Joe's Luck; Or, Always Wide Awake Read online

  "Joe Mason."

  "You've been kind to me, and I won't forget it. It doesn't seemlikely I can return the favor, but I'll do it if ever I can. Goodnight to you."

  "Where are you going?" asked Joe, surprised, as the miner walked tothe door.

  "Out into the street."

  "But where do you mean to pass the night?"

  "Where a man without money must--in the street."

  "But you mustn't do that."

  "I shan't mind it. I've slept out at the mines many a night."

  "But won't you find it more comfortable here?"

  "Yes; but I don't want to intrude. You've given me a good supper andthat is all I can expect."

  "He doesn't seem much like Hogan," thought Joe.

  "You are welcome to lodge here with me," he said. "It will cost younothing and will be more comfortable for you."

  "You don't know me, Joe," said the miner. "How do you know but I mayget up in the night and rob you?"

  "You could, but I don't think you will," said Joe. "I am not at allafraid of it. You look like an honest man."

  The miner looked gratified.

  "You shan't repent your confidence, Joe," he said.

  "I'd rather starve than rob a good friend like you. But you mustn'ttrust everybody."

  "I don't," said Joe. "I refused a man to-night--a man named Hogan."

  "Hogan?"

  "Yes."

  "What does he look like?"

  Joe described him.

  "It's the very man," said the miner.

  "Do you know him, then?"

  "Yes; he was out at our diggings. Nobody liked him, or trusted him.He was too lazy to work, but just loafed around, complaining of hisluck. One night I caught him in my tent, just going to rob me. Iwarned him to leave the camp next day or I'd report him, and the boyswould have strung him up. That's the way they treat thieves outthere."

  "It doesn't surprise me to hear it," said Joe. "He robbed me offifty dollars in New York."

  "He did? How was that?"

  Joe told the story.

  "The mean skunk!" ejaculated Watson--for this Joe found to be theminers name. "It's mean enough to rob a man, but to cheat a poor boyout of all he has is a good deal meaner. And yet you gave himsupper?"

  "Yes. The man was hungry; I pitied him."

  "You're a better Christian than I am. I'd have let him go hungry."

  Both Joe and the miner were weary and they soon retired, but not touninterrupted slumber. About midnight they were disturbed, as thenext chapter will show.

  CHAPTER XX

  HOGAN MEETS A CONGENIAL SPIRIT

  When Hogan left Joe's presence he was far from feeling as grateful ashe ought for the kindness with which our hero had treated him.Instead of feeling thankful for the bountiful supper, he was angrybecause Joe had not permitted him to remain through the night. Hadhe obtained this favor, he would have resented the refusal to takehim into partnership. There are some men who are always solicitingfavors, and demanding them as a right, and Hogan was one of them.

  Out in the street he paused a minute, undecided where to go. He hadno money, as he had truly said, or he would have been tempted to goto a gambling-house, and risk it on a chance of making more.

  "Curse that boy!" he muttered, as he sauntered along in the directionof Telegraph Hill. "Who'd have thought a green country clodhopperwould have gone up as he has, while an experienced man of the worldlike me is out at the elbows and without a cent!"

  The more Hogan thought of this, the more indignant he became.

  He thrust both hands into his pantaloons pockets, and strode moodilyon.

  "I say it's a cursed shame!" he muttered. "I never did have anyluck, that's a fact. Just see how luck comes to some. With only adollar or two in his pocket, this Joe got trusted for a first-classpassage out here, while I had to come in the steerage. Then, again,he meets some fool, who sets him up in business. Nobody everoffered to set me up in business!" continued Hogan, feeling aggrievedat Fortune for her partiality. "Nobody even offered to give me astart in life. I have to work hard, and that's all the good it does."

  The fact was that Hogan had not done a whole day's work for years.But such men are very apt to deceive themselves and possibly heimagined himself a hard-working man.

  "It's disgusting to see the airs that boy puts on," he continued tosoliloquize. "It's nothing but luck. He can't help getting on, witheverybody to help him. Why didn't he let me sleep in his placeto-night? It wouldn't have cost him a cent."

  Then Hogan drifted off into calculations of how much money Joe wasmaking by his business. He knew the prices charged for meals andthat they afforded a large margin of profit.

  The more he thought of it, the more impressed he was with the extentof Joe's luck.

  "The boy must be making his fortune," he said to himself. "Why, hecan't help clearing from one to two hundred dollars a week--perhapsmore. It's a money-making business, there's no doubt of it. Whycouldn't he take me in as partner? That would set me on my legsagain, and in time I'd be rich. I'd make him sell out, and get thewhole thing after awhile."

  So Hogan persuaded himself into the conviction that Joe ought to haveaccepted him as partner, though why this should be, since his onlyclaim rested on his successful attempt to defraud him in New York, itwould be difficult to conjecture.

  Sauntering slowly along, Hogan had reached the corner of PacificStreet, then a dark and suspicious locality in the immediateneighborhood of a number of low public houses of bad reputation. Thenight was dark, for there was no moon.

  Suddenly he felt himself seized in a tight grip, while a low, sternvoice in his ear demanded:

  "Your money, and be quick about it!"

  Hogan was not a brave man, but this demand, in his impecuniouscondition, instead of terrifying him, struck his sense of humor as anexceedingly good joke.

  "You've got the wrong man!" he chuckled.

  "Stop your fooling, and hand over your money, quickly!" was the sternrejoinder.

  "My dear friend," said Hogan, "if you can find any money about me,it's more than I can do myself."

  "Are you on the square?" demanded the other suspiciously.

  "Look at me, and see."

  The highwayman took him at his word. Lighting a match, he surveyedhis captive.

  "You don't look wealthy, that's a fact," he admitted. "Where are yougoing?"

  "I don't know. I haven't got any money, nor any place to sleep."

  "Then you'd better be leaving this place, or another mistake may bemade."

  "Stop!" said Hogan, with a sudden thought. "Though I haven't anymoney, I can tell you where we can both find some."

  "Do you mean it?"

  "Yes."

  "Come in here, then, and come to business."

  He led Hogan into a low shanty on Pacific Street, and, bidding him beseated on a broken settee, waited for particulars.

  CHAPTER XXI

  READY FOR MISCHIEF

  Though Hogan was a scamp in the superlative degree, the burly ruffianwho seated himself by his side looked the character much better. Hewas not a man to beat about the bush. As he expressed it, he wantedto come to business at once.

  "What's your game, pard?" he demanded. "Out with it."

  Hogan's plan, as the reader has already surmised, was to break intoJoe's restaurant and seize whatever money he might be found to haveon the premises. He recommended it earnestly, for two reasons.First, a share of the money would be welcome; and, secondly, he wouldbe gratified to revenge himself upon the boy, whom he dislikedbecause he had injured him.

  Jack Rafferty listened in silence.

  "I don't know about it," he said. "There's a risk."

  "I don't see any risk. We two ought to be a match for a boy."

  "Of course we are. If we wasn't I'd go hang myself up for a milksop.Are you sure there's no one else with him?"

  "Not a soul."

  "That's well, so far; but we might be seen f
rom the outside."

  "We can keep watch."

  "Do you think the boy's got much money about him?"

  "Yes; he's making money hand over fist. He's one of those mean chapsthat never spend a cent, but lay it all by. Bah!"

  So Hogan expressed his contempt for Joe's frugality.

  "All the better for us. How much might there be now, do you think?"

  "Five hundred dollars, likely."

  "That's worth risking something for," said Jack thoughtfully.

  "We'll share alike?" inquired Hogan anxiously.

  "Depends on how much you help about gettin' the money," said Jackcarelessly.

  Hogan, who was not very courageous, did not dare push the matterthough he would have liked a more definite assurance. However, hehad another motive besides the love of money, and was glad to havethe cooperation of Rafferty, though secretly afraid of his ruffianlyaccomplice.

  It was agreed to wait till midnight. Till then both men threwthemselves down and slept.

  As the clock indicated midnight, Rafferty shook Hogan roughly.

  The latter sat up and gazed, in terrified bewilderment, at Jack, whowas leaning over him, forgetting for the moment the compact intowhich he had entered.

  "What do you want?" he ejaculated.

  "It's time we were about our business," growled Jack.

  "It's struck twelve."

  "All right!" responded Hogan, who began to feel nervous, now that thecrisis was at hand.

  "Don't sit rubbing your eyes, man, but get up."

  "Haven't you got a drop of something to brace me up?" asked Hogannervously.

  "What are you scared of, pard?" asked Rafferty contemptuously.

  "Nothing," answered Hogan, "but I feel dry."

  "All right. A drop of something will warm us both up."

  Jack went behind the counter, and, selecting a bottle of rot-gutwhisky, poured out a stiff glassful apiece.

  "Drink it, pard," he said.

  Hogan did so, nothing loath.

  "That's the right sort," he said, smacking his lips. "It's warmingto the stomach."

  So it was and a frequent indulgence in the vile liquid would probablyhave burned his stomach and unfitted it for service. But themomentary effect was stimulating, and inspired Hogan with a kind ofDutch courage, which raised him in the opinion of his burlyconfederate.

  "Push ahead, pard," said he. "I'm on hand."

  "That's the way to talk," said Rafferty approvingly. "If we'relucky, we'll be richer before morning."

  Through the dark streets, unlighted and murky, the two confederatesmade their stealthy way, and in five minutes stood in front of Joe'srestaurant.

  CHAPTER XXII

  CHECKMATED

  Everything looked favorable for their plans. Of course, therestaurant was perfectly dark, and the street was quite deserted.

  "How shall we get in?" asked Hogan of his more experienced accomplice.

  "No trouble--through the winder."

  Rafferty had served an apprenticeship at the burglar's trade, and wasnot long in opening the front window. He had no light and could notsee that Joe had a companion. If he had discovered this, he wouldhave been more cautious.

  "Go in and get the money," said he to Hogan.

  He thought it possible that Hogan might object, but the latter had areason for consenting. He thought he might obtain for himself thelion's share of the plunder, while, as to risk, there would be no onebut Joe to cope with, and Hogan knew that in physical strength hemust be more than a match for a boy of sixteen.

  "All right!" said Hogan. "You stay at the window and give the alarmif we are seen."

  Rafferty was prompted by a suspicion of Hogan's good faith in theproposal he made to him. His ready compliance lulled this suspicion,and led him to reflect that, perhaps, he could do the work betterhimself.

  "No," said he. "I'll go in and you keep watch at the winder."

  "I'm willing to go in," said Hogan, fearing that he would not get hisfair share of the plunder.

  "You stay where you are, pard!" said Rafferty, in a tone of command."I'll manage this thing myself."

  "Just as you say," said Hogan, slightly disappointed.

  Rafferty clambered into the room, making as little noise as possible.He stood still a moment, to accustom his eyes to the darkness. Hisplan was to discover where Joe lay, wake him up, and force him, bythreats of instant death as the penalty for non-compliance, todeliver up all the money he had in the restaurant.

  Now, it happened that Joe and his guest slept in opposite corners ofthe room. Rafferty discovered Joe, but was entirely ignorant of thepresence of another person in the apartment.

  Joe waked on being rudely shaken.

  "Who is it?" he muttered drowsily.

  "Never mind who it is!" growled Jack in his ear. "It's a man that'llkill you if you don't give up all the money you've got about you!"

  Joe was fully awake now, and realized the situation. He feltthankful that he was not alone, and it instantly flashed upon himthat Watson had a revolver. But Watson was asleep. To obtain timeto form a plan, he parleyed a little.

  "You want my money?" he asked, appearing to be confused.

  "Yes--and at once! Refuse, and I will kill you!"

  I won't pretend to deny that Joe's heart beat a little quicker thanits wont. He was thinking busily. How could he attract Watson'sattention?

  "It's pretty hard, but I suppose I must," he answered.

  "That's the way to talk."

  "Let me get up and I'll get it."

  Joe spoke so naturally that Rafferty suspected nothing. He permittedour hero to rise, supposing that he was going for the money hedemanded.

  Joe knew exactly where Watson lay and went over to him. He kneltdown and drew out the revolver from beneath his head, at the sametime pushing him, in the hope of arousing him. The push waseffectual. Watson was a man whose experience at the mines had taughthim to rouse at once. He just heard Joe say:

  "Hush!"

  "What are you so long about?" demanded Rafferty suspiciously.

  "I've got a revolver," said Joe unexpectedly; "and, if you don'tleave the room, I'll fire!"

  With an oath, Rafferty, who was no coward, sprang upon Joe, and itwould have gone hard with him but for Watson. The latter was nowbroad awake. He seized Rafferty by the collar, and, dashing himbackward upon the floor, threw himself upon him.

  "Two can play at that game!" said he. "Light the candle, Joe."

  "Help, pard!" called Rafferty.

  But Hogan, on whom he called, suspecting how matters stood, was infull flight.

  The candle was lighted, and in the struggling ruffian Joe recognizedthe man who, three months before, had robbed him of his little all.

  CHAPTER XXIII

  NOT WHOLLY BLACK

  "I know this man, Mr. Watson," said Joe.

  "Who is he?"

  "He is the same man who robbed me of my money one night about threemonths ago--the one I told you of."

  For the first time, Rafferty recognized Joe.

  "There wasn't enough to make a fuss about," he said. "There was onlytwo dollars and a half."

  "It was all I had."

  "Let me up!" said Rafferty, renewing his struggles.

  "Joe, have you got a rope?" asked Watson.

  "Yes."

  "Bring it here, then. I can't hold this man all night."

  "What are you going to do with me?" demanded Rafferty uneasily.

  "Tie you hand and foot till to-morrow morning and then deliver youover to the authorities."

  "No, you won't!"

  He made a renewed struggle, but Watson was a man with muscles ofiron, and the attempt was unsuccessful.

  It was not without considerable difficulty, however, that themidnight intruder was secured. When, at length, he was bound handand foot, Watson withdrew to a little distance. Joe and he looked atRafferty, and each felt that he had seldom seen a more brutal face.

  "Well," growled R
afferty, "I hope you are satisfied?"

  "Not yet," returned Watson. "When you are delivered into the handsof the authorities we shall be satisfied."

  "Oh, for an hour's freedom!" muttered Jack Rafferty, expressing histhoughts aloud.

  "What use would you make of it?" asked Watson, in a tone of curiosity.

  "I'd kill the man that led me into this trap!"

  Watson and Joe were surprised.

  "Was there such a man. Didn't you come here alone?"

  "No; there was a man got me to come. Curse him, He told me I wouldonly find the boy here!"

  "What has become of him?"

  "He ran away, I reckon, instead of standing by me."

  "Where was he?"

  "At the winder."

  "Could it have been Hogan?" thought Joe.

  "I think I know the man," said our hero. "I'll describe the man Imean and you can tell me if it was he."

  He described Hogan as well as he could.

  "That's the man," said Rafferty. "I wouldn't peach if he hadn'tserved me such a mean trick. What's his name?"

  "His name is Hogan. He came over on the same steamer with me, afterrobbing me of fifty dollars in New York. He has been at the mines,but didn't make out well. This very afternoon I gave him supper--allhe could eat--and charged him nothing for it. He repays me byplanning a robbery."