joe the hotel boy-第19节

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〃　'Quite　right；　sir；'　said　he。　　'I　have　got　together　some　few；'　and　he　gazed　with　an　air　of　pride　at　the　nondescript　medley　which　surrounded　him。

〃　'I　have　in　my　possession；'　I　proceeded；　'two　or　three　of　great　value；　which　I　had　hoped　to　retain；　but；　well；　I　need　money；　and　so　I　must　part　with　them；　much　as　I　wish　to　call　them　mine。　　But　I　wish　to　see　that　they　get　into　the　proper　hands；　and　I　have　been　told　that　you　are　a　great　antiquarian；　understanding　the　true　value　of　such　things；　and　so'

〃　'Pray；　show　them　to　me　at　once！'　cried　the　old　man；　eagerly。

〃　'I　have　traveled　a　good　deal；　and　been　a　pilgrim　in　many　climes；'　I　went　on。　　'I　have　wandered　along　the　banks　of　the　Euphrates　and　dipped　my　feet　in　the　currents　of　the　Nile。　I　have　gazed　upon　ruined　cities'

〃　'Yes！　yes！　show　me　what　you　have！'　he　cried；　eagerly。

〃　'Here　is　a　curiosity　of　the　highest　order'；　I　said；　opening　a　paper　and　showing　a　bit　of　salt　about　the　size　of　a　walnut。　　'This　is　a　portion　of　the　statue　of　salt　into　which　Lot's　wife　was　turned。'

〃　'Is　it　possible？'　cried　the　antiquary；　taking　the　salt　and　gazing　at　it　in　deep　veneration。　'Are　you　quite　certain　of　this？'

〃　'I　am；'　I　answered。　　'It　is　a　portion　of　the　wrist。　　I　broke　it　off　myself。　　The　hand　was　already　gone。'　〃

〃And　did　he　buy　it？〃　questioned　Joe；　in　astonishment。

〃He　did；　and　gave　me　fifty　dollars　in　cash　for　it。〃

〃But　that　wasn't　fair；　Mr。　Montgomery。〃

The　seller　of　bogus　curiosities　shrugged　his　shoulders。

〃Perhaps　not。　　But　I　was　hard　up　and　had　to　do　something。〃

〃Did　you　sell　him　anything　else？〃

〃I　dida　walking　stick；　which　I　had　procured　in　Connecticut。　　It　was　covered　with　strange　carvings　and　he　mistook　them　for　hieroglyphics；　and　gave　me　ten　dollars　for　the　thing。〃

〃I　don't　see　how　you　could　have　the　nerve　to　do　such　things；　Mr。　Montgomery。〃

〃Well；　a　man　can　do　lots　of　things　when　he　is　driven　to　do　them。　　I　admit　the　deals　were　rather　barefaced；　but；　as　I　said　before；　I　had　to　do　something。　　Some　day；　when　I　am　rich；　I'll　return　the　money　to　the　old　fellow；〃　added　the　impostor。

He　left　the　hotel　that　morning；　and　it　may　be　said　here　that　Joe　did　not　meet　him　again　for　several　years。

Christmas　came　and　went　at　the　hotel；　and　our　hero　received　several　presents　from　his　friends；　including　a　pair　of　gloves　from　Ned　Talmadge　and　a　five…dollar　gold　piece　from　Felix　Gussing。　　Some　of　the　regular　boarders　at　the　hotel　also　remembered　him。

〃And　how　do　you　like　married　life？〃　asked　Joe；　of　Felix　Gussing。

〃We　are　getting　along　very　nicely；〃　said　the　dude。

〃Have　you　told　your　wife　about　the　duel　yet？〃

〃No；and　I　don't　think　I　shall；〃　added　Felix　Gussing。　　〃You　see　sheershe　thinks　me　a　very　brave　man　and〃

〃And　you　don't　want　her　to　change　her　opinion；〃　finished　Joe；　with　a　smile！

〃Why　should　I；　Joe。〃

〃Oh；　I　don't　know　as　there　is　any　reason；　excepting　that　they　usually　say　men　and　their　wives　should　have　no　secrets　from　each　other。〃

〃Mr。　Montgomery　is　gone；　I　see；〃　said　the　dude；　changing　the　subject。

〃Yes；　sir。〃

〃Then　you　are　the　only　one　who　knows　of　this　secret。　　You　won't　tell；　will　you？〃

〃No；　sir。〃

〃We　are　having　troubles　enough　as　it　is；〃　went　on　the　dude。　　〃Both　my　wife　and　I　find　housekeeping　rather　troublesome。　　It　is　hard　to　obtain　proper　servants；　and　she　does　not　care　to　do　the　work　herself。〃

〃Why　don't　you　go　to　boarding？〃

〃Perhaps　we　will；　later　on。〃

With　the　new　year　came　a　heavy　fall　of　snow　and　soon　sleighs　big　and　little　were　in　demand。　Then　came　a　slight　fall　of　rain　which　made　the　sidewalks　a　glare　of　ice。

〃Got　to　be　careful；〃　announced　Frank　to　Joe。　　〃If　you　don't　you'll　go　down　on　your　back。〃

〃I　intend　to　be　careful；〃　answered　our　hero。　〃I　have　no　wish　to　break　any　bones。〃

That　afternoon　Joe　was　sent　on　an　errand　to　a　place　of　business　half　a　mile　away。　　On　returning　he　chanced　to　stop　at　a　street　corner；　to　watch　a　number　of　children　who　had　made　a　long　slide　for　themselves。

As　he　stood　watching；　a　man　came　along　bundled　up　in　a　great　coat　and　wearing　a　slouch　hat　and　blue　glasses。　　The　man　was　walking　rapidly；　as　if　in　a　hurry。

〃That　fellow　looks　familiar　to　me；〃　thought　Joe。　　〃Wonder　who　he　can　be？〃

He　watched　the　stranger　cross　the　street。　Then　the　fellow　happened　to　step　on　the　icy　slide　and　in　a　twinkling　he　went　down　on　his　back；　his　hat　flying　in　one　direction　and　a　bundle　he　carried　in　another。

〃Hurrah！　Down　goes　the　gent！〃　sang　out　a　newsboy　standing　near。

〃Come　here　an'　I'll　pick　yer　up！〃　said　another　street　urchin。

〃You　rascals；　you　fixed　this　on　purpose　so　I　should　fall！〃　cried　the　man；　starting　to　get　up。

〃Can　I　help　you？〃　questioned　Joe；　coming　up；　and　then　he　gave　a　start；　as　he　recognized　the　fellow。

It　was　Pat　Malone；　alias　David　Ball；　from　Montana！



CHAPTER　XXII。


ABOUT　SOME　MINING　SHARES。


〃How　do　you　do；　Mr。　Ball？〃　said　our　hero；　coolly。

〃Eh；　what's　that？〃　questioned　Malone；　in　amazement。　　Then　he　recognized　Joe；　and　his　face　fell。

〃I　have　often　wondered　what　became　of　you；〃　went　on　our　hero。　　〃Let　me　help　you　up。〃

〃Ithat　iswho　are　you；　boy？〃　demanded　Malone；　getting　to　his　feet　and　picking　up　his　hat　and　his　bundle。

〃You　ought　to　remember　me。　　I　am　Joe　Bodley。　　I　used　to　work　for　Mr。　Mallison；　at　Riverside。〃

〃Don't　know　the　man　or　the　place；〃　said　Pat　Malone；　coolly。　　〃You　have　made　a　mistake。〃

〃Then　perhaps　I　had　better　call　you　Malone。〃

〃Not　at　all。　　My　name　is　FryJohn　Fry。〃

〃How　often　do　you　change　your　name；　Mr。　Fry。〃

〃Don't　get　impudent！〃

〃I　am　not　impudent；I　am　only　asking　a　plain　question。〃

〃I　never　change　my　name。〃

At　that　moment　Joe　saw　a　policeman　on　the　opposite　side　of　the　street　and　beckoned　for　the　officer　to　come　over。

〃Hi！　what's　the　meaning　of　this！〃　ejaculated　Pat　Malone。

〃Officer；　I　want　this　man　locked　up；〃　said　Joe；　and　caught　the　rascal　by　the　arm；　that　he　might　not　run　away。

〃What's　the　charge？〃　asked　the　bluecoat。

〃He　is　wanted　for　swindling。〃

〃Boy；　are　you　really　crazy？〃

〃No；　I　am　not。〃

〃Who　are　you？〃　asked　the　policeman；　eyeing　Joe　sharply。

〃My　name　is　Joe　Bodley。　　I　work　at　the　Grandon　House。　　I　will　make　a　charge　against　this　man；　and　I'll　bring　the　man　who　was　swindled；　too。〃

〃That's　fair　talk；〃　said　the　policeman。　　〃I　guess　you'll　both　have　to　go　to　the　station　with　me。〃

〃I'm　willing；〃　said　Joe；　promptly。

〃II　cannot　goI　have　a　sick　wifeI　must　get　a　doctor；〃　stammered　Pat　Malone。　〃Let　me　go。　　The　boy　is　mistaken。〃

〃You'll　have　to　go　with　me。〃

〃But　my　sick　wife？〃

〃You　can　send　for　your　friends　and　they　can　take　care　of　her。〃

〃I　have　no　friendswe　are　strangers　in　Philadelphia。　　I　don't　want　to　go。〃

Pat　Malone　tried　to　move　on；　but　the　policeman　and　Joe　detained　him；　and　in　the　end　he　was　marched　off　to　the　police　station。　　Here　Joe　told　what　he　knew　and　Malone's　record　was　looked　up　in　the　Rogues'　Gallery。

〃You've　got　the　right　man；　that's　sure；〃　said　the　desk　sergeant　to　our　hero。　　〃Now　where　can　you　find　this　Mr。　Maurice　Vane？〃

〃I　have　his　address　at　the　hotel；〃　answered　our　hero。　　〃If　I　can　go　I'll　get　it　and　send　Mr。　Vane　a　telegram。〃

〃Bring　the　address　here　and　we'll　communicate　with　Mr。　Vane。〃

Our　hero　agreed；　and　inside　of　half　an　hour　a　message　was　sent　to　Maurice　Vane；　notifying　him　of　the　fact　that　Pat　Malone　had　been　caught。　　Mr。　Vane　had　gone　to　New　York　on　business；　but　came　back　to　Philadelphia　the　next　day。

When　he　saw　that　he　was　caught　Pat　Malone　broke　down　utterly　and　made　a　full　confession；　telling　in　detail　how　the　plot　against　Maurice　Vane　had　been　carried　out。

〃It　was　not　my　plan；〃　said　he。　　〃Gaff　Caven　got　the　mining　shares　and　he　arranged　the　whole　thing。〃

〃Where　did　you　get　the　sharessteal　them？〃　demanded　Maurice　Vane；　sharply。

〃No；　we　didn't　steal　them。　　We　bought　them　from　an　old　miner　for　fifty　dollars。　　The　miner　is　dead　now。〃

〃Can　you　prove　this？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃Then　do　so。〃

〃Why？〃

〃I　don't　care　to　answer　that　question。　　But　if　you　can　prove　to　me　that　you　and　Caven　came　by　those　shares　honestly　I　won't　prosecute　you；　Malone。〃

〃I　will　prove　it！〃　was　the　quick　answer；　and　that　very　afternoon　Pat　Malone　proved　beyond　a　doubt　that　the　shares　had　belonged　to　himself　and　Gaff　Caven　when　they　sold　them　to　Maurice　Vane。

〃That　is　all　I　want　of　you；〃　said　Maurice　Vane。　　〃I　shan't　appear　against　you；　Malone。〃

〃Then　those　shares　must　be　valuable　after　all？〃　queried　the　swindler。

〃Perhaps　they　are。　　I　am　having　them　looked　up。　　I　am　glad　of　this　opportunity　of　proving　that　they　are　now　my　absolute　property。〃

〃If　Caven　and　I　sold　you　good　stocks　we　ought　to　be　kicked　full　of　holes；〃　grumbled　Malone。

〃That　was　your　lookout；　not　mine；〃　returned　Maurice　Vane。　　〃Mind；　I　don't　say　the　shares　are　valuable。　　But　they　may　be；　and　if　so　I　shall　be　satisfied　with　my　bargain。〃

〃Humph！　where　do　I　come　in？〃

〃You　don't　come　in　at　alland　you　don't　deserve　to。〃

〃If　I　didn't　swindle　you；　you　can't　have　me　held　for　swindling。〃

〃I　don't　intend　to　have　you　held。　　You　can　go　for　all　I　care。〃

Maurice　Vane　explained　the　situation　to　the　police　authorities　and　that　evening　Pat　Malone　was　allowed　to　go。　　He　threatened　to　have　somebody　sued　for　false　impr