章节正文
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 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 away--or 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 wholesaleprovision
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 wholesaleprovision 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, country--or 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.
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 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 away--or 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 wholesaleprovision
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 wholesaleprovision 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, country--or 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.
- obtain [əb´tein]
v.获得；买到；得到承认 (初中英语单词) - opening [´əupəniŋ] n.开放；开端 a.开始的 (初中英语单词)
- recommend [,rekə´mend] vt.推荐；使受欢迎 (初中英语单词)
- pointed [´pɔintid] a.尖(锐)的；中肯的 (初中英语单词)
- welcome [´welkəm] a.受欢迎的；可喜的 (初中英语单词)
- occasionally [ə´keiʒənəli] ad.偶然地；非经常地 (初中英语单词)
- earnest [´ə:nist] a.认真的 n.认真；诚恳 (初中英语单词)
- thoroughly [´θʌrəli] ad.完全地，彻底地 (初中英语单词)
- errand [´erənd] n.差使，使命 (初中英语单词)
- neighborhood [´neibəhud] n.邻居；邻近；附近 (初中英语单词)
- provision [prə´viʒən] n.供应；规定；条款 (初中英语单词)
- lightly [´laitli] ad.轻微地，稍微 (初中英语单词)
- discharge [dis´tʃɑ:dʒ] vt.&n.卸货；释放；解雇 (初中英语单词)
- preach [pri:tʃ] v.宣扬；鼓吹 n.训诫 (初中英语单词)
- calmly [´kɑ:mli] ad.平静地；无风浪地 (初中英语单词)
- corridor [´kɔridɔ:] n.走廊；指定航路 (高中英语单词)
- faintly [´feintli] ad.微弱地，软弱无力的 (高中英语单词)
- helper [´helpə] n.帮助者，助手 (高中英语单词)
- awfully [´ɔ:fuli] ad.令人畏惧地 (高中英语单词)
- unconscious [ʌn´kɔnʃəs] a.无意识的；不觉察的 (高中英语单词)
- poultry [´pəultri] n.&v.家禽 (高中英语单词)
- trying [´traiiŋ] a.难堪的；费劲的 (英语四级单词)
- sickly [´sikli] a.多病的；病态的 (英语四级单词)
- speedily [´spi:dili] ad.迅速地 (英语四级单词)
- cashier [kæ´ʃiə] n.出纳员 (英语四级单词)
- freckled [´frekld] a.有雀斑的，有斑点的 (英语四级单词)
- wholesale [´həulseil] n.&vt.批发 a.批发的 (英语四级单词)
- squarely [´skwɛəli] ad.成方形地；正直地 (英语四级单词)
- quaker [´kweikə] n.教友会教徒 (英语六级单词)
- retired [ri´taiəd] a.退休的；通职的 (英语六级单词)
- first-class [´fə:st-´klɑ:s] a.头等的 ad.乘头等车 (英语六级单词)
- landing [´lændiŋ] n.登陆；降落；楼梯平台 (英语六级单词)
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章节正文
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