, you say?"

"Yes, twice, when father was laid up with slight ailments."
"Well, do the best you can. And another matter. There are some
valuable letters--But never mind. I'll speak about them later," and Mr.
Perkfeld turned away. Jack wondered what he had been about to say.
"If there are any valuable letters to be carried," mused the young rider,
"I hope none of them gets lost, or that the contents become known. I'll
have to be careful."
He was given the bags of mail and light express matter from the stage
as soon as it rumbled in, and then Jack set off over the mountain trail to
go to Golden Crossing. The trip would take about four hours, and if the
other mail matter was ready he would come back with it, making the
round trip in about eight or nine hours.
But sometimes there were delays at one end or the other, for accidents
happened to the stages once in a while. There had been hold-ups, too,
but not since Mr. Bailey had taken charge.
If the stage at Golden Crossing was not on time the pony express rider
had to wait for it, sometimes all night. On such occasions Mr. Bailey
had stayed with his relative, Mrs. Blake, and Jack reasoned that he
could do the same thing. He caught himself almost wishing that the
stage might be late this time, as it would give him a chance for a long
visit with his "cousin" Jennie.
On his way past his cottage Jack stopped to see how his father was, and
also to report that he had been commissioned, at least temporarily, to
carry the mail.
Jack found his father better. Mrs. Watson said she thought it would be
best if he could be moved down to her house, and both Jack and Mr.
Bailey agreed to this, Dr. Brown sanctioning the suggestion.
"I can look after him better then," said the housekeeper, "and my
daughter can help me. And then, too, Jack, if you're delayed and have
to be away all night, you'll know that he's being well cared for."

"Yes, it will be best," Jack agreed. And so, as he rode off, preparations
were made to transfer Mr. Bailey to the other place.
"Now, Sunger, we'll show 'em what we can do when we carry the
mail!" exclaimed Jack, as his faithful pony started off along the
mountain trail again.
Nothing of moment occurred on that ride. Jack half-wished that he
might be called upon to defend the mail and express from bandits. He
was armed, and he dwelt on the thought of what a hero he might prove
himself to be.
But everything was very prosaic. His pony did not even slip and fall,
but came through on schedule time, or, rather, a little ahead of it, for
Jack urged Sunger on.
"Oh, it's you, is it, Jack!" exclaimed Jennie Blake, as our hero rode up
to the post office with the bags. "Why is this? Where's your father?"
"My father is ill. But aren't you glad to see me?"
"Oh, yes, of course!" she answered, and then she seemed obliged to
look down very closely at some mail matter she was sorting.
"The in-stage will be five hours late," she said. "A messenger rode in to
say that one of the horses died, and he had to take back another. So
you'll have to stay over, Jack."
"That's good!" he exclaimed.
"What? Good that a poor horse died?"
"Oh, I don't mean that. But--er--say, what's that big official-looking
envelope addressed to you? From Washington, too, and without a
stamp," and Jack looked over the girl's shoulder.
"Oh, official letters from the post office department don't require
stamps."

"What are you getting official letters for?" Jack wanted to know.
"Why, didn't I tell you?" Jennie asked with a teasing laugh. "I'm going
to be postmistress at Golden Crossing from now on. That's my official
appointment! Aren't you going to congratulate me?" and she looked
archly at Jack and smiled.

CHAPTER III
A NARROW ESCAPE
"Say, Jennie, what is this; a joke?" asked Jack, as he leaned up against
the table on which was piled the mail and some express matter, for the
post office was also used as the headquarters of the pony express
company and stage line.
"A joke? The idea! How dare you!" and the young lady appeared to be
very indignant, indeed. "A joke! I guess not! Look at that, Mr. Jack
Bailey," and she flourished in front of him an