joe the hotel boy-第20部分

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〃Can　you　tell　me　where？〃

〃Up　to　the　Widow　Fallow's　place。　　Take　you　there　for　ten　cents。〃

〃Very　well；〃　and　our　hero　jumped　into　the　rickety　turnout　which　went　by　the　name　of　the　Millville　stage。

The　drive　was　not　a　long　one　and　soon　they　came　to　a　halt　in　front　of　a　residence　where　a　man　wearing　a　carpenter's　apron　was　mending　a　broken…down　porch。

〃There's　Joe；〃　said　the　stage　driver；　laconically。

The　man　looked　up　in　wonder　when　Joe　approached　him。　　He　dropped　his　hammer　and　stood　with　his　arms　on　his　hips。

〃This　is　Mr。　Joseph　Korn；　I　believe？〃

〃That's　me；　young　man。〃

〃I　am　Joe　Bodley。　　You　wrote　to　Mr。　Talmadge；　of　Riverside；　a　few　days　ago。　　I　came　on　to　find　out　what　I　could　about　a　Mr。　William　A。　Bodley　who　used　to　live　here。〃

〃Oh；　yes！　Well；　young　man；　I　can't　tell　you　much　more　'n　I　did　in　that　letter。　　Bodley　sold　out；　house；　goods　and　everything；　and　left　for　parts　unknown。〃

〃Did　he　have　any　relatives　around　here？〃

〃Not　when　he　left。　　He　had　a　wife　and　three　childrena　girl　and　two　boysbut　they　died。〃

〃Did　you　ever　hear　of　any　relatives　coming　to　see　hima　man　named　Hiram　Bodley？〃

〃Not　mebut　Augustus　Greggswho　bought　his　farmmight　know　about　it。〃

〃I'll　take　you　to　the　Greggs'　farm　for　ten　cents；〃　put　in　the　stage　driver。

Again　a　bargain　was　struck；　and　a　drive　of　ten　minutes　brought　them　to　the　farm；　located　on　the　outskirts　of　Millville。　　They　found　the　farm　owner　at　work　by　his　wood　pile；　sawing　wood。　　He　was　a　pleasant　appearing　individual。

〃Come　into　the　house；〃　he　said　putting　down　his　saw。　　〃I'm　glad　to　see　you；〃　and　when　our　hero　had　entered　the　little　farmhouse　he　was　introduced　to　Mrs。　Greggs　and　two　grown…up　sons；　all　of　whom　made　him　feel　thoroughly　at　home。

〃To　tell　the　truth；〃　said　Mr。　Greggs；　〃I　did　not　know　William　Bodley　very　well。　　I　came　here　looking　for　a　farm　and　heard　this　was　for　sale；　and　struck　a　bargain　with　him。〃

〃Was　he　alone　at　that　time？〃　questioned　Joe。

〃He　was；　and　his　trouble　seemed　to　have　made　him　a　bit　queernot　but　what　he　knew　what　he　was　doing。〃

〃Did　you　learn　anything　about　his　family？〃

〃He　had　lost　his　wife　and　two　children　by　disease。　　What　had　happened　to　the　other　child　was　something　of　a　mystery。　　I　rather　supposed　it　had　died　while　away　from　home；　but　I　was　not　sure。〃

〃Have　you　any　idea　at　all　what　became　of　William　Bodley？〃

〃Not　exactly。　　Once　I　met　a　man　in　Pittsburg　who　had　met　a　man　of　that　name　in　Idaho；　among　the　mines。　　Both　of　us　wondered　if　that　William　A。　Bodley　was　the　same　that　I　had　bought　my　farm　from。〃

〃Did　he　say　what　part　of　Idaho？〃

〃He　did；　but　I　have　forgotten　now。　　Do　you　think　he　was　a　relative　of　yours？〃

〃I　don't　know　what　to　think。　　It　may　be　that　he　was　my　father。

〃Your　father？〃

〃Yes；〃　and　Joe　told　his　story　and　mentioned　the　documents　found　in　the　blue　tin　box。

〃It　does　look　as　if　he　might　be　your　father；〃　said　Augustus　Greggs。　　〃Maybe　you're　the　child　that　was　away　from　home　at　the　time　his　other　children　and　his　wife　died。〃

〃Do　you　think　anybody　else　in　this　village　would　know　anything　more　about　this　William　Bodley？〃

〃No；　I　don't。　　But　it　won't　do　any　harm　to　ask　around。　　That　stage　driver　knows　all　the　old　inhabitants。　　Perhaps　some　of　them　can　tell　you　something　worth　while。〃

Upon　urgent　invitation；　Joe　took　dinner　at　the　Greggs'　farm　and　then　set　out　to　visit　a　number　of　folks　who　had　lived　in　Millville　and　vicinity　for　many　years。　　All　remembered　William　A。　Bodley　and　his　family；　but　not　one　could　tell　what　had　become　of　the　man　after　he　had　sold　out　and　gone　away。

〃Maybe　you　had　better　advertise　for　him；〃　suggested　one　man。

〃It　will　cost　a　good　deal　to　advertise　all　over　the　United　States；〃　replied　Joe；　〃and　for　all　I　know　he　may　be　dead　or　out　of　the　country。〃

Joe　remained　in　Millville　two　days　and　then　took　the　train　back　to　the　East。　　Ned　was　the　first　to　greet　him　on　his　return　to　Riverside。

〃What　luck？〃　he　asked；　anxiously。

〃None　whatever；〃　was　the　sober　answer。

〃Oh；　Joe；　that's　too　bad！〃

〃I　am　afraid　I　am　stumped；　Ned。〃

They　walked　to　the　Talmadge　mansion；　and　that　evening　talked　the　matter　over　with　Ned's　father。

〃I　will　arrange　to　have　an　advertisement　inserted　in　a　leading　paper　of　each　of　our　big　cities；〃　said　Mr。　Talmadge。　　〃That　will　cost　something；　but　not　a　fortune。〃

〃You　must　let　me　pay　for　it；〃　said　our　hero。

〃No；　Joe；　you　can　put　this　down　to　Ned's　credityou　two　are　such　good　chums；〃　and　Mr。　Talmadge　smiled　quietly。

The　advertisements　were　sent　out　the　following　day；　through　an　advertising　agent；　and　all　waited　for　over　two　weeks　for　some　reply；　but　none　came。

〃It's　no　use；〃　said　Joe；　and　it　must　be　admitted　that　he　was　much　downcast。

In　the　meantime　he　had　seen　Andrew　Mallison　and　the　hotel　man　said　he　would　willingly　hire　him　for　the　summer　as　soon　as　the　season　opened；　and　also　give　Frank　Randolph　a　situation。

〃You　had　better　be　my　guest　until　that　time；〃　said　Ned　to　our　hero；　when　he　heard　of　this。

〃Thank　you；　Ned；　but　I　don't　wish　to　remain　idle　so　long。〃

The　very　next　mail　after　this　talk　brought　news　for　our　hero。　　A　letter　came　from　Maurice　Vane；　asking　him　if　he　wished　to　go　to　Montana。

〃I　am　now　certain　that　that　mine　is　valuable；〃　wrote　the　gentleman。　　〃I　am　going　to　start　West　next　Monday。　　If　you　wish　to　go　with　me　I　will　pay　your　fare　and　allow　you　a　salary　of　ten　dollars　per　week　to　start　on。　　I　think　later　on；　I　will　have　a　good　opening　for　you。〃

〃That　settles　it；　I　am　going　West！〃　cried　Joe；　as　he　showed　the　letter　to　his　chum。

〃Well；　I　don't　blame　you；〃　was　the　reply。　〃I　know　just　how　nice　it　is　out　there。　　You'll　be　sure　to　get　along。〃

Before　going　to　bed　Joe　wired　his　acceptance　of　the　offer；　and　in　the　morning　received　a　telegram　from　Maurice　Vane；　asking　him　to　go　to　Chicago；　to　the　Palmer　House。

〃That　settles　it；　I'm　off；〃　said　our　hero；　and　bought　a　ticket　for　the　great　city　by　the　lakes　without　delay。　　Then　he　said　good…bye　to　the　Talmadges　and　the　Gussings；　and　boarded　the　train　at　sundown。

Joe　was　now　getting　used　to　traveling　and　no　longer　felt　green　and　out　of　place。　　He　had　engaged　a　berth；　and　took　his　ease　until　it　was　time　to　go　to　bed。　　Arriving　at　Chicago　he　made　his　way　without　delay　to　the　Palmer　House。

He　found　the　hotel　crowded　and　had　some　difficulty　in　getting　a　room。　　Mr。　Maurice　Vane　had　not　yet　arrived。

〃I　guess　I'll　leave　a　note　for　him；〃　thought　our　hero；　and　sauntered　into　the　reading…room　to　pen　the　communication。

While　Joe　was　writing；　two　men　came　into　the　room　and　sat　down　behind　a　pillar　that　was　close　at　hand。　　They　were　in　earnest　conversation　and　he　could　not　help　but　catch　what　was　said。

〃You　say　he　is　coming　West？〃　said　one　of　the　pair。

〃Yes；he　started　yesterday。〃

〃And　he　has　found　out　that　the　mine　is　really　valuable？〃

〃I　think　so。　　Anyway　he　is　quite　excited　about　it。　　He　sent　a　telegram　to　that　boy；　too。〃

〃The　hotel　boy　you　mean？〃

〃Yes。〃

So　the　talk　ran　on　and　Joe　at　length　got　up　to　take　a　look　at　the　two　men。　　They　were　Gaff　Caven　and　Pat　Malone。　　At　once　our　hero　drew　out　of　sight　again。

〃How　can　you　get　the　best　of　Vane；　Gaff？〃　asked　Malone；　after　a　pause。

〃There　is　but　one　way；　Malone。〃

〃And　that　is？〃

〃Can　I　trust　you？〃

〃Haven't　you　trusted　me　before？〃

〃We　must〃　Caven　paused。　　〃We　won't　talk　about　it　in　this　public　place。　　Come　to　my　room　and　I'll　lay　my　plan　before　you。〃

Then　the　two　arose　and　left　the　reading…room　as　rapidly　as　they　had　entered　it。



CHAPTER　XXVI。


HOW　A　SATCHEL　DISAPPEARED。


〃They　certainly　mean　mischief；〃　Joe　told　himself；　after　the　two　men　had　vanished。　　He　saw　them　enter　an　elevator；　but　did　not　know　at　what　floor　they　alighted。

Looking　over　the　hotel　register　he　was　unable　to　find　the　names　of　either　Caven　or　Malone；　or　even　Ball。　　Evidently　the　rascals　were　traveling　under　other　names　now。

〃They'll　bear　watching；〃　he　concluded。　　〃I　must　put　Mr。　Vane　on　guard　as　soon　as　he　comes　in。〃

He　gave　up　the　idea　of　leaving　a　note　and　took　his　station　in　the　corridor　of　the　hotel。　　After　waiting　about　two　hours　he　saw　a　well…known　form　approaching；　dress…suit　case　in　hand。

〃Mr。　Vane！〃

〃Oh；　Joe；　so　you're　here　already！　I'm　glad　I　won't　have　to　wait　for　you。〃

〃I'm　afraid　you　won't　be　able　to　get　a　room；　Mr。　Vane。　　But　you　can　have　mine。〃

〃I　telegraphed　ahead　for　a　room；　Joe。〃

〃Do　you　know　that　your　enemies　are　here？〃　went　on　our　hero。

〃My　enemies？〃

〃Gaff　Caven　and　Pat　Malone。　　But　they　are　traveling　under　other　names。〃

〃Have　they　seen　you？〃

〃I　think　not；　sir。〃

Mr。　Vane　soon　had　his　room　assigned　to　him　and　he　and　our　hero　passed　up　in　the　elevator。　As　soon　as　they　were　in　the　apartment　by　themselves；　Joe　related　what　he　had　seen　and　heard。

〃They　are　certainly　on　my　trail；〃　mused　Maurice　Vane。　　〃And　they　must　have　kept　pretty　close　or　they　wouldn't　know　that　I　had　asked　you　to　accompany　me。〃

〃They　have　some　plot；　Mr。　Vane。〃

〃Have　you　any　idea　what　it　is？〃

〃No；　sir；　excepting　that　they　are　going　to　try　to　do　you　out　of　your　interest　in　that　mine。〃

Maurice　Vane　and　Joe　talked　the　matter　over　for　an　hour；　but　without　satisfaction。　　Then　they　went　to　the　dining　room　for　something　to　eat。

〃We　start　for　Montana　in　the　morning；〃　said　the　gentleman。　　〃I　think　the　quicker　I　get　on　the　ground　the　better　it　will　be　for　me。〃

Although　Maurice　Vane　and　Joe　did　not　know　it；　both　were　shadowed　by　Caven　and　Malone。　The　two　rascals　had　disguised　themselves　by　donning　false　beards　and　putting　on　spectacles。

〃They　leave　in　the　morning；〃　said　Caven。　〃Malone；　we　must　get　tickets　for　the　same　train；　and；　if　possible；　the　same　sleeping　car。〃

〃It's　dangerous　work；〃　grumbled　Pat　Malone。

〃If　you　want　to　back　out；　say　so；　and　I'll　go　it　alone。〃

〃I　don't　want　to　back　out。　　But　we　must　be　careful。〃

〃I'll　be　careful；　don't　fear；〃　answered　the　leader　of　the　evil　pair。

At　the　ticket　office　of　the　hotel；　Maurice　Vane　procured　the　necessary　tickets　and　sleeper　accommodations　to　the　town　of　Golden　Pass；　Idaho。　　He　did　not　notice　that　he　was　watched。　A　moment　later　Gaff　Caven　stepped　up　to　the　desk。

〃I　want　a　couple　of　tickets　to　Golden　Pass；　too；〃　he　said；　carelessly。

〃Yes；　sir。〃

〃Let　me　see；