THE OVERLAND SERIES ALDEN THE PONY EXPRESS RIDER [Illustration: THE SHARP CRACK OF WEAPONS RANG OUT IN THE STILLNESS] THE OVERLAND SERIES ALDEN ――――THE―――― Pony Express Rider ――――OR―――― Racing for Life ――――BY―――― EDWARD S. ELLIS Author of the Deerfoot Books, The Arizona Series, etc. ILLUSTRATED BY EDWIN J. PRITTIE THE JOHN C. WINSTON COMPANY PHILADELPHIA COPYRIGHT 1909, BY THE JOHN C. WINSTON CO. PRINTED IN U. S. A. CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE I. INTRODUCTORY 9 II. A QUARREL 24 III. WESTWARD BOUND 39 IV. THE DANGER CLOUD 54 V. ON GUARD 69 VI. ABORIGINAL CUNNING 84 VII. JUST IN TIME 99 VIII. THE ATTACK 114 IX. OLD ACQUAINTANCES 129 X. A HUNT 145 XI. A DISAPPOINTMENT 159 XII. A NOT UNCOMMON INCIDENT 176 XIII. “THAT’S JUST LIKE HIM” 191 XIV. AN ALARMING SITUATION 204 XV. NOW FOR THE MAIL STATION 219 XVI. CAUSE AND EFFECT 234 XVII. AT THE STATION 249 XVIII. OUTWITTED 264 XIX. A BLESSING IN DISGUISE 279 XX. A STRANGE PROCEEDING 293 XXI. A SETBACK 307 XXII. JETHRO’S SECRET AND WHAT FOLLOWED 320 RACING FOR LIFE CHAPTER I INTRODUCTORY Never did the town of St. Joseph, in the State of Missouri, pass through more stirring excitement than on the afternoon of April 16, 1860. Every man, woman and child seemed to feel the pulsing in the air. Most of the people were on the street, though hundreds of mothers and daughters were at the upper windows, on the alert that something which was expected should not elude them. The men talked together in earnest voices, sometimes moving restlessly over the pavements, glancing at their watches and saying, in those hushed, eager tones which often accompany tense emotion: “It’s pretty near time! I hope he won’t be late.” “No fear for Alec; he’s _always_ on time.”