Joe The Hotel Boy

H >> Horatio Alger Jr. >> Joe The Hotel Boy


"Yes, twice as much as we'll need."

"When can we leave the train?"

"At three o'clock, at a town called Snapwood. We can get another train
two hours later,--on the northern route."

All unconscious of being watched so closely, Maurice Vane and Joe rode
to the depot and boarded the train when it came along. Joe had been
looking for Caven and Malone, but without success.

"I cannot see those men anywhere," he said.

"They are probably in hiding," said his employer.

The train was only half full and for the time being Caven and Malone
kept themselves either in the smoking compartment or in the dining car.
It was dark when they took their seats, and soon the porter came through
to make up the berths for the night.

"I must confess I am rather sleepy," said Maurice Vane.

"So am I," returned our hero. "I am sure I can sleep like a top, no
matter how much the car shakes."

"Then both of us may as well go to bed at once."

So it was arranged, and they had the porter put up their berths a few
minutes later. Maurice Vane took the lower resting place while our hero
climbed to the top.

Although very tired it was some time before Joe could get to sleep. He
heard Maurice Vane breathing heavily and knew that his employer must be
fast in the land of dreams.

When Joe awoke it was with a peculiar, dizzy feeling in his head.

His eyes pained him not a little and for several minutes he could not
remember where he was. Then came a faint recollection of having tried to
arise during the night but of being held down.

"I must have been dreaming," he thought. "But it was exactly as if
somebody was keeping me down and holding something over my mouth and
nose."

He stretched himself and then pushed aside the berth curtain and gazed
out into the aisle of the car. The porter was already at work, turning
some of the berths into seats once more. Joe saw that it was daylight
and consulted the nickel watch he carried.

"Eight o'clock!" he exclaimed. "I've overslept myself sure! Mr. Vane
must be up long ago."

He slipped into his clothing and then knocked on the lower berth.

He heard a deep sigh.

"Mr. Vane!"

"Eh? Oh, Joe, is that you? What time is it?"

"Eight o'clock."

"What!" Maurice Vane started up. "I've certainly slept fast enough this
trip. Are you getting hungry waiting for me?"

"I just woke up myself."

"Oh!" Maurice Vane stretched himself. "My, how dizzy I am."

"I am dizzy too, sir. It must be from the motion of the car."

"Probably, although I rarely feel so, and I ride a great deal. I feel
rather sick at my stomach, too," went on the gentleman, as he began to
dress.

Joe had just started to go to the lavatory to wash up when he heard his
employer utter an exclamation.

"Joe!"

"Yes, sir!"

"Did you see anything of my satchel?"

"You took it into the berth with you."

"I don't see it."

"It must be somewhere around. I saw it when you went to bed."

"Yes, I put it under my pillow."

Both made a hasty search, but the satchel could not be found. The
dress-suit case stood under the seat and Joe's was beside it.

"This is strange. Can I have been robbed?"

"Was there much in that satchel, Mr. Vane?"

"Yes, those mining shares and some other articles of value."

"Then we must find the satchel by all means."

"I'll question the porter about this."

The colored man was called and questioned, but he denied having seen the
bag. By this time quite a few passengers became interested.

"Has anybody left this car?" asked Maurice Vane.

"The gen'men that occupied Numbers 9 and 10, sah," said the porter.

"When did they get off?"

"'Bout three o'clock, sah--when de train stopped at Snapwood."

"I haven't any tickets for Snapwood," said the conductor, who had
appeared on the scene.

"Then they must have had tickets for some other point," said Joe.

"That looks black for them."

The porter was asked to describe the two men and did so, to the best
of his ability. Then another search was made, and in a corner, under a
seat, a bottle was found, half filled with chloroform.

"It's as plain as day to me," said Maurice Vane. "Joe, I was
chloroformed."

"Perhaps I was, too. That's what gave us the dizzy feeling."

"And those two men--"

"Must have been Caven and Malone in disguise," finished our hero.



CHAPTER XXVII.


JOE MAKES A DISCOVERY.


"Who are Caven and Malone?" asked the conductor of the train, while a
number of passengers gathered around, to hear what Maurice Vane and our
hero might have to say.

"They are two rascals who are trying to do me out of my share of a
mine," explained Maurice Vane. "I had my mining shares in that satchel."

"If you wish I'll telegraph back to Snapwood for you," went on the train
official.

"How many miles is that?"

"A little over two hundred."

"What is the next stop of this train?"

"Leadington."

"When will we get there?"

"In ten minutes."

A telegram was prepared and sent back to Snapwood as soon as Leadington
was reached. The train was held for five minutes and it was learned that
nobody had been seen at the station there at three in the morning,
as the night operator and station master were away, there being no
passengers to get on the train bound West.

Maurice Vane was much disturbed and did not know what to do.

"To go back and look for them at Snapwood may be a mere waste of time,"
said he. "On the other hand, I don't feel much like going on while the
shares are out of my possession."

"If you wish it, Mr. Vane, I'll go back," said Joe. "You can go ahead,
and if anything turns up I will telegraph to you."

This pleased the gentleman, and he said Joe could go back on the very
next train. The conductor was again consulted, and our hero left the
train bound West a quarter of an hour later.

"Here is some money," said Maurice Vane on parting. "You'll need it."
And he handed over two hundred dollars.

"Oh, Mr. Vane! will I need as much as this?"

"Perhaps. If you see those rascals you may have a long chase to capture
them. Do not hesitate to spend the money if it appears necessary to do
so."

Long before noon our hero was on the way East on a train scheduled to
stop at Snapwood. He went without his dress-suit case and carried his
money in four different pockets.

The train was almost empty and the riding proved decidedly lonely. In a
seat he found an Omaha paper, but he was in no humor for reading. When
noon came he took his time eating his dinner, so that the afternoon's
ride might not appear so lasting.

About half-past two o'clock the train came to an unexpected halt.

Looking out of the window Joe saw that they were in something of a cut,
close to the edge of a woods.

The delay continued, and presently one passenger after another alighted,
to learn the meaning of the hold-up. Joe did likewise, and walked
through the cut toward the locomotive.

The mystery was easily explained. On one side of the cut the bank had
toppled over the tracks, carrying with it two trees of good size.
A number of train hands were already at work, sawing the trees into
pieces, so that they might be shifted clear of the tracks.

Joe watched the men laboring for a few minutes and then walked up the
bank, to get a look at the surroundings. Then he heard a whistle and saw
a train approaching from the opposite direction. It came to a halt a few
hundred feet away.

As the delay continued our hero walked along the bank of the cut and up
to the newly-arrived train. The latter was crowded with passengers, some
of whom also got out.

"Did that train stop at Snapwood?" he asked of one of the passengers.

"It did," was the answer.

"Did you see anybody get on?"

"No, but somebody might have gotten on. I wasn't looking."

"Thank you."

"Looking for a friend?"

"No," said Joe, and moved on.

Without delay our hero ran to the front end of the newly-arrived train
and got aboard. As he walked through he gave every grown passenger a
close look.

At the end of the third car he came upon two suspicious-looking
individuals, who were gazing at a bit of paper in the hands of one. Joe
came closer and saw that the paper was a mining share.

"Caven and Malone, as sure as fate!" he murmured to himself. "What had I
best do next?"

While Joe was trying to make up his mind, Caven chanced to glance up
and his eyes fell upon our hero. He gave a cry of dismay and thrust the
mining share out of sight.

"What's the matter?" asked Malone in a low tone.

"Look there, Pat! That boy!"

"No!"

"But it is!"

"How did he get on this train?"

"I don't know. But it's unpleasant enough for us."

"Do you suppose Vane is around?" asked Malone, nervously.

"He may be."

The two men stared around the car. Only some women and children were
present, the men having gone out to learn the cause of the delay.

"Perhaps we had better get out," went on Malone.

"All right."

They arose, and, satchel in hand, started to leave the train.

"Stop!" cried Joe, and caught Caven by the arm.

"Let go of me, boy!" ejaculated the rascal, and tried to pull himself
loose.

"I won't let go, Gaff Caven."

"If you don't, it will be the worse for you! I am not to be trifled
with!"

"You must give up that satchel."

"Bah!"

"If you don't, I'm going to have you arrested."

"Who is going to arrest me here?" sneered the man who had robbed Maurice
Vane. "Don't you know we are miles away from any town?"

"I don't care. Give up the satchel, or I'll call the train hands."

"I'll give up nothing, boy! Stand out of my way!"

Gaff Caven gave Joe a violent shove which sent our hero up against a
seat. Then he turned and ran from the car, with Pat Malone ahead of him.

"Stop them!" cried Joe, as soon as he could recover. "Stop the thieves!"

Others took up the cry, but before anything could be done Caven and
Malone were out of the car and on to the tracks. Both stared around in
perplexity for a second.

"Come on, we can't afford to waste time here!" cried Caven, and ran for
the bank of the cut, up which he scrambled hastily, with his confederate
at his side.

Joe saw them make the move and was not slow to follow. Near at hand was
a tall, western young man, with bronzed features and a general outdoor
manner.

"Say!" cried our hero. "Will you help me to catch those two men? They
are thieves and I want them arrested. If you'll help me catch them I'll
pay you well for your trouble."

"I'll go you, stranger!" answered the western young man, readily. "You
are certain of your game?"

"Yes. That satchel has their plunder in it. They robbed a friend of
mine."

"This suits me then, friend. We'll round 'em up in short order."

By this time Caven and Malone had gained the woods. Looking back they
saw Joe coming behind, accompanied by the westerner.

"He's after us, and he has got somebody to help him," ejaculated Malone.

"Well, I reckon we can run as fast as they can," answered Gaff Caven.
"Come ahead!"

He led the way along a trail that ran through the woods and came out on
a winding country road. Beyond was another patch of timber.

"This way, Pat," said he. "We'll have to take to the woods again. They
are too close for comfort."

"Can't we climb a tree, or hide in a hollow?" questioned the
confederate.

"We'll see," said Caven.

They pushed on harder than ever, and passed in among some tall trees.
Then they came to a tree that was bent over.

"Up you go," cried Caven, and gave his confederate a boost into the
tree. Then he hauled himself up.

"Now climb to the top," he went on, and Malone did as requested. Caven
followed suit, and both hid themselves among the thick branches.

"They won't find us here," said Malone, after ten minutes had passed.

"Don't make a noise," whispered Caven.

After that they remained silent. From a great distance came a shouting,
and the whistling of locomotives. The trees were being hauled from the
car tracks. A little later they heard more whistling and then the two
trains passed on their way.

"The trains have gone," whispered Malone. "Do you think the boy got
aboard one of them?"

"No, I don't," answered his companion. "He is too determined a lad to
give up so easily. He must be still looking for us."



CHAPTER XXVIII.


FROM OUT OF A TREE.


Caven was right, Joe and his newly-made friend were still in the woods,
doing their best to locate the two rascals.

They had found the trail but lost it in the patch of tall timber, and
were gazing around when they heard the trains leaving the cut.

"There goes our outfit, friend," said the westerner. "And there won't be
another train along for several hours."

"It's too bad, but it can't be helped," answered our hero. "But I'll pay
you for all time lost, Mr.--"

"Plain Bill Badger is my handle, stranger."

"My name is Joe Bodley."

"What about these two varmin you are after?"

"They were trying to rob a friend of mine of some mining shares,"
answered Joe, and gave a few details.

"Well, I vow!" cried Bill Badger "That mine is close to one my dad owns.
They say it ain't of much account though."

"Mr. Vane thinks it is valuable. He has had a mining expert go into the
matter with great care."

"Then that's a different thing. Were you bound for the mine?"

"Yes, and so was Mr. Vane. We were on the train together when he was
robbed."

"I see. I was going out to my dad's mine."

"Then perhaps we can journey together--after we get through here," said
Joe.

"I'm willing. I like your looks. Shake." And the pair shook hands.

Although a westerner, Bill Badger knew no more about following a trail
than did our hero, consequently they proceeded on their hunt with
difficulty.

"Reckon we've missed 'em," said Bill Badger, a while later. "Don't see
hide nor hair of 'em anywhere."

"It's too bad if they got away," answered Joe. "Perhaps--What was that?"

The cracking of a tree limb had reached their ears, followed by a cry of
alarm. A limb upon which Pat Malone was standing had broken, causing the
fellow to slip to another branch below.

"Hush! don't make so much noise!" said Caven, in alarm.

"Gosh! I thought I was going to tumble, out of the tree to the ground,"
gasped Malone, when he could catch his breath.

"They are coming--I can see them," whispered Gaff Caven. "Be as quiet as
a mouse."

In a moment more Joe and Bill Badger stood directly under the tree.

"I think the noise came from near here," said Joe.

"I agree," answered the westerner.

At that moment our hero looked up and saw a man's arm circling a tree
limb far over his head.

"They are up there!" he shouted.

"Sure?"

"Yes, I just saw one of them."

"Then we've got 'em treed," came with a broad grin from Bill Badger.
"What's the next turn of the game?"

"We have got to make them both prisoners."

"All right. Have you got a shooting iron?"

"No, but I can get a club."

"Then do it, and I'll use this, if it's necessary," and the young
westerner pulled a pistol from his hip pocket.

"I wish we had some ropes, with which to tie them," continued Joe.

"Here's a good big handkerchief."

"That's an idea. My handkerchief is also good and strong."

"You do the pow-wowing and I'll do the shooting, if it's necessary,"
said Bill Badger.

Joe looked up into the tree again but could see nobody.

"Caven!" he called out. "I know you are up there and I want you to come
down."

To this remark and request there was no reply.

"If you don't come down we may begin to fire at you," went on our hero.

"Oh, say, do you think he'll shoot?" whispered Malone, in sudden alarm.

"No; shut up!" returned Caven.

"Are you coming down or not?" went on Joe.

Still there was no reply.

"I'll give 'em a shot to warn 'em," said Bill Badger, and fired into the
air at random.

"Don't shoot me!" roared Pat Malone. "Please don't! I'll come down!"

"Well, you come down first. Caven, you stay up there for the present."

After this there was a pause, and presently Pat Malone came down out of
the tree looking sheepish enough.

"Up with your hands!" cried Bill Badger, and confronted by the firearms
the hands of the rascal went up in a hurry.

Then Joe took his handkerchief and stepped up behind Malone. The hands
were lowered and crossed and our hero tied them firmly together at the
wrists.

"Now back up to that tree yonder," said our hero. "And don't you dare to
move."

"I'll do just as you say," whined Malone. "Only don't shoot me." He was
a coward at heart.

"Now, Caven, you come down!" shouted Joe.

"I don't think I care to," answered that rascal, coolly.

"If you don't come down I'll come up after you with my pistol," broke in
Bill Badger.

"Maybe I can do a little shooting myself," went on Gaff Caven.

"I'll risk that."

More words followed, but in the end Caven thought it best to descend and
did so. Yet his face still wore a look of defiance. He was compelled to
turn around, and his hands were also tied behind him.

"Now I want those mining shares, Caven," said Joe.

"I haven't got them."

"Where is the satchel?"

"I threw it away when you started after me."

"Down at the railroad tracks?"

"Yes."

"Don't you believe that," broke in Bill Badger. "At least, not unless he
emptied the satchel first."

"Show me the way you came," said Joe.

"Make him point out the satchel, or make him suffer," went on Bill
Badger.

"I've got an idea!" cried our hero, suddenly. "Perhaps he left the
satchel in the tree."

"That's so. Well, if you want to climb up and look around, I'll watch
the pair of 'em."

"Don't let them get away."

"If they try it, they'll go to the hospital or the graveyard," replied
the western young man, significantly.

"The satchel ain't in the tree," growled Caven, but his tone lacked
positiveness.

"I'll soon know for certain," said our hero.

He climbed the tree with ease, having been used to such doings when
living with the old hermit. As he went from branch to branch he kept his
eyes open, and presently saw a bit of leather sticking out of a crotch.
He worked his way over and soon had the satchel in his possession.

"How are you making out?" called up Bill Badger.

"I've got it!" shouted our hero, joyfully.

"Got the papers?"

"Yes,--everything," said Joe, after a hasty examination.

"Hang the luck!" muttered Gaff Caven, much chagrined.

Our hero was soon on the ground once more. Here he examined the contents
of the satchel with care. Everything was there, and, locking the bag, he
slung the strap over his shoulder.

"Now, what's the next move?" queried Bill Badger.

"We ought to have these men locked up. How far is it to the nearest
town?"

"Ten or twelve miles, I reckon. I don't know much about the roads."

"Why can't you let us go?" asked Malone. "You've got what you want."

"If I let you go you'll be trying to make more trouble for Mr. Vane and
myself."

"Don't talk to them," growled Caven. "If you want to lock us up, do so!"

He was in an ugly humor and ready for a fight.

"We'll march 'em along," said Bill Badger, and so it was agreed.



CHAPTER XXIX.


THE FATE OF TWO EVILDOERS.


"Are you going to let them arrest us?" whispered Pat Malone, as the
whole party moved through the woods towards a wagon road which ran
nearly parallel to the railroad tracks.

"Not if I can help it," Caven whispered back. "We must watch our
chances."

Half a mile was covered and they came out on the road. It was growing
dark and there were signs of a storm in the air.

"It's going to rain," said Joe, and he was right.

"See here, I don't want to get wet to the skin," growled Caven. "I'll
catch my death of cold."

"There is a barn just ahead," said Bill Badger. "Let us get inside."

Joe was willing, and soon all were in the barn. It was now raining at a
heavy rate and they were glad to be under shelter.

"With a barn there ought to be a house," remarked our hero. "But I don't
see any."

It grew still darker, and the rain came down in perfect sheets. The roof
of the barn leaked, and they had to move from one spot to another, to
keep out of the drippings.

While this was going on Gaff Caven was working at the handkerchief
that bound his wrists and soon had it loose. Pat Malone also liberated
himself. Caven winked suggestively at his confederate.

"Watch me," he whispered. "When I give the signal we'll knock 'em both
down and run for it."

"But the pistol--" began Malone.

"I'll take care of that."

In moving around the old barn Caven spotted a club and moved close to
it. Suddenly he snatched the weapon up and hit Bill Badger on the arm
with it. The pistol flew into a corner and went off, sending a bullet
into a board.

"Run!" yelled Caven, and leaped for the open doorway. Malone came beside
him, and both ran off through the rain as fast as their legs could carry
them.

Joe was startled and made after the pair. But at a groan from Bill
Badger he paused.

"Are you badly hurt?" he asked.

"He gave me a stiff crack on the arm," growled the young westerner.

Joe ran for the corner and caught up the pistol. Then he leaped for the
open doorway.

"Stop, both of you!" he called out. "Stop, or I'll fire!"

"Don't you dare!" shrieked Pat Malone, and ran faster than ever, behind
the nearest of the trees. Joe aimed the weapon, but before he could pull
the trigger both of the bad men were out of sight.

"Go after them, if you want to," said Bill Badger. "I'll go too."

"You are not badly hurt?" queried our hero, sympathetically.

"No, but if I catch that fellow I'll give it to him good," grumbled the
young westerner.

Both now left the barn and made after Caven and Malone. Once they caught
sight of the rascals, moving in the direction of the railroad tracks.

"They are going to catch a train if they can!" cried our hero. "I hear
one coming."

"It's a freight most likely," was Bill Badger's answer.

He was right, and soon the long line of freight cars hove into sight
around a bend and on an upgrade. Far in the distance they beheld Caven
and Malone scooting for the train with all speed.

"They are going to make it," sighed Joe. "Too bad!"

They continued to run, but before they could get anywhere near the
tracks they saw Caven leap for the train and get between two of the
cars. Then Malone got aboard also, and the freight train passed out of
sight through the cut.

"That ends the chase," said Joe, halting. "They were slick to get away."

"If we only knew where they would get off we could send word ahead,"
suggested his companion.

"Well, we don't know, and after this they will probably keep their eyes
wide open and keep out of sight as much as possible. Anyway, I don't
think they'll bother Mr. Vane any more."

"It's not likely. I'm a witness to what they were up to," answered the
young westerner.

Both Joe and Bill Badger were soaked from the rain and resolved to
strike out for the nearest farmhouse or village. They kept along the
railroad tracks, and presently came to a shanty where there was a
track-walker.

"How far to the nearest village?" asked our hero.

"Half a mile."

"Thank you."

"How is it you are out here in the rain?" went on the track-walker.

"We got off our train and it went off without us."

"Oh, I see. Too bad."

Again our hero and his companion hurried on, and soon came in sight of
a small village. They inquired their way to a tavern, and there dried
their clothing and procured a good, hot meal, which made both feel much
better.

"I am going to send a telegram to Mr. Vane," said Joe, and did so
without further delay. He was careful of the satchel and did not leave
it out of his sight.

They found they could get a train for the West that evening at seven
o'clock and at the proper time hurried to the depot.

"I'm glad I met you," said Joe, to his newly-made friend. "Now, what do
you think I owe you for what you did?"

"As we didn't land the fellows in jail you don't owe me anything," said
Bill Badger, promptly.

"Oh, yes, I do."

"Well then, you can pay the extra expense, and let that fill the bill."

"I'll certainly do that," said Joe, promptly.

As they rode along Bill Badger told something of himself and of the mine
his father owned, and then Joe told something of his own story.

"Did you say your name is Joe Bodley?" asked the young westerner, with
deep interest.

"Yes."

"And you are looking for a man by the name of William A. Bodley?"

"I am."

"It seems to me I know a man by that name, although the miners all call
him Bill Bodley."

"Where is this Bill Bodley?"

"Out in Montana somewhere. He worked for my father once, about three
years ago. He was rather a strange man, about fifty years old. He had
white hair and a white beard, and acted as if he had great trouble on
his mind."

"You do not know where he is now?"

"No, but perhaps my father knows."

"Then I'm going to see your father as soon as I can," said Joe,
decidedly.

"Mind you, I don't say that this Bill Bodley is the man you are after,
Joe. I don't want to raise any false hopes."

"Did you ever hear where the man came from?"

"I think he told somebody that he once owned a farm in Kansas or Iowa."

"This William A. Bodley once owned a farm at Millville, Iowa."

"Is that so! Then he may be the same man after all. To tell the truth,
he looked a little bit like you."

"Was he a good man?" asked Joe, eagerly.