CHAPTER XVIII.
JOE SHOWS HIS MUSCLE.
All unconscious that he was being followed, our hero went on his errandto a wholesale provision house that supplied the Grandon Hotel withmeats and poultry. He felt in good spirits and so whistled lightly as hewalked.
Arriving at the place of business he transacted his errand as speedilyas possible and then started to return to the hotel.
He was just passing the entrance to a factory yard when he felt a handon his shoulder, and wheeling around found himself confronted by JackSagger, Nick Sammel, and half a dozen others, who had gathered to seetheir 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 youwere 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 ratherdirty coat sleeves.
"Supposing I don't want to fight?" went on our hero, as calmly as hecould.
"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 tookthe other boy squarely on the chin and sent him staggering against afriend.
If ever there was a surprised boy that boy was Jack Sagger. Hehad expected that to "polish off" Joe would be easy and he had notanticipated such a defense as had been made. He righted himself andgazed stupidly at our hero.
"Wot did yer hit me fer?" he gasped.
"You keep off or I'll hit you again," answered Joe.
There was a pause and Sagger sprang forward, trying to catch Joe aroundthe arms. But our hero was too quick for him and ducked once more. Thenhe hit the bully in the ear and gave him another blow in the left eye.
"Ouch!" roared Jack Sagger. "Don't! Oh, my eye!"
"Have you had enough?" demanded Joe, who was commencing to warm up.
"Pitch in, fellers!" came from Jack Sagger. "Throw him down!"
"Ain't you going to do it alone?" queried Nick Sammel, in wonder, notunmingled with a suspicion that Joe would not be as easy to handle asanticipated.
"I--I've got a--a heartburn," came lamely from Sagger. "It come on meall at onct. If it wasn't fer that I'd do him up all alone."
"You're a fraud, and you haven't any heart-burn!" cried Joe. "You'reafraid, that's all. If you want to fight, stand up, and we'll have itout."
"Don't you call me afraid," said Sagger, but his voice had lost much ofits bullying tone.
"You're a big coward, Jack Sagger. After this I want you to leave mealone."
"Ain't you fellers going to pitch in?" demanded Sagger, turning to hiscohorts.
"The first boy to hit me will get paid back with interest," said Joe,sharply. "I don't like to fight but I can do it if I have to."
One or two had edged forward but when they saw his determined air theyslunk back.
"Go on and fight him, Jack," said one. "This is your mix-up, not ours."
"You said you was going to do him up brown," put in another.
"Ain't I got the heartburn?" blustered the bully. "I can't do nuthin'when I git that. Wait till I'm well; then I'll show him."
"If you ever touch me again, Jack Sagger, I'll give you the worstthrashing you ever had," said Joe, loudly. "Remember, I am not the leastbit afraid of you. The best thing you can do is to keep your distance."
"Humph!"
"I don't want to quarrel with anybody, but I am always ready to stick upfor my rights, just you remember that."
So speaking Joe backed out of the crowd, that opened to let him pass.Several of the boys wanted to detain him, but not one had the courage todo so. As soon as he was clear of his tormentors, he hurried back to thehotel.
"How did you make out?" asked Mr. Drew.
"It's all right, sir, and they'll send the things to-night, sure,"answered Joe. He hesitated for a moment. "I had a little excitement onthe way."
"How was that?"
"Jack Sagger and some other boys followed me up and wanted to polish meoff."
"You don't look as if they had done much polishing." And the hotel mansmiled.
"No, Jack Sagger got the worst of it. I guess he'll leave me alone inthe future."
"You mustn't fight around the hotel, Joe."
"This was on the way to Jackson & Bell's, sir. I was bound to defendmyself."
"To be sure. Sagger came to me yesterday and wanted to be taken back,but I told him no--that I wouldn't have such an impudent fellow around."
As the winter season came on the hotel began to fill up and Joe was keptbusy from early in the morning until late at night, and so was FrankRandolph. The two boys were firm friends, and on Sunday went to SundaySchool together and also to church, when their hotel duties permitted ofit.
In the corridor of the hotel Joe, one day, met the timid Felix Gussing,the young man who had once had so much trouble in driving a horse.
"How do you do, Mr. Gussing," said our hero politely.
"Why if it isn't Joe!" cried the young man, and smiled. "What are youdoing here?"
"I work at this hotel now."
"Is it possible! Didn't you like it at Riverside?"
"Yes, but the place is shut up for the winter."
"Ah, I see."
"Are you stopping here, sir?"
"Yes, I came in an hour ago. I have business in Philadelphia."
"Maybe you're buying horses," said Joe, slyly.
"No! no! No more horses for me," ejaculated the dude. "I--er--this is ofmore importance."
No more was said just then, but later our hero met Felix Gussing again,and on the day following had an errand that took him to the young man'sroom.
"Joe, you are quite a wise boy, perhaps I can confide in you," saidFelix Gussing, after some talk on other subjects.
"I'll be glad to be of service to you, Mr. Gussing."
"I have a delicate problem to solve. Sometimes a young man can givebetter advice than an older person," went on the dude.
"Don't flatter me, Mr. Gussing."
"I am in love," went on the young man, flatly.
"Yes, sir."
"I am quite sure the young lady loves me."
"Then I suppose you are going to get married."
"There is an obstacle in the way."
"Oh!"
"Perhaps I had better tell you the whole story--if you'll listen to me,"went on the dude.
"Certainly I'll listen," said Joe. "I've got a little time off."
And then Felix Gussing told his tale of woe, as will be found in thenext chapter.