joe the hotel boy-第26节

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〃You　do　not　know　where　he　is　now？〃

〃No；　but　perhaps　my　father　knows。〃

〃Then　I'm　going　to　see　your　father　as　soon　as　I　can；〃　said　Joe；　decidedly。

〃Mind　you；　I　don't　say　that　this　Bill　Bodley　is　the　man　you　are　after；　Joe。　　I　don't　want　to　raise　any　false　hopes。〃

〃Did　you　ever　hear　where　the　man　came　from？〃

〃I　think　he　told　somebody　that　he　once　owned　a　farm　in　Kansas　or　Iowa。〃

〃This　William　A。　Bodley　once　owned　a　farm　at　Millville；　Iowa。〃

〃Is　that　so！　Then　he　may　be　the　same　man　after　all。　　To　tell　the　truth；　he　looked　a　little　bit　like　you。〃

〃Was　he　a　good　man？〃　asked　Joe；　eagerly。

〃Yes；　indeed。　　But　some　of　the　men　poked　fun　at　him　because　he　was　so　silent　and　strange　at　times。　　I　liked　him　and　so　did　father。　　He　left　us　to　go　prospecting　in　the　mountains。〃

Thus　the　talk　ran　on　for　half　an　hour；　when　the　train　came　to　a　sudden　halt。

〃Are　we　at　a　station？〃　asked　Bill　Badger。

〃I　don't　know；〃　said　Joe。

Both　looked　out　of　the　window　but　could　see　nothing　except　hills　and　forests。

〃We　are　in　the　foothills；〃　said　the　young　westerner。　　〃Something　must　be　wrong　on　the　tracks。〃

〃More　fallen　trees　perhaps。〃

〃Or　a　landslide。　　They　have　them　sometimes；　when　it　rains　as　hard　as　it　did　to…day。〃

They　left　the　car　with　some　others　and　soon　learned　that　there　had　been　a　freight　collision　ahead　and　that　half　a　dozen　freight　cars　had　been　smashed　to　splinters。

〃Do　you　think　it　can　be　the　freight　that　Caven　and　Malone　boarded？〃　came　from　our　hero；　on　hearing　this　news。

〃It　might　be；〃　answered　Bill　Badger。　　〃Let　us　take　a　look。　　Our　train　won't　move　for　hours　now。〃

They　walked　to　the　scene　of　the　wreck。　　One　of　the　cars　had　been　burnt　up　but　the　conflagration　was　now　under　control　and　a　wrecking　crew　was　already　at　work　clearing　the　tracks　so　that　they　might　be　used。

〃Anybody　hurt？〃　asked　Joe　of　a　train　hand。

〃Yes；　two　men　killed。　　They　were　riding　between　the　cars。〃

〃Tramps？〃

〃They　didn't　look　like　tramps。　　But　they　hadn't　any　right　to　ride　on　the　freight。〃

〃Where　are　they？〃

〃Over　in　the　shanty　yonder。〃

With　a　queer　sensation　in　his　heart　Joe　walked　to　the　little　building；　accompanied　by　Bill　Badger。　　A　curious　crowd　was　around　and　they　had　to　force　their　way　to　the　front。

One　look　was　enough。　　Gaff　Caven　and　Pat　Malone　lay　there；　cold　in　death。　　They　had　paid　the　penalty　of　their　crimes　on　earth　and　gone　to　the　final　judgment。



CHAPTER　XXX。


CONCLUSION。


〃Let　us　go　away！〃　whispered　Joe；　and　moved　out　of　the　gathering　without　delay。

〃It　was　sure　rough　on　'em；〃　was　Bill　Badger's　comment。

〃Oh；　it　was　awful！〃　cried　our　hero。　〃II　didn't　expect　this；　did　you？〃

〃Nobody　did。　　It　must　have　come　sudden　like　on　to　'em。〃

〃It　makes　me　sick　at　heart　to　think　of　it。　II　hope　it　wasn't　our　fault。〃

〃Not　at　all。　　If　they　hadn't　broke　away　they'd　be　alive　this　minute。　　They'll　never　bother　you　or　your　friend　again；　Joe。〃

Our　hero　felt　weak　at　the　knees　and　was　glad　enough　to　go　back　to　the　train；　where　he　sank　into　his　seat。　　He　scarcely　said　another　word　until　the　wreck　was　cleared　away　and　they　were　once　more　on　their　journey。

〃I　reckon　you　are　glad　you　got　the　satchel　before　this　happened；〃　remarked　Bill　Badger；　when　they　were　preparing　to　retire。

〃Yes。　　But　II　wish　they　had　gotten　away。　It's　awful　to　think　they　are　deadand　with　such　bad　doings　to　their　credit。〃

Joe　did　not　sleep　very　well　and　he　was　up　early　in　the　morning　and　out　on　the　rear　platform；　drinking　in　the　fresh　air。　　He　felt　as　if　he　had　passed　through　some　fearful　nightmare。

〃How　do　you　like　this　climate？〃　asked　Bill　Badger；　as　he　came　out。　　〃Ain't　it　just　glorious？〃

〃It　certainly　is；〃　said　Joe；　and　he　remembered　what　Ned　had　told　him。　　〃I　don't　wonder　some　folks　like　it　better　than　the　East。〃

〃Oh；　the　East　can't　compare　to　it；〃　answered　Bill　Badger。　　〃Why　I　was　once　down　to　New　York　and　Boston；　and　the　crowd　and　confusion　and　smoke　and　smells　made　me　sick　for　a　week！　Give　me　the　pure　mountain　air　every　time！〃

The　day　proved　a　pleasant　one　and　when　he　did　not　remember　the　tragedy　that　had　occurred　our　hero　enjoyed　the　ride　and　the　wild　scenery。

At　last　Golden　Pass　was　reached；　late　at　night；　and　they　got　off　in　a　crowd　of　people。

〃Joe！〃

〃Mr。　Vane！〃　was　the　answering　cry；　and　soon　the　two　were　shaking　hands。　　〃Let　me　introduce　a　new　friend；　Mr。　Bill　Badger。〃

〃Glad　to　know　you。〃

〃Mr。　Badger　helped　me　get　back　your　satchel；〃　went　on　our　hero。

〃Then　I　am　deeply　indebted　to　him。〃

〃In　that　case；　just　drop　the　mister　from　my　name；〃　drawled　the　young　westerner。　　〃Joe　tells　me　you　have　a　mine　up　here。　　My　father　has　one；　toothe　Mary　Jennie；　next　to　the　Royal　Flush。〃

〃Oh；　yes；　I　know　the　mine；　and　I　have　met　your　father；〃　said　Maurice　Vane。

They　walked　to　a　hotel；　and　there　Joe　and　his　young　western　friend　told　their　stories；　to　which　Maurice　Vane　listened　with　keen　interest。　The　gentleman　was　shocked　to　learn　of　the　sudden　death　of　Caven　and　Malone。

〃It　was　certainly　a　sad　ending　for　them；〃　said　he。　　〃But；　as　Badger　says；　they　had　nobody　but　themselves　to　blame　for　it。〃

Maurice　Vane　was　extremely　glad　to　get　back　his　mining　shares　and　thanked　Bill　Badger　warmly　for　what　he　had　done。

〃Don't　you　mention　it；〃　said　the　young　westerner。　　〃I'm　going　to　hunt　up　dad　now。　When　you　get　time；　call　and　see　us。〃

〃I'm　coming　up　soon；　to　find　out　about　that　Bill　Bodley；〃　said　Joe。

As　late　as　it　was　Joe　listened　to　what　Maurice　Vane　had　to　tell。

〃Now　that　Caven　and　Malone　are　gone　I　do　not　anticipate　further　trouble　at　the　mine；〃　said　the　gentleman。　　〃I　am　in　practical　possession　of　all　the　shares；　and　shall　have　a　clear　title　to　the　whole　property　inside　of　a　few　weeks。〃

When　Joe　told　him　what　Bill　Badger　had　had　to　say　about　a　certain　man　called　Bill　Bodley　he　was　much　interested。

〃Yes；　you　must　find　out　about　this　man　at　once；〃　said　he。　　〃I　will　help　you；　as　soon　as　certain　matters　are　settled。〃

The　next　morning　proved　a　busy　one　and　Joe　got　no　time　to　call　upon　Bill　Badger's　father。　　He　visited　the　mine　and　looked　over　it　with　interest。

During　the　middle　of　the　afternoon　he　went　back　to　town　on　an　errand　for　Mr。　Vane。　　He　was　passing　a　cabin　on　the　outskirts　when　he　heard　loud　words　and　a　struggle。

〃Let　me　go；　you　ruffian！〃　cried　a　weak　voice。　〃Leave　that　money　alone！〃

〃You　shut　up；　old　man！〃　was　the　answer。　〃The　money　is　all　right。〃

〃You　are　trying　to　rob　me！〃

Then　there　was　another　struggle；　and　suddenly　a　door　burst　open　and　a　man　leaped　into　the　roadway。　　At　sight　of　him　Joe　came　to　a　halt。　　The　fellow　was　Bill　Butts；　the　man　who　had　tried　to　swindle　Josiah　Bean。

〃Stop　him！〃　came　from　the　cabin。　　〃He　has　my　gold！〃

〃Stop！〃　cried　Joe；　and　ran　up　to　Butts。　The　next　moment　man　and　boy　tripped　and　fell；　but；　luckily；　our　hero　was　on　top。

〃Let　me　go！〃　growled　the　man。

〃So　we　meet　again；　Butts！〃　cried　Joe。

The　man　stared　in　amazement　and　then　began　to　struggle。　　Seeing　this；　Joe　doubled　up　his　fists　and　gave　him　a　blow　in　the　nose　and　in　the　right　eye；　which　caused　him　to　roar　with　pain。

〃That's　right！〃　came　from　the　doorway　of　the　cabin。　　〃Give　it　to　him！　　Make　him　give　me　my　gold！〃

〃Give　up　the　gold；〃　ordered　Joe。

〃There　it　is！〃　growled　Bill　Butts；　and　threw　a　buckskin　bag　towards　the　cabin。　　The　man　from　within　caught　it　up　and　stowed　it　away　in　his　pocket。

〃Shall　I　call　a　policeman？〃　asked　Joe。

〃I　don't　know；〃　said　the　man　from　the　cabin。　　He　wore　a　troubled　face　and　had　white　hair　and　a　white　beard。　　〃It　may　beWha　where　did　you　come　from？〃　he　gasped。

〃Where　did　I　come　from？〃　asked　Joe。

〃Yes！　yes！　Answer　me　quickly！　You　are　you　must　be　a　ghost！　I　saw　you　in　my　dreams　last　week！〃

〃I　don't　understand　you；〃　said　Joe；　and　arose　slowly　to　his　feet；　at　which　Bill　Butts　did　likewise　and　began　to　retreat。　　〃I　never　met　you　before。〃

〃No？　　It's　queer。〃　The　man　brushed　his　hand　over　his　forehead。　　〃Yes；　I　must　be　dreaming。　But　I　am　glad　I　got　my　gold　back。〃

〃So　am　I；　but　the　rascal　has　run　away。〃

〃Never　mind；　let　him　go。〃

〃What　makes　you　think　you've　seen　me　before？〃　questioned　Joe；　and　his　breath　came　thick　and　fast。

〃IerI　don't　know。　　You　mustn't　mind　meI　have　queer　spells　at　times。　　You　see；　I　had　a　whole　lot　of　trouble　once；　and　when　I　get　to　thinking　about　it〃　The　man　did　not　finish。

〃May　I　ask　your　name？〃　asked　Joe；　and　his　voice　trembled　in　spite　of　his　efforts　at　self…control。

〃Sure　you　can。　　It's　Bill　Bodley。〃

〃William　A。　Bodley？〃

〃Yes。　　But　how　do　you　happen　to　know　my　full　name？〃

〃Did　you　once　own　a　farm　in　Millville；　Iowa？〃

〃I　had　a　farm　in　Iowa；　yes。　　It　was　Millville　Center　in　those　days。〃

Joe　drew　closer　and　looked　at　the　man　with　care　and　emotion。

〃Did　you　ever　have　a　brother　named　Hiram　Bodley？〃

〃I　didbut　he　has　been　dead　for　years。〃

〃No；　Hiram　Bodley　died　only　a　short　time　ago；〃　answered　Joe。　　〃I　used　to　live　with　him。　My　name　is　Joe　Bodley。　　He　told　me　I　was　his　nephew。〃

〃You　his　nephew！　Hiram　Bodley's　nephew！　We　didn't　have　any　brothers　or　sisters；　and　he　was　a　bachelor！〃

〃I　know　he　was　a　bachelor。　　But　I　don't　know〃　Joe　paused。

〃He　told　me　Joe　died；　at　least　I　got　a　letter　from　somebody　to　that　effect。　　But　I　was　near　craz