joe the hotel boy-第16节

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〃Maybe　he'll　git　the　cops　after　you；　Jack。〃

〃I'll　watch　out　fer　dat；　Nick；　an'　you　must　watch　out　too；〃　answered　Jack　Sagger。

〃Are　you　sure　you　kin　best　him？　　He　looks　putty　strong。〃

〃Huh！　Can't　I　fight？　　Didn't　I　best　Sam　Nolan；　and　Jerry　Dibble？〃

〃That's　right；　Jack。〃

〃Just　let　me　git　one　chanct　at　him　an'　he'll　run　away；　you　see　if　he　don't。　　But　he　shan't　git　away　until　I　give　him　a　black　eye　an'　knock　out　a　couple　of　his　front　teeth　fer　him；〃　concluded　the　boaster。



CHAPTER　XVIII。


JOE　SHOWS　HIS　MUSCLE。


All　unconscious　that　he　was　being　followed；　our　hero　went　on　his　errand　to　a　wholesale　provision　house　that　supplied　the　Grandon　Hotel　with　meats　and　poultry。　　He　felt　in　good　spirits　and　so　whistled　lightly　as　he　walked。

Arriving　at　the　place　of　business　he　transacted　his　errand　as　speedily　as　possible　and　then　started　to　return　to　the　hotel。

He　was　just　passing　the　entrance　to　a　factory　yard　when　he　felt　a　hand　on　his　shoulder；　and　wheeling　around　found　himself　confronted　by　Jack　Sagger；　Nick　Sammel；　and　half　a　dozen　others；　who　had　gathered　to　see　their　leader　〃polish　off〃　the　country　boy。

〃What　do　you　want？〃　demanded　Joe；　sharply。

〃You　know　well　enough　wot　I　want；　country！〃　exclaimed　Jack　Sagger。

〃I　do　not。〃

〃You　took　my　job　away　from　me；　an'　I'm　goin'　to　pay　you　fer　doing　it。〃

〃Mr。　Drew　had　a　perfect　right　to　discharge　you；　Jack　Sagger。　　He　said　you　were　impudent　and　he　didn't　want　you　around　any　more。〃

〃You　can't　preach　to　me；　country！　　Do　you　know　wot　I'm　goin'　ter　do？〃

〃No。〃

〃I'm　going　to　make　you　promise　to　leave　dat　job。　　Will　yer　promise？〃

〃No。〃

〃Den　you　have　got　to　fight；〃　and　Jack　Sagger　began　to　pull　up　his　rather　dirty　coat　sleeves。

〃Supposing　I　don't　want　to　fight？〃　went　on　our　hero；　as　calmly　as　he　could。

〃Yer　got　ter　do　it；　countryor　else　make　dat　promise。〃

〃I'll　make　no　promise　to　you。〃

〃Den　take　dat！〃

As　Jack　Sagger　uttered　the　last　words　he　launched　a　blow　at　Joe's　nose。　　But　our　hero　ducked　and　the　blow　went　wide　of　its　mark。

〃Give　it　to　him；　Jack！〃

〃Show　him　what　you　can　do！〃

〃Keep　off；〃　came　from　Joe。　　〃If　you　don't；　you'll　get　hurt！〃

〃Hear　dat　now！　Jack；　pitch　in；　quick；　before　anybody　comes！〃

Thus　urged　Jack　Sagger　struck　out　once　more；　landing　on　Joe's　chest。　　Then　our　hero　drew　back　and　sent　in　a　blow　with　all　his　force。　It　took　the　other　boy　squarely　on　the　chin　and　sent　him　staggering　against　a　friend。

If　ever　there　was　a　surprised　boy　that　boy　was　Jack　Sagger。　　He　had　expected　that　to　〃polish　off〃　Joe　would　be　easy　and　he　had　not　anticipated　such　a　defense　as　had　been　made。　He　righted　himself　and　gazed　stupidly　at　our　hero。

〃Wot　did　yer　hit　me　fer？〃　he　gasped。

〃You　keep　off　or　I'll　hit　you　again；〃　answered　Joe。

There　was　a　pause　and　Sagger　sprang　forward；　trying　to　catch　Joe　around　the　arms。　But　our　hero　was　too　quick　for　him　and　ducked　once　more。　　Then　he　hit　the　bully　in　the　ear　and　gave　him　another　blow　in　the　left　eye。

〃Ouch！〃　roared　Jack　Sagger。　　〃Don't！　Oh；　my　eye！〃

〃Have　you　had　enough？〃　demanded　Joe；　who　was　commencing　to　warm　up。

〃Pitch　in；　fellers！〃　came　from　Jack　Sagger。　〃Throw　him　down！〃

〃Ain't　you　going　to　do　it　alone？〃　queried　Nick　Sammel；　in　wonder；　not　unmingled　with　a　suspicion　that　Joe　would　not　be　as　easy　to　handle　as　anticipated。

〃II've　got　aa　heartburn；〃　came　lamely　from　Sagger。　　〃It　come　on　me　all　at　onct。　　If　it　wasn't　fer　that　I'd　do　him　up　all　alone。〃

〃You're　a　fraud；　and　you　haven't　any　heart…burn！〃　cried　Joe。　　〃You're　afraid；　that's　all。　If　you　want　to　fight；　stand　up；　and　we'll　have　it　out。〃

〃Don't　you　call　me　afraid；〃　said　Sagger；　but　his　voice　had　lost　much　of　its　bullying　tone。

〃You're　a　big　coward；　Jack　Sagger。　　After　this　I　want　you　to　leave　me　alone。〃

〃Ain't　you　fellers　going　to　pitch　in？〃　demanded　Sagger；　turning　to　his　cohorts。

〃The　first　boy　to　hit　me　will　get　paid　back　with　interest；〃　said　Joe；　sharply。　　〃I　don't　like　to　fight　but　I　can　do　it　if　I　have　to。〃

One　or　two　had　edged　forward　but　when　they　saw　his　determined　air　they　slunk　back。

〃Go　on　and　fight　him；　Jack；〃　said　one。　　〃This　is　your　mix…up；　not　ours。〃

〃You　said　you　was　going　to　do　him　up　brown；〃　put　in　another。

〃Ain't　I　got　the　heartburn？〃　blustered　the　bully。　　〃I　can't　do　nuthin'　when　I　git　that。　　Wait　till　I'm　well；　then　I'll　show　him。〃

〃If　you　ever　touch　me　again；　Jack　Sagger；　I'll　give　you　the　worst　thrashing　you　ever　had；〃　said　Joe；　loudly。　　〃Remember；　I　am　not　the　least　bit　afraid　of　you。　　The　best　thing　you　can　do　is　to　keep　your　distance。〃

〃Humph！〃

〃I　don't　want　to　quarrel　with　anybody；　but　I　am　always　ready　to　stick　up　for　my　rights；　just　you　remember　that。〃

So　speaking　Joe　backed　out　of　the　crowd；　that　opened　to　let　him　pass。　　Several　of　the　boys　wanted　to　detain　him；　but　not　one　had　the　courage　to　do　so。　　As　soon　as　he　was　clear　of　his　tormentors；　he　hurried　back　to　the　hotel。

〃How　did　you　make　out？〃　asked　Mr。　Drew。

〃It's　all　right；　sir；　and　they'll　send　the　things　to…night；　sure；〃　answered　Joe。　　He　hestitated　for　a　moment。　　〃I　had　a　little　excitement　on　the　way。〃

〃How　was　that？〃

〃Jack　Sagger　and　some　other　boys　followed　me　up　and　wanted　to　polish　me　off。〃

〃You　don't　look　as　if　they　had　done　much　polishing。〃　　And　the　hotel　man　smiled。

〃No；　Jack　Sagger　got　the　worst　of　it。　　I　guess　he'll　leave　me　alone　in　the　future。〃

〃You　mustn't　fight　around　the　hotel；　Joe。〃

〃This　was　on　the　way　to　Jackson　&　Bell's；　sir。　　I　was　bound　to　defend　myself。〃

〃To　be　sure。　　Sagger　came　to　me　yesterday　and　wanted　to　be　taken　back；　but　I　told　him　nothat　I　wouldn't　have　such　an　impudent　fellow　around。〃

As　the　winter　season　came　on　the　hotel　began　to　fill　up　and　Joe　was　kept　busy　from　early　in　the　morning　until　late　at　night；　and　so　was　Frank　Randolph。　　The　two　boys　were　firm　friends；　and　on　Sunday　went　to　Sunday　School　together　and　also　to　church；　when　their　hotel　duties　permitted　of　it。

In　the　corridor　of　the　hotel　Joe；　one　day；　met　the　timid　Felix　Gussing；　the　young　man　who　had　once　had　so　much　trouble　in　driving　a　horse。

〃How　do　you　do；　Mr。　Gussing；〃　said　our　hero　politely。

〃Why　if　it　isn't　Joe！〃　cried　the　young　man；　and　smiled。　　〃What　are　you　doing　here？〃

〃I　work　at　this　hotel　now。〃

〃Is　it　possible！　Didn't　you　like　it　at　Riverside？〃

〃Yes；　but　the　place　is　shut　up　for　the　winter。〃

〃Ah；　I　see。〃

〃Are　you　stopping　here；　sir？〃

〃Yes；　I　came　in　an　hour　ago。　　I　have　business　in　Philadelphia。〃

〃Maybe　you're　buying　horses；〃　said　Joe；　slyly。

〃No！　no！　No　more　horses　for　me；〃　ejaculated　the　dude。　　〃Ierthis　is　of　more　importance。〃

No　more　was　said　just　then；　but　later　our　hero　met　Felix　Gussing　again；　and　on　the　day　following　had　an　errand　that　took　him　to　the　young　man's　room。

〃Joe；　you　are　quite　a　wise　boy；　perhaps　I　can　confide　in　you；〃　said　Felix　Gussing；　after　some　talk　on　other　subjects。

〃I'll　be　glad　to　be　of　service　to　you；　Mr。　Gussing。〃

〃I　have　a　delicate　problem　to　solve。　　Sometimes　a　young　man　can　give　better　advice　than　an　older　person；〃　went　on　the　dude。

〃Don't　flatter　me；　Mr。　Gussing。〃

〃I　am　in　love；〃　went　on　the　young　man；　flatly。

〃Yes；　sir。〃

〃I　am　quite　sure　the　young　lady　loves　me。〃

〃Then　I　suppose　you　are　going　to　get　married。〃

〃There　is　an　obstacle　in　the　way。〃

〃Oh！〃

〃Perhaps　I　had　better　tell　you　the　whole　storyif　you'll　listen　to　me；〃　went　on　the　dude。

〃Certainly　I'll　listen；〃　said　Joe。　　〃I've　got　a　little　time　off。〃

And　then　Felix　Gussing　told　his　tale　of　woe；　as　will　be　found　in　the　next　chapter。



CHAPTER　XIX。


ONE　KIND　OF　A　DUEL。


〃Her　name　is　Clara；　and　she　is　the　daughter　of　Major　Thomas　Botts　Sampson；　of　the　regular　army；〃　began　Felix　Gussing。

〃Then　her　father　is　a　military　man。〃

〃Exactly；　and　that　is　the　trouble；〃　and　the　dude　gave　a　groan。　　〃It　is　this　way：　When　I　went　to　see　Major　Sampson　he　greeted　me　very　cordially；　until　I　disclosed　the　object　of　my　visit。

〃　'Sir；'　said　he　'This　is　a　matter　which　requires　consideration。　　Have　you　gained　my　daughter's　consent？'

〃　'I　have；'　I　answered。

〃　'So　far　so　good；'　said　he。　　'But　there　is　one　thing　more。　　Have　you　served　in　the　army？'

〃　'No；'　said　I。

〃　'Or　fought　a　duel？'

〃　'No。'

〃Then　he　told　me　to　remember　that　he　had　served　in　the　army　and　that　his　daughter　was　the　daughter　of　an　army　man；　one　who　had　gone　through　many　battles。　　After　that　he　said　he　was　resolved　that　his　daughter　should　marry　only　somebody　who　had　proved　himself　a　man　of　courage。〃

〃What　did　you　do　then？〃　asked　Joe；　becoming　interested。

〃What　could　I　do？　　I　amerno　army　manno　fighter。　　Evidently　the　major　wants　a　fighter　for　a　son…in…law；〃　and　Felix　Gussing　groaned　once　more。

〃You'll　have　to　become　a　fighter；〃　said　Joe。

〃No！　no！　I　am　a　era　man　of　peace！〃　cried　the　dude；　in　alarm。

〃Mr。　Gussing；　I　think　I　can　arrange　matters　for　you；〃　said　Joe；　struck　by　a　certain　idea。

〃What　can　you　mean；　Joe？〃

〃I　mean　that　I　can　prove　to　Major　Sampson　that　you　are　a　brave　man。〃

〃Do　that；　Joe；　and　I　shall　be　your　friend　for　life！〃　　gasped　the　dude。

〃Will　you　wait　until　to…morrow；　Mr。　Gussing？〃

〃Certainly；　but　do　not　keep　me　in　suspense　too　long。〃

〃This　may　cost　you　a　little　m