Horatio Alger

“ But at the second tug it came free, and a moment later both our hero and Mabel Mallison came to the surface.
"Oh!" cried two of the ladies in the row-boat. "Is she drowned?"
"I trust not," answered Joe. "Sit still, please, or the boat will surely go over."
As best he could Joe hoisted Mabel into the craft and then clambered in himself. As he did so the unfortunate girl gave a gasp and opened her eyes.
"Oh!" she murmured.
"You are safe now, Mabel!" said one of her companions.
"And to think it was my fault!" murmured the plump young lady. "I shall never forgive myself as long as I live!" ”

“ Joe certainly presented a neat appearance when he rowed over to the hotel dock. Before going he purchased a new collar and a dark blue tie, and these, with his new suit and new cap, set him off very well.
The boat had been cleaned in the morning, and when the ladies appeared they inspected the craft with satisfaction.
"What a nice clean boat," said Mabel Mallison, the niece of the proprietor of the hotel.
"And a nice clean boatman, too," whispered one of her friends. "I couldn't bear that man we had day before yesterday, with his dirty hands and the tobacco juice around his mouth." ”

“ I was going to hunt up a place when Ike Fairfield gave me the job of rowing out the young ladies."
"I see. You own the boat, eh?"
"Yes, sir."
"You ought to be able to make a fair living, taking out summer boarders."
"I suppose so, but that won't give me anything to do this winter."
"Well, perhaps something else will turn up by that time." Andrew Mallison drew out a fat wallet. "I want to reward you for saving Mabel."
He drew out two ten-dollar bills and held them towards our hero. But Joe shook his head and drew back. ”