parties from the hotel. All whom he served were pleased with him and
treated him so nicely that, for the time being, his past troubles were
forgotten.

At the beginning of the week Ned Talmadge came to see him.

"I am going away to join the folks out West," said Ned.

"I hope you will have a good time," answered our hero.

"Oh, I'm sure to have that, Joe. By the way, you are nicely settled
here, it would seem."

"Yes, and I am thankful for it."

"Mr. Mallison is a fine man to work for, so I have been told. You had
better stick to him."

"I shall--as long as the work holds out."

"Maybe he will give you something else to do, after the boating season
is over."

A few more words passed, and then Ned took his departure. It was to be a
long time before the two friends would meet again.

So far Joe had had no trouble with anybody around the hotel, but that
evening, when he was cleaning out his boat, a man approached him and
caught him rudely by the shoulder.