"Why don't you?" asked Morgan bluntly.
"Because I couldn't get it. Most men, when they come out here, arenot content to settle down in the town. They won't be satisfied tillthey get to the mines."
"That seems to be the case with you, too."
"It isn't that altogether. My lungs are weak and confinement isn'tgood for me. Besides, the doctors say the climate in the interior isbetter for pulmonary affections."
"What rent do you have to pay?"
"A small ground-rent. I put up this building myself."
"How soon can you give possession?"
"Right off."
"Will you stay here three days, to initiate my young friend into themysteries of the business?"
"Oh, yes; I'll do that willingly."
"Then I will buy you out."
In five minutes the business was settled.
"Joe," said Morgan, "let me congratulate you. You are now one of thebusiness men of San Francisco."
"It seems like a dream to me, Mr. Morgan," said Joe. "This morningwhen I waked up I wasn't worth a cent."
"And now you own five hundred dollars," said Mr. Morgan, laughing.
"That wasn't exactly the way I thought of it, sir, but are you notafraid to trust me to that amount?"
"No, I am not, Joe," said Morgan seriously. "I think you are a boyof energy and integrity. I don't see why you shouldn't succeed."
"Suppose I shouldn't?"
"I shall not trouble myself about the loss. In all probability, yousaved my life last evening. That is worth to me many times what Ihave invested for you."
"I want to give you my note for the money," said Joe. "If I live, Iwill pay you, with interest."
"I agree with you. We may as well put it on a business basis."
Papers were drawn up, and Joe found himself proprietor of therestaurant. He lost no opportunity of mastering the details of thebusiness. He learned where his predecessor obtained his supplies,what prices he paid, about how much he required for a day'sconsumption, and what was his scale of prices.
"Do you live here, Mr. Brock?" asked Joe.
"Yes; I have a bed, which I lay in a corner of the restaurant. ThusI avoid the expense of a room outside, and am on hand early forbusiness."
"I'll do the same," said Joe promptly.
"In that way you will have no personal expenses, except clothing andwashing," said Brock.
"I shall be glad to have no bills to pay for board," said Joe."That's rather a steep item here."
"So it is."
"I don't see but I can save up pretty much all I make," said Joe.
"Certainly you can."
In two days Joe, who was naturally quick and whose natural shrewdnesswas sharpened by his personal interest, mastered the details of thebusiness, and felt that he could manage alone.
"Mr. Brock," said he, "you promised to stay with me three days, but Iwon't insist upon the third day. I think I can get along wellwithout you."
"If you can, I shall be glad to leave you at once. The fact is, afriend of mine starts for the mines to-morrow, and I would like toaccompany him. I asked him to put it off a day, but he thinks hecan't."
"Go with him, by all means. I can get along."
So, on the morning of the third day, Joe found himself alone.
At the end of the first week he made a careful estimate of hisexpenses and receipts, and found, to his astonishment, that he hadcleared two hundred dollars. It seemed to him almost incredible, andhe went over the calculations again and again. But he could figureout no other result.
"Two hundred dollars in one week!" he said to himself. "What wouldOscar say to that? It seems like a fairy tale."
Joe did not forget that he was five hundred dollars In debt. He wentto George Morgan, who had bought out for himself a gentlemen'sfurnishing store, and said:
"Mr. Morgan, I want to pay up a part of that debt."
"So soon, Joe? How much do you want to pay?"
"A hundred and fifty dollars."
"You don't mean to say that you have cleared that amount?" saidMorgan, in amazement.
"Yes, sir, and fifty dollars more."
"Very well. I will receive the money. You do well to wipe out yourdebts as soon as possible."
Joe paid over the money with no little satisfaction.
Without going too much into detail, it may be stated that at the endof a month Joe was out of debt and had three hundred dollars over.He called on the owner of the land to pay the monthly ground-rent.
"Why don't you buy the land, and get rid of the rent?" asked theowner.
"Do you want to sell?" asked Joe.
"Yes; I am about to return to the East."
"What do you ask?"
"I own two adjoining lots. You may have them all for a thousanddollars."
"Will you give me time?"
"I can't. I want to return at once, and I must have the cash."
A thought struck Joe.
"I will take three hours to consider," said Joe.
He went to George Morgan and broached his business.
"Mr. Morgan," he said, "will you lend me seven hundred dollars?"
"Are you getting into pecuniary difficulties, Joe?" asked Morgan,concerned.
"No, sir; but I want to buy some real estate."
"Explain yourself."
Joe did so.
"It is the best thing you can do," said Morgan, "I will lend you themoney."
"I hope to repay it inside of two months," said Joe.
"I think you will, judging from what you have done already."
In two hours Joe had paid over the entire amount, for it will beremembered that he had three hundred dollars of his own, and wasowner of three city lots.
"Now," thought he, "I must attend to business, and clear off the debtI have incurred. I shan't feel as if the land is mine till I havepaid for it wholly."
Joe found it a great advantage that he obtained his own board andlodging free. Though wages were high, the necessary expenses ofliving were so large that a man earning five dollars a day was worseoff oftentimes than one who was earning two dollars at the East.
"How shall I make my restaurant more attractive?" thought Joe.
He decided first that he would buy good articles and insist upon asmuch neatness as possible about the tables. At many of therestaurants very little attention was paid to this, and visitors whohad been accustomed to neatness at home were repelled.
Soon Joe's dining-room acquired a reputation, and the patronageincreased. At the end of the third month he had not only paid up theoriginal loan of seven hundred dollars, but was the owner of thethree lots, and had four hundred dollars over. He began to feel thathis prosperity was founded on a solid basis.
One day about this time, as he was at the desk where he receivedmoney from his patrons as they went out, his attention was drawn to arough fellow, having the appearance of a tramp, entering at the door.The man's face seemed familiar to him, and it flashed upon him thatit was Henry Hogan, who had defrauded him in New York.
The recognition was mutual.
"You here?" he exclaimed, in surprise.
"So it seems," said Joe.
"Is it a good place?"
"I like it."
"Who's your boss?"
"Myself."
"You don't mean to say this is your own place?"
"Yes, I do."
"Well, I'll be blowed!" ejaculated Hogan, staring stupidly at Joe.
CHAPTER XVIII
MR. HOGAN'S PROPOSAL
Joe enjoyed Hogan's amazement. He felt rather proud of his rapidprogress. It was not four months since, a poor, country boy, he hadcome up to New York, and fallen a prey to a designing sharper. Now,on the other side of the continent, he was master of a business andowner of real estate.
The day has passed for such rapid progress. California is no longera new country, and the conditions of living closely approximate thosein the East. I am careful to say this because
I don't wish tomislead my young readers. Success is always attainable by pluck andpersistency, but the degree is dependent on circumstances.
"How have you made out?" asked Joe of his visitor.
"I've had hard luck," grumbled Hogan, "I went to the mines, but Iwasn't lucky."
"Was that the case with other miners?" asked Joe, who had a shrewdsuspicion that Hogan's ill luck was largely the result of hislaziness and want of application.
"No," said Hogan. "Other men around me were lucky, but I wasn't."
"Perhaps your claim was a poor one."
"It was, as long as I had anything to do with it," said Hogan. "Isold it out for a trifle and the next day the other man found anugget. Wasn't that cursed hard?" he grumbled.
"You ought to have kept on. Then you would have found the nugget."
"No, I shouldn't. I am too unlucky. If I had held on, it wouldn'thave been there. You've got on well. You're lucky."
"Yes; I have no reason to complain. But I wasn't lucky all the time.I was robbed of every cent of money, when I met a good friend, whobought this business for me."
"Does it pay?" asked the other eagerly.
"Yes, it pays," said Joe cautiously.
"How much do you make, say, in a week?" asked Hogan, leaning hiselbows on the counter and looking up in Joe's face.
"Really, Mr. Hogan," said Joe, "I don't feel called upon to tell mybusiness to others."
"I thought maybe you'd tell an old friend," said Hogan.
Joe could not help laughing at the man's matchless impudence.
"I don't think you have treated me exactly like a friend, Mr. Hogan,"he said. "You certainly did all you could to prevent my coming toCalifornia."
"There's some mistake about that," said Hogan.
"You're under a misapprehension; but I won't go into that matter now.Will you trust me for my supper?"
"Yes," said Joe promptly. "Sit down at that table."
The man had treated him badly, but things had turned out favorablyfor Joe, and he would not let Hogan suffer from hunger, if he couldrelieve him.
Hogan needed no second invitation. He took a seat at a tablenear-by, and ate enough for two men, but Joe could not repeat theinvitation he had given. He felt that he could not afford it.
It was rather late when Hogan sat down. When he finished, he was theonly one left in the restaurant, except Joe. He sauntered up to thedesk.
"You've got a good cook," said Hogan, picking his teeth with a knife.
"Yes," answered Joe. "I think so."
"You say the business pays well?"
"Yes; it satisfies me."
"Are you alone? Have you no partner?"
"You could do better with one. Suppose you take me into businesswith you?"
Joe was considerably surprised at this proposition from a man who hadswindled him.
"How much capital can you furnish?" he asked.
"I haven't got any money. I'm dead broke," said Hogan, "but I cangive my services. I can wait on the table. I'll do that, and youcan give me my board and one-third of the profits. Come, now, that'sa good offer. What do you say?"
Joe thought it best to be candid.
"I don't want any partner, Mr. Hogan," he said; "and I may as welltell you, I don't think I should care to be associated with you if Idid."
"Do you mean to insult me?" asked Hogan, scowling.
"No; but I may as well be candid."
"What's the matter with me?" asked Hogan roughly.
"I don't like the way you do business," said Joe.
"Look here, young one, you put on too many airs just because you'rekeepin' a one-horse restaurant," said Hogan angrily.
"If it's a one-horse restaurant, why do you want to become mypartner?" retorted Joe coolly.
"Because I'm hard up--I haven't got a cent."
"I'm sorry for you; but a man needn't be in that condition long here."
"Where do you sleep?" asked Hogan suddenly.
"Here. I put a bed on the floor in one corner, and so am on hand inthe morning."
"I say," Hogan continued insinuatingly, "won't you let me stay hereto-night?"
"Sleep here?"
"Yes."
"I'd rather not, Mr. Hogan."
"I haven't a cent to pay for a lodging. If you don't take me in, Ishall have to stay in the street all night."
"You've slept out at the mines, haven't you?"
"Yes."
"Then you can do it here."
"You're hard on a poor man," whined Hogan. "It wouldn't cost youanything to let me sleep here."
"No, it wouldn't," said Joe; "but I prefer to choose my own companyat night."
"I may catch my death of cold," said Hogan.
"I hope not; but I don't keep lodgings," said Joe firmly.
"You haven't any feeling for an unlucky man."
"I have given you your supper, and not stinted you in any way. Whatyou ate would cost two dollars at my regular prices. I wasn't calledto do it, for you never did me any service, and you are owing meto-day fifty dollars, which you cheated me out of when I was a poorboy. I won't let you lodge here, but I will give you a breakfast inthe morning, if you choose to come round. Then you will bestrengthened for a day's work, and can see what you can find to do."
Hogan saw that Joe was in earnest and walked out of the restaurant,without a word.
When Joe was about to close his doors for the night his attention wasdrawn to a man who was sitting down on the ground, a few feetdistant, with his head buried between his two hands, in an attitudeexpressive of despondency.
Joe was warm-hearted and sympathetic, and, after a moment'shesitation, addressed the stranger.
"Is anything the matter with you, sir?" he asked. "Don't you feelwell?"
The man addressed raised his head. He was a stout, strongly builtman, roughly dressed, but had a look which inspired confidence.
"I may as well tell you, boy," he answered, "though you can't helpme. I've been a cursed fool, that's what's the matter."
"If you don't mind telling me," said Joe gently, "perhaps I can be ofservice to you."
The man shook his head.
"I don't think you can," he said, "but I'll tell you, for all that.Yesterday I came up from the mines with two thousand dollars. I wasabout a year getting it together, and to me it was a fortune. I'm ashoemaker by occupation, and lived in a town in Massachusetts, whereI have a wife and two young children. I left them a year ago to goto the mines. I did well, and the money I told you about would havemade us all comfortable, if I could only have got it home."
"Were you robbed of it?" asked Joe, remembering his own experience.
"Yes; I was robbed of it, but not in the way you are thinking of. Awily scoundrel induced me to enter a gambling-den, the Bella Union,they call it. I wouldn't play at first, but soon the fascinationseized me. I saw a man win a hundred dollars, and I thought I coulddo the same, so I began, and won a little. Then I lost, and playedon to get my money back. In just an hour I was cleaned out of all Ihad. Now I am penniless, and my poor family will suffer for myfolly."
He buried his face in his hands once more and, strong man as he was,he wept aloud.
"Have you had any supper, sir?" said Joe compassionately.
"No; but I have no appetite."
"Have you any place to sleep?"
"No."
"Then I can offer you a supper and a night's lodging. Don't bediscouraged. In the morning we can talk the matter over, and seewhat can be done."
The stranger rose and laid his hand on Joe's arm.
"I don't know how it is," he said, "but your words give me courage.I believe you have saved my life. I have a revolver left and I had amind to blow my brains out."
"Would that have helped you or your family?"
"No, boy. I was a fool to think of it. I'll accept your offer, andto-morrow I'll see what I can do. You're the best friend I've metsince I left home."
CHAPTER XIX
THE UNLUCKY MINER
Joe brought out some cold meat and bread and butter, and set itbefore his guest.
"The fire's gone out," he said, "or I would give you some tea. Hereis a glass of milk, if you like it."
"Thank you, boy," said his visitor. "Milk is good enough foranybody. One thing I can say, I've steered clear of liquor. Abrother of mine was intemperate and that was a warning to me. I tookcredit to myself for being a steady-going man, compared with many ofmy acquaintances out at the mines. But it don't do to boast. I'vedone worse, perhaps. I've gambled away the provision I had made formy poor family."
"Don't take it too hard," said Joe, in a tone of sympathy. "You knowhow it is out here. Down to-day and up to-morrow."
"It'll take me a long time to get up to where I was," said the other;"but it's my fault, and I must make the best of it."
Joe observed, with satisfaction, that his visitor was doing amplejustice to the supper spread before him. With a full stomach, hewould be likely to take more cheerful views of life and the future.In this thought Joe proved to be correct.
"I didn't think I could eat anything," said the miner, laying downhis knife and fork, twenty minutes later, "but I have made a heartysupper, thanks to your kindness. Things look a little brighter to menow. I've had a hard pullback, but all is not lost. I've got tostay here a year or two longer, instead of going back by the nextsteamer; but I must make up my mind to that. What is your name, boy?"
Joe's Luck; Or, Always Wide Awake Page 7