



Produced by Charles Keller and David Widger





JOE THE HOTEL BOY

OR

WINNING OUT BY PLUCK



By 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. GUSSING
     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.   JOE'S NEW POSITION
     XVIII.  JOE SHOWS HIS MUSCLE
     XIX.    ONE KIND OF A DUEL
     XX.     ATTACKED IN THE DARK
     XXI.    DAYS AT THE HOTEL
     XXII.   ABOUT SOME MINING SHARES
     XXIII.  THE FIRE AT THE HOTEL
     XXIV.   THE BLUE BOX AT LAST
     XXV.    JOE VISITS CHICAGO
     XXVI.   HOW A SATCHEL DISAPPEARED
     XXVII.  JOE MAKES A DISCOVERY
     XXVIII. FROM OUT OF A TREE
     XXIX.   THE FATE OF TWO EVILDOERS
     XXX.    CONCLUSION




PREFACE.

A number of years ago the author of this story set out to depict life
among the boys of a great city, and especially among those who had to
make their own way in the world. Among those already described are
the ways of newsboys, match boys, peddlers, street musicians, and many
others.

In the present tale are related the adventures of a country lad who,
after living for some time with a strange hermit, goes forth into the
world and finds work, first in a summer hotel and then in a large hotel
in the city. Joe finds his road no easy one to travel, and he has to
face not a few hardships, but in the end all turns out well.

It may be added here that many of the happenings told of in this story,
odd as they may seem, are taken from life. Truth is indeed stranger than
fiction, and life itself is full of romance from start to finish.

If there is a moral to be drawn from this story, it is a twofold one,
namely, that honesty is always the best policy, and that if one wishes
to succeed in life he must stick at his work steadily and 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 back home,"
replied Joe Bodley, as he looked at the heavy clouds which overhung Lake
Tandy.

"Do you think we'll catch much rain before we get back?" And Ned, who
was the son of a rich man and well dressed, looked at the new suit of
clothes that he wore.

"I'm afraid we shall, Ned. Those black clouds back of Mount Sam mean
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 didn't think it was going to rain
when we started."

"Oh, I am not blaming you, Joe. It looked clear enough this morning.
Can't we get to some sort of shelter before the rain reaches 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. It's an 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 Ned
Talmadge. "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 he and
Joe Bodley occupied. Joe was already rowing and the rich boy joined in,
and the craft was headed for the spot Joe had pointed out.

The lake was one located in the central part of the State of
Pennsylvania. It was perhaps a mile wide and more than that long, and
surrounded by mountains and long ranges of hills. At the lower end of
the lake was a small settlement of scant importance and at the
upper end, where there was a stream of no mean size, was the town of
Riverside. At Riverside were situated several summer hotels and boarding
houses, and also the elegant mansion in which Ned Talmadge resided, with
his parents and his four sisters.

Joe Bodley was as poor as Ned Talmadge was rich,