joe the hotel boy-第9节

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　legal　action。　　　　　　　

　　　　　　　　　　　　〃SILAS　SIMMS；　Atty。

Felix　read　the　letter　several　times　and　his　knees　shook　visibly。　　He　did　not　want　to　pay　over　such　an　amount；　yet　it　struck　him　with　terror　when　he　thought　he　might　possibly　be　arrested　for　fast　driving。　　He　went　to　see　Mr。　Silas　Simms。

〃I　am　very　sorry；〃　he　began。

〃Have　you　come　to　pay？〃　demanded　the　attorney；　curtly。

〃Wellerthe　fact　isdon't　you　think　you　are　asking　rather　a　stiff　price；　Mr。　Simms？〃

〃Not　at　all！　Not　at　all；　sir！　I　ought　to　have　placed　the　damages　at　three　hundred！〃

〃I'll　give　you　fifty　dollars　and　call　it　square。〃

〃No；　sir；　a　hundred　and　fifty！　Not　a　penny　less；　not　one　penny！　Look　at　my　nose；　sir　all　scratched！　And　my　ear！　Not　a　penny　less　than　one　hundred　and　fifty　dollars！〃　And　the　lawyer　pounded　on　his　desk　with　his　fist。

〃All　right　then；　I'll　pay　you；　but　you　must　give　me　a　receipt　in　full；〃　answered　the　dude。

He　had　to　wait　until　the　bank　opened；　that　he　might　cash　a　check；　and　then　he　paid　over　the　amount　demanded。　　The　lawyer　drew　up　a　legal　paper　discharging　him　from　all　further　obligations。　　Felix　read　it　with　care　and　stowed　it　in　his　pocket。

〃And　now　let　me　give　you　some　advice；　Mr。　Gussing；〃　said　the　lawyer；　after　the　transaction　was　concluded。　　〃Don't　drive　such　a　wild　horse　again。〃

〃Depend　upon　it；　I　never　shall；〃　answered　the　dude。　　〃It　costs　too　much！〃　he　added；　with　a　faint　smile。

〃Are　you　well　acquainted　with　horses？〃

〃No。〃

〃Then　you　had　better　leave　them　alone　altogether。〃

〃I　have　already　made　up　my　mind　to　do　so。〃



CHAPTER　X。


DAVID　BALL　FROM　MONTANA。


Finding　that　Joe　could　be　depended　upon；　Mr。　Mallison　put　him　in　charge　of　all　of　the　boats　at　the　hotel；　so　that　our　hero　had　almost　as　much　work　ashore　as　on　the　lake。

During　the　week　following；　the　events　just　narrated；　many　visitors　left　the　hotel　and　others　came　in。　　Among　those　to　go　were　Felix　Gussing　and　the　two　young　ladies。　　The　dude　bid　our　hero　a　cordial　good…bye；　for　he　now　knew　Joe　quite　well。

〃Good…bye；　Mr。　Gussing；〃　said　Joe。　　〃I　hope　we　meet　again。〃

〃Perhaps　we　shall；　although　I　generally　go　to　a　different　place　each　summer。〃

〃Well；　I　don't　expect　to　stay　in　Riverside　all　my　life。〃

〃I　see。　　If　you　make　a　move；　I　hope　you　do　well；〃　returned　Felix。

On　the　day　after　the　dude　left；　a　man　came　to　the　hotel　who；　somehow；　looked　familiar　to　our　hero。　　He　came　dressed　in　a　light　overcoat　and　a　slouch　hat；　and　carried　a　valise　and　a　suit　case。

〃I've　seen　him　before；　but　where？〃　Joe　asked　himself　not　once　but　several　times。

The　man　registered　as　David　Ball；　and　put　down　his　address　as　Butte；　Montana。　　He　said　he　was　a　mining　expert；　but　added　that　he　was　sick　and　the　doctors　had　ordered　him　to　come　East　for　a　rest。

〃've　heard　of　Riverside　being　a　nice　place；〃　said　he；　〃so　I　came　on　right　after　striking　Pittsburg。〃

〃We　shall　do　all　we　can　to　make　your　stay　a　pleasant　one；〃　said　the　hotel　proprietor；　politely。

〃All　I　want　is　a　nice　sunny　room；　where　I　can　get　fresh　air　and　take　it　easy；〃　said　the　man。

He　was　willing　to　pay　a　good　price；　and　so　obtained　one　of　the　best　rooms　in　the　house；　one　overlooking　the　river　and　the　lake。　　He　ate　one　meal　in　the　dining　room；　but　after　that　he　had　his　meals　sent　to　his　apartment。

〃Is　he　sick？〃　asked　Joe；　after　watching　the　man　one　day。

〃He　certainly　doesn't　seem　to　be　well；〃　answered　Andrew　Mallison。

〃It　runs　in　my　mind　that　I　have　seen　him　before；　but　I　can't　place　him；〃　went　on　our　hero。

〃You　must　be　mistaken；　Joe。　　I　questioned　him　and　he　says　this　is　his　first　trip　to　the　East；　although　he　has　frequently　visited　St。　Louis　and　Chicago。〃

On　the　following　day　the　man　called　for　a　physician　and　Doctor　Gardner　was　sent　for。

〃I've　got　pains　here；〃　said　the　man　from　the　West；　and　pointed　to　his　chest。　　〃Do　you　think　I　am　getting　consumption？〃

The　Riverside　physician　made　a　careful　examination　and　then　said　the　man　had　probably　strained　himself。

〃Reckon　I　did；〃　was　the　ready　answer。　　〃I　was　in　the　mine　and　a　big　rock　came　down　on　me。　　I　had　to　hold　it　up　for　ten　minutes　before　anybody　came　to　my　aid。　　I　thought　I　was　a　dead　one　sure。〃

〃I　will　give　you　some　medicine　and　a　liniment；〃　said　the　doctor。　　〃Perhaps　you'll　feel　better　after　a　good　rest。〃　　And　then　he　left。

That　afternoon　Joe　had　to　go　up　into　the　hotel　for　something　and　passed　the　room　of　the　new　boarder。　　He　saw　the　man　standing　by　the　window；　gazing　out　on　the　water。

〃I'm　dead　certain　I've　seen　him　before；〃　mused　our　hero。　　〃It　is　queer　I　can't　think　where。〃

Doctor　Gardner　wanted　to　be　taken　across　the　lake　and　Joe　himself　did　the　job。　　As　he　was　rowing　he　asked　about　the　man　who　had　signed　the　hotel　register　as　David　Ball　from　Montana。〃

〃Is　he　very　sick；　doctor？〃

〃No；　I　can't　say　that　he　is；〃　was　the　physician's　answer。　　〃He　looks　to　be　as　healthy　as　you　or　I。〃

〃It's　queer　he　keeps　to　his　room。〃

〃Perhaps　something　happened　out　at　his　mine　to　unsettle　his　nerves。　　He　told　me　of　some　sort　of　an　accident。〃

〃Is　he　a　miner？〃

〃He　is　a　mine　owner；　so　Mr。　Mallison　told　me；　but　he　never　heard　of　the　man　before。〃

The　stranger　received　several　letters　the　next　day　and　then　a　telegram。　　Shortly　after　that　he　took　to　his　bed。

〃I　am　feeling　worse；〃　said　he　to　the　bell　boy　who　answered　his　ring。　　〃I　want　you　to　send　for　that　doctor　again。　　Ask　him　to　call　about　noon。〃

〃Yes；　sir；〃　answered　the　boy；　and　Doctor　Gardner　was　sent　for　without　delay。　　He　came　and　made　another　examination　and　left　some　medicine。

〃I'll　take　the　medicine　regularly；〃　said　the　stranger；　who　was　in　bed。　　But　when　the　doctor　had　left　he　quietly　poured　half　of　the　contents　of　the　bottle　into　the　wash　bowl；　where　it　speedily　drained　from　sight！

〃Don't　catch　me　drinking　such　rot；〃　he　muttered　to　himself。　　〃I'd　rather　have　some　good　liquor　any　day；〃　and　he　took　a　long　pull　from　a　black　bottle　he　had　in　his　valise。

About　noon　a　carriage　drove　up　to　the　hotel　and　two　men　alighted。

One　led　the　way　into　the　hotel　and　asked　to　see　the　register。

〃I'd　like　to　see　Mr。　David　Ball；〃　said　he　to　the　clerk。

〃Mr。　Ball　is　sick。〃

〃So　I　have　heard　and　that　is　why　I　wish　to　see　him。〃

〃I'll　send　up　your　card。〃

〃I　don't　happen　to　have　a　card。　　Tell　him　Mr。　Anderson　is　here；　from　Philadelphia；　with　a　friend　of　his。〃

The　message　was　sent　to　the　sick　man's　room；　and　word　came　down　that　he　would　see　the　visitors　in　a　few　minutes。

〃He　says　he　is　pretty　sick　and　he　can't　talk　business　very　long；〃　said　the　bell　boy。

〃We　won't　bother　him　very　much；〃　answered　the　man　who　had　given　his　name　as　Anderson。

Joe　happened　to　be　close　by　during　this　conversation　and　he　looked　the　man　called　Anderson　over　with　care。

〃I've　seen　that　man；　too！〃　he　declared　to　himself。　　〃But　where？　　I　declare　he　is　as　much　of　a　mystery　as　the　sick　one！〃

Our　hero's　curiosity　was　now　aroused　to　the　highest　pitch；　and　when　the　two　men　walked　up　to　David　Ball's　room　he　followed　to　the　very　doorway。

〃Come　in；〃　came　from　the　room；　and　a　deep　groan　followed。　　On　the　bed　lay　the　man　from　Montana；　wrapped　in　several　blankets　and　with　a　look　of　anguish　on　his　features。

〃Feeling　pretty　bad；　eh？〃　said　Anderson；　as　he　stalked　in。　　〃I　am　downright　sorry　for　you。〃

〃I'm　afraid　I　am　going　to　die；〃　groaned　the　man　in　bed。　　〃The　doctor　says　I　am　in　bad　shape。　　He　wants　me　to　take　a　trip　to　Europe；　or　somewhere　else。〃

〃This　is　Mr。　Maurice　Vane；〃　went　on　Anderson。　　〃We　won't　trouble　you　any　more　than　is　necessary；　Mr。　Ball。〃

〃I　am　sorry　to　disturb　you；〃　said　Maurice　Vane。　　He　was　a　kindly　looking　gentleman。　〃Perhaps　we　had　better　defer　this　business　until　some　other　time。〃

〃Oh；　no；　one　time　is　as　bad　as　another；〃　came　with　another　groan　from　the　bed。　　〃Besides；　I　admit　I　need　money　badly。　　If　it　wasn't　for　that〃。　　The　man　in　bed　began　to　cough。　　〃Say；　shut　the　door；〃　he　went　on；　to　the　first　man　who　had　come　in。

The　door　was　closed；　and　for　the　time　being　Joe　heard　no　more　of　the　conversation。

It　must　be　admitted　that　our　hero　was　perplexed；　and　with　good　reason。　　He　felt　certain　that　the　man　in　bed　was　shamming；　that　he　was　hardly　sick　at　all。　　If　so；　what　was　his　game？

〃Something　is　surely　wrong　somewhere；〃　he　reasoned。　　〃I　wish　I　could　get　to　the　bottom　of　it。〃

The　room　next　to　the　one　occupied　by　David　Ball　was　empty　and　he　slipped　into　this。　The　room　contained　a　closet；　and　on　the　other　side　was　another　closet；　opening　into　the　room　the　men　were　in。　　The　partition　between　was　of　boards；　and　as　the　other　door　stood　wide　open；　Joe；　by　placing　his　head　to　the　boards；　could　hear　fairly　well。

〃You　have　the　stock？〃　he　heard　Maurice　Vane　ask。

〃Yes；　in　my　valise。　　Hand　me　the　bag　and　I'll　show　you；〃　answered　the　man　in　bed。　〃Oh；　how　weak　I　feel！〃　he　sighed。

There　was　a　silence　and　then　the　rustling　of　papers。

〃And　what　is　your　bottom　price　for　these？〃　went　on　Maurice　Vane。

〃Thirty　thousand　dollars。〃

〃I　told　Mr。　Vane　you　might　possibly　take　twenty…five　thousand；〃　came　from　the　man　called　Anderson。

〃They　ought　to　be　worth　face　valuefifty　thousand　dollars；〃　said　the　man　in　bed。

A　talk　in　a　lower　tone　followed；　and　then　more　rustling　of　papers。

〃I　will　call　to…morrow　with　th