joe the hotel boy-第5部分

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〃Hold　on；　don't　be　so　fast！〃　cried　the　clerk；　catching　him　by　the　arm。　　〃I'll　make　it　eleven　and　a　quarter。〃

〃Not　a　cent　more　than　the　advertised　price；　nine　and　a　half；〃　replied　Joe；　firmly。

〃Oh；　but　this　isn't　the　same　suit。〃

〃It's　just　like　it；　to　my　eye。　　But　you　needn't　sell　it　for　that　if　you　don't　want　it。　　Mason　&　Harris　are　offering　some　bargains；　I　believe。〃

〃You　can　get　a　better　bargain　here　than　anywhere　in　this　town；　or　in　Philadelphia　either；〃　answered　the　clerk；　who　did　not　intend　to　let　his　prospective　customer　get　away。　　〃We'll　make　it　an　even　eleven　dollars　and　say　no　more　about　it。〃

Instead　of　answering　Joe　started　once　more　for　the　door。

〃Hold　on！〃

〃I　haven't　got　time。〃

〃Make　it　ten　and　a　half。　　At　that　price　we　are　losing　exactly　half　a　dollar　on　that　suit。〃

〃Not　a　cent　over　what　I　offered。〃

〃We　can't　sell　suits　at　such　a　loss。　　It　would　ruin　us。〃

〃Then　don't　do　it。　　I　think　Mason　&　Harris　have　some　good　suits　very　cheap。　　And　they　are　quite　up…to…date；　too；〃　added　Joe。

〃Our　suits　are　the　best　in　town；　young　man。　　Take　this　one　for　an　even　ten　dollar　bill。〃

〃I　will　if　you'll　throw　in　one　of　those　half　dollar　caps；〃　answered　our　hero。

〃Well；　have　your　own　way；　but　it's　a　sacrifice；〃　grumbled　the　clerk。

He　wanted　to　wrap　up　the　suit；　but；　afraid　he　might　substitute　something　else；　Joe　insisted　upon　donning　the　suit　then　and　there　and　likewise　the　new　cap。　　Then　he　had　the　old　articles　of　wearing　apparel　done　up　into　a　bundle　and　paid　over　the　ten　dollars。

〃You're　pretty　smart　after　a　bargain；〃　said　the　clerk。

〃I've　got　to　bewhen　I　strike　such　fellows　as　you；〃　was　the　reply。

〃You　got　a　better　bargain　than　that　Irish　woman　did。〃

〃I　didif　the　suit　is　all　wool。　　But　if　it's　cotton；　I'm　stuck；〃　returned　our　hero；　and　with　his　bundle　under　his　arm　he　walked　from　the　store。

He　had　left　his　rowboat　in　charge　of　an　old　boatman　named　Ike　Fairfield；　and　now　he　walked　down　to　the　boathouse。

〃Just　in　time；　Joe；〃　said　the　old　boatman。　　〃Want　to　earn　a　dollar？〃

〃To　be　sure　I　do；〃　answered　our　hero。

〃A　party　of　ladies　want　a　long　row　around　the　lake。　　You　can　have　the　job。〃

〃All　right；　Ike。〃

〃I　charged　them　a　dollar　and　a　quarter。　　I'll　keep　the　quarter　for　my　commission。〃

〃That　is　fair。〃

〃One　of　the　ladies　said　she　wanted　somebody　that　looked　pretty　decent。　　I　think　you'll　fill　the　bill　with　that　new　suit。〃

〃I　didn't　expect　to　wear　the　suit　out　on　the　lake；　but　in　this　case　I'll　keep　it　on；〃　answered　Joe。

〃I　find　it　pays　to　keep　well　dressed；　when　you　take　out　the　summer　boarders；〃　answered　the　old　boatman。　　〃And　it　pays　to　keep　the　boats　in　good　shape；　too。〃

〃Where　am　I　to　get　the　party？〃

〃Over　to　the　dock　of　Mallison's　Hotel。　　One　of　the　ladies　is　Mallison's　niece。〃

〃Why　don't　they　take　a　hotel　boat？〃

〃All　engaged；　two　days　ago。　　It's　a　busy　season。　　But　I've　got　to　be　going。　　You　had　better　go　over　to　the　dock　at　once。　　They　want　to　go　out　at　three　o'clock　sharp。〃

〃Very　well；　I'll　be　on　hand；〃　answered　our　hero。



CHAPTER　VI。


AN　ACCIDENT　ON　THE　LAKE。


Joe　certainly　presented　a　neat　appearance　when　he　rowed　over　to　the　hotel　dock。　　Before　going　he　purchased　a　new　collar　and　a　dark　blue　tie；　and　these；　with　his　new　suit　and　new　cap；　set　him　off　very　well。

The　boat　had　been　cleaned　in　the　morning；　and　when　the　ladies　appeared　they　inspected　the　craft　with　satisfaction。

〃What　a　nice　clean　boat；〃　said　Mabel　Mallison；　the　niece　of　the　proprietor　of　the　hotel。

〃And　a　nice　clean　boatman；　too；〃　whispered　one　of　her　friends。　　〃I　couldn't　bear　that　man　we　had　day　before　yesterday；　with　his　dirty　hands　and　the　tobacco　juice　around　his　mouth。〃

The　ladies　to　go　out　were　four　in　number；　and　two　sat　in　the　bow　and　two　in　the　stern。　　It　made　quite　a　heavy　load；　but　as　they　were　not　out　for　speed　our　hero　did　not　mind　it。

〃We　wish　to　go　up　to　Fern　Rock；〃　said　Mabel　Mallison。　　〃They　tell　me　there　are　some　beautiful　ferns　to　be　gathered　there。〃

〃There　are；〃　answered　Joe。　　〃I　saw　them　last　week。〃

〃And　I　wish　to　get　some　nice　birch　bark　if　I　can；〃　said　another　of　the　ladies。

〃I　can　get　you　plenty　of　it。〃

Joe　rowed　along　in　his　best　style；　and　while　doing　so　the　ladies　of　the　party　asked　him　numerous　questions　concerning　the　lake　and　vicinity。　　When　Fern　Rock　was　reached；　all　went　ashore；　and　our　hero　pointed　out　the　ferns　he　had　seen；　and　dug　up　such　as　the　others　wished　to　take　along。　　An　hour　was　spent　over　the　ferns；　and　in　getting　some　birch　bark；　and　then　they　started　on　the　return　for　the　hotel。

〃I'd　like　to　row；〃　cried　one　of　the　ladies；　a　rather　plump　personage。

〃Oh；　Jennie；　I　don't　think　you　can！〃　cried　another。

〃Of　course　I　can；〃　answered　Jennie；　and　sprang　up　from　her　seat　to　take　the　oars。

〃Be　careful！〃　came　in　a　warning　from　Joe；　as　the　boat　began　to　rock。

〃Oh；　I'm　not　afraid！〃　said　the　plump　young　lady；　and　leaned　forward　to　catch　hold　of　one　oar。　　Just　then　her　foot　slipped　and　she　fell　on　the　gunwale；　causing　the　boat　to　tip　more　than　ever。　　As　she　did　this；　Mabel　Mallison；　who　was　leaning　over　the　side；　gazing　down　into　the　clear　waters　of　the　lake；　gave　a　shriek。

〃Oh；　save　me！〃　came　from　her；　and　then　she　went　over；　with　a　loud　splash。

Joe　was　startled；　and　the　ladies　left　in　the　boat　set　up　a　wail　of　terror。

〃She　will　be　drowned！〃

〃Oh；　save　her！　　Save　her；　somebody！〃

〃It　is　my　fault！〃　shrieked　the　plump　young　lady。　　〃I　tipped　the　boat　over！〃

Joe　said　nothing；　but　looked　over　the　side　of　the　boat。　　He　saw　the　body　of　Mabel　Mallison　not　far　away。　　But　it　was　at　the　lake　bottom　and　did　not　offer　to　rise。

〃It's　queer　she　doesn't　come　up；〃　he　thought。

Then　he　gave　a　second　look　and　saw　that　the　dress　of　the　unfortunate　one　was　caught　in　some　sharp　rocks。　　Without　hesitation　he　dived　overboard；　straight　for　the　bottom。

It　was　no　easy　matter　to　unfasten　the　garment；　which　was　caught　in　a　crack　between　two　heavy　stones。　　But　at　the　second　tug　it　came　free；　and　a　moment　later　both　our　hero　and　Mabel　Mallison　came　to　the　surface。

〃Oh！〃　cried　two　of　the　ladies　in　the　row…boat。　　〃Is　she　drowned？〃

〃I　trust　not；〃　answered　Joe。　　〃Sit　still；　please；　or　the　boat　will　surely　go　over。〃

As　best　he　could　Joe　hoisted　Mabel　into　the　craft　and　then　clambered　in　himself。　　As　he　did　so　the　unfortunate　girl　gave　a　gasp　and　opened　her　eyes。

〃Oh！〃　she　murmured。

〃You　are　safe　now；　Mabel！〃　said　one　of　her　companions。

〃And　to　think　it　was　my　fault！〃　murmured　the　plump　young　lady。　　〃I　shall　never　forgive　myself　as　long　as　I　live！〃

Mabel　Mallison　had　swallowed　some　water；　but　otherwise　she　was　unhurt。　　But　her　pretty　blue　dress　was　about　ruined；　and　Joe's　new　suit　did　not　look　near　as　well　as　it　had　when　he　had　donned　it。

〃Let　us　row　for　the　hotel；〃　said　one　of　the　young　ladies。　　〃Are　you　all　right？〃　she　asked　of　Joe。

〃Yes；　ma'am；　barring　the　wetting。〃

〃It　was　brave　of　you　to　go　down　after　Mabel。〃

〃Indeed　it　was！〃　cried　that　young　lady。　　〃If　it　hadn't　been　for　you　I　might　have　been　drowned。〃　And　she　gave　a　deep　shudder。

〃I　saw　she　was　caught　and　that's　why　I　went　over　after　her；〃　answered　our　hero　simply。　　〃It　wasn't　so　much　to　do。〃

All　dripping　as　he　was；　Joe　caught　up　the　oars　of　the　boat　and　sent　the　craft　in　the　direction　of　the　hotel　at　a　good　speed。　　That　she　might　not　take　cold；　a　shawl　was　thrown　over　Mabel's　wet　shoulders。

The　arrival　of　the　party　at　the　hotel　caused　a　mild　sensation。　　Mabel　hurried　to　her　room　to　put　on　dry　clothing；　and　Joe　was　directed　to　go　around　to　the　kitchen。　　But　when　the　proprietor　of　the　place　had　heard　what　Joe　had　done　for　his　niece　he　sent　the　lad　to　a　private　apartment　and　provided　him　with　dry　clothing　belonging　to　another　who　was　of　our　hero's　size。

〃That　was　a　fine　thing　to　do；　young　man；〃　said　the　hotel　proprietor；　when　Joe　appeared；　dressed　in　the　dry　garments；　and　his　own　clothing　had　been　sent　to　the　laundry　to　be　dried　and　pressed。

〃I'm　glad　I　was　there　to　do　it；　Mr。　Mallison。〃

〃Let　me　see；　aren't　you　Hiram　Bodley's　boy？〃

〃I　lived　with　Mr。　Bodley；　yes。〃

〃That　is　what　I　mean。　　It　was　a　terrible　accident　that　killed　him。　　Are　you　still　living　at　the　tumbled…down　cabin？〃

〃No；　sir。　　I've　just　sold　off　the　things；　and　I　am　going　to　settle　in　town。〃

〃Where？〃

〃I　haven't　decided　that　yet。　　I　was　going　to　hunt　up　a　place　when　Ike　Fairfield　gave　me　the　job　of　rowing　out　the　young　ladies。〃

〃I　see。　　You　own　the　boat；　eh？〃

〃Yes；　sir。〃

〃You　ought　to　be　able　to　make　a　fair　living；　taking　out　summer　boarders。〃

〃I　suppose　so；　but　that　won't　give　me　anything　to　do　this　winter。〃

〃Well；　perhaps　something　else　will　turn　up　by　that　time。〃　　Andrew　Mallison　drew　out　a　fat　wallet。　　〃I　want　to　reward　you　for　saving　Mabel。〃

He　drew　out　two　ten…dollar　bills　and　held　them　towards　our　hero。　　But　Joe　shook　his　head　and　drew　back。

〃Thank　you　very　much；　Mr。　Mallison；　but　I　don't　want　any　reward。〃

〃But　you　have　earned　it　fairly；　my　lad。〃

〃I　won't　touch　it。　　If　you　want　to　help　me　you　can　throw　some　odd　rowing　jobs　from　the　hotel　in　my　way。〃

〃Then　you　won't　really　touch　the　money？〃

〃No；　sir。〃

〃How　would　you　like　to　work　for　the　hotel　regularly？〃

〃I'd　like　it　first…rate　if　it　paid。〃

〃I　can　guarantee　you　regular　work　so　long　as　the　summer　season　lasts。〃

〃And　what　would　it　pay？〃

〃At　least　a　dollar　a　day；　and　your　board。〃

〃Then　I'll　accept　and　with　thanks　for　your　kindness。〃

〃When　can　you　come？〃

〃I'm　here　already。〃

〃That　means　that　you　can　stay　from　now　on？〃

〃Yes；　sir。〃

〃I　don't　suppose　you　want　the　job　of　hauling　somebody　from　the　lake　every　day；〃　said　Andrew　Mallison；　with　a　smile。

〃Not　unless　I　was　dressed　for　it；　Mr。　Mallison。　　Still；　it　has　been　the　means　of　getting　me　a　good　position。〃

〃I　shall　feel　safe　in　sending　out　parties　with　you　for　I　know　you　will　do　your　best　to　keep　them　from　harm。〃

〃I'll　certainly　do　that；　I　can　promise　you。〃

〃To…morrow　you　can　take　out　two　old　ladies　who　wish　to　be　rowed　around　the　whole　lake　and　shown　every　point　of　interest。　　Of　course　you　know　all　the　points。〃

〃Yes；　sir；　I　know　every　foot　of　ground　around　the　lake；　and　I　know　the　mountains；　too。〃

〃Then　there　will　be　no　difficulty　in　keeping　you