joe the hotel boy-第7节

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ought　this　on　himself；　the　boy　had　nothing　to　do　with　it。〃

Sam　Cullum　floundered　around　in　the　water　like　a　whale　cast　up　in　the　shallows。　　The　lake　at　that　point　was　not　over　four　feet　deep；　but　he　did　not　know　enough　to　stand　upright。

〃Save　me！〃　he　bellowed。　　〃Save　me！　I　don't　want　to　drown！〃

〃Swallow　a　little　water；　it　will　do　you　good！〃　said　a　bystander；　with　a　laugh。

〃Walk　out　and　you'll　be　all　right；〃　added　another。

At　last　Sam　Cullum　found　his　feet　and　walked　around　the　side　of　the　dock　to　the　shore。　　A　crowd　followed　him　and　kept　him　from　going　at　Joe　again。

〃I'll　fix　him　another　time；〃　growled　the　intoxicated　one；　and　shuffled　off；　with　some　small　boys　jeering　him。

〃You　treated　him　as　he　deserved；〃　said　one　of　the　other　boatmen　to　Joe。

〃I　suppose　he'll　try　to　square　up　another　time；〃　answered　our　hero。

〃Well；　I　wouldn't　take　water　for　him；　Joe。〃

〃I　don't　intend　to。　　If　he　attacks　me　I'll　do　the　best　I　can　to　defend　myself。〃

〃He　has　made　a　nuisance　of　himself　for　a　long　time。　　It's　a　wonder　to　me　that　Mr。　Mallison　put　up　with　it　so　long。〃

〃He　was　short　of　help；　that's　why。　　It　isn't　so　easy　to　get　new　help　in　the　height　of　the　summer　season。〃

〃That　is　true。〃

Joe　expected　to　have　more　trouble　with　Sam　Cullum　the　next　day　but　it　did　not　come。　　Then　it　leaked　out　that　Cullum　had　gotten　into　a　row　with　his　wife　and　some　of　her　relatives　that　night　and　was　under　arrest。　　When　the　boatman　was　brought　up　for　trial　the　Judge　sentenced　him　to　six　months'　imprisonment。

〃And　it　serves　him　right；〃　said　the　man　who　brought　the　news　to　Joe。

〃It　must　be　hard　on　his　wife。〃

〃Well；　it　is；　Joe。〃

〃Have　they　any　children？〃

〃Foura　boy　of　seven　and　three　little　girls。〃

〃Are　they　well　off？〃

〃What；　with　such　a　father？　　No；　they　are　very　poor。　　She　used　to　go　out　washing；　but　now　she　has　to　stay　at　home　to　take　care　of　the　baby。　　Sam　was　a　brute　to　strike　her。　　I　don't　wonder　the　relatives　took　a　hand。〃

〃Perhaps　the　relatives　can　help　her。〃

〃They　can't　do　much；　for　they　are　all　as　poor　as　she　is；　and　one　of　them　is　just　getting　over　an　operation　at　the　hospital。〃

〃Where　do　the　Cullums　live？〃

〃Down　on　Railroad　Alley；　not　far　from　the　water　tower。　　It's　a　mite　of　a　cottage。〃

Joe　said　no　more；　but　what　he　had　been　told　him　set　him　to　thinking；　and　that　evening；　after　his　work　was　over；　he　took　a　walk　through　the　town　and　in　the　direction　of　Railroad　Alley。

Not　far　from　the　water　station　he　found　the　Cullum　homestead；　a　mite　of　a　cottage；　as　the　man　had　said；　with　a　tumbled…down　chimney　and　several　broken…out　windows。　　He　looked　in　at　one　of　the　windows　and　by　the　light　of　a　smoking　kerosene　lamp　beheld　a　woman　in　a　rocking…chair；　rocking　a　baby　to　sleep。　　Three　other　youngsters　were　standing　around；　knowing　not　what　to　do。　　On　a　table　were　some　dishes；　all　bare　of　food。

〃Mamma；　I　want　more　bread；〃　one　of　the　little　ones　was　saying。

〃You　can　have　more　in　the　morning；　Johnny；〃　answered　the　mother。

〃No；　I　want　it　now；〃　whimpered　the　youngster。　　〃I'm　hungry。〃

〃I'm　hungry；　too；〃　put　in　another　little　one。

〃I　can't　give　you　any　more　to…night；　for　I　haven't　it；〃　said　the　mother；　with　a　deep　sigh。　〃Now；　be　still；　or　you'll　wake　the　baby。〃

〃Why　don't　dad　come　home？〃　asked　the　boy　of　seven。

〃He　can't　come　home；　Bobbyhehad　to　go　away；〃　faltered　the　mother。　　〃Now　all　be　still；　and　you　shall　have　more　bread　in　the　morning。〃

The　children　began　to　cry；　and　unable　to　stand　the　sight　any　longer　Joe　withdrew。　　Up　the　Alley　was　a　grocery　store　and　he　almost　ran　to　this。

〃Give　me　some　bread；〃　he　said；　〃and　some　cake；　and　a　pound　of　cheese；　and　some　smoked　beef；　and　a　pound　of　good　tea；　and　some　sugar。　Be　quick；　please。〃

The　goods　were　weighed　out　and　wrapped　up；　and　with　his　arms　full　he　ran　back　to　the　cottage　and　kicked　on　the　door。

〃Who　is　there？〃　asked　Mrs。　Cullum；　in　alarm。

〃Here　are　some　groceries　for　you！〃　cried　Joe。　　〃All　paid　for！〃

〃Oh；　look！〃　screamed　the　boy　of　seven。　〃Bread；　and　cheese！〃

〃And　sugar！〃　came　from　one　of　the　little　girls。

〃And　tea！　Mamma；　just　what　you　like！〃　said　another。

〃Where　did　this　come　from？〃　asked　Mrs。　Cullum。

〃A　friend；〃　answered　Joe。　　〃It's　all　paid　for。〃

〃I　am　very　thankful。〃

〃Now　we　can　have　some　bread；　can't　we？〃　queried　the　boy。

〃Yes；　and　a　bit　of　smoked　beef　and　cheese；　too；〃　said　the　mother；　and　placing　the　sleeping　baby　on　a　bed；　she　proceeded　to　deal　out　the　good　things　to　her　children。



CHAPTER　VIII。


THE　TIMID　MR。　GUSSING。


It　was　not　until　the　children　had　been　satisfied　and　put　to　bed　that　Joe　had　a　chance　to　talk　to　Mrs。　Cullum。　　She　was　greatly　astonished　when　she　learned　who　he　was。

〃I　didn't　expect　this　kindness；〃　said　she。　〃I　understand　that　my　husband　treated　you　shamefully。〃

〃It　was　the　liquor　made　him　do　it　ma'am；〃　answered　our　hero。　　〃I　think　he'd　be　all　right　if　he'd　leave　drink　alone。〃

〃Yes；　I　am　sure　of　it！〃　She　gave　a　long　sigh。　　〃He　was　very　kind　and　true　when　we　were　first　married。　　But　then　he　got　to　using　liquor　andandthis　is　the　result。〃

〃Perhaps　he　will　turn　over　a　new　leaf　when　he　comes　out　of　jail。〃

〃I　hope　he　does。　　If　he　doesn't；　I　don't　know　what　I　am　going　to　do。〃

〃Have　you　anything　to　do？〃

〃I　used　to　wash　for　two　families　in　town　but　they　have　regular　hired　help　now。〃

〃Perhaps　you　can　get　more　work；　if　you　advertise。　　If　you'll　allow　me；　I'll　put　an　advertisement　in　the　Riverside　News　for　you。〃

〃Thank　you。　　I　don't　see　what　makes　you　so　kind。〃

〃Well；　I　have　been　down　in　the　world　myself；　Mrs。　Cullum；　so　I　know　how　to　feel　for　others。〃

〃Did　you　say　you　used　to　live　with　Bodley；　the　hermit？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃My　folks　used　to　know　him。　　He　was　rather　a　strange　man　after　he　got　shot　by　accident。〃

〃Yes；　but　he　was　kind。〃

〃Are　you　his　son？〃

〃No。　　He　said　I　was　his　nephew。　　But　I　never　found　out　much　about　that。〃

〃Oh；　yes；　I　remember　something　about　that。　　He　had　a　brother　who　lost　his　wife　and　several　children。　　Are　you　that　man's　son？〃

〃I　believe　I　am。〃

〃And　you　have　never　heard　from　your　father？〃

〃Not　a　word。〃

〃That　is　hard　on　you。〃

〃I　am　going　to　look　for　my　father　some　day。〃

〃If　so；　I　hope　you　will　find　him。〃

〃So　do　I。〃　Joe　arose。　　〃I　must　be　going。〃　He　paused。　　〃Mrs。　Cullum；　will　you　let　me　help　you？〃　he　added；　earnestly。

〃Why；　you　have　helped　me　a　good　deal　already。　　Not　one　in　a　thousand　would　do　what　you　have　doneafter　the　way　my　husband　treated　you。〃

〃I　thought　that　you　might　be　short　of　money。〃

〃I　must　confess　I　am。〃

〃I　am　not　rich　but；　if　you　can　use　it；　I　can　let　you　have　five　dollars。〃

〃I'll　accept　it　as　a　loan。　　I　don't　want　you　to　give　me　the　money；〃　answered　the　poor　woman。　　She　thought　of　the　things　she　absolutely　needed；　now　that　her　husband　was　gone。

The　money　was　handed　over；　and　a　few　minutes　later　Joe　took　his　departure。　　Somehow　his　heart　felt　very　light　because　of　his　generosity。　　He　had　certainly　played　the　part　of　a　friend　in　need。

But　he　did　not　stop　there。　　Early　in　the　morning　he　sought　out　Andrew　Mallison　and　told　the　hotel　proprietor　of　Mrs。　Cullum's　condition。

〃I　was　thinking　that　you　might　be　able　to　give　her　work　in　the　hotel　laundry；〃　he　continued。

The　hotel　man　called　up　the　housekeeper　and　from　her　learned　that　another　woman　could　be　used　to　iron。

〃You　can　let　her　come　and　we'll　give　her　a　trial；〃　said　he。

It　did　not　take　Joe　long　to　communicate　with　the　poor　woman；　and　she　was　overjoyed　to　see　work　in　sight；　without　waiting　for　an　advertisement　in　the　newspaper。

〃I'll　go　at　once；〃　said　she。　　〃I'll　get　a　neighbor's　girl　to　mind　the　children。〃　　And　she　was　as　good　as　her　word。　　As　it　happened；　she　proved　to　be　a　good　laundress；　and　Mr。　Mallison　gave　her　steady　employment　until　her　husband　came　from　jail。　　Then；　much　to　his　wife's　satisfaction；　Sam　Cullum　turned　over　a　new　leaf　and　became　quite　sober　and　industrious。

Joe　was　now　becoming　well　acquainted　around　the　hotel　and　took　an　interest　in　many　of　the　boarders。

Among　the　number　was　a　young　man　named　Felix　Gussing。　　He　was　a　nice　individual　in　his　way；　but　had　certain　peculiarities。　　One　was　that　he　was　exceedingly　afraid　of　horses　and　at　every　possible　opportunity　he　gave　them　as　wide　a　berth　as　possible。

〃Don't　like　them　at　all；　don't　you　know；〃　he　said；　to　Joe；　during　a　boat　ride。　　〃Can't　understand　them　at　all。〃

〃Oh；　I　think　a　good　horse　is　very　nice；〃　answered　our　hero。

〃But　they　are　soso　balkishso　full　of　kicking；〃　insisted　Felix　Gussing。

〃Well；　I　admit　some　of　them　are；〃　answered　Joe。

There　were　two　young　ladies　stopping　at　the　hotel　and　the　young　man　had　become　quite　well　acquainted　with　both　of　them。　　One　he　thought　was　very　beautiful　and　was　half　tempted　to　propose　to　her。

On　the　day　after　the　boat　ride　with　Joe；　Felix　Gussing　took　the　ladies　to　have　some　ice　cream；　and　during　the　conversation　all　spoke　of　a　certain　landmark　of　interest　located　about　three　miles　from　Riverside。

〃I　have　seen　it　and　it　isawvery　interesting；〃　drawled　Felix。

〃Then　we　must　see　it；　Belle；〃　said　one　of　the　young　ladies；　to　her　companion。

〃Oh；　I'm　not　going　to　walk　that　far；〃　answered　Belle；　with　a　bewitching　look　at　the　young　man。

〃You　might　drive　over；〃