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JOE THE HOTEL BOY

OR

WINNING OUT BY PLUCK

BY HORATIO ALGER, JR.

JOE THE HOTEL BOY.

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