joe the hotel boy-第14部分

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ys　does　not　suit　me　at　all。　He　is　too　impudent。〃

〃Well；　Joe　is　never　impudent　and　he　is　very　reliable；〃　answered　Andrew　Mallison。

〃I'll　give　you　a　trial。〃

〃Thank　you；　sir。〃

〃The　wages　will　depend　upon　whether　you　board　here　or　outside。〃

〃How　much　will　you　give　me　if　I　stay　at　the　hotel？〃

〃Four　dollars　a　week。〃

〃And　what　if　I　board　outside？〃

〃Nine　dollars　a　week。〃

〃Can　you　give　the　boy　a　pretty　fair　room？〃　asked　Andrew　Mallison。　　〃I　know　yo'll　like　him　after　he　has　been　here　a　while。〃

〃He　can　have　a　room　with　another　boy。　That　lad　yonder；〃　and　the　proprietor　of　the　Grandon　House　pointed　with　his　hand。

Joe　looked　and　saw　that　the　other　lad　was　gentlemanly　looking　and　rather　pleasant。

〃It　will　suit　me　to　stay　here；　I　think；〃　he　said。　　〃Anyway；　I　am　willing　to　try　it。〃

〃When　can　you　come　to　work？〃

〃Right　awayor　at　least；　as　soon　as　I　can　get　my　suit　case　from　where　I　have　been　stopping。〃

〃Then　come　in　after　dinner　and　I'll　tell　you　what　to　do　and　turn　you　over　to　my　head　man。　Randolph；　come　here！〃

At　the　call　a　bell　boy　came　up。

〃This　is　another　boy　who　is　to　work　here；〃　said　Arthur　Drew。　　He　will　room　with　you。〃

〃Thank　you；　Mr。　Drew；　I'll　be　glad　to　get　rid　of　Jack　Sagger；〃　said　Frank　Randolph。

〃What's　your　name？〃　he　went　on　to　our　hero。

〃Joe　Bodley。〃

〃Mine　is　Frank　Randolph。　　I　guess　we'll　get　along　all　right。〃

〃I　hope　so；　Frank；〃　said　Joe；　and　shook　hands。

There　was　a　little　more　talk　and　then　Joe　left；　to　get　his　dress　suit　case　and　a　few　other　things　which　belonged　to　him。　　By　one　o'clock　he　was　back　to　the　Grandon　House；　and　just　in　time　to　see　Andrew　Mallison　going　away。

〃I　am　much　obliged；　Mr。　Mallison；　for　what　you　have　done；〃　said　our　hero；　warmly。

〃You're　welcome；　Joe；〃　answered　the　hotel　man。　　〃I　take　an　interest　in　you　and　I　trust　you　do　well　here。〃

〃I　shall　do　my　best。〃

After　Andrew　Mallison　had　gone　Joe　was　shown　around　the　hotel　and　instructed　in　his　various　duties。　　Occasionally　he　was　to　do　bell…boy　duty；　but　usually　he　was　to　be　an　all…around　helper　for　the　office。

〃I　think　you'll　like　it　here；〃　said　Frank　Randolph。　　〃It's　the　best　hotel　I've　ever　worked　in。　　Mr。　Drew　is　a　perfect　gentleman。〃

〃I　am　glad　to　hear　it；　Frank；〃　answered　our　hero。

The　room　assigned　to　the　two　boys　was　a　small　one　on　the　top　floor　of　the　hotel。　　But　it　was　clean；　contained　two　nice　cots；　and　Joe　felt　it　would　suit　him　very　well。　　Frank　had　hung　up　a　few　pictures　and　had　a　shelf　full　of　books　and　this　made　the　apartment　look　quite　home…like。

〃I'm　going　to　buy　some　books　myself；　this　winter；〃　said　Joe。　　〃And　when　I　get　time　I　am　going　to　do　some　studying。〃

〃I'm　studying　myself；　Joe。　　I　never　had　much　schooling；〃　returned　Frank。

〃Are　you　alone　in　the　world？〃

〃No；　my　father　is　living。　　But　he　is　rather　sickly　and　lives　with　an　uncle　of　mine；　over　in　Camden。　　He　can't　work　very　much；　and　that　is　why　I　have　to　support　myself。　　Are　you　alone？〃

〃Yes。　　I　think　my　father　is　living　but　I　can't　locate　him。〃

The　next　day　and　for　several　days　following　Joe　pitched　into　work　in　earnest。　　Many　things　were　strange　to　him；　but　he　determined　to　master　them　as　speedily　as　possible；　and　this　pleased　Arthur　Drew。

〃That　boy　is　all　right；〃　he　said　to　his　cashier。　〃I　am　glad　that　Andrew　Mallison　brought　him　to　me。〃

〃Jack　Sagger　was　awfully　angry　at　being　discharged；〃　said　the　cashier。

〃It　was　his　own　fault。　　I　cannot　afford　to　have　a　boy　around　who　is　impudent。〃

What　the　cashier　said　about　the　discharged　lad　was　true。　　Jack　Sagger　was　〃mad　clear　through；〃　and　he　attributed　his　discharge　solely　to　Joe。

〃I'll　fix　dat　pill；〃　he　said　to　one　of　his　chums。　〃He　ain't　going　to　do　me　out　of　my　job　an'　not　suffer　fer　it。〃

〃What　are　you　going　to　do；　Jack？〃　asked　the　companion。

〃I'll　mash　him；　dat's　wot　I'll　do；〃　answered　Jack　Sagger。

He　was　a　big；　rawboned　lad；　several　inches　taller　than　Joe。　　His　face　was　freckled；　and　his　lips　discolored　by　cigarette　smoking。　　He　was　a　thoroughly　tough　boy　and　it　was　a　wonder　that　he　had　ever　been　allowed　to　work　in　the　hotel　at　all。　　He　had　a　fairly　good　home；　but　only　went　there　to　sleep　and　to　get　his　meals。

〃Joe；　I　hear　that　Jack　Sagger　is　going　to　make　it　warm　for　you；〃　said　Frank；　one　Monday　afternoon。

〃I　suppose　he　is　angry　because　I　got　his　position；　is　that　it？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃What　is　he　going　to　do？〃

〃I　don't　know　exactly；　but　he'll　hurt　you　if　he　can。〃

〃If　he　attacks　me　I'll　do　what　I　can　to　take　care　of　myself；〃　answered　our　hero。

That　afternoon　he　was　sent　out　by　Mr。　Drew　on　an　errand　that　took　him　to　a　neighborhood　occupied　largely　by　wholesale　provision　houses。　　As　Joe　left　the　hotel　Jack　Sagger　saw　him。

〃Dere's　dat　country　jay　now；〃　said　Sagger。

〃Now's　your　time　to　git　square　on　him；　Jack；〃　said　Nick　Sammel；　his　crony。

〃Right　you　are；　Nick。　　Come　on。〃

〃Going　to　follow　him？〃

〃Yes；　till　I　git　him　where　I　want　him。〃

〃Going　to　mash　him？〃

〃Sure。　　When　I　git　through　wid　him　his　own　mother　won't　know　him；〃　went　on　Jack　Sagger；　boastfully。

〃Maybe　he'll　git　the　cops　after　you；　Jack。〃

〃I'll　watch　out　fer　dat；　Nick；　an'　you　must　watch　out　too；〃　answered　Jack　Sagger。

〃Are　you　sure　you　kin　best　him？　　He　looks　putty　strong。〃

〃Huh！　Can't　I　fight？　　Didn't　I　best　Sam　Nolan；　and　Jerry　Dibble？〃

〃That's　right；　Jack。〃

〃Just　let　me　git　one　chanct　at　him　an'　he'll　run　away；　you　see　if　he　don't。　　But　he　shan't　git　away　until　I　give　him　a　black　eye　an'　knock　out　a　couple　of　his　front　teeth　fer　him；〃　concluded　the　boaster。



CHAPTER　XVIII。


JOE　SHOWS　HIS　MUSCLE。


All　unconscious　that　he　was　being　followed；　our　hero　went　on　his　errand　to　a　wholesale　provision　house　that　supplied　the　Grandon　Hotel　with　meats　and　poultry。　　He　felt　in　good　spirits　and　so　whistled　lightly　as　he　walked。

Arriving　at　the　place　of　business　he　transacted　his　errand　as　speedily　as　possible　and　then　started　to　return　to　the　hotel。

He　was　just　passing　the　entrance　to　a　factory　yard　when　he　felt　a　hand　on　his　shoulder；　and　wheeling　around　found　himself　confronted　by　Jack　Sagger；　Nick　Sammel；　and　half　a　dozen　others；　who　had　gathered　to　see　their　leader　〃polish　off〃　the　country　boy。

〃What　do　you　want？〃　demanded　Joe；　sharply。

〃You　know　well　enough　wot　I　want；　country！〃　exclaimed　Jack　Sagger。

〃I　do　not。〃

〃You　took　my　job　away　from　me；　an'　I'm　goin'　to　pay　you　fer　doing　it。〃

〃Mr。　Drew　had　a　perfect　right　to　discharge　you；　Jack　Sagger。　　He　said　you　were　impudent　and　he　didn't　want　you　around　any　more。〃

〃You　can't　preach　to　me；　country！　　Do　you　know　wot　I'm　goin'　ter　do？〃

〃No。〃

〃I'm　going　to　make　you　promise　to　leave　dat　job。　　Will　yer　promise？〃

〃No。〃

〃Den　you　have　got　to　fight；〃　and　Jack　Sagger　began　to　pull　up　his　rather　dirty　coat　sleeves。

〃Supposing　I　don't　want　to　fight？〃　went　on　our　hero；　as　calmly　as　he　could。

〃Yer　got　ter　do　it；　countryor　else　make　dat　promise。〃

〃I'll　make　no　promise　to　you。〃

〃Den　take　dat！〃

As　Jack　Sagger　uttered　the　last　words　he　launched　a　blow　at　Joe's　nose。　　But　our　hero　ducked　and　the　blow　went　wide　of　its　mark。

〃Give　it　to　him；　Jack！〃

〃Show　him　what　you　can　do！〃

〃Keep　off；〃　came　from　Joe。　　〃If　you　don't；　you'll　get　hurt！〃

〃Hear　dat　now！　Jack；　pitch　in；　quick；　before　anybody　comes！〃

Thus　urged　Jack　Sagger　struck　out　once　more；　landing　on　Joe's　chest。　　Then　our　hero　drew　back　and　sent　in　a　blow　with　all　his　force。　It　took　the　other　boy　squarely　on　the　chin　and　sent　him　staggering　against　a　friend。

If　ever　there　was　a　surprised　boy　that　boy　was　Jack　Sagger。　　He　had　expected　that　to　〃polish　off〃　Joe　would　be　easy　and　he　had　not　anticipated　such　a　defense　as　had　been　made。　He　righted　himself　and　gazed　stupidly　at　our　hero。

〃Wot　did　yer　hit　me　fer？〃　he　gasped。

〃You　keep　off　or　I'll　hit　you　again；〃　answered　Joe。

There　was　a　pause　and　Sagger　sprang　forward；　trying　to　catch　Joe　around　the　arms。　But　our　hero　was　too　quick　for　him　and　ducked　once　more。　　Then　he　hit　the　bully　in　the　ear　and　gave　him　another　blow　in　the　left　eye。

〃Ouch！〃　roared　Jack　Sagger。　　〃Don't！　Oh；　my　eye！〃

〃Have　you　had　enough？〃　demanded　Joe；　who　was　commencing　to　warm　up。

〃Pitch　in；　fellers！〃　came　from　Jack　Sagger。　〃Throw　him　down！〃

〃Ain't　you　going　to　do　it　alone？〃　queried　Nick　Sammel；　in　wonder；　not　unmingled　with　a　suspicion　that　Joe　would　not　be　as　easy　to　handle　as　anticipated。

〃II've　got　aa　heartburn；〃　came　lamely　from　Sagger。　　〃It　come　on　me　all　at　onct。　　If　it　wasn't　fer　that　I'd　do　him　up　all　alone。〃

〃You're　a　fraud；　and　you　haven't　any　heart…burn！〃　cried　Joe。　　〃You're　afraid；　that's　all。　If　you　want　to　fight；　stand　up；　and　we'll　have　it　out。〃

〃Don't　you　call　me　afraid；〃　said　Sagger；　but　his　voice　had　lost　much　of　its　bullying　tone。

〃You're　a　big　coward；　Jack　Sagger。　　After　this　I　want　you　to　leave　me　alone。〃

〃Ain't　you　fellers　going　to　pitch　in？〃　demanded　Sagger；　turning　to　his　cohorts。

〃The　first　boy　to　hit　me　will　get　paid　back　with　interest；〃　said　Joe；　sharply。　　〃I　don't　like　to　fight　but　I　can　do　it　if　I　have　to。〃

One　or　two　had　edged　forward　but　when　they　saw　his　determined　air　they　slunk　back。

〃Go　on　and　fight　him；　Jack；〃　said　one。　　〃This　is　your　mix…up；　not　ours。〃

〃You　said　you　was　going　to　do　him　up　brown；〃　put　in　another。

〃Ain't　I　got　the　heartburn？〃　blustered　the　bully。　　〃I　can't　do　nuthin'　when　I　git　that。　　Wait　till　I'm　well；　then　I'll　show　him。〃

〃If　you　ever　touch　me　again；　Jack　Sagger；　I'll　give　you　the　worst　thrashing　you　ever　had；〃　said　Joe；　loudly。　　〃Remember；　I　am　not　the　least　bit　afraid　of　you。　　The　best　thing　you　can　do　is　to　keep　your　distance。〃

〃Humph！〃

〃I　don't　want　to　quarrel　with　anybody；　but　I　am　always　ready　to　stick　up　for　my　rights；　just　you　remember　that。〃

So　speaking　Joe　backed　out　of　the　crowd；　that　opened　to　let　him　pass。　　Several　of　the　boys　wanted　to　detain　him；　but　not　one　had　the　courage　to　do　so。　　As　soon　as　he　was　clear　of　his　tormentors；　he　hurried　back　to　the　hotel。

〃How　did　you　make　out？〃　asked　Mr。　Drew。

〃It's　all　right；　sir；　and　they'll　send　the　things　to…night；　sure；〃　answered　Joe。　　He　hestitated　for　a　moment。　　〃I　had　a　little　excitement　on　the　way。〃

〃How　was　that？〃

〃Jack　Sagger　and　some　other　boys　followed　me　up　an