joe the hotel boy-第13部分

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Here；　from　a　workman；　he　learned　that　the　sharper　had　boarded　a　street　car　going　south。　He　hailed　the　next　car　and　both　he　and　the　old　farmer　got　aboard。

〃This　ain't　much　use；〃　said　Josiah　Bean；　with　quivering　lips。　　〃We　dunno　how　far　he　took　himself　to。〃

〃Let　us　trust　to　luck　to　meet　him；〃　said　Joe。

They　rode　for　a　distance　of　a　dozen　blocks　and　then　the　car　came　to　a　halt；　for　there　was　a　blockade　ahead。

〃We　may　as　well　get　off；〃　said　our　hero。　〃He　may　be　in　one　of　the　forward　cars。〃

They　alighted　and　walked　on；　past　half　a　dozen　cars。　　Then　our　hero　gave　a　cry　of　triumph　。

〃There　he　is！〃　he　said；　and　pointed　to　the　swindler；　who　stood　on　a　car　platform；　gazing　anxiously　ahead。



CHAPTER　XVI。


A　MATTER　OF　SIX　HUNDRED　DOLLARS。


〃Say；　you；　give　me　my　money！〃

Such　were　Josiah　Bean's　words；　as　he　rushed　up　to　Henry　Davis　and　grabbed　the　swindler　by　the　shoulder。

The　slick…looking　individual　was　thoroughly　startled；　for　he　had　not　dreamed　that　the　countryman　would　get　on　his　track　so　soon。　　He　turned　and　looked　at　the　man　and　also　at　Joe；　and　his　face　fell。

〃Whawhat　are　you　talking　about？〃　he　stammered。

〃You　know　well　enough　what　I　am　talking　about；〃　answered　Josiah　Bean；　wrathfully。　　〃I　want　my　money；　every　cent　o'　it；an'　you　are　a…goin'　to　jail！〃

〃Sir；　you　are　making　a　sad　mistake；〃　said　the　swindler；　slowly。　　〃I　know　nothing　of　you　or　your　money。〃

〃Yes；　you　do。〃

〃Make　him　get　off　the　car；〃　put　in　Joe。

〃Boy；　what　have　you　to　do　with　this？〃　asked　the　swindler；　turning　bitterly　to　our　hero。

〃Not　much　perhaps；〃　answered　Joe。　　〃But　I'd　like　to　see　justice　done。〃

〃I　want　that　money；〃　went　on　the　countryman；　doggedly。　　〃Come　off　the　car。〃

He　caught　the　swindler　tighter　than　ever　and　made　him　walk　to　the　sidewalk。　　By　this　time　a　crowd　of　people　began　to　collect。

〃What's　the　trouble　here？〃　asked　one　gentleman。

〃He's　robbed　me；　that's　what's　the　matter；〃　answered　the　countryman。　　〃He　has　got　six　hundred　dollars　o'　mine！〃

〃Six　hundred　dollars！〃　cried　several　and　began　to　take　a　deeper　interest。

〃Gentleman　this　man　must　be　crazy。　　I　never　saw　him　before；〃　came　loudly　from　the　swindler。

〃That　is　not　true！〃　cried　Joe。　　〃He　was　with　the　man　who　lost　the　money。　　I　saw　them　together　yesterday。〃

〃I　am　a　respectable　merchant　from　Pittsburg；〃　went　on　the　swindler。　　〃It　is　outrageous　to　be　accused　in　this　fashion。〃

〃Somebody　had　better　call　a　policeman；〃　said　Joe。

〃I'll　do　dat；〃　answered　a　newsboy；　and　ran　off　to　execute　the　errand。

As　the　crowd　began　to　collect　the　swindler　saw　that　he　was　going　to　have　difficulty　in　clearing　himself　or　getting　away。　　He　looked　around；　and　seeing　an　opening　made　a　dash　for　it。

He　might　have　gotten　away　had　it　not　been　for　Joe。　　But　our　hero　was　watching　him　with　the　eyes　of　a　hawk；　and　quick　as　a　flash　he　caught　the　rascal　by　the　coat　sleeve。

〃No；　you　don't！〃　he　exclaimed。　　〃Come　back　here！〃

〃Let　go！〃　cried　the　man　and　hit　Joe　in　the　ear。　　But　the　blow　did　not　stop　Joe　from　detaining　him　and　in　a　second　more　Josiah　Bean　caught　hold　also。

〃Ain't　goin'　to　git　away　nohow！〃　exclaimed　the　countryman；　and　took　hold　of　the　swindler's　throat。

〃Lelet　go！〃　came　back　in　a　gasp。　〃Don'tdon't　strangle　me！〃

When　a　policeman　arrived　the　swindler　was　thoroughly　cowed　and　he　turned　reproachfully　to　Josiah　Bean。

〃This　isn't　fair；〃　he　said。　　It　was　all　a　joke。　I　haven't　got　your　money。〃

〃Yes；　you　have。〃

〃He　is　right；　Mr。　Bean；〃　put　in　Joe。　　〃The　money；　I　think；　is　in　your　side　pocket。〃

The　countryman　searched　the　pocket　quickly　and　brought　out　a　flat　pocketbook。

〃Hullo！　this　ain't　mine！〃　he　ejaculated。

He　opened　the　pocketbook　and　inside　were　the　twelve　fifty…dollar　bills。

〃My　money　sure　enough！　How　in　the　world　did　it　git　there？〃

〃This　man　just　slipped　the　pocketbook　into　your　pocket；〃　answered　Joe。

〃I　did　not！〃　put　in　the　swindler；　hotly。

〃You　did。〃

〃Dat's　right！〃　piped　up　the　newsboy　who　had　brought　the　policeman。　　〃I　see　him　do　de　trick　jest　a　minit　ago！〃

〃This　is　a　plot　against　me！〃　fumed　the　swindler。

〃Dat　feller　is　a　bad　egg！〃　went　on　the　news…　boy。　　〃His　name　is　Bill　Butts。　　He's　a　slick　one；　he　is。　　Hits　de　country　jays　strong；　he　does！〃

At　the　mention　of　the　name；　Bill　Butts；　the　policeman　became　more　interested　than　ever。

〃You'll　come　to　the　station　house　with　me；〃　he　said；　sternly。　　〃We　can　straighten　out　the　matter　there。〃

〃All　right；〃　answered　Bill　Butts；　for　such　was　his　real　name。

In　a　few　minutes　more　the　party；　including　Joe；　was　off　in　the　direction　of　the　police　station。

〃Better　keep　a　good　eye　on　your　money；　Mr。　Bean；〃　said　our　hero；　as　they　walked　along。

〃I've　got　it　tucked　away　safe　in　an　inside　pocket；〃　answered　the　old　countryman。

The　station　house　was　several　squares　away；　and　while　walking　beside　the　policeman　the　eyes　of　Bill　Butts　were　wide　open；　looking　for　some　means　of　escape。　　He　had　〃done　time〃　twice　and　he　did　not　wish　to　be　sent　up　again　if　it　could　possibly　be　avoided。

His　opportunity　came　in　an　unexpected　manner。　　In　a　show　window　on　a　corner　a　man　was　exhibiting　some　new　athletic　appliances　and　a　crowd　had　collected　to　witness　the　exhibition。　　The　policeman　had　to　force　his　way　through。

〃Hi；　quit　shovin'　me！〃　growled　a　burly　fellow　in　the　crowd；　not　knowing　he　was　addressing　a　guardian　of　the　law。

〃Make　way　here！〃　ordered　the　policeman；　sternly；　and　then　the　fellow　fell　back。

It　gave　Bill　Butts　the　chance　he　wanted　and　as　quick　as　a　flash　he　dove　into　the　crowd　and　out　of　sight。

〃He　is　running　away！〃　cried　Joe。

〃Catch　him！〃　put　in　Josiah　Bean。

Both　went　after　the　swindler　and　so　did　the　policeman。　　But　the　crowd　was　too　dense　for　them；　and　inside　of　five　minutes　Bill　Butts　had　made　good　his　escape。

〃What　did　ye　want　to　let　him　slip　ye　fer？〃　growled　the　old　countryman；　angrily。

〃Don't　talk　to　me；〃　growled　the　policeman。

〃He　ought　to　be　reported　for　this；〃　put　in　our　hero。

〃Say　another　word　and　I'll　run　you　both　in；〃　said　the　bluecoat。

〃Come　away；〃　whispered　Josiah　Bean。　　〃Anyway；　it　ain't　so　bad。　　I've　got　my　money。〃

〃I'm　willing　to　go；〃　answered　Joe。　　〃But；　just　the　same；　that　policeman　is　a　pudding　head；〃　he　added；　loudly。

〃I'll　pudding　head　you！〃　cried　the　bluecoat；　but　made　no　attempt　to　molest　Joe；　whose　general　style　he　did　not　fancy。

Side　by　side　Josiah　Bean　and　our　hero　walked　away；　until　the　crowd　was　left　behind　and　they　were　practically　alone。

〃I'm　goin'　to　count　thet　money　again；〃　said　the　old　countryman；　and　did　so；　to　make　certain　that　it　was　all　there。

〃We　were　lucky　to　spot　the　rascal；　Mr。　Bean。〃

〃I　didn't　spot　himit　was　you。　　I'm　much　obliged　to　ye。〃

〃Oh；　that's　all　right。〃

〃Seems　to　me　you　are　entitled　to　a　reward；　Joe；〃　went　on　the　old　farmer。

〃I　don't　want　any　reward。〃

〃But　you're　a…goin'　to　take　it。　　How　would　five　dollars　strike　you？〃

〃Not　at　all；　sir。　　I　don't　want　a　cent。〃

〃Then；　maybe；　ye　won't　even　come　an'　take　dinner　with　me；〃　continued　the　old　man；　in　disappointed　tones。

〃Yes；　I'll　do　that；　for　this　chase　has　made　me　tremendously　hungry。〃

〃If　ye　ever　come　down　my　way；　Joe；　ye　must　stop　an'　call　on　me。〃

〃I　will；　Mr。　Bean。〃

〃Nuthin'　on　my　farm　will　be　too　good　for　ye；　Joe。　　I'm　goin'　to　tell　my　wife　Mirandy　o'　this　happenin'　an'　she'll　thank　you　jest　as　I've　done。〃

A　good　restaurant　was　found　not　far　away　and　there　the　two　procured　a　fine　meal　and　took　their　time　eating　it。

〃Have　ye　found　work　yet？〃　asked　the　old　man。

〃Not　yet。　　I　was　looking　for　a　job　when　I　met　you。〃

〃Well；　I　hope　ye　strike　wot　ye　want；　lad。　But　it's　hard　to　git　a　place　in　the　city；　some　times。〃

〃I　shall　try　my　level　best。〃

〃Wish　I　could　git　a　job　fer　ye。　　But　I　don't　know　nubuddy。〃

〃I　am　going　to　try　the　hotels　next。　　I　have　a　strong　letter　of　recommendation　from　a　hotel　man。〃

〃If　ye　don't　git　no　work　in　Philadelphy　come　out　on　my　farm。　　I'll　board　ye　all　winter　fer　nuthin'；〃　went　on　Josiah　Bean；　generously。

〃Thank　you；　Mr。　Bean；　you　are　very　kind。〃

〃I　mean　it。　　We　don't　live　very　high…falutin'；　but　we　have　plenty　o'　plain；　good　victuals。〃

〃I'll　remember　what　you　say；〃　answered　our　hero。

An　hour　later　he　saw　the　countryman　on　a　train　bound　for　home；　and　then　he　started　once　more　to　look　for　a　situation。



CHAPTER　XVII。


JOE'S　NEW　POSITION。


All　of　that　afternoon　Joe　looked　for　a　position　among　the　various　hotels　of　the　Quaker　City。　　But　at　each　place　he　visited　he　received　the　same　answer；　that　there　was　no　help　needed　just　then。

〃This　is　discouraging；〃　he　told　himself；　as　he　retired　that　night。　　〃Perhaps　I'll　have　to　go　to　the　country　or　back　to　Riverside　after　all。〃

Yet　he　was　up　bright　and　early　the　next　day　and　just　as　eager　as　ever　to　obtain　a　situation。

He　had　heard　of　a　new　hotel　called　the　Grandon　House　and　visited　it　directly　after　breakfast。

As　he　entered　the　corridor　he　heard　his　name　called　and　turning　around　saw　Andrew　Mallison。

〃How　do　you　do；　Mr。　Mallison；〃　said　our　hero；　shaking　hands。　　〃I　didn't　expect　to　meet　you　here。〃

〃I've　got　a　little　special　business　in　Philadelphia；〃　said　the　hotel　man。　　〃I　came　in　last　night　and　I　am　going　back　this　afternoon。　How　are　you　making　out？〃

〃It's　all　out　so　far；〃　and　Joe　smiled　faintly　at　his　own　joke。

〃No　situation；　eh？〃

〃That's　it。〃

〃Why　don't　you　strike　the　people　here。　It's　a　new　place　and　the　proprietor　may　need　help。〃

〃That　is　what　I　came　for。〃

〃I'll　put　in　a　good　word　for　you；　Joe。　Come　on。〃

Andrew　Mallison　led　the　way　to　the　office　and　called　up　a　stout；　pleasant　looking　man。

〃Mr。　Drew；　this　is　a　young　friend　of　mine；　Joe　Bodley。　　He　worked　for　me　this　summer；around　the　boats　and　also　in　the　hotel。　　Now　that　the　season　is　at　an　end　he　is　trying　to　find　something　to　do　in　the　city。　　If　you　have　an　opening　I　can　recommend　him。〃

Mr。　Arthur　Drew　surveyed　Joe　critically。　The　new　hotel　was　to　be　run　in　first…class　style　and　he　wanted　his　help　to　be　of　the　best。　　He　rather　liked　Joe's　appearance　and　he　took　note　of　the　fact　that　our　hero's　hands　were　scrupulously　clean　and　that　his　shoes　were　blacked。

〃I've　got　almost　all　the　help　I　need；　but　I　might　take　him　on；〃　he　said；　slowly。　　〃One　of　my　present　boys　does　not　s