joe the hotel boy-第3节

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〃Perhaps　it　won't　do　any　harm　to　tell　your　father；　Ned。〃

〃Very　well；　I'll　do　it。〃

Soon　Riverside　was　reached；　and　having　paid　for　the　fish　and　the　outing；　Ned　Talmadge　walked　in　the　direction　of　his　residence。　　Joe　shoved　off　from　the　tiny　dock　and　struck　out　for　his　home。　　He　did　not　dream　of　the　calamity　that　awaited　him　there。



CHAPTER　III。


A　HOME　IN　RUINS。


As　Joe　rowed　toward　his　home　on　the　mountain　side；　a　good　mile　from　Riverside；　he　could　not　help　but　think　of　the　two　mysterious　men　and　of　what　they　had　said。

〃They　were　certainly　rascals；〃　he　mused。　〃And　from　their　talk　they　must　have　come　from　New　York　and　are　now　going　to　try　some　game　in　Philadelphia。〃

The　hermit's　boy　was　tired　out　by　the　day's　outing；　yet　he　pulled　a　fairly　quick　stroke　and　it　was　not　long　before　he　reached　the　dock　at　which　he　and　Hiram　Bodley　were　in　the　habit　of　leaving　their　boat。　　He　cleaned　the　craft　out；　hid　the　oars　in　the　usual　place；　and　then；　with　his　fishing　lines　in　one　hand　and　a　good　sized　fish　in　the　other；　started　up　the　trail　leading　to　the　place　that　he　called　home。

〃What　a　place　to　come　to；　alongside　of　the　one　Ned　lives　in；〃　he　said　to　himself。　　〃I　suppose　the　Talmadges　think　this　is　a　regular　hovel。　I　wish　we　could　afford　something　better；or　at　least　live　in　town。　　It's　lonesome　here　with　nobody　but　old　Uncle　Hiram　around。〃

As　Joe　neared　the　cabin　something　seemed　to　come　over　him　and；　for　some　reason　he　could　not　understand；　he　felt　very　much　depressed　in　spirits。　　He　quickened　his　pace；　until　a　turn　of　the　trail　brought　the　homestead　into　view。

A　cry　of　alarm　broke　from　his　lips　and　with　good　reason。　　The　little　shelter　had　stood　close　to　a　large　hemlock　tree。　　The　lightning　had　struck　the　tree；　causing　it　to　topple　ever。　　In　falling；　it　had　landed　fairly　and　squarely　upon　the　cabin；　smashing　it　completely。　　One　corner　of　the　cabin　was　in　ashes；　but　the　heavy　rain　had　probably　extinguished　the　conflagration。

〃Uncle　Hiram！〃　cried　the　boy；　as　soon　as　he　recovered　from　his　amazement。　　〃Uncle　Hiram；　where　are　you？〃

There　was　no　answer　to　this　call　and　for　the　moment　Joe's　heart　seemed　to　stop　beating。　　Was　the　old　hermit　under　that　pile　of　ruins？　If　so　it　was　more　than　likely　he　was　dead。

Dropping　his　fish　and　his　lines；　the　youth　sprang　to　the　front　of　the　cabin。　　The　door　had　fallen　to　the　ground　and　before　him　was　a　mass　of　wreckage　with　a　small　hollow　near　the　bottom。　　He　dropped　on　his　knees　and　peered　inside。

〃Uncle　Hiram！〃　he　called　again。

There　was　no　answer；　and　he　listened　with　bated　breath。　　Then　he　fancied　he　heard　a　groan；　coming　from　the　rear　of　what　was　left　of　the　cabin。　　He　ran　around　to　that　point　and　pulled　aside　some　boards　and　a　broken　window　sash。

〃Uncle　Hiram；　are　you　here？〃

〃Joe！〃　came　in　a　low　voice；　full　of　pain。　　The　man　tried　to　say　more　but　could　not。

Hauling　aside　some　more　boards；　Joe　now　beheld　the　hermit；　lying　flat　on　his　back；　with　a　heavy　beam　resting　on　his　chest。　　He　was　also　suffering　from　a　cut　on　the　forehead　and　from　a　broken　ankle。

〃This　is　too　bad；　Uncle　Hiram！〃　he　said；　in　a　trembling　voice。　　〃I'll　get　you　out　just　as　soon　as　I　can。〃

〃Bebe　careful；　JoeIImy　ribs　must　be　broken；〃　gasped　the　hermit。

〃I'll　be　careful；〃　answered　the　boy；　and　began　to　pull　aside　one　board　after　another。　Then　he　tugged　away　at　the　beam　but　could　not　budge　it。

〃Raise　it　up　Joeitiscrushing　the　life　ouout　of　me；〃　said　the　hermit　faintly。

〃I'll　pry　it　up；〃　answered　the　boy；　and　ran　off　to　get　a　block　of　wood。　　Then　he　procured　a　stout　pole　and　with　this　raised　the　heavy　beam　several　inches。

〃Can　you　crawl　out；　Uncle　Hiram？〃

There　was　no　answer；　and　Joe　saw　that　the　man　had　fainted　from　exhaustion。　　Fixing　the　pole　so　it　could　not　slip；　he　caught　hold　of　the　hermit　and　dragged　him　to　a　place　of　safety。

Joe　had　never　had　to　care　for　a　hurt　person　before　and　he　scarcely　knew　how　to　proceed。　He　laid　the　hermit　on　the　grass　and　washed　his　face　with　water。　　Soon　Hiram　Bodley　opened　his　eyes　once　more。

〃My　chest！〃　he　groaned。　　〃All　of　my　ribs　must　be　broken！　And　my　ankle　is　broken；　too！〃　And　he　groaned　again。

〃I　had　better　get　a　doctor；　Uncle　Hiram。〃

〃A　doctor　can't　help　me。〃

〃Perhaps　he　can。〃

〃I　haven't　any　faith　in　doctors。　　A　doctor　operated　on　my　mother　and　killed　her。〃

〃But　Doctor　Gardner　is　a　nice　man。　　He　will　do　all　he　can　for　you；　I　am　sure；〃　urged　Joe。

〃Well；　Dr。　Gardner　is　a　good　fellow　I　admit。　　If　youcancan　get　himI'llI'll　〃　　The　sufferer　tried　to　go　on　but　could　not。

〃I　think　I　can　get　him。　　But　I　hate　to　leave　you　alone。〃　　And　Joe　stared　around　helplessly。　He　wished　he　had　Ned　with　him。

〃Never　mindgive　me　a　drinkthen　go；〃　answered　Hiram　Bodley。　　He　had　often　taken　Doctor　Gardner　out　to　hunt　with　him　and　liked　the　physician　not　a　little。

Inside　of　five　minutes　Joe　was　on　the　way　to　the　doctor's　residence；　which　was　on　the　outskirts　of　Riverside。　　He　had　left　the　hermit　as　comfortable　as　possible；　on　a　mattress　and　covered　with　a　cloth　to　keep　off　the　night　air；　for　it　was　now　growing　late　and　the　sun　had　set　behind　the　mountains。

Tired　though　he　was　the　boy　pulled　with　might　and　main；　and　so　reached　the　dock　of　the　physician's　home　in　a　short　space　of　time。　Running　up　the　walk　of　the　neatly…kept　garden；　he　mounted　the　piazza　and　rang　the　bell　several　times。

〃What's　the　matter？〃　asked　Doctor　Gardner；　who　came　himself　to　answer　the　summons。

〃Our　cabin　is　in　ruins；　because　of　the　storm；　and　Mr。　Bodley　is　badly　hurt；〃　answered　Joe；　and　related　some　of　the　particulars。

〃This　is　certainly　too　bad；　my　boy；〃　said　the　physician。　　〃I'll　come　at　once　and　do　what　I　can　for　him。〃

He　ran　for　a　case　of　instruments　and　also　for　some　medicines；　and　then　followed　Joe　back　to　the　boat。

〃You　act　as　if　you　were　tired；〃　said　the　doctor；　after　he　had　watched　Joe　at　the　oars　for　several　minutes。

〃I　am　tired；　sirI've　been　rowing　a　good　deal　to…day。　　But　I　guess　I　can　make　it。〃

〃Let　me　row；〃　said　the　physician；　and　took　the　oars。　　He　was　a　fine　oarsman；　and　the　trip　was　made　in　half　the　time　it　would　have　taken　Joe　to　cover　the　distance。

At　the　dock　there　was　a　lantern；　used　by　Joe　and　the　hermit　when　they　went　fishing　at　night。　　This　was　lit；　and　the　two　hurried　up　the　trail　to　the　wreck　of　the　cabin。

Hiram　Bodley　was　resting　where　Joe　had　left　him。　　He　was　breathing　with　difficulty　and　did　not　at　first　recognize　the　doctor。

〃Take　it　off！〃　he　murmured。　　〃Take　it　off！　It　isis　crushing　ththe　life　out　ofof　me！〃

〃Mr。　BodleyHiram；　don't　you　know　me？〃　asked　Doctor　Gardner；　kindly。

〃Oh！　So　it's　you？　　I　guess　you　can't　do　much；　doctor；　can　you？　　II'm　done　for！〃　And　a　spasm　of　pain　crossed　the　sufferer's　face。

〃While　there　is　life　there　is　hope；〃　answered　the　physician；　noncommittally。　　He　recognized　at　once　that　Hiram　Bodley's　condition　was　critical。

〃He'll　get　over　it；　won't　he？〃　questioned　Joe；　quickly。

The　doctor　did　not　answer；　but　turned　to　do　what　he　could　for　the　hurt　man。　　He　felt　of　his　chest　and　listened　to　his　breathing；　and　then　administered　some　medicine。

〃His　ankle　is　hurt；　too；〃　said　Joe。

〃Never　mind　the　ankle　just　now；　Joe；〃　was　the　soft　answer。

There　was　something　in　the　tone　that　alarmed　the　boy　and　he　caught　the　physician　by　the　arm。

〃Doctor；　tell　me　the　truth！〃　he　cried。　〃Is　he　is　he　going　to　die？〃

〃I　am　afraid　so；　my　lad。　　His　ribs　are　crushed　and　one　of　them　has　stuck　into　his　right　lung。〃

At　these　words　the　tears　sprang　into　the　boy's　eyes　and　it　was　all　he　could　do　to　keep　from　crying　outright。　　Even　though　the　old　hermit　had　been　rough　in　his　ways；　Joe　thought　a　good　deal　of　the　man。

〃Cannot　you　do　something；　doctor；〃　he　pleaded。

〃Not　here。　　We　might　do　something　in　a　hospital；　but　he　would　not　survive　the　journey。　He　is　growing　weaker　every　moment。　　Be　brave；　my　lad。　　It　is　a　terrible　trial；　I　know；　but　you　must　remember　that　all　things　are　for　the　best。〃

Joe　knelt　beside　the　sufferer　and　took　hold　of　his　hand。　　Hiram　Bodley　looked　at　him　and　then　at　the　doctor。

〃II　can't　liveI　know　it；〃　he　said　hoarsely。　　〃Joe；　stay　by　me　till　I　die；　won't　you？〃

〃Yes！〃　faltered　the　boy。　　〃Oh；　this　is　awful！〃

〃I'm　sorry　to　leave　you　so　soon；　JoeII　thought　I'd　bebe　able　to　do　something　for　you　some　day。〃

〃You　have　done　something　for　me；　Uncle　Hiram。〃

〃All　I've　got　goes　to　you；　Joe。　　Doctor；　do　you　hear　that？〃

〃I　do。〃

〃Itit　ain't　much；　but　it's　something。　The　blue　boxI　put　it　in　the　blue　box〃　Here　the　sufferer　began　to　cough。

〃The　blue　box？〃　came　from　Joe　questioningly。

〃Yes；　Joe；　all　in　the　blue　boxthe　papers　and　the　moneyAnd　the　blue　box　isis〃　Again　the　sufferer　began　to　cough。　　〃II　want　water！〃　he　gasped。

The　water　was　brought　and　he　took　a　gulp。　Then　he　tried　to　speak　again；　but　the　effort　was　in　vain。　　The　doctor　and　Joe　raised　him　up。

〃Uncle　Hiram！　Speak　to　me！〃　cried　the　boy。

But　Hiram　Bodley　was　past　speaking。　　He　had　passed　to　the　Great　Beyond。



CHAPTER　IV。


THE　SEARCH　FOR　THE　BLUE　BOX。


Three　days　after　his　tragic　death　Hiram　Bodley　was　buried。　　Although　he　was　fairly　well　known　in　the　lake　region　only　a　handful　of　people　came　to　his　funeral。　　Joe　was　the　chief　mourner；　and　it　can　honestly　be　s