Joe the Hotel Boy; Or, Winning out by Pluck

arties from the hotel. All whom he served were pleased with him and treate

the week Ned Talma

o join the folks o

ave a good time,"

oe. By the way, you are nicel

I am thank

work for, so I have been told

ong as the wo

mething else to do, after

k his departure. It was to be a long time

el, but that evening, when he was cleaning out his boat,

t's took my job from me,

who had been discharged for drinking. Even now the boatm

nybody's job from

owled Cullum. "It a

ot reply, but went on

er!" went on the tipsy b

stance," said Joe, sharply. "Mr. Mallison dischar

stwise, I don't dri

t thing in the world for you if y

u preach to me,

eave me

rom me an' I'm going

said Joe, his eyes flashing. "Leave

wanted to hit Joe on the nose, but the boy dodged wit

d the half-intoxicated man, as he rose slow

try to strik

athered himself for another blow. By this time a sm

going to fig

most k

Joe. But the boy dodged again and put

me alone?" asked

Cullum. "Somebody give m

blow at Joe's head. For a third time our hero dodged, but th

d of the dock and Sam Cullum followed. Then, of a sudden the boy ducked under the man

score one

ool Sam Cull

standing by, who had witnessed the quarrel from the beginning.

t up in the shallows. The lake at that point was not over

wed. "Save me! I do

t will do you good!" said

u'll be all righ

und the side of the dock to the shore. A crowd f

the intoxicated one, and shuffled o

deserved," said one of

o square up another ti

n't take water

attacks me I'll do the bes

a long time. It's a wonder to me that

It isn't so easy to get new help

is t

t that Cullum had gotten into a row with his wife and some of her relatives that night and was under

ht," said the man who

e hard on

it is

ey any c

seven and three

hey we

washing, but now she has to stay at home to take care of the baby. Sam

relatives c

poor as she is, and one of them is just g

the Cull

t far from the water tower.

inking, and that evening, after his work was over, he took a

eral broken-out windows. He looked in at one of the windows and by the light of a smoking kerosene lamp beheld a woman in a rocking-chair,

bread," one of the l

the morning, Johnny,

" whimpered the you

o," put in anot

aven't it," said the mother, with a deep sig

ome home?" asked

," faltered the mother. "Now all be still, a

the sight any longer Joe withdrew. Up the Alley

a pound of cheese, and some smoked beef, and a po

up, and with his arms full he ran bac

" asked Mrs. C

ries for you!" cried

d the boy of seven.

me from one of

just what you lik

come from?" as

wered Joe. "It'

ery tha

ome bread, can't w

the mother, and placing the sleeping baby on a bed, sh