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"What is your name, boy?"
"Joe Curtis, sir."
"And your number? "
" Two hundred and ninety-seven."
" Very well, now listen to what I say, and see that you do exactly as Itell you. I am going to Providence by the Sound steamer that sails inan hour and a half; take these tickets, go to the office of the boat,get the key of the stateroom I have engaged and paid for, and put thesesatchels in it."
"Yes, sir."
"Then wait near the gangway of the steamer until I come, for I shallprobably be late, as Ihave to take a sick friend with me. Be sure to have the room ready, sothat I can have himcarried directly from the carriage to his berth."
" I will wait for you, sir."
" What are the rates?"
"For an hour and a half, ninety cents, sir, and car fare extra if youwant me to get therein a hurry."
" Very well, here is a dollar, and see that you do exactly as I havetold you."
Joe touched his cap, took the two valises that the gentleman pointedout to him in one corner of the office, and, staggering under the heavyweight, started for the nearest elevated railroad station. Joe wasscarcely large enough to carry the valises; but, when he succeeded ingetting a situation in the messenger service, he knew that he wouldhave plenty of hard work to do, and was fully prepared for it..Besides, this acting the part of porter was by no means so difficult ajob as some that had been assigned to him in the past six weeks, and hewent about it as philosophically as if he had been a man, instead of aboy only twelve years old.
Arrived at the dock, he had no trouble in getting the stateroom key,since he had theproper tickets, and, after caring for the baggage, it was onlynecessary to wait near thegang-plank until his employer should appear.
It was by no means hard work for Joe to wait for the gentleman; in thebustle and confusion everywhere around him he found plenty to occupyhis mind, and, forgetting how hard he had. struggled to get the baggagedown there, he thought he had been particularly fortunate in beingassigned to the work.
The moments went by so fast that, when the last bell sounded, and Joeheard the cry of "All ashore that's going," he could hardly believe itpossible that he had been on the boat more than an hour, waiting forthe gentleman and his sick friend.
" He's got to come pretty soon, or else his stateroom won't do himmuch good," Joe saidto himself as he stood close by the gang-plank with the key in hishand, ready to deliver itwithout delay.
But although carriage after carriage was driven up just in time for itsoccupants to get on the boat, Joe's employer did not come, and the boybeg