Joe's Luck; Or, Always Wide Awake, Page 4

  Joe did not leave the wharf. Time was not of much value to him, andhe decided that he might as well remain and see the steamer start onwhich he had fondly hoped to be a passenger.

  Meanwhile, the preparations for departure went steadily forward.Trunks arrived and were conveyed on board; passengers, accompanied bytheir friends, came, and all was hurry and bustle.

  Two young men, handsomely dressed and apparently possessed of largermeans than the great majority of the passengers, got out of a hackand paused close to where Joe was standing.

  "Dick," said one, "I'm really sorry you are not going with me. Ishall feel awfully lonely without you."

  "I am very much disappointed, Charlie, but duty will keep me at home.My father's sudden, alarming sickness has broken up all my plans."

  "Yes, Dick, of course you can't go."

  "If my father should recover, in a few weeks, I will come out andjoin you, Charlie."

  "I hope you may be able to, Dick. By the way, how about your ticket?"

  "I shall have to lose it, unless the company will give me another inplace of it."

  "They ought to do it."

  "Yes, but they are rather stiff about it. I would sell it for ahundred dollars."

  Joe heard this and his heart beat high.

  He pressed forward, and said eagerly:

  "Will you sell it to me for that?"

  The young man addressed as Dick looked, in surprise, at the poorlydressed boy who had addressed him.

  "Do you want to go to California?" he asked.

  "Yes, sir," said Joe. "I am very anxious to go."

  "Do I understand you to offer a hundred dollars for my ticket?"

  "Yes, sir; but I can't pay you now."

  "When do you expect to be able to pay me, then?"

  "Not till I've earned the money in California."

  "Have you thought before of going?"

  "Yes, sir. Until an hour ago I thought that it was all arranged thatI should go. I came down here and found that the ticket I had boughtwas a bogus one, and that I had been swindled out of my money."

  "That was a mean trick," said Dick Scudder indignantly. "Do you knowthe man that cheated you?"

  "Yes; he is on board the steamer."

  "How much money have you got left?"

  "A dollar."

  "Only a dollar? And you are not afraid to land in California withthis sum?"

  "No, sir. I shall go to work at once."

  "Charlie," said Dick, turning to his friend, "I will do as you say.Are you willing to take this boy into your stateroom in my place?"

  "Yes," said Charles Folsom promptly. "He looks like a good boy. Iaccept him as my roommate."

  "All right," said the other. "My boy, what is your name?"

  "Joe Mason."

  "Well, Joe, here is my ticket. If you are ever able to pay a hundreddollars for this ticket, you may pay it to my friend, Charles Folsom.Now, I advise you both to be getting aboard, as it is nearly time forthe steamer to sail. I won't go on with you, Charlie, as I must goback to my father's bedside."

  "Good-by, sir. God bless you!" said Joe gratefully. "Good-by, Joe,and good luck!"

  As they went over the plank, the officer, recognizing Joe, saidroughly:

  "Stand back, boy! Didn't I tell you you couldn't go aboard without aticket?"

  "Here is my ticket," said Joe.

  "A first-class ticket!" exclaimed the officer, in amazement. "Wheredid you get it?"

  "I bought it," answered Joe.

  "I shall go to California, after all!" thought our hero exultingly.

  CHAPTER IX

  THE FIRST DAY ON BOARD

  "We will look up our stateroom first, Joe," said his new friend. "Itought to be a good one."

  The stateroom proved to be No. 16, very well located and spacious fora stateroom. But to Joe it seemed very small for two persons. Hewas an inexperienced traveler and did not understand that life onboard ship is widely different from life on shore. His companion hadbeen to Europe and was used to steamer life.

  "I think, Joe," said he, "that I shall put you in the top berth. Thelower berth is considered more desirable, but I claim it on the scoreof age and infirmity."

  "You don't look very old, or infirm," said Joe.

  "I am twenty-three. And you?"

  "Fifteen--nearly sixteen."

  "I have a stateroom trunk, which will just slip in under my berth.Where is your luggage?"

  Joe looked embarrassed.

  "I don't know but you will feel ashamed of me," he said; "but theonly extra clothes I have are tied up in this handkerchief."

  Charles Folsom whistled.

  "Well," said he, "you are poorly provided. What have you got inside?"

  "A couple of shirts, three collars, two handkerchiefs, and a pair ofstockings."

  "And you are going a journey of thousands of miles! But never mind,"he said kindly. "I am not much larger than you, and, if you need it,I can lend you. Once in California, you will have less trouble thanif you were loaded down with clothes. I must get you to tell me yourstory when there is time."

  They came on deck just in time to see the steamer swing out of thedock.

  There were some of the passengers with sober faces. They had biddenfarewell to friends and relatives whom they might not see foryears--perhaps never again. They were going to a new country, wherehardships undoubtedly awaited them, and where they must take theirchances of health and success. Some, too, feared seasickness, amalady justly dreaded by all who have ever felt its prostratingeffects. But Joe only felt joyful exhilaration.

  "You look happy, Joe," said young Folsom.

  "I feel so," said Joe.

  "Are you hoping to make your fortune in California?"

  "I am hoping to make a living," said Joe.

  "Didn't you make a living here at home?"

  "A poor living, with no prospects ahead. I didn't mind hard work andpoor clothes, if there had been a prospect of something better by andby."

  "Tell me your story. Where were you living?" Charles Folsom listenedattentively.

  "Major Norton didn't appear disposed to pamper you, or bring you upin luxury, that's a fact. It would have been hard lines if, onaccount of losing your aunt's legacy, you had been compelled to goback to Oakville."

  "I wouldn't have gone," said Joe resolutely.

  "What would you have done?"

  "Stayed in New York, and got a living somehow, even if I had to blackboots in the street."

  "I guess you'll do. You've got the right spirit. It takes boys andmen like you for pioneers."

  Joe was gratified at his companion's approval.

  "Now," said Folsom, "I may as well tell you my story. I am the sonof a New York merchant who is moderately rich. I entered thecounting-room at seventeen, and have remained there ever since, withthe exception of four months spent in Europe."

  "If you are rich already, why do you go out to California?" asked Joe.

  "I am not going to the mines; I am going to prospect a little for thefirm. Some day San Francisco will be a large city. I am going tosee how soon it will pay for our house to establish a branch there."

  "I see," said Joe.

  "I shall probably go out to the mines and take a general survey ofthe country; but, as you see, I do not go out to obtain employment."

  "It must be jolly not to have to work," said Joe, "but to have plentyof money to pay your expenses."

  "Well, I suppose it is convenient. I believe you haven't a largecash surplus?"

  "I have a dollar."

  "You've got some pluck to travel so far away from home with such aslender capital, by Jove!"

  "I don't know that it's pluck. It's necessity."

  "Something of both, perhaps. Don't you feel afraid of what mayhappen?"

  "No," said Joe. "California is a new country, and there must beplenty of work. Now, I am willing to work and I don't believe Ishall starve."

  "That's the way to feel, Joe.
At the worst, you have me to fall backupon. I won't see you suffer."

  "It is very lucky for me. I hope I shan't give you any trouble."

  "If you do, I'll tell you of it," said Folsom, laughing. "The factis, I feel rather as if I were your guardian. An odd feeling that,as hitherto I have been looked after by others. Now it is my turn toassume authority."

  "You will find me obedient," said Joe, smiling. "Seriously, I am soinexperienced in the way of the world that I shall consider it agreat favor if you will give me any hints you may think useful to me."

  Folsom became more and more pleased with his young charge. He sawthat he was manly, amiable, and of good principles, with only onegreat fault--poverty--which he was quite willing to overlook.

  They selected their seats in the saloon, and were fortunate enough tobe assigned to the captain's table. Old travelers know that thosewho sit at this table are likely to fare better than those who arefarther removed.

  While Folsom was walking the deck with an old friend, whom he hadfound among the passengers, Joe went on an exploring expedition.

  He made his way to that portion of the deck appropriated to thesteerage passengers. Among them his eye fell on the man who swindledhim.

  "You here!" exclaimed the fellow in amazement.

  "Yes," said Joe, "I am here."

  "I thought you said your ticket wasn't good?"

  "It wasn't, as you very well know."

  "I don't know anything about it. How did you smuggle yourselfaboard?"

  "I didn't smuggle myself aboard at all. I came on like the rest ofthe passengers."

  "Why haven't I seen you before?"

  "I am not a steerage passenger. I am traveling first-class."

  "You don't mean it!" ejaculated the fellow, thoroughly astonished."You told me you hadn't any more money."

  "So I did, and that shows that you were the man that sold me thebogus ticket."

  "Nothing of the kind," said the other, but he seemed taken aback byJoe's charge. "Well, all I can say is, that you know how to getround. When a man or boy can travel first-class without a cent ofmoney, he'll do."

  "I wouldn't have come at all if I had had to swindle a poor boy outof his money," said Joe.

  Joe walked off without receiving an answer. He took pains toascertain the name of the man who had defrauded him. He was enteredon the passenger-list as Henry Hogan.

  CHAPTER X

  THE DETECTED THIEF

  "Do you expect to be seasick, Joe?"

  "I don't know, Mr. Folsom. This is the first time I have ever beenat sea."

  "I have crossed the Atlantic twice, and been sick each time. Isuppose I have a tendency that way."

  "How does it feel?" asked Joe curiously.

  Folsom laughed.

  "It cannot be described," he answered.

  "Then I would rather remain ignorant," said Joe.

  "You are right. This is a case where ignorance is bliss decidedly."

  Twenty-four hours out Folsom's anticipations were realized. Heexperienced nausea and his head swam.

  Returning from a walk on deck, Joe found his guardian lying down inthe stateroom.

  "Is anything the matter, Mr. Folsom?"

  "Nothing but what I expected. The demon of the sea has me in hisgripe."

  "Can I do anything for you?"

  "Nothing at present, Joe. What art can minister to a stomachdiseased? I must wait patiently, and it will wear off. Don't youfeel any of the symptoms?"

  "Oh, no--I feel bully," said Joe. "I've got a capital appetite."

  "I hope you will be spared. It would be dismal for both of us to begroaning with seasickness."

  "Shall I stay with you?"

  "No--go on deck. That is the best way to keep well. My sicknesswon't last more than a day or two."

  The young man's expectations were realized. After forty-eight hourshe recovered from his temporary indisposition and reappeared on deck.

  He found that his young companion, had made a number ofacquaintances, and had become a general favorite through his frankand pleasant manners.

  "I think you'll get on, Joe," said he. "You make friends easily."

  "I try to do it," said Joe modestly.

  "You are fast getting over your country greenness. Of course youcouldn't help having a share of it, having never lived outside of asmall country village."

  "I am glad you think so, Mr. Folsom. I suppose I was very green andI haven't got over it yet, but in six months I hope to get rid of itwholly."

  "It won't take six months at the rate you are advancing."

  Day succeeded day and Joe was not sick at all. He carried a goodappetite to every meal and entered into the pleasures of sea lifewith zest. He played shuffle-board on deck, guessed daily the ship'srun, was on the alert for distant sails, and managed in one way oranother to while away the time cheerfully.

  They had got into the Gulf of Mexico, when, one day, there was anunwonted commotion in the steerage.

  A poor German had lost forty dollars, the entire capital he wascarrying with him to the new country.

  "Some tief has rob me," he complained, in accents of mingled griefand anger. "He has rob me of all my gold. He has not left me onecent."

  "When did you miss the money?" inquired the first officer.

  "Just now," said the poor German.

  "When did you see it last?"

  "Last night when I went to mine bed."

  "Did you take off your clothes?"

  "No."

  "What men sleep near you?"

  The German pointed to two. The first was a German.

  "But he would not rob me. He is mine friend," he said. "He isFritz."

  "Who is the other man?"

  The German pointed to Henry Hogan, the same man who had defrauded Joe.

  "The man's a fool," said Hogan. "Does he mean to say a gentlemanlike me would steal his paltry money?"

  "He hasn't said so," said the first officer quietly. "He only saidthat you slept near him."

  "He'd better not accuse me," blustered Hogan.

  The officer was a judge of human nature, and Hogan's manner and wordsmade him suspect that he was really the guilty party.

  "My man," said he, "you are making a fuss before you are accused. Nocharge has been made against you. The man's money has been taken,and some one must have taken it."

  "I don't believe he ever had any," said Hogan.

  "Can you prove that you had the money?" asked the officer, addressingthe German. "Has any one on board seen it in your possession?"

  An Irishman named Riley came forward.

  "That can I do," said he. "It was only yesterday morning that I sawthe man counting his money."

  "In what denomination was the money?"

  Pat Riley scratched his head.

  "Sure I didn't know that money belonged to any denomination, sir."

  The officer smiled.

  "I mean, was it in five, or ten, or twenty dollar pieces."

  "There was four tens, sir--four gould eagles."

  "Is that right?" inquired the officer, turning to the German.

  "Yes, sir, that's what I had."

  "Then," said the officer, "it seems clearly proved that our Germanfriend here had the money he claims. Now, I suggest that the two menhe has said occupied bunks nearest to him shall be searched. Butfirst, if the man who has taken the money will come forwardvoluntarily and return the same, I will guarantee that he shallreceive no punishment."

  He paused for a brief space and looked at Hogan.

  Hogan seemed uneasy, but stolid and obstinate.

  "Since my offer is not accepted," said the officer, "let the two menbe searched."

  Fritz, the young German, came forward readily.

  "I am ready," he said.

  "I am not," said Hogan. "I protest against this outrage. It is aninfringement of my rights as an American citizen. If any one daresto lay hands on me, I will have him arrested as soon as we reachCalif
ornia."

  His threat produced no effect upon the officer. At a signal twosailors seized him, and, despite his struggles, turned his pocketsinside out.

  Among the contents were found four gold eagles.

  "It is my money!" exclaimed the poor German.

  "You lie! The money is mine!" said Hogan furiously.

  "There was a cross, which I scratched with a pin, on one piece," saidthe German. "Look! see if it is there."

  Examination was made, and the scratch was found just as he describedit.

  "The money evidently belongs to the German," said the officer. "Giveit to him."

  "You are robbing me of my money," said Hogan.

  "Look here, my friend, you had better be quiet," said the officersignificantly, "or I will have you tied up to keep out of mischief.You are getting off very well as it is. I have no doubt you havebeen up to other dishonest tricks before this one."

  "That is true, sir," said Joe, speaking up for the first time. "Thisis the same man who sold me a bogus ticket, two days before wesailed, for fifty dollars."

  "It's a lie!" said Hogan. "I'll be even with you some time, boy, forthat lie of yours."

  "I don't care for the threats of such a scoundrel as you are," saidJoe undauntedly.

  "Look out for him, Joe," said Folsom. "He will try to do you amischief some time."