CHAPTER XVII.
JOE'S NEW POSITION.
All of that afternoon Joe looked for a position among the various hotelsof the Quaker City. But at each place he visited he received the sameanswer, 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 toobtain a situation.
He had heard of a new hotel called the Grandon House and visited itdirectly after breakfast.
As he entered the corridor he heard his name called and turning aroundsaw Andrew Mallison.
"How do you do, Mr. Mallison," said our hero, shaking hands. "I didn'texpect to meet you here."
"I've got a little special business in Philadelphia," said the hotelman. "I came in last night and I am going back this afternoon. How areyou 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 theproprietor 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 forme this summer,--around the boats and also in the hotel. Now that theseason is at an end he is trying to find something to do in the city. Ifyou have an opening I can recommend him."
Mr. Arthur Drew surveyed Joe critically. The new hotel was to be run infirst-class style and he wanted his help to be of the best. He ratherliked Joe's appearance and he took note of the fact that our hero'shands were scrupulously clean and that his shoes were blacked.
"I've got almost all the help I need, but I might take him on," hesaid, slowly. "One of my present boys does not suit me at all. He is tooimpudent."
"Well, Joe is never impudent and he is very reliable," answered AndrewMallison.
"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. "Iknow yo'll like him after he has been here a while."
"He can have a room with another boy. That lad yonder," and theproprietor of the Grandon House pointed with his hand.
Joe looked and saw that the other lad was gentlemanly looking and ratherpleasant.
"It will suit me to stay here, I think," he said. "Anyway, I am willingto try it."
"When can you come to work?"
"Right away--or at least, as soon as I can get my suit case from where Ihave been stopping."
"Then come in after dinner and I'll tell you what to do and turn youover 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 willroom with you."
"Thank you, Mr. Drew, I'll be glad to get rid of Jack Sagger," saidFrank 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 suitcase and a few other things which belonged to him. By one o'clock he wasback to the Grandon House, and just in time to see Andrew Mallison goingaway.
"I am much obliged, Mr. Mallison, for what you have done," said ourhero, warmly.
"You're welcome, Joe," answered the hotel man. "I take an interest inyou and I trust you do well here."
"I shall do my best."
After Andrew Mallison had gone Joe was shown around the hotel andinstructed in his various duties. Occasionally he was to do bell-boyduty, 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 hotelI'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 ofthe hotel. But it was clean, contained two nice cots, and Joe felt itwould suit him very well. Frank had hung up a few pictures and had ashelf 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 Iget 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 anuncle of mine, over in Camden. He can't work very much, and that is whyI 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 inearnest. Many things were strange to him, but he determined to masterthem as speedily as possible, and this pleased Arthur Drew.
"That boy is all right," he said to his cashier. "I am glad that AndrewMallison 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 isimpudent."
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 dome 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 facewas freckled, and his lips discolored by cigarette smoking. He was athoroughly tough boy and it was a wonder that he had ever been allowedto work in the hotel at all. He had a fairly good home, but only wentthere to sleep and to get his meals.
"Joe, I hear that Jack Sagger is going to make it warm for you," saidFrank, 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," answeredour hero.
That afternoon he was sent out by Mr. Drew on an errand that took himto a neighborhood occupied largely by wholesale provision houses. As Joeleft 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, hiscrony.
"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," wenton 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," answeredJack 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 hedon't. But he shan't git away until I give him a black eye an' knock outa couple of his front teeth fer him," concluded the boaster.