Joe the Hotel Boy; Or, Winning out by Pluck

good mile from Riverside, he could not help but think

m their talk they must have come from New York an

at which he and Hiram Bodley were in the habit of leaving their boat. He cleaned the craft out, hid the oars in the usual place, and th

pose the Talmadges think this is a regular hovel. I wish we could afford something bette

son he could not understand, he felt very much depressed in spirits. He qui

ightning had struck the tree, causing it to topple ever. In falling, it had landed fairly and squarely upon the cabin, sma

oon as he recovered from his amaze

heart seemed to stop beating. Was the old hermit under tha

The door had fallen to the ground and before him was a mass of wreckage wit

am!" he ca

heard a groan, coming from the rear of what was left of the cabin. He ran

ram, are

full of pain. The man trie

flat on his back, with a heavy beam resting on his chest. He was

said, in a trembling voice. "I'll

I-my ribs must be brok

to pull aside one board after another. Then he

shing the life ou-out of m

get a block of wood. Then he procured a stout pole

awl out, Un

rom exhaustion. Fixing the pole so it could not slip, he ca

y knew how to proceed. He laid the hermit on the grass and washed

ribs must be broken! And my ankle i

get a doctor

r can't

aps h

ctors. A doctor operated o

man. He will do all he can f

mit. If you-can-can get him-I'll-I'll-"

ave you alone." And Joe stared around he

m Bodley. He had often taken Doctor Gardner out to

Riverside. He had left the hermit as comfortable as possible, on a mattress and covered with a cl

ck of the physician's home in a short space of time. Running up the walk of t

Doctor Gardner, who came hi

rm, and Mr. Bodley is badly hurt," answere

," said the physician. "I'll come

and also for some medicines, and

d the doctor, after he had watched

rowing a good deal to-day.

He was a fine oarsman, and the trip was made in half

rmit when they went fishing at night. This was lit, and

ft him. He was breathing with difficulty

"Take it off! It is-is crush

't you know me?" asked

h, doctor, can you? I-I'm done for!" And a

he physician, noncommittally. He recognized at

, won't he?" quest

uld for the hurt man. He felt of his chest and listene

is hurt, to

le just now, Joe,"

e that alarmed the boy and he

ruth!" he cried. "Is h

bs are crushed and one of them

he could do to keep from crying outright. Even though the old her

something, doct

e journey. He is growing weaker every moment. Be brave, my lad. It is a ter

ook hold of his hand. Hiram Bodley

he said hoarsely. "Joe, stay

the boy. "Oh,

Joe-I-I thought I'd be-be able

something for m

to you, Joe. Doctor

d

. The blue box-I put it in the blue b

" came from Jo

e money-And the blue box is-is-" Again the suffe

en he tried to speak again, but the effort w

Speak to me!"

st speaking. He had pas