"Why, yes—that is—Oh, I hardly know where to begin," said the flustered girl, wishing Jack would say something, "You see I've never been inspected before."
"Humph!" sneered the man. "You act as though something was wrong. Most offices where I go don't have such nervous persons in charge. If everything is all right you have nothing to fear. Perhaps you had better step outside and let me go over matters myself. That would be better, and you wouldn't be so nervous.
"If everything is all right you have nothing to fear, and if there is something wrong, well, I'll be as easy in my report to Washington as I can. I won't make it too hard for you. Yes, I think that will be best. Just leave the office to me for a little while."
Jennie flashed, over the man's head, a look at Jack in the corner behind the door. The young pony express rider had arisen, and, to her alarm, Jennie saw his hand go toward the pocket where she knew he carried his revolver—a new one since the robbers had taken his first one.
Jennie wanted to scream.
"Just run along, little girl, and let me have the place to myself," the man urged.
It was time for Jack to act.
He fairly sprang out from behind the door and confronted the man.
"Are you sure," Jack asked, "that if she left the post office to you that you wouldn't run off with it?"
The man started back. He turned a little pale, and then a flood of red surged into his face. He seemed to recover himself with an effort.