joe the hotel boy-第15部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！


tle　excitement　on　the　way。〃

〃How　was　that？〃

〃Jack　Sagger　and　some　other　boys　followed　me　up　and　wanted　to　polish　me　off。〃

〃You　don't　look　as　if　they　had　done　much　polishing。〃　　And　the　hotel　man　smiled。

〃No；　Jack　Sagger　got　the　worst　of　it。　　I　guess　he'll　leave　me　alone　in　the　future。〃

〃You　mustn't　fight　around　the　hotel；　Joe。〃

〃This　was　on　the　way　to　Jackson　&　Bell's；　sir。　　I　was　bound　to　defend　myself。〃

〃To　be　sure。　　Sagger　came　to　me　yesterday　and　wanted　to　be　taken　back；　but　I　told　him　nothat　I　wouldn't　have　such　an　impudent　fellow　around。〃

As　the　winter　season　came　on　the　hotel　began　to　fill　up　and　Joe　was　kept　busy　from　early　in　the　morning　until　late　at　night；　and　so　was　Frank　Randolph。　　The　two　boys　were　firm　friends；　and　on　Sunday　went　to　Sunday　School　together　and　also　to　church；　when　their　hotel　duties　permitted　of　it。

In　the　corridor　of　the　hotel　Joe；　one　day；　met　the　timid　Felix　Gussing；　the　young　man　who　had　once　had　so　much　trouble　in　driving　a　horse。

〃How　do　you　do；　Mr。　Gussing；〃　said　our　hero　politely。

〃Why　if　it　isn't　Joe！〃　cried　the　young　man；　and　smiled。　　〃What　are　you　doing　here？〃

〃I　work　at　this　hotel　now。〃

〃Is　it　possible！　Didn't　you　like　it　at　Riverside？〃

〃Yes；　but　the　place　is　shut　up　for　the　winter。〃

〃Ah；　I　see。〃

〃Are　you　stopping　here；　sir？〃

〃Yes；　I　came　in　an　hour　ago。　　I　have　business　in　Philadelphia。〃

〃Maybe　you're　buying　horses；〃　said　Joe；　slyly。

〃No！　no！　No　more　horses　for　me；〃　ejaculated　the　dude。　　〃Ierthis　is　of　more　importance。〃

No　more　was　said　just　then；　but　later　our　hero　met　Felix　Gussing　again；　and　on　the　day　following　had　an　errand　that　took　him　to　the　young　man's　room。

〃Joe；　you　are　quite　a　wise　boy；　perhaps　I　can　confide　in　you；〃　said　Felix　Gussing；　after　some　talk　on　other　subjects。

〃I'll　be　glad　to　be　of　service　to　you；　Mr。　Gussing。〃

〃I　have　a　delicate　problem　to　solve。　　Sometimes　a　young　man　can　give　better　advice　than　an　older　person；〃　went　on　the　dude。

〃Don't　flatter　me；　Mr。　Gussing。〃

〃I　am　in　love；〃　went　on　the　young　man；　flatly。

〃Yes；　sir。〃

〃I　am　quite　sure　the　young　lady　loves　me。〃

〃Then　I　suppose　you　are　going　to　get　married。〃

〃There　is　an　obstacle　in　the　way。〃

〃Oh！〃

〃Perhaps　I　had　better　tell　you　the　whole　storyif　you'll　listen　to　me；〃　went　on　the　dude。

〃Certainly　I'll　listen；〃　said　Joe。　　〃I've　got　a　little　time　off。〃

And　then　Felix　Gussing　told　his　tale　of　woe；　as　will　be　found　in　the　next　chapter。



CHAPTER　XIX。


ONE　KIND　OF　A　DUEL。


〃Her　name　is　Clara；　and　she　is　the　daughter　of　Major　Thomas　Botts　Sampson；　of　the　regular　army；〃　began　Felix　Gussing。

〃Then　her　father　is　a　military　man。〃

〃Exactly；　and　that　is　the　trouble；〃　and　the　dude　gave　a　groan。　　〃It　is　this　way：　When　I　went　to　see　Major　Sampson　he　greeted　me　very　cordially；　until　I　disclosed　the　object　of　my　visit。

〃　'Sir；'　said　he　'This　is　a　matter　which　requires　consideration。　　Have　you　gained　my　daughter's　consent？'

〃　'I　have；'　I　answered。

〃　'So　far　so　good；'　said　he。　　'But　there　is　one　thing　more。　　Have　you　served　in　the　army？'

〃　'No；'　said　I。

〃　'Or　fought　a　duel？'

〃　'No。'

〃Then　he　told　me　to　remember　that　he　had　served　in　the　army　and　that　his　daughter　was　the　daughter　of　an　army　man；　one　who　had　gone　through　many　battles。　　After　that　he　said　he　was　resolved　that　his　daughter　should　marry　only　somebody　who　had　proved　himself　a　man　of　courage。〃

〃What　did　you　do　then？〃　asked　Joe；　becoming　interested。

〃What　could　I　do？　　I　amerno　army　manno　fighter。　　Evidently　the　major　wants　a　fighter　for　a　son…in…law；〃　and　Felix　Gussing　groaned　once　more。

〃You'll　have　to　become　a　fighter；〃　said　Joe。

〃No！　no！　I　am　a　era　man　of　peace！〃　cried　the　dude；　in　alarm。

〃Mr。　Gussing；　I　think　I　can　arrange　matters　for　you；〃　said　Joe；　struck　by　a　certain　idea。

〃What　can　you　mean；　Joe？〃

〃I　mean　that　I　can　prove　to　Major　Sampson　that　you　are　a　brave　man。〃

〃Do　that；　Joe；　and　I　shall　be　your　friend　for　life！〃　　gasped　the　dude。

〃Will　you　wait　until　to…morrow；　Mr。　Gussing？〃

〃Certainly；　but　do　not　keep　me　in　suspense　too　long。〃

〃This　may　cost　you　a　little　money。〃

〃I　don't　care　if　it　costs　a　hundred　dollars。〃

〃Then　I　am　sure　I　can　fix　it　up　for　you；〃　answered　Joe。

There　was　stopping　at　the　hotel　a　man　named　Montgomery。　　He　had　at　different　times　been　an　auctioneer；　a　book…agent；　a　schoolmaster；　and　a　traveling　salesman。　　He　was　just　now　selling　curiosities　and　Joe　felt　that　he　would　be　only　too　glad　to　do　Felix　Gussing　a　good　turn　if　he　were　paid　for　it。

Our　hero　had　a　talk　with　this　man；　and　the　upshot　of　the　matter　was　that　Montgomery　and　the　dude　were　introduced　on　the　following　morning。

〃I　think　I　can　help　you；　Mr。　Gussing；〃　said　the　curiosity　man；　who；　it　may　be　mentioned　here；　was　a　tall　and　important…looking　personage。　　〃I　was　once　in　the　army。〃

〃What　can　you　do？〃　questioned　the　dude；　hopefully。

〃Will　it　be　worth　fifty　dollars　to　you　if　I　aid　you　in　winning　the　consent　of　Major　Sampson　to　wed　his　daughter？〃

〃Decidedly。〃

〃This　is　also　Joe's　plan；　so　you　will　have　to　pay　him；　too。〃

〃I　don't　want　any　money；〃　put　in　our　hero。

〃Joe　shall　have　ten　dollarsif　your　plan　wins　out。　　But　how　is　all　this　to　be　accomplished？〃　　continued　Felix　Gussing。

〃We　will　take　the　earliest　possible　opportunity　to　visit　Major　Sampson；〃　said　Ulmer　Montgomery。

〃Well？〃

〃When　we　are　all　together；　we'll　get　into　some　sort　of　an　argument。　　You　shall　call　me　a　fool　and　I'll　slap　you　in　the　face。　　Then　you　shall　challenge　me　to　a　duel。〃

〃A　duel！　Why；　sir；　IerI　never　could　shoot　you；　and　I　don't　want　to　be　shot　myself。〃

〃My　dear　Mr。　Gussing；　you　don't　understand　me。　　Don't　you　comprehend；　the　pistols　shall　be　loaded　with　powder　only。〃

〃Ah；　that's　the　idea！〃　exclaimed　the　dude；　much　relieved。

〃Yes。　　You　see　it　will　only　be　a　sham　duel　so　far　as　we　are　concerned；　but　will；　in　the　most　harmless　fashion　possible；　prove　you　to　be　a　man　of　honor　and　courage。　　Major　Sampson's　scruples　will　vanish；　and　you　will　have　the　pleasure　of　gaining　his　daughter's　hand　in　marriage。

〃I　agree；　Mr。　Montgomerythe　plan　is　a　famous　one。　　Is　it　yours　or　is　it　Joe's？〃

〃Joe'sbut　it　will　fall　to　me　to　help　carry　it　out；〃　said　the　Jack…of…all…trades；　who　did　not　lose　sight　of　the　fifty　dollars　that　had　been　promised　to　him。

On　the　following　day　Felix　Gussing　and　Mr。　Montgomery　took　themselves　to　Major　Sampson's　residence；　where　the　stranger　was　introduced　as　a　curiosity　hunter　from　Chicago。

〃He　wishes　to　look　at　your　collection　of　swords；〃　said　the　dude。

〃I　shall　be　delighted　to　show　them；〃　said　the　major；　who　was　a　person　of　great　self…importance。

〃Ah；　this　is　a　fine　sword　from　the　Holy　Land；〃　said　Mr。　Montgomery；　handling　one　of　the　blades。

〃I　don't　know　where　it　came　from；〃　said　the　major。　　〃It　was　presented　to　me　by　a　friend　from　Boston。〃

〃That　is　a　Russian　sword；〃　said　the　dude。　　〃I　know　it　by　its　handle。〃

〃That　sword　is　from　the　Holy　Land；〃　insisted　Mr。　Montgomery。

〃Anybody　is　a　fool　to　talk　that　way；〃　cried　Felix　Gussing。

〃Ha！　do　you　call　me　a　fool；　sir！〃　stormed　Montgomery。

〃Gentlemen！〃　put　in　the　major。　　〃I　think〃

〃I　am　not　a　fool；　sir；　and　I　want　you　to　know　it！〃　bellowed　Ulmer　Montgomery。　〃It's　an　outrage　to　call　me　such。　　Take　that；　sir！〃　and　he　slapped　Felix　Gussing　lightly　on　the　cheek。

〃Gentlemen；　this　must　cease！〃　cried　the　major；　coming　between　them。　　〃In　my　house；　too！　Disgraceful！〃

〃He　has　got　to　apologize　to　me！〃　roared　the　dude；　acting　his　part　to　perfection。

〃Never！〃　shouted　Montgomery。

〃If　you　will　not；　I　demand　satisfaction。　　I　I　will　fight　you　in　a　duel。〃

〃A　duel！〃

〃Yes；　a　duel。　　Pistols；　at　ten　paces；〃　went　on　Felix　Gussing。

〃Well！　well！〃　came　from　the　major　in　amazement。

〃Can　I　do　less？〃　demanded　the　would…be　son…in…law。　　〃My　honor　is　at　stake。〃

〃Then　stand　by　your　honor　by　all　means；〃　cried　the　military　man；　who；　at　times；　was　as　hot…blooded　as　anybody。

During　the　talk　the　major's　daughter　had　come　upon　the　scene。

〃Oh；　Felix；　what　does　this　mean？〃　she　demanded。

〃I　am　going　to　fight　thisthis　fellow　a　duel；　pistols　at　ten　paces；〃　answered　Felix；　firmly。

〃Felix！〃　she　gasped。　　〃You　will　not；　you　cannot　fight。　　For　my　sake；　do　not。〃

〃Clara；〃　answered　the　dude；　smiling　affectionately　upon　her。　　〃For　your　sake　I　would　forego　any　personal　gratification；　but　I　must　not　suffer　a　stain　upon　the　honor。〃

〃Well　said！〃　exclaimed　the　major。　　〃Felix　is　behaving　well。　　I　couldn't　have　done　better　myself。　　I　admire　his　courage　and　I　give　him　free　permission　to　wed　you　after　thethe〃

〃But　father；　if　he　should　be　killed？〃　faltered　the　fair　Clara。

〃Never　fear；　Clara；　all　will　go　well；〃　interposed　Felix。

More　words　followed；　but　the　dude　pretended　to　be　stubborn　and　so　did　Ulmer　Montgomery。　Both　went　off　to　arrange　about　the　duel；　and　the　major　insisted　upon　it　that　he　must　be　on　hand　to　see　the　affair　come　off。

Matters　were　hurried　along　with　all　speed；　and　it　was　arranged　that　the　duel　should　take　place　on　the　following　morning　at　ten　o'clock；　in　a　country　spot　just　outside　of　the　city。　　Joe　was　invited　to　go　along；　and　carried　the　pistols；　and　two　others　were　let　into　the　secret；　including　a　doctor；　who　went　fully　prepared　to　attend　to　any　wounds　that　might　be　inflicted。

It　did　not　take　long　to　load　the　pistols；　with　powder　only。　　Great　care　was　taken　so　that　Major　Sampson　should　not　suspect　the　truth。

〃Major；〃　said　Felix；　in　a　trembling　voice。　〃If　Iif　anything　serious　happens　to　me　tell　Clara　thatthat　I　died　like　a　man。〃

〃Noble　boy！　I　will！　I　will！〃　answered　the　military　man。

〃When　I　give　the　word；　gentlemen；　you　will　both　fire！〃　said　one　of　the　seconds。

〃Very　well；〃　answered　both　of　the　duelists。

〃Ready？　　Onetwothreefire！〃

Both　pistols　were　simultaneously　discharged。　When　the　smoke　cleared　away　it　was　ascertained　that　both　parties　were　unharmed。

〃Gentlemen；　are　you　satisfied？〃　asked　the　seconds。

〃I　am；〃　answered　Ulmer　Montgomery；　quickly。

〃Then　I　shall　be；〃　put　in　Felix　Gussing。　〃And　now　that　this　affair　is　at　an　end；　Mr。　Montgomery　will　you　shake　hands？〃　he　added。

〃With　pleasure；　Mr。　Gussing！〃　was　the　reply。　　〃I　must　say　in　all　frankness　I　am　sorry　we　quarrelled　in　the