joe the hotel boy-第12节

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With　that　the　conversation　on　the　subject　closed。　　Maurice　Vane　remained　at　the　hotel　overnight　and　left　by　the　early　train　on　the　following　morning。



CHAPTER　XIII。


OFF　FOR　THE　CITY。


〃Joe；　our　season　ends　next　Saturday。〃

〃I　know　it；　Mr。　Mallison。〃

〃We　are　going　to　close　the　house　on　Tuesday。　It　won't　pay　to　keep　open　after　our　summer　boarders　leave。〃

〃I　know　that；　too。〃

〃Have　you　any　idea　what　you　intend　to　do？〃　went　on　the　hotel　proprietor。　　He　was　standing　down　by　the　dock　watching　Joe　clean　out　one　of　the　boats。

〃I'm　thinking　of　going　to　Philadelphia。〃

〃On　a　visit？〃

〃No；　sir；　to　try　my　luck。〃

〃Oh；　I　see。　　It's　a　big　city；　my　lad。〃

〃I　know　it；　but；　somehow；　I　feel　I　might　do　better　there　than　in　such　a　town　as　this；and　I　am　getting　tired　of　hanging　around　the　lake。〃

〃There　is　more　money　in　Philadelphia　than　there　is　here；　that　is　certain；　Joe。　　But　you　can't　always　get　hold　of　it。　　The　big　cities　are　crowded　with　people　trying　to　obtain　situations。〃

〃I'm　sure　I　can　find　something　to　do；　Mr。　Mallison。　　And；　by　the　way；　when　I　leave；　will　you　give　me　a　written　recommendation？〃

〃Certainly。　　You　have　done　well　since　you　came　here。　　But　you　had　better　think　twice　before　going　to　Philadelphia。〃

〃I've　thought　it　over　more　than　twice。　　I　don't　expect　the　earth；　but　I　feel　that　I　can　get　something　to　do　before　my　money　runs　out。〃

〃How　much　money　have　you　saved　up？〃

〃I've　got　fifty…six　dollars；　and　I'm　going　to　sell　my　boat　for　four　dollars。〃

〃Well；　sixty　dollars　isn't　such　a　bad　capital。　I　have　known　men　to　start　out　with　a　good　deal　less。　　When　I　left　home　I　had　but　twenty　dollars　and　an　extra　suit　of　clothes。〃

〃Did　you　come　from　a　country　place？〃

〃No；　I　came　from　New　York。　　Times　were　hard　and　I　couldn't　get　a　single　thing　to　do。　　I　went　to　Paterson；　New　Jersey；　and　got　work　in　a　silk　mill。　　From　there　I　went　to　Camden；　and　then　to　Philadelphia。　　From　Philadelphia　I　came　here　and　have　been　here　ever　since。〃

〃You　have　been　prosperous。〃

〃Fairly　so；　although　I　don't　make　as　much　money　as　some　of　the　hotel　men　in　the　big　cities。　　But　then　they　take　larger　risks。　　A　few　years　ago　a　hotel　friend　of　mine　opened　a　big　hotel　in　Atlantic　City。　　He　hoped　to　make　a　small　fortune；　but　he　was　not　located　in　the　right　part　of　the　town　and　at　the　end　of　the　season　he　found　himself　just　fifteen　thousand　dollars　out　of　pocket。　　Now　he　has　sold　out　and　is　running　a　country　hotel　fifty　miles　west　of　here。　　He　doesn't　hope　to　make　so　much；　but　his　business　is　much　safer。〃

〃I'm　afraid　it　will　be　a　long　time　before　I　get　money　enough　to　run　a　hotel；〃　laughed　our　hero。

〃Would　you　like　to　run　one？〃

〃I　don't　know。　　I'd　like　to　educate　myself　first。〃

〃Don't　you　study　some　now？　　I　have　seen　you　with　some　arithmetics　and　histories。〃

〃Yes；　sir；　I　study　a　little　every　day。　　You　see；　I　never　had　much　schooling；　and　I　don't　want　to　grow　up　ignorant；　if　I　can　help　it。〃

〃That　is　the　proper　spirit；　lad；〃　answered　Andrew　Mallison；　warmly。　　〃Learn　all　you　possibly　can。　　It　will　always　be　the　means　of　doing　you　good。〃

The　conversation　took　place　on　Thursday　and　two　days　later　the　season　at　the　summer　hotel　came　to　an　end　and　the　last　of　the　boarders　took　their　departure。　　Monday　was　spent　in　putting　things　in　order；　and　by　Tuesday　afternoon　work　around　the　place　came　to　an　end；　and　all　the　help　was　paid　off。

In　the　meantime　Joe　had　sold　his　boat。　With　all　of　his　money　in　his　pocket　he　called　at　the　Talmadge　house　to　see　if　Ned　had　returned　from　the　trip　to　the　west。

〃Just　got　back　yesterday；〃　said　Ned；　who　came　to　greet　him。　　〃Had　a　glorious　trip。　　I　wish　you　had　been　along。　　I　like　traveling　better　than　staying　at　home　all　the　time。〃

〃I　am　going　to　do　a　bit　of　traveling　myself；　Ned。〃

〃Where　are　you　going？〃

〃To　Philadelphiato　try　my　luck　in　that　city。〃

〃Going　to　leave　Mr。　Mallison？〃

〃Yes；the　season　is　at　an　end。〃

〃Oh；　I　see。　　So　you　are　going　to　the　Quaker　City；　as　pa　calls　it。　　I　wish　you　luck。　　You'll　have　to　write　to　me；　Joe；　and　let　me　know　how　you　are　getting　along。〃

〃I　will；and　you　must　write　to　me。〃

〃Of　course。〃

On　the　following　day　Joe　rowed　along　the　lake　to　where　his　old　home　dock　had　been　located　and　made　a　trip　to　what　was　left　of　the　cabin。　　He　spent　another　hour　in　hunting　for　the　blue　box；　but　without　success。

〃I　suppose　I'll　never　find　that　box；〃　he　sighed。　　〃I　may　as　well　give　up　thinking　about　it。〃

From　Andrew　Mallison　our　hero　had　obtained　his　letter　of　recommendation　and　also　a　good　pocket　map　of　Philadelphia。　　The　hotel　man　had　also　made　him　a　present　of　a　neat　suit　case；　in　which　he　packed　his　few　belongings。

Ned　Talmadge　came　to　see　him　off　at　the　depot。　　The　day　was　cool　and　clear；　and　Joe　felt　in　excellent　spirits。

Soon　the　train　came　along　and　our　hero　got　aboard；　along　with　a　dozen　or　fifteen　others。　He　waved　a　hand　to　Ned　and　his　friend　shouted　out　a　good…bye。　　Then　the　train　moved　on；　and　the　town　was　soon　left　in　the　distance。

The　car　that　Joe　had　entered　was　not　more　than　quarter　filled　and　he　easily　found　a　seat　for　himself　by　a　window。　　He　placed　his　suit　case　at　his　feet　and　then　gave　himself　up　to　looking　at　the　scenery　as　it　rushed　past。

Joe　had　never　spent　much　of　his　time　on　the　railroad；　so　the　long　ride　had　much　of　novelty　in　it。　　The　scenery　was　grand；　as　they　wound　in　and　out　among　the　hills　and　mountains；　or　crossed　brooks　and　rivers　and　well…kept　farms。　Numerous　stops　were　made；　and　long　before　Philadelphia　was　gained　the　train　became　crowded。

〃Nice　day　for　riding；〃　said　a　man　who　sat　down　beside　our　hero。　　He　looked　to　be　what　he　was；　a　prosperous　farmer。

〃It　is；〃　answered　Joe。

〃Goin'　to　Philadelphy；　I　reckon；〃　went　on　the　farmer。

〃Yes；　sir。〃

〃That's　where　I'm　going；　too。　　Got　a　little　business　to　attend　to。〃

〃I　am　going　there　to　try　my　luck；〃　said　Joe；　he　felt　he　could　talk　to　the　old　man　with　confidence。

〃Goin'　to　look　fer　a　job；　eh？〃

〃Yes；　sir。〃

〃Wot　kin　ye　do；　if　I　might　ask？〃

〃Oh；　I'm　willing　to　do　most　anything。　I've　been　taking　care　of　rowboats　and　working　around　a　summer　hotel；　at　Lake　Tandy。〃

〃Well；　ye　won't　git　many　boats　to　look　at　down　to　Philadelphy！〃　and　the　old　farmer　chuckled。

〃I　suppose　not。　　Maybe　I'll　strike　a　job　at　one　of　the　hotels。〃

〃Perhaps。　　They　tell　me　some　hotels　down　there　is　monsterousten　an'　twelve　stories　high。　Ye　don't　catch　me　goin'　to　no　sech　place。　　In　case　o'　fire；　it's　all　up　with　ye；　if　you're　on　the　twelfth　story。〃

〃Are　you　going　to　Philadelphia　to　stay；　Mr。〃

〃Bean　is　my　nameJosiah　Bean。　　I'm　from　Haydown　Center；　I　am。　　Got　a　farm　there　o'　a　hundred　acres。〃

〃Oh；　is　that　so！〃

〃Wot's　your　handle；　young　man？〃

〃My　name　is　Joe　Bodley。　　I　came　from　Riverside。〃

〃Proud　to　know　you。〃　And　Josiah　Bean　shook　hands。　　〃No；　I　ain't　going　to　stay　in　Philadelphy。　　I'm　a…going　on　business　fer　my　wife。　　A　relative　left　her　some　property　an'　I'm　a…goin'　to　collect　on　it。〃

〃That's　a　pleasant　trip　to　be　on；〃　was　our　hero's　comment。

〃I'll　feel　better　when　I　have　the　six　hundred　dollars　in　my　fist。　　I'm　afraid　it　ain't　goin'　to　be　no　easy　matter　to　git　it。〃

〃What's　the　trouble！〃

〃I　ain't　known　in　Philadelphy　an'　they　tell　me　a　feller　has　got　to　be　identified　or　somethin'　like　thetsomebody　has　got　to　speak　for　ye　wot　knows　ye。〃

〃I　see。　　Perhaps　you'll　meet　some　friend。〃

〃Thet's　wot　I'm　hopin'　fer。〃

The　train　rolled　on　and　presently　Joe　got　out　his　map　and　began　to　study　it；　so　that　he　might　know　something　of　the　great　city　when　he　arrived　there。

〃Guess　I'll　git　a　drink　o'　water；〃　said　Josiah　Bean；　and　walked　to　the　end　of　the　car　to　do　so。　Immediately　a　slick　looking　man　who　had　been　seated　behind　the　farmer　arose　and　followed　him。



CHAPTER　XIV。


A　SCENE　ON　THE　TRAIN。


The　slick…looking　individual　had　listened　attentively　to　all　that　passed　between　our　hero　and　the　farmer。

He　waited　until　the　latter　had　procured　his　drink　of　water　and　then　rushed　up　with　a　smile　on　his　face。

〃I　declare！〃　he　exclaimed。　　〃How　do　you　do？〃　　And　he　extended　his　hand。

〃How　do　you　do？〃　repeated　the　farmer；　shaking　hands　slowly。　　He　felt　much　perplexed；　for　he　could　not　remember　having　met　the　other　man　before。

〃How　are　matters　up　on　the　farm？〃　went　on　the　stranger。

〃Thank　you；　very　good。〃

〃IerI　don't　think　you　remember　me；　Mr。　Bean；〃　went　on　the　slick…looking　individual。

〃Well；　somehow　I　think　I　know　your　face；〃　answered　the　old　farmer；　lamely。　　He　did　not　wish　to　appear　wanting　in　politeness。

〃You　ought　to　remember　me。　　I　spent　some　time　in　Haydown　Center　year　before　last；　selling　machines。〃

〃Oh；　you　had　them　patent　reapers；　is　that　it？〃

〃You've　struck　it。〃

〃I　remember　you　now。　　You're　a　nephew　of　Judge　Davis。〃

〃Exactly。〃

〃O'　course！　O'　course！　But　I　can't　remember　your　name　nohow。〃

〃It's　Davis；　tooHenry　Davis。〃

〃Oh；　yes。　　I'm　glad　to　meet　you；　Mr。　Davis。〃

〃I　saw　you　in　the　seat　with　that　boy；〃　went　on　the　man　we　shall　call　Henry　Davis。　　〃I　thought　I　knew　you　from　the　start；　but　I　wasn't　dead　sure。　　Going　to　Philadelphia　with　us？〃

〃Yes；　sir。〃

〃Good　enough。　　Mr。　Bean；　won't　you　smoke　with　me？　　I　was　just　going　into　the　smoker。〃

〃Thanks；　but　IerI　don'