“This time I’m really going to let you
take them, Jack,” he said. “My friend
Wayde thinks it’s all right to forward them to
their destination now.”
“Are they as important as ever?” asked
Jack, with a smile.
“Yes, and more so, Jack. I’ll just
give you a hint,” the miner said, in a low voice.
“Wayde and I have discovered a secret mine, and
if things go right it may mean a big thing for us.”
“A secret mine?” questioned the young
pony express rider.
“Yes. It was one located by a prospector
some years ago, but he died after he came into town
with some mighty rich nuggets. He gave the location
of the mine to a friend, but the latter lost the papers
and never could find the claim. Lately a relative
discovered the documents in an old coat pocket, and
sent them to me, suggesting that we work the claim
on shares.
“I went into it with Wayde, and we’ve
found the mine. It’s rich, too, and it
isn’t far from here. But there are certain
legal forms to comply with before we can actually
begin work, and these letters refer to those matters.
The reason Wayde didn’t want to send them the
other time was because he feared a counter legal move
on the part of some men who are trying to locate the
mine and get it away from those entitled to it But
now matters are about straightened out, and I’m
going to send off these letters by you. I’ll
expect answers back soon, and when they come—”
Mr. Argent paused suddenly, for a sound came from
around the corner of the porch where he and Jack had
been standing during their talk. The miner suddenly
turned the corner of the hotel, with Jack following.
They saw a man walking rapidly away along the other
part of the porch.
THE STRANGERS AGAIN
“Was he listening?” asked Jack of the
miner.
“It rather looks so,” was the answer.
“I thought I heard some one moving about there
as I was talking to you, and I wanted to make sure.”
“Well, you did all right,” replied Jack,
grimly. “Do you know who he is?”
“No, but—”
“Say! Wait a minute!” suddenly exclaimed
Jack. He had but a glimpse of the man’s
back, but there seemed to be something familiar about
the manner in which the man walked off. Like
a flash it came to Jack.
“I think I know him—at least I’ve
seen him before,” he said hurriedly to Mr. Argent.
“I’m going to find out for sure.”
In a flash Jack had sprung over the porch railing,
and was rapidly running alongside the porch on the
soft grass. He did this in order to get ahead
of the retreating man. Had he remained on the
porch Jack’s footfalls on the boards would have
given the alarm.
As it was, he was able to get ahead of the eavesdropper,
and obtain a view of his face. And Jack was not
mistaken in his surmise. It was one of the two
men who had annoyed Jennie in the post office.
The fellow seemed startled on confronting our hero.
