JACK’S IDEA
Morning came. At least the dawn was heralded
in the east, where the dark clouds turned to pink,
growing brighter and brighter, until the sun himself
peeped above the horizon.
The posse with which Jack was riding had come almost
all the way to Rainbow Ridge, and so far had not had
a sight of the robber or any of his confederates,
if he had any, which was scarcely to be doubted.
“Well, boys, we may as well go back, I guess,”
the marshal said. “We’ll have to
organize a regular hunt, and scatter through the mountains.
But we’ll have to go back and get some grub.
I’m getting hungry, and a man can’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 quicker than we
can to Golden Crossing.”
“That’s true,” added Jack.
“I’d ask you all to our cabin, but there’s
nothing 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 be as 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’ll
have to report the robbery, won’t you?”
he asked Jack.
“Yes,” replied the pony express rider,
and his voice was sad. “I’ll have
to admit that they got the best of me.”
“Oh, shucks! It wasn’t your fault
at all!” declared the marshal. “Those
fellows were bound to get the letters, and if they
didn’t one way they would 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 make anybody 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 did not know what to
do. His brain seemed incapable of thinking.
If he could only catch the robber and get back the
letters!
As he went along with the others over the mountain
trail in the early morning, he looked eagerly about,
as though he might see some sign of the much-wanted
rascal. But the trail was deserted, save for the
posse.
They rode into Rainbow Ridge, and that place was soon
buzzing with the startling news. As soon as possible
a number of men were started out through the mountains,
to cover even the bridle paths and trails seldom used.
All strangers who could not give a good account of
themselves were to be brought into the town.
Mr. Argent was told of the stealing of the valuable
letters. He looked grave when Jack explained
what had taken place.
