CHAPTER XIII.
OFF FOR THE CITY.
"Joe, our season ends next Saturday."
"I know it, Mr. Mallison."
"We are going to close the house on Tuesday. It won't pay to keep openafter our summer boarders leave."
"I know that, too."
"Have you any idea what you intend to do?" went on the hotel proprietor.He was standing down by the dock watching Joe clean out one of theboats.
"I'm thinking of going to Philadelphia."
"On a visit?"
"No, sir, to try my luck."
"Oh, I see. It's a big city, my lad."
"I know it, but, somehow, I feel I might do better there than in such atown as this,--and I am getting tired of hanging around the lake."
"There is more money in Philadelphia than there is here, that iscertain, Joe. But you can't always get hold of it. The big cities arecrowded with people trying to obtain situations."
"I'm sure I can find something to do, Mr. Mallison. And, by the way,when I leave, will you give me a written recommendation?"
"Certainly. You have done well since you came here. But you had betterthink twice before going to Philadelphia."
"I've thought it over more than twice. I don't expect the earth, but Ifeel that I can get something to do before my money runs out."
"How much money have you saved up?"
"I've got fifty-six dollars, and I'm going to sell my boat for fourdollars."
"Well, sixty dollars isn't such a bad capital. I have known men to startout with a good deal less. When I left home I had but twenty dollars andan extra suit of clothes."
"Did you come from a country place?"
"No, I came from New York. Times were hard and I couldn't get a singlething to do. I went to Paterson, New Jersey, and got work in a silkmill. From there I went to Camden, and then to Philadelphia. FromPhiladelphia I came here and have been here ever since."
"You have been prosperous."
"Fairly so, although I don't make as much money as some of the hotel menin the big cities. But then they take larger risks. A few years ago ahotel friend of mine opened a big hotel in Atlantic City. He hoped tomake a small fortune, but he was not located in the right part of thetown and at the end of the season he found himself just fifteen thousanddollars out of pocket. Now he has sold out and is running a countryhotel fifty miles west of here. He doesn't hope to make so much, but hisbusiness is much safer."
"I'm afraid it will be a long time before I get money enough to run ahotel," laughed our hero.
"Would you like to run one?"
"I don't know. I'd like to educate myself first."
"Don't you study some now? I have seen you with some arithmetics andhistories."
"Yes, sir, I study a little every day. You see, I never had muchschooling, and I don't want to grow up ignorant, if I can help it."
"That is the proper spirit, lad," answered Andrew Mallison, warmly."Learn all you possibly can. It will always be the means of doing yougood."
The conversation took place on Thursday and two days later the season atthe summer hotel came to an end and the last of the boarders took theirdeparture. Monday was spent in putting things in order, and by Tuesdayafternoon work around the place came to an end, and all the help waspaid off.
In the meantime Joe had sold his boat. With all of his money in hispocket he called at the Talmadge house to see if Ned had returned fromthe trip to the west.
"Just got back yesterday," said Ned, who came to greet him. "Had aglorious trip. I wish you had been along. I like traveling better thanstaying at home all the time."
"I am going to do a bit of traveling myself, Ned."
"Where are you going?"
"To Philadelphia--to try my luck in that city."
"Going to leave Mr. Mallison?"
"Yes,--the season is at an end."
"Oh, I see. So you are going to the Quaker City, as pa calls it. I wishyou luck. You'll have to write to me, Joe, and let me know how you aregetting along."
"I will,--and you must write to me."
"Of course."
On the following day Joe rowed along the lake to where his old home dockhad been located and made a trip to what was left of the cabin. He spentanother hour in hunting for the blue box, but without success.
"I suppose I'll never find that box," he sighed. "I may as well give upthinking about it."
From Andrew Mallison our hero had obtained his letter of recommendationand also a good pocket map of Philadelphia. The hotel man had alsomade him a present of a neat suit case, in which he packed his fewbelongings.
Ned Talmadge came to see him off at the depot. The day was cool andclear, and Joe felt in excellent spirits.
Soon the train came along and our hero got aboard, along with a dozenor fifteen others. He waved a hand to Ned and his friend shouted outa good-bye. Then the train moved on, and the town was soon left in thedistance.
The car that Joe had entered was not more than quarter filled and heeasily found a seat for himself by a window. He placed his suit case athis feet and then gave himself up to looking at the scenery as it rushedpast.
Joe had never spent much of his time on the railroad, so the long ridehad much of novelty in it. The scenery was grand, as they wound in andout among the hills and mountains, or crossed brooks and rivers andwell-kept farms. Numerous stops were made, and long before Philadelphiawas gained the train became crowded.
"Nice day for riding," said a man who sat down beside our hero. Helooked to be what he was, a prosperous farmer.
"It is," answered Joe.
"Goin' to Philadelphy, I reckon," went on the farmer.
"Yes, sir."
"That's where I'm going, too. Got a little business to attend to."
"I am going there to try my luck," said Joe, he felt he could talk tothe old man with confidence.
"Goin' to look fer a job, eh?"
"Yes, sir."
"Wot kin ye do, if I might ask?"
"Oh, I'm willing to do most anything. I've been taking care of rowboatsand working around a summer hotel, at Lake Tandy."
"Well, ye won't git many boats to look at down to Philadelphy!" and theold farmer chuckled.
"I suppose not. Maybe I'll strike a job at one of the hotels."
"Perhaps. They tell me some hotels down there is monsterous--ten an'twelve stories high. Ye don't catch me goin' to no sech place. In caseo' fire, it's all up with ye, if you're on the twelfth story."
"Are you going to Philadelphia to stay, Mr.----"
"Bean is my name--Josiah Bean. I'm from Haydown Center, I am. Got a farmthere o' a hundred acres."
"Oh, is that so!"
"Wot's your handle, young man?"
"My name is Joe Bodley. I came from Riverside."
"Proud to know you." And Josiah Bean shook hands. "No, I ain't goingto stay in Philadelphy. I'm a-going on business fer my wife. A relativeleft her some property an' I'm a-goin' to collect on it."
"That's a pleasant trip to be on," was our hero's comment.
"I'll feel better when I have the six hundred dollars in my fist. I'mafraid it ain't goin' to be no easy matter to git it."
"What's the trouble!"
"I ain't known in Philadelphy an' they tell me a feller has got to beidentified or somethin' like thet--somebody has got to speak for ye wotknows ye."
"I see. Perhaps you'll meet some friend."
"Thet's wot I'm hopin' fer."
The train rolled on and presently Joe got out his map and began to studyit, so that he might know something of the great city when he arrivedthere.
"Guess I'll git a drink o' water," said Josiah Bean, and walked to theend of the car to do so. Immediately a slick looking man who had beenseated behind the farmer arose and followed him.