【国外英文文学】Joe The Hotel Boy.doc

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1、【国外英文文学】Joe The Hotel BoyJOE THE HOTEL BOYORWINNING OUT BY PLUCKBY HORATIO ALGER, JR.CONTENTS. I. OUT IN A STORM II. A MYSTERIOUS CONVERSATION III. A HOME IN RUINS IV. THE SEARCH FOR THE BLUE BOX V. A NEW SUIT OF CLOTHES VI. AN ACCIDENT ON THE LAKE VII. BLOWS AND KIND DEEDS VIII. THE TIMID MR. GUSSI

2、NG IX. AN UNFORTUNATE OUTING X. DAVID BALL FROM MONTANA XI. A FRUITLESS CHASE XII. THE PARTICULARS OF A SWINDLE XIII. OFF FOR THE CITY XIV. A SCENE ON THE TRAIN XV. WHAT HAPPENED TO JOSIAH BEAN XVI. A MATTER OF SIX HUNDRED DOLLARS XVII. JOES NEW POSITION XVIII. JOE SHOWS HIS MUSCLE XIX. ONE KIND OF

3、A DUEL XX. ATTACKED IN THE DARK XXI. DAYS AT THE HOTELXXII. ABOUT SOME MINING SHARESXXIII. THE FIRE AT THE HOTELXXIV. THE BLUE BOX AT LASTXXV. JOE VISITS CHICAGOXXVI. HOW A SATCHEL DISAPPEAREDXXVII. JOE MAKES A DISCOVERYXXVIII. FROM OUT OF A TREEXXIX. THE FATE OF TWO EVILDOERSXXX. CONCLUSIONPREFACE.

4、A number of years ago the author of this story set out to depictlife among the boys of a great city, and especially among thosewho had to make their own way in the world. Among those alreadydescribed are the ways of newsboys, match boys, peddlers, streetmusicians, and many others.In the present tale

5、 are related the adventures of a country ladwho, after living for some time with a strange hermit, goes forthinto the world and finds work, first in a summer hotel and thenin a large hotel in the city. Joe finds his road no easy one totravel, and he has to face not a few hardships, but in the endall

6、 turns out well.It may be added here that many of the happenings told of in thisstory, odd as they may seem, are taken from life. Truth isindeed stranger than fiction, and life itself is full of romancefrom start to finish.If there is a moral to be drawn from this story, it is a twofoldone, namely,

7、that honesty is always the best policy, and that ifone wishes to succeed in life he must stick at his work steadilyand watch every opportunity for advancement.JOE THE HOTEL BOY.CHAPTER I.OUT IN A STORM.What do you think of this storm, Joe?I think it is going to be a heavy one, Ned. I wish we were ba

8、ckhome, replied Joe Bodley, as he looked at the heavy clouds whichoverhung Lake Tandy.Do you think well catch much rain before we get back? AndNed, who was the son of a rich man and well dressed, looked atthe new suit of clothes that he wore.Im afraid we shall, Ned. Those black clouds back of Mount

9、Sammean something.If this new suit gets soaked it will be ruined, grumbled Ned,and gave a sigh.I am sorry for the suit, Ned; but I didnt think it was going torain when we started.Oh, I am not blaming you, Joe. It looked clear enough thismorning. Cant we get to some sort of shelter before the rainrea

10、ches us?We can try.Which is the nearest shelter?Joe Bodley mused for a moment.The nearest that I know of is over at yonder point, Ned. Itsan old hunting lodge that used to belong to the Cameron family. It has been deserted for several years.Then let us row for that place, and be quick about it, said

11、 NedTalmadge. I am not going to get wet if I can help it.As he spoke he took up a pair of oars lying in the big rowboat heand Joe Bodley occupied. Joe was already rowing and the rich boyjoined in, and the craft was headed for the spot Joe had pointedout.The lake was one located in the central part o

12、f the State ofPennsylvania. It was perhaps a mile wide and more than thatlong, and surrounded by mountains and long ranges of hills. Atthe lower end of the lake was a small settlement of scantimportance and at the upper end, where there was a stream of nomean size, was the town of Riverside. At Rive

13、rside were situatedseveral summer hotels and boarding houses, and also the elegantmansion in which Ned Talmadge resided, with his parents and hisfour sisters.Joe Bodley was as poor as Ned Talmadge was rich, yet the two ladswere quite friendly. Joe knew a good deal about hunting andfishing, and also

14、knew all about handling boats. They frequentlywent out together, and Ned insisted upon paying the poorer boyfor all extra services.Joes home was located on the side of the mountain which was justnow wrapped in such dark and ominous looking clouds. He livedwith Hiram Bodley, an old man who was a herm

15、it. The homeconsisted of a cabin of two rooms, scantily furnished. HiramBodley had been a hunter and guide, but of late years rheumatismhad kept him from doing work and Joe was largely the support ofthe pair,-taking out pleasure parties for pay whenever he could,and fishing and hunting in the betwee

16、n times, and using orselling what was gained thereby.There was a good deal of a mystery surrounding Joes parentage. It was claimed that he was a nephew of Hiram Bodley, and that,after the death of his mother and sisters, his father had driftedout to California and then to Australia. What the real tr

17、uthconcerning him was we shall learn later.Joe was a boy of twelve, but constant life in the open air hadmade him tall and strong and he looked to be several years older.He had dark eyes and hair, and was much tanned by the sun.The rowboat had been out a good distance on the lake and a minutebefore

18、the shore was gained the large drops of rain began tofall.We are going to get wet after all! cried Ned, chagrined.Pull for all you are worth and well soon be under the trees,answered Joe.They bent to the oars, and a dozen more strokes sent the rowboatunder a clump of pines growing close to the edge

19、of the lake. Just as the boat struck the bank and Ned leaped out there came agreat downpour which made the surface of Lake Tandy fairlysizzle.Run to the lodge, Ned; Ill look after the boat! shouted Joe.But youll get wet.Never mind; run, I tell you!Thus admonished, Ned ran for the old hunting lodge,

20、which wassituated about two hundred feet away. Joe remained behind longenough to secure the rowboat and the oars and then he followedhis friend.Just as one porch of the old lodge was reached there came a flashof lightning, followed by a clap of thunder that made Ned jump.Then followed more thunder a

21、nd lightning, and the rain came downsteadily.Ugh! I must say I dont like this at all, remarked Ned, as hecrouched in a corner of the shelter. I hope the lightningdoesnt strike this place.We can be thankful that we were not caught out in the middle ofthe lake, Ned.I agree on that, Joe,-but it doesnt

22、help matters much. Oh,dear me! And Ned shrank down, as another blinding flash oflightning lit up the scene.It was not a comfortable situation and Joe did not like it anymore than did his friend. But the hermits boy was accustomed tobeing out in the elements, and therefore was not so impressed bywhat

23、 was taking place.The rain will fill the boat, said Ned, presently.Never mind, we can easily bail her out or turn her over.When do you think this storm will stop?In an hour or two, most likely. Such storms never last verylong. What time is it, Ned?Half-past two, answered Ned, after consulting the ha

24、ndsomewatch he carried.Then, if it clears in two hours, well have plenty of time toget home before dark.I dont care to stay here two hours, grumbled Ned. Its not avery inviting place.Its better than being out under the trees, answered Joe,cheerfully. The hermits boy was always ready to look on thebr

25、ighter side of things.Oh, of course.And we have a fine string of fish, dont forget that, Ned. Wewere lucky to get so many before the storm came up.Do you want the fish, or are you going to let me take them?Id like to have one fish. You may take the others.Not unless you let me pay for them, Joe.Oh,

26、you neednt mind about paying me.But I insist, came from Ned. I wont touch them otherwise.All right, you can pay me for what I caught.No, I want to pay for all of them. Your time is worthsomething, and I know you have to support your-the old hermitnow.All right, Ned, have your own way. Yes, I admit,

27、I need all themoney I get.Is the old hermit very sick?Not so sick, but his rheumatism keeps him from going out huntingor fishing, so all that work falls to me.Its a good deal on your shoulders, Joe.I make the best of it, for there is nothing else to do.By the way, Joe, you once spoke to me about-wel

28、l, aboutyourself, went on Ned, after some hesitation. Did you everlearn anything more? You need not tell me if you dont care to.At these words Joes face clouded for an instant.No, I havent learned a thing more, Ned.Then you dont really know if you are the hermits nephew ornot?Oh, I think I am, but I

29、 dont know whatever became of myfather.Does the hermit think he is alive?He doesnt know, and he hasnt any means of finding out.Well, if I were you, Id find out, some way or other.Im going to find out-some day, replied Joe. But, to tellthe truth, I dont know how to go at it. Uncle Hiram doesntlike to

30、 talk about it. He thinks my father did wrong to go away.I imagine they had a quarrel over it.Has he ever heard from your father since?Not a word.Did he write?He didnt know where to write to.Humph! It is certainly a mystery, Joe.You are right, Ned; and as I said before, I am going to solve itsome ti

31、me, even if it takes years of work to do it, replied thehermits boy.CHAPTER II.A MYSTERIOUS CONVERSATION.The old hunting lodge where the two boys had sought shelter was arambling affair, consisting of a square building built of logs,and half a dozen wings, running to the rear and to one side. There

32、were also two piazzas, and a shed, where wood had been keptfor winter use.In another year or two this old lodge will fall down, remarkedNed, as he gazed around him.It must have been a nice place in its day, returned Joe. Whata pity to let it run down in this fashion.The rain is coming around on this

33、 side now, Joe; let us shift tothe other.The hermits boy was willing, and watching their chance, betweenthe downpours, they ran around to another portion of the oldlodge.It certainly is a little better here, observed Joe, as hedashed the water from his cap.A minute later the rumbling of the thunder

34、ceased for the timebeing, and they heard a murmur of voices coming from one of therooms of the lodge.Why, somebody must be here! ejaculated Ned. Who can it be?Two men, by their voices, answered the hermits boy. Waittill I take a look at them?Why not go in? questioned the rich youth, carelessly.They

35、may not be persons that we would care to meet, Ned. Youknow there are some undesirable characters about the lake.Thats true.Not far off was a narrow window, the panes of glass of which hadlong since been broken out. Moving toward this, Joe peered intothe apartment beyond.Close to an old fireplace, i

36、n which a few sticks of half-greentimber were burning, sat two men. Both were well dressed, andJoe rightfully surmised that they were from the city. Each worea hunting outfit and had a gun, but neither had any game.We came on a wild-goose chase, grumbled one, as he stirred thefire. Got nothing but a

37、 soaking for our pains.Never mind, Malone, returned the other, who was evidently thebetter educated of the two. As we had to make ourselves scarcein the city this was as good a place to come to as any.Dont you think theyll look for us here?Why should they? We were sharp enough not to leave any trail

38、behind-at least, I was.Reckon I was just as sharp, Caven.You had to be-otherwise you would have been nabbed. GaffCaven chuckled to himself. We outwitted them nicely, I mustsay. We deserve credit.Ive spent more than half of what I got out of the deal, wenton Pat Malone, for such was the full name of

39、one of the speakers.Ive spent more than that. But never mind, my boy, fortune willfavor us again in the near future.A crash of thunder drowned out the conversation following, andJoe hurried back to where he had left Ned.Well, have you found out who they are? demanded the rich youth,impatiently.No, N

40、ed, but I am sure of one thing.What is that?They are two bad men.What makes you think that?They said something about having to get out of the city, and onespoke about being nabbed. Evidently they went away to avoidarrest.At this announcement Ned Talmadge whistled softly to himself.Phew! What shall w

41、e do about it? he asked, with a look ofconcern on his usually passive face.Joe shrugged his shoulders.I dont know what to do.Let us listen to what they have to say. Maybe well strike someclew to what they have been doing.Would that be fair-to play the eaves-dropper?Certainly-if they are evildoers. A

42、nybody who has done wrongought to be locked up for it, went on Ned boldly.With caution the two boys made their way to the narrow window,and Ned looked in as Joe had done. The backs of the two men werestill towards the opening, so the lads were not discovered.What is this new game? they heard the man called Malone ask,after a peal of thunder had rolled away among the mountains.Its the old game of a sick miner with some valuable stocks tosell, answered Gaff Caven.Have you got the stocks?To be sure-one thousand shares of the Blue Bell Mine, ofMontana, said to