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| author | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 04:41:43 -0700 |
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| committer | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 04:41:43 -0700 |
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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/13251-0.txt b/13251-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..88fad8b --- /dev/null +++ b/13251-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,4490 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 13251 *** + +THE CHUMS OF SCRANTON HIGH + +On the Cinder Path + + + + +BY + + +DONALD FERGUSON + + + + +THE WORLD SYNDICATE PUBLISHING CO. + +CLEVELAND, O. NEW YORK, N. Y. + + + + +Copyright, MCMXIX + +by + +THE WORLD SYNDICATE PUBLISHING CO. + + + + + + +Printed in the United States of America + +by + +THE COMMERCIAL BOOKBINDING CO, + +CLEVELAND, O. + + + +CONTENTS + +CHAPTER + + I. THE FIVE NUT FORAGERS + II. ON THE OLD QUARRY ROAD + III. TALKING OF GHOSTS + IV. IN TRAINING FOR THE GREAT TOURNAMENT + V. TREACHERY IN THE AIR + VI. THE PROWLER + VII. CAUGHT IN THE ACT + VIII. LEON PROMISES TO REFORM + IX. SCRANTON IN GALA ATTIRE + X. WHEN MUSCLES COUNTED + XI. THE CRISIS IN CLAUDE'S LIFE + XII. STARTLING NEWS FROM THE JUGGINS BOY + XIII. TO THE RESCUE OF "K. K." + XIV. THE SEARCHING PARTY + XV. PROWLING AROUND THE QUARRY + XVI. A FRIENDLY "GHOST" + XVII. SCRANTON'S "OPEN HOUSE" DAY + XVIII. THE GREAT MARATHON RACE + XIX. ON THE FINAL MILE OF THE COURSE + XX. THE BOY WHO WON--CONCLUSION + + + + +THE CHUMS OF SCRANTON HIGH + + +CHAPTER I + +THE FIVE NUT FORAGERS + +The bright October sun was half-way down the western sky one Saturday +afternoon. Two-thirds of the Fall month had already gone, and the +air was becoming fairly crisp in the early mornings. + +All around the forest trees were painted various shades of bright +scarlet, burnt umber brown and vivid gold by the practiced fingers of +that master artist, the Frost-King. Flocks of robins and blackbirds +were gathering rather late this year, preparatory to taking their +annual pilgrimage to the warm Southland. They flew overhead at times +in vast numbers, making a tremendous chatter. + +A noisy bunch of crows cawed unceasingly amidst the treetops as a +large, lumbering old automobile passed along the country road, the +same filled with lively boys, and also a number of sacks stuffed to +their utmost capacity with what appeared to be black walnuts, +shell-bark hickories, butternuts, and even splendid large chestnuts. +Apparently, the strange and deadly blight that was attacking the +chestnut groves all through the East had not yet appeared in the +highly favored region around the town of Scranton, in which place the +boys in question lived, and attended the famous high school where Dr. +Carmack, also supervisor of the entire county schools, held forth. + +The five tired lads who formed this nutting party we have met before +in the pages of previous stories in this series; so that to those who +have been fortunate enough to possess such books they need no lengthy +introduction. + +First, there was Hugh Morgan, looking as genial and determined as +ever, and just as frequently consulted by his comrades, because his +opinion always carried considerable weight. Then came his most +intimate chum, Thad Stevens, who had played the position of backstop +so successfully during the summer just passed, and helped to win the +pennant for Scranton against the other two high schools of the +country, situated in the towns of Allendale and Belleville. + +Besides these two, there was included in the party a tall chap who +seemed to be acting as chauffeur, from which it might be judged that +he had supplied the means for taking this nutting trip far afield; +his name was Kenneth Kinkaid, but among his friends he answered to +the shorter appellation of "K. K." Then came a fourth boy of shorter +build, and more sturdy physique, Julius Hobson by name; and last, but +far from least, Horatio Juggins, a rather comical fellow who often +assumed a dramatic attitude, and quoted excerpts from some school +declamation, his favorite, of course, being "Horatio at the Bridge." + +It was "K. K." who got up the annual foraging expedition on this +particular year, and promised that they should go in style in the +antiquated seven-passenger car belonging to his father, who was a +commercial traveler, which car "K. K." often used, when he could +raise the cash to provide sufficient gasolene at twenty-five cents +per gallon. But on this momentous occasion each fellow had chipped +in his share pro rata; so that the generous provider of the big, open +car was not compelled to beg or borrow in order to properly equip the +expedition. + +For ten days and more previously some of the boys had industriously +interviewed the farmers who stood in the market-place during the early +mornings, selling the products of their acres. Doubtless numerous +good mothers wondered what caused such an early exodus from warm beds +those days, since farmers had a habit of getting rid of their produce +at dawn, and driving off home while most schoolboys were indulging in +their last nap. + +But, by various means, they had learned just where the nuts grew most +plentifully that season; and quite a list of available places had +been tabulated: to the Guernsey Woods for blacks; plenty of +shagbarks, and some shellbarks to be gathered over at the old Morton +Place, where no one had lived these seven years now; and they said +the chestnuts away up in that region miles beyond the mill-pond was +bearing a record crop this season, as if to make amends for lean +years a-plenty. + +Scranton was one of the few places where the boys still yearned after +a goodly supply of freshly gathered nuts to carry them through a long +and severe winter. Somehow they vied with one another in the +gathering of the harvest of the woods, and often these outings +yielded considerable sport, besides being profitable to the nutters. +On one momentous occasion the boys had even discovered the hive of a +colony of wild bees, cut the tree down, fought the enraged denizens +by means of smoke and fire, and eventually carried home a wonderful +stock of dearly earned honey that would make the buckwheat cakes +taste all the sweeter that winter because of the multitude of +swellings it cost the proud possessors. + +Hugh had been coaxed to join the party; not that he did not fully +enjoy such enterprises, but he had laid out another programme for +that afternoon. All through the morning these same lads had been +hard at work on the open field where Scranton played her baseball +games, and had such other gatherings as high-school fellows are +addicted. Here a fine new cinder path had been laid around the +grounds, forming an oval that measured just an eighth of a mile, to a +fraction. + +All through the livelong day on Saturdays, and in the afternoons +during weekdays, boys in strange-looking running costumes of various +designs could be seen diligently practicing at all manner of stunts, +from sprinting, leaping hurdles, engaging in the high jump, with the +aid of poles; throwing the hammer; and, in fact, every conceivable +exercise that would be apt to come under the head of a genuine +athletic tournament. + +For, to tell the secret without any evasion, that was just what +Scranton designed to have inside of another week--a monster affair +that included entries from all other schools in the county, and which +already promised to be one of the greatest and most successful meets +ever held. + +Hugh and his chums were every one of them entered for several events; +indeed, it would have been like looking for a needle in a haystack to +try and find a single Scranton boy above the age of ten, and sound of +wind, who had not taken advantage of the generous invitation to place +his name on the records, and go in for training along a certain line. +Those who could not sprint, leap the bars, throw hammer or discus, or +do any other of the ordinary stunts, might, at least, have some +chance of winning a prize in the climbing of the greased pole, the +catching of the greased pig, the running of the obstacle race, or +testing their ability to hop in the three-legged race, where each +couple of boys would have a right and left leg bound together, and +then attempt to cross a given line ahead of all like competitors. + +So even when they started out after lunch the whole five were a bit +tired; and a vast store of nuts, like the one they were fetching +home, cannot be gathered, no matter however plentiful they may be on +ground and trees, without considerable muscular effort on the part of +the ambitious collectors. + +Consequently, every fellow was feeling pretty stiff and sore about +the time we overtake them on the way home. Besides, most of them had +zigzag scratches on face and hands by which to remember the +wonderfully successful expedition for several days. Then there was +Julius Hobson with a soiled handkerchief bound around his left thumb, +which he solicitously examined every little while. He had, somehow, +managed to catch a frisky little squirrel, which, wishing to take +home, he had imprisoned in one of his side pockets that had a flap; +but, desirous of fondling the furry little object, he had +incautiously inserted his bare hand once too often; for its long +teeth, so useful for nut-cracking, went almost through his thumb, and +gave his such an electric shock that in the confusion the frightened +animal managed to escape once more to its native wilds. + +Hugh, as he went along toward home, was really taking mental notes +concerning the lay of the land, and with an object in view. He was +entered for the fifteen-mile Marathon race (an unusually long +distance for boys to run, by the way, and hardly advisable under +ordinary conditions), and one of the registering places where every +contestant had to sign his name to a book kept by a judge so as to +prove that he had actually reached that particular and important +corner of the rectangular course, had been the quaint little old road +tavern just half a mile back of them. + +"You're wondering just why I'm so curious about the country up here, +I can see, fellows," Hugh was saying about the time we meet them; +"and, as we all belong to the same school, and our dearest wish is to +see Scranton High win the prize that is offered by the committee in +the Marathon, I don't mind letting you in. I know something about +this country up here, and have traced on a surveyor's chart the +ordinary course a fellow would be apt to take in passing from the +second tally post, that old tavern back of us, along this road to the +canal, and from there across the old logging road to Hobson's Pond, +where there's going to be the last registering place before the dash +for home. Well, I've figured it out that a fellow would save +considerable ground if he left this same road half a mile below, and +cut across by way of the Juniper Swamp trail, striking in again along +about the Halpin Farm." + +His remarks created no end of interest, for there were several others +among the bunch who had also entered for that long-distance race; +and, naturally, they began to figure on how they might take advantage +of Hugh's discovery. It was all for the honor and credit of good old +Scranton High; so that it really mattered little just which fellow +crossed the line first, so long as he "saved the bacon." + +"It sounds pretty fine to me, Hugh," said Julius, "only I don't like +one thing." + +"What's that, Julius?" demanded the Juggins boy. + +"By following that Juniper Swamp trail and the old road Hugh +mentions, we'd have to pass close to that deserted stone quarry; and +say, the farmers all vow it's sure haunted." + + + + +CHAPTER II + +ON THE OLD QUARRY ROAD + +When Julius made this assertion, the other fellows looked at each +other in what might be said to be a queer way. In fact, they had all +heard certain absurd stories told in connection with the old quarry +that had not been worked for so many years that the road leading to +it across country had grown up in grass and weeds. Some adventurous +boys who went out there once declared it was a most gruesome place, +with pools of water covered with green scum lying around, and all +sorts of holes looking like the cave Robinson Crusoe found on his +island home to be seen where granite building rocks had been +excavated from the towering cliffs. + +It was K. K. who laughed first, actually laughed scornfully, though +Julius took it all so seriously. Thad Stevens followed with a +chuckle, after his peculiar fashion. + +"You give me a pain, Julius, you certainly do," ventured K. K. + +"To think," added Thad, assuming a lofty air of superior knowledge, +"of a fellow attending Scranton High believing the ridiculous yarns +these uneducated tillers of the soil and their hired help pass +around, about there being some sort of a genuine _ghost_ haunting the +old quarry--why, it's positively silly of you, Julius, and I don't +mind telling you so to your face." + +"Oh, hold on there, fellows!" expostulated the other boy; "I didn't +say that I really and truly believed any of those awful stories, did +I? But so many different persons have told me the same thing that, +somehow, I came to think there _might_ be some fire where there was +so much smoke. Of course, it can't be a ghost, but, nevertheless, +there are queer goings-on about that deserted quarry these +nights--three different people, and one of them a steady-going woman +in the bargain, assured me they had glimpsed moving lights there, a +sort of flare that did all sorts of zigzag stunts, like it was +cutting signals in the air." + +"Hugh, do you think that could be what they call wild-fire, or some +folks give it the name of will-o'-the-wisp, others say +jack-o'-lantern?" demanded Horatio Juggins, who had been listening +intently while all this talk was going on. + +"I'd hardly like to say," replied Hugh thoughtfully. "As a general +thing that odd, moving light is seen in low, damp places. Often it +is noticed in graveyards in the country, and is believed to be +induced by a condition of the atmosphere, causing something like +phosphorescence. You know what a firefly or lightning bug is like, +don't you, Horatio? Yes, and a glow-worm also? Well, they say that +there are black-looking pools of stagnant water lying around the old +quarry; and yes, I think the lights seen might come from just such +conditions." + +"That sounds all very well, Hugh," continued Julius, "but what about +the terrifying cry that sometimes wells up from that same place?" + +"A cry, Julius, do you say?" exclaimed Horatio, his eyes growing +round now with increasing wonder and thrilling interest, "do you +really and truly mean that, or are you only joshing?" + +"Well," the narrator went on to say soberly, "two fellows told me +they'd heard that same shriek. One was hunting a stray heifer when +he found himself near the quarry, and then got a shock that sent him +on the run all the way home, regardless of trees he banged into, for +it was night-time, with only a quarter-moon up in the western sky. +The other had laughed at all such silly stories, and to prove his +bravery concluded to venture out there one night when the moon was as +round as a cartwheel. He got close to the deserted workings when he +too had a chill as he heard the most outlandish cry agoing, three +times repeated, and----well, he grinned when he confessed that it +took him just about one-fifth the time to get back home that he'd +spent in the going." + +"Whee! perhaps there may be some sort of wild animal in one of the +caves they tell about up there?" ventured Horatio. "I'm not a +believer in ghosts, and I don't consider myself a coward, either; but +all the same it'd have to be something pretty big to induce me to +walk out there to that same lonely quarry after nightfall. Now laugh +if you want to, K. K." + +"Well," interrupted Hugh, just then, "we're approaching the place +right now where that old quarry road I spoke of starts in. I'd like +ever so much to take a look at that same quarry, by daylight, mind +you. Is there any objection, fellows, to our testing out that road +right now? It used to be a pretty fair proposition I've been told, +so far as a road goes, and I think we could navigate the same in this +car. K. K. how do you stand on that proposition, for one?" + +"Count me in on anything that promises an adventure, Hugh," came the +prompt reply. "There is plenty of gas in the tank, and if we do get +a puncture on the sharp stones we've got an extra tube along, with +lots and lots of muscle lying around loose for changing the same. +That's my answer, Hugh." + +"Thad, how about you?" continued the shrewd Hugh, well knowing that +by making an individual appeal he would be more apt to receive a +favorable response, because it goes against the average boy's pride +to be accounted a weakling, or one addicted to believing old wives' +fairy stories of goblins, and all such trash. + +"Oh, count me in, Hugh," responded the other, with an indifference +that may possibly have been partly assumed; but then Thad Stevens was +always ready to back his enterprising chum, no matter what the other +suggested. + +"Horatio, it's up to you now!" Hugh went on remorselessly, as K. K. +stopped the car at a signal from the other, and faint signs of what +had once been a road were to be distinguished just on the left. + +"Majority rules, you know," said the wise Juggins boy, "and already +three have given their assent; so it's no back-out for little +Horatio." + +"Course I'll agree, Hugh," quickly added Julius, when he saw that the +other had turned toward him. "I'm just as curious as the next fellow +to see that old haunted quarry--in the daytime, of course. Besides, +everybody knows there isn't any such thing as a ghost. All such +stories, when they're sifted down, turn out to be humbugs. Sometimes +the moving spectre is a white donkey browsing alongside the road. +Then again I've heard of how it was a swing that had a white pillow +left in it by the children, and the night wind caused it to advance +and retreat in a _terrible_ way. Hugh, let's investigate this silly +old business while we're on the spot." + +And by these wonderfully brave words Julius hoped to dissipate any +notion concerning his alleged timidity that may have lodged in the +brains of his chums. + +So K. K. started up again, and by another minute the old car had +passed in among the trees, with the overgrown brush "swiping" against +the sides every foot of the way. It was necessary that they proceed +slowly and cautiously, because none of them had ever been over that +long disused road before, and all sorts of obstacles might confront +the bold invaders of the wilds. + +Hugh was using his eyes to good advantage, and at his advice the +others did the same. It was a good thing the car was old, and that +it mattered nothing how those stiff branches scraped against the +sides during their forward progress. K. K. knew how to manage, all +right, and, although the trail was quite rough in places where the +heavy rains had washed the earth away, and left huge stones +projecting, he was able to navigate around these obstacles +successfully. + +Twice they came to low places where water ran, and there was some +danger of the heavy car becoming mired. At such times several of the +boys would jump out, and after investigating the conditions perhaps +throw a mass of stones and pieces of wood in, to make what Hugh +called a sort of a "corduroy road" across the swampy section of +ground. + +It was all very interesting in the bargain, and, for the time being, +the boys even forgot the fact that they were exceedingly tired. + +Then they seemed to be gradually ascending a grade, where the road +turned out to be somewhat better. + +"I imagine we're getting close to the quarry now, fellows," Hugh +informed them; "if what I was told is true. It will lie over here on +the right; and only for the dense growth of trees with their foliage +still hanging on, we might see the cliff forming the background of +the quarry right now." + +Julius and Horatio looked around them with increasing interest, and +perhaps a slight flutter of unusual vigor in the region of their +hearts. It was about as gloomy a scene as any of them had ever gazed +upon. Years had elapsed since work in the stone quarry had been +abandoned, and Nature, as usual, had done her best to hide the cruel +gashes made in her breast by man; the trees had grown and spread, +while bushes and weeds extended their sway so as to almost choke +everything around. The distant cawing of the crows sounded more +gruesome than ever amidst such surroundings; but there was no sign of +bird-life to be seen. It was as though the little feathered +creatures found this region too lonely even for their nest building. +Not even a red or gray squirrel frisked around a tree, or boldly +defied the intruders of his wilderness haunt. + +"There, I just had a glimpse of the place through an opening!" +suddenly announced Hugh; "I calculate that we'll soon come in plain +sight of the whole business, for this road leads straight across the +dumps, I was told, and then on again in the direction of Hobson's +Pond." + +The sun was passing behind the first cloud of the whole day just +then. Somehow the added somber conditions had an effect on all the +boys; for, with the temporary vanishing of the king of day, the +shadows around them appeared to grow bolder, and issue forth from +their secret retreats. + +"Ugh! this is certainly a fierce place for a fellow to visit, say +around midnight," K. K. was forced to admit, for he was the essence +of candor at all times. + +"Wild horses couldn't drag me up here at such a time as that," said +Horatio, as he looked ahead, and shivered, either with the chill of +the air, or from some other reason, he hardly knew himself. + +"Hugh, would you try it if someone dared you to?" demanded Julius +suddenly, taking the bull by the horns, so to speak. + +"I don't think I would, on a dare," replied the other calmly, yet +deliberately, as he smiled at the speaker; "but if there was any good +and sufficient reason for my doing the same, I'd agree to come alone, +and spend a whole night in the deserted quarry. However, I'm not +particularly _hankering_ after the experience, so please don't try to +hatch up any wild scheme looking to that end. If you want to come, +Julius, you're welcome to the job." + +Julius shuddered, and looked a bit pale at the very thought. + +"Oh! I wasn't even dreaming of it, Hugh," he hastened to declare. +"I'd much prefer to being asleep in my own comfy bed at home when +midnight comes around, and the last thing on earth you'd catch me +doing would be out hunting spooks." + +It was just as Julius finished saying this that they received a +sudden shock. A loud and thrilling sound, not unlike a human shriek, +came to their ears, filling each and every boy in the car with a +sense of unmitigated horror. It was so exceedingly dreadful that K. +K. involuntarily brought the auto to a full stop, and then turned a +face filled with mingled curiosity and awe upon his comrades. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +TALKING OF GHOSTS + +"That was no crow cawing, boys, believe me!" ejaculated K. K. + +"Crow! Well, I should say not!" added Horatio instantly. "If you +asked me right to my face I'd mention a donkey braying. Gee! but it +was fierce!" + +"But what would a donkey be doing away up here at the old quarry, +where there hasn't been a stroke of work done these many years; tell +me that?" demanded Julius defiantly. + +"I don't believe it was a donkey," said Hugh, shaking his head, as +though he, too, found himself exceedingly puzzled; "but I'm not in a +position to explain the thing. That was certainly a queer noise, for +a fact." + +"Extraordinary!" assented Thad Stevens. + +"Well, I should call it perfectly awful!" Horatio clipped in. + +"Horrible would be a better word to describe it," eagerly followed +Julius, who, it must be confessed, was trembling all over; of course, +not with fear, or anything like that, but just because of excitement, +he assured himself. + +"And," continued the sensible Hugh, "if that's the sort of noises +these farmer folks have been hearing right along, I don't wonder some +of them have been nearly scared out of their wits. It was bad enough +in broad daylight, with the sun shining; so what must it have seemed +like in the moonlight, or when it was pitch dark?" + +"Wow! excuse me from coming up here after dusk," muttered Julius. +"I'm no ghost-hunter, let me tell you. I know my weak points, and +seeing things in the night-time used to be one of the same. They had +a great time breaking me of it, too. Even now I sometimes dream of +queer things when I've got the nightmare, after eating too big a +Thanksgiving dinner; and when I wake up suddenly I'm all in a sweat, +and a poor old moth fluttering at the window will give me a start, +thinking it's the tiger getting in my East Indian bungalow." + +"Well, what's the program, Hugh?" asked K. K. "Shall I start up +again, so we can continue our journey along this tough old road; or +do you want to get out, and take a hunt around the quarry for the +thing that gave those yawps?" + +"Get out?" repeated Julius, in a sudden panic; "not for Joseph. +Don't count on _me_ for any such silly business. I came up here to get +walnuts and such; and I'm meaning to stick close to my engagement. +Side issues can't tempt me to change my mind. Guess I know when I'm +well off." + +"It's been several minutes since we heard that sound," Hugh went on +to remark; "and, so far, it hasn't been repeated." + +"Oh! it came three times, you remember, Hugh," suggested K. K.; "and, +like in baseball, I reckon it's three times and out. Whatever it was +let out those screeches it's certainly quieted down. How about going +on now, Hugh?" + +"If I was alone," mused the other, "I really believe I'd be half +tempted to take a prowl around, and find out if I could what all the +row meant. I never like to pass anything up, when my curiosity is +excited." + +"Oh, come back again some other time, Hugh, when you're not booked +for getting home!" sang out Horatio. "If you put it to a vote I +don't believe anybody in this bunch would seem wild to back you up +right now. Fact is, I can hear our supper-bell calling me ever so +loud. Hey! boys, how about that?" + +"Let's get a move on!" Julius hastened to reply, so that there could +be no mistaking his sentiments, at least. + +Julius was followed by K. K., although the latter shrugged his +shoulders as he added: + +"Perhaps it looks timid in us doing what we mean to, but really this +is none of our business, and we might get in some trouble bothering +around here. I read about a house that was said to be haunted, which +story a daring reporter said he'd investigate. He spent a night +there, and actually captured the ghost, who turned out to be just an +ordinary man, living on a place adjoining the haunted estate. He +owned up to being the pallid specter that had been giving the house +such a bad name; and said he wanted to buy the property in for a +song, as it would find no other purchaser if it had such an evil +reputation. Now, maybe somebody wants this quarry for thirty cents, +and this is his way of scaring other would-be purchasers away. We +don't want to butt in on any such game, you see." + +Hugh and the others laughed at such a clever explanation. + +"Whatever the truth may be," said Hugh, "I hardly believe it'll turn +out anything like that, K. K. But you might as well start on. We're +only losing time here, and it seems as though the _thing_ doesn't +mean to give as another sample of that swan song." + +"For which, thanks!" sighed Julius. "I know music when I hear it, +and if that's what they call a song of the dying swan excuse me from +ever listening to another. I can beat that all hollow through a +megaphone, and then not half try." + +So the chauffeur started up, and they were soon moving along the +rough road that had once, no doubt, been kept in repair, when the +heavy wagons carried out the building stone quarried from the +hillside, but which was now in a pretty bad shape. + +Two minutes afterwards and the road took them directly alongside the +quarry dump, where the excavated earth had been thrown. They could +now see the cliff rising up alongside. It looked strangely bleak, +for, of all things, there can hardly be a more desolate sight than an +abandoned stone-quarry, where the weeds and thistles have grown up, +and puddles of water abound. + +Of course, the boys all stared, as they slowly wound along the road +in full view of the entire panorama that was being unrolled before +their eyes. They noted how in places there seemed to be deep +fissures along the abrupt face of the high cliff. These looked like +caves, and some of them might be of considerable extent, judging from +their appearance. + +"If this great old place chanced to be nearer town," said K. K., +managing to get a quick glimpse, although, as a rule, he needed all +his attention riveted on the rough road he was trying to follow, "I +reckon some of the fellows would have high times exploring those same +holes in the hill." + +"It's just as well then it's as far distant as happens to be the +case," Hugh told him; "because the doctors in Scranton would have +broken arms and legs galore to practice on. That same old quarry +would make a dangerous playground." + +"Oh!" + +That was Julius uttering a startled exclamation. He gripped Horatio +so severely by the arm that he must have pinched the other. At any +rate, Horatio gave a jump, and turned white; just as though his +nerves had all been stretched to a high tension, so that anything +startled him. + +"Hey! what did you do that for?" snapped Horatio, drawing away. +"Think you're a ghost, Julius, and feel like biting, do you? Well, +try somebody else's arm, if you please." + +"But didn't any of the rest of you see it?" gasped the said Julius, +not deigning to quarrel over such a trivial thing as a pinch. + +"See what?" asked Steve, still staring hard at the quarry, which they +were by now fairly well past. + +"Well, I don't know exactly what it was," frankly admitted the +disturber of the peace. "But it moved, and beckoned to us to come on +over. You needn't laugh, Steve Mullane, I tell you I saw it plainly +right over yonder where that big clump of Canada thistles is growing. +Course I'm not pretending to say it was a man, or yet a wolf, but it +was something, and it sure did move!" + +Hugh was looking with more or less interest. He knew how things +appear to an excited imagination, and that those who believe in +uncanny objects seldom have any trouble about conjuring up specters +to satisfy their own minds. + +So all of them, save, perhaps, the driver, kept their eyes focussed +on the spot mentioned by Julius until the first clump of trees shut +out their view of the old stone quarry and its gruesome surroundings. + +"I looked as hard as I could," said Horatio, "but never a thing did I +see move. Guess you've got a return of your old malady, Julius, and +you were seeing things by daylight, just as you say you used to in +the dark." + +"The only explanation I can give," spoke up Hugh, and, of course, +every one lent a willing ear, because, as a rule, his opinions +carried much weight with his chums; "is that while Julius may have +seen something move, it was only a long, feathery plume of grass, +nodding and bowing in the wind. I've been fooled by the same sort of +object many a time. But let it pass, boys. We've turned our back on +the old quarry now, and are headed for the road again, two miles +above Hobson's mill-pond. I only hope we find it better going on +this end of the abandoned trail. This jumping is hard on the springs +of the car, and also on our bones." + +"For one," said Julius, "I hope never to set eyes on the place again." + +"Oh! that's silly talk, Julius," commented K. K. "Here's Hugh, who +means to take a run out this way again as soon as he can, so as to +time himself, and learn just what he can save by cutting across +country in the big race. And I wouldn't be surprised if he put +'Just' Smith up to the dodge, in addition to Horatio here and myself, +all being entered as contestants in the big Marathon race." + +"I certainly feel that way, K. K.," admitted Hugh firmly. "It +strikes me this is going to be worth trying. If one of our crowd can +save time by taking this route, while the other fellows go all the +way around by road, that same thing may give Scranton High the +clinching of the prize. It's all fair and square, too, for the +conditions only demand that the runners refuse all sorts of lifts +while on the road, and register at each and every tally place +designated. If they can cut a corner they are at liberty to do so." + +"Oh! well," said Julius; "I'm not entered in the Marathon, luckily +enough, so you see there's no need of my prowling around this spooky +place again. I haven't lost any quarry, that I know of; and Scranton +is a good enough place for me to do my athletic exercises in. But, +Hugh, if you should happen to find out about the thing that emitted +all those frightful squawks, I hope you'll promise to let us know the +particulars." + +"I can promise that easily enough, Julius," the other told him; +"though, just at present, my only concern is to gain time by this +cut-off, and so win the big event for our school. Now suppose we +drop this subject, and return to something pleasant." + +They continued to bump along the rocky road with its deep ruts. At +times K. K. had to make little detours in order to navigate around +some obstacle which could not be surmounted; for time had not dealt +lightly with the quarry road, and the rains and wintry frosts had +played havoc with its surface. + +But, eventually, they sighted light ahead. Steve was the first to +glimpse an opening, and announce that the main highway leading down +to Scranton must be close at hand. His words turned out to be true, +and soon afterwards they issued forth from the covert and found +themselves upon the turnpike, headed for home. + +Hugh turned around to mark the spot well in his mind, though he knew +that it was to be the exit, and not the entrance, to the short-cut, +in case he concluded to utilize the quarry road when the great race +was on. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +IN TRAINING FOR THE GREAT TOURNAMENT + +It was an afternoon on the following week, after school hours, and +the athletic field bordering the outskirts of the town of Scranton +afforded a pretty lively spectacle. Indeed, it could be readily seen +that the approaching tournament had taken a great hold upon the young +people of the town. + +Scores of boys were busily engaged in various exercises, under the +watchful eye of Mr. Leonard, the assistant principal under Dr. +Carmack. This determined-looking young fellow was a college +graduate, and had taken considerable interest in all manner of +athletics; indeed, it was well known that he had played on one or +more of the college teams during his course, and won quite an +enviable reputation for good work, though hardly reckoned a brilliant +star. + +Many who did not expect to participate in any of the numerous events +had gathered to watch what was going on; and, besides, there were +clusters of pretty high-school girls on the side lines, chattering +like magpies, and venting their opinions regarding the chances +certain favorites among their boy friends appeared to have in the way +of winning a prize. + +Scores were busily engaged in running around the cinder-path, taking +the high jump, trying the hurdles, so as to perfect themselves +against the coming Saturday when the wonderful event was to come off; +sprinting for the short races of fifty, or a hundred yards; throwing +the discus or the hammer, and numerous other lively doings. + +Among these participants there were a number whom the reader of +previous volumes in this series will readily recognize, and possibly +gladly meet again. There was Alan Tyree, for instance, whose +masterly pitching had done so much to land the pennant of the Three +Town High School League that season for Scranton; Owen Dugdale, the +efficient shortstop of the local nine; "Just" Smith, whose real name +it happened was Justin, but who seldom heard it outside of school and +home. He was a fleet runner, and had ably filled the position of +left fielder when Scranton carried the school colors to victory over +Allandale in that last heart-breaking game. Besides these, Joe +Danvers was on deck, doing all sorts of wonderful stunts at throwing +the hammer and taking the long jump, for Joe delighted in a variety +of specialties and did not confine himself to any one particular +thing; also might be seen one Claude Hastings, a chap who was a +regular monkey in his way, and who always kept the crowd laughing by +his antics, such as might be expected of a prize clown at the big +Barnum and Bailey circus. + +Yes, and there was Nick Lang, as big as life, running like the wind +around the cinder-path and looking as though he might have a pretty +fair chance to carry off some sort of prize. Nick had for a long +time been the town bully. He was not a rich man's son; in fact, +Nick's folks were poor, and some people even thought the big, +overgrown boy should be at work helping to keep the wolf from the +door, instead of still attending high school and making himself a +nuisance to decent folks through his delight in practical jokes and +his bullying propensities. + +But even those who detested Nick Lang the most were willing to admit +that he was a pretty fair athlete and could even have excelled along +several lines if only he were able to control that nasty temper of +his and "play fair." + +There were two other fellows, who were cronies of Nick's, and who, +apparently, had entered for some of the events, because both Leon +Disney and Tip Slavin were in evidence and hard at work practicing. + +Nick secretly hated, even as he also feared, Mr. Leonard, because the +under-teacher had once cowed him and made him "eat humble pie" before +the whole class; but, being a wise as well as pugnacious boy, Nick +managed to keep his feelings under control, and when Mr. Leonard was +around he usually behaved himself. + +Later in the afternoon, when most of the boys out for practice had +become more or less tired from their exertions, they gathered here +and there in little bunches to exchange "chaff," and express their +opinions concerning various matters that had a bearing on the coming +tournament. + +So Hugh Morgan found himself in a cluster that contained several of +his chums, as well as a sprinkling of other fellows. A trio of +lively highschool girls hovered near, and occasionally joined in the +conversation. They were Sue Barnes, whom Hugh usually counted on as +his partner when any dance was given in the country, or at +singing-school during the winter evenings; Ivy Middleton, Thad's +choice for company, because she was both jolly and genial; and pretty +Peggy Noland, whom Owen Dugdale liked, as had also Nick Lang, though +the latter had of late been badly snubbed by the scornful Peggy +because she could not stand for his rowdy ways. + +"Mr. Leonard says he's fully satisfied with the way most of the +fellows are showing up," Joe Danvers was saying, about that time. + +"Well, we can't afford to loaf, for a fact," remarked Just Smith, +soberly. "Let me tell you something, fellows. I was down in Paul +Kramer's sporting emporium just last evening, when who should walk in +but Big Ed. Patterson, the Allandale pitcher, who came so near to +downing us last summer. He looks as fine as silk, and told me +privately he calculates on carrying off that prize offered for hammer +throwing, because that is his pet hobby, you see. Yes, and more than +that, he said they were all crazy up at his 'burg' over the big meet, +boys being out practicing every sort of stunt, even to road-running +by moonlight." + +"That sounds good to me," Hugh observed, not appearing to show any +sign of alarm over the stirring news. "It means we'll have a +wonderfully successful affair. Who carries off the prizes is a +matter for the different schools to take care of, and those of us who +believe in clean, honest sport only hope the best fellows win." + +"Huh!" grunted Owen Dugdale, "it goes to show that Allandale is all +worked up over losing the baseball pennant to Scranton, and means to +get even by carrying off the majority of the prizes our committee has +offered for the dozen or more events to be contested for." + +"But he also informed me," continued the bearer of news, "that over +in Belleville they were just as much excited as in his town, so that +every fellow who'd entered for any event, even to climbing the +greased pole or the sack race, was diligently practicing his +particular stunt. Oh! it's just going to be the greatest athletic +tournament ever held in this section of the country, believe me." + +Some of the more timid among the boys seemed to think that Scranton +would come out second-best when the great meet was a thing of the +past; but others only found themselves more determined than ever to +win, after learning how their rivals had entered into the affair with +heart and soul. + +Hugh's often-expressed motto that the "best man should win" found an +echo in the majority of their hearts, and they vied with each other +in promising to give every ounce of ability to doing Scranton High +credit. + +Mr. Leonard came around to have a few words with his boys. He was a +great favorite with the majority of the scholars under his charge, +and to his clever method of coaching they attributed considerable of +their success on the diamond of recent months. If only his rules +were strictly adhered to it was possible that Allandale and +Belleville might be due for another rude surprise when they came +over, bent on carrying off the majority of the high honors. + +"It is going to be no easy sledding for anybody,--remember that, +fellows," the athletic instructor went on to say, after he had been +told how both adjoining towns entered in the meet were striving with +might and main to excel in every sort of event. "No matter who wins +he'll only get there by doing his level best. That's all Scranton +High asks of her representatives. Let there be no loafing, and if +some of our good friends from A and B succeed in carrying away a few +of the prizes, why, we'll know they earned the right, and are welcome +to their reward. And now, I'd like to see you runners try one more +ten-minute sprint, every one of you in a bunch, as a sort of wind-up +for the day." + +Accordingly they ran off to the starting-point and lined up, each +assuming his particular favorite crouching attitude, which he seemed +to think best fitted for a speedy "get-away" when the signal was +given. + +They ran like colts, and some displayed amazing speed, considering +that they had been diligently working out on that same cinder-path +for over two hours, with little intermissions between for resting. + +Those who expected to take part in the Marathon did not attempt to +compete with those fleet sprinters, though if they were pressed +doubtless they too could give quite an exhibition of fast running. + +But Mr. Leonard had taken great pains to inform them that the +successful long-distance runners always take things moderately easy +in the beginning of a race, preserving as much vigor as possible for +the gruelling finish. The chief idea was to keep just behind the +pace-maker, and be ready to rush to the front when on the +home-stretch. The fellow best able to preserve his full powers for +that last half-mile dash would be the one to carry off the honors. + +Nick Lang was there with the rest, watching Hugh out of the tail of +his eye, as if he considered that in the other he would find his +chief competitor; possibly he hoped to be able to pick up valuable +points by keeping watch and ward on Hugh. Hugh had even consulted +Mr. Leonard with regard to making use of his knowledge concerning +that "cut-off." In fact, he wanted to lay any doubts that may have +arisen in his own mind concerning its being perfectly legitimate that +he should profit by such knowledge. + +The athletic instructor assured him he was keeping fully within the +conditions of the race in so doing. + +"It is any competitor's privilege to go over the route as often as he +pleases," was the way Mr. Leonard put it; "and so long as he conforms +to the rules, such as keeping on his own feet every yard of the way, +accepting no lift from wagon or car, and registering faithfully at +the several stations provided, he has done all that is expected of +him. If by crossing a field he thinks he can cut off fifty feet or +more he is at liberty to make the attempt, although it may cost him +dear, through his meeting with some unexpected obstacle in his +progress, which would not have occurred had he stayed by the road. +Some fellows might believe they could do better than trying to cross +by way of that overgrown quarry road. Yes, you are keeping well +within the letter of the law in choosing your own way of going, Hugh. +Have no fears on that score, my boy." + +Mr. Leonard liked Hugh Morgan exceedingly; though that was not to be +wondered at, because Hugh was one of those boys who would never stoop +to do a tricky thing, no matter what allurements it held out; he +always "played square," and even won the high regard of his rivals in +many cases. + +When the October sun had reached the horizon the multitude of +contestants and spectators commenced to string back to town, for it +would soon be getting near supper time; and no fellow likes to be +late at the table, especially when he feels as hungry as a bear, +after exercising so violently for hours. + +Hugh was starting off alone, when Thad Stevens called out that he'd +like the other to "hold up a minute," until he could overtake him; +because it happened he had something to communicate which he thought +Hugh ought to know. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +TREACHERY IN THE AIR + +"Hugh, it looks to me like there's a hen on," was what Thad Stevens +said, as he joined his chum. + +"That's a queer remark for you to make, Thad," the other chuckled; +"after seeing what's been happening here on our athletic field this +afternoon, I'd be likely to say there were a good many score of hens +setting, each hoping to hatch out one of our dandy prizes next +Saturday." + +"Oh! you understand that I mean something crooked going on, Hugh," +Thad hastened to add. + +"That sounds serious enough. What do you know, Thad? The chances +are ten to one if anything in the way of trickery is contemplated I +can put my hand on the fellow who's guilty of the same." + +"Sure thing, Hugh, and his name is Nicholas in the bargain. They +call him Young Nick, to distinguish him from his father who's dead +and gone; but sometimes people say he's a regular Old Nick when it +comes to playing mean jokes, and getting into trouble of all kinds." + +"What's Nick Lang been up to now, Thad?" + +"Oh! just spying on you, for one thing!" exclaimed the other angrily. + +"He's welcome to chase around after me as often as he pleases," said +Hugh; "much good will it do him, I'm thinking. But tell me, why +should he go to all that bother, when my going-out and coming-in +don't interfere with his happiness a whit?" + +"Hugh, Nick is on to your scheme for making use of that short-cut +across by way of the old deserted quarry!" + +"You don't tell me?" Hugh observed. "Well, I came near speaking to +him about it myself, Thad. You see, Nick is entered for the +Marathon, just the same as a number of other Scranton High boys are. +If K. K., Just Smith, and several other fellows are to have the +benefit of that cut-off, if they choose to avail themselves of it, +why shouldn't Nick be included, I've been asking myself? Yes, and +I'd about concluded it was my duty to let him know; but if, as you +say, he's found out for himself I'll be saved all the bother of +telling." + +"He followed you across yesterday, Hugh. By a mere accident I heard +him telling Tip Slavin, and he seemed to think it a good joke, +because you never once suspected he was spying on you from behind +trees and bushes. Why, he says he followed you clear across to the +road again." + +Hugh shrugged his shoulders. + +"Then I give Nick full credit for carrying out a clever piece of +business. I never once remember suspecting that anybody was around. +But, Thad, what's worrying you? There isn't anything about that +discovery to excite you." + +"Hugh, that boy means to do something mean, and it's got a connection +with the short-cut quarry road in the bargain!" + +Hugh turned and looked at the speaker a little gravely. + +"I suppose now you've got some good reason for making that +accusation, Thad?" he ventured. + +"Yes, I have," came the quick reply. "I heard him say something to +that other sneak which I couldn't just catch, but it started Tip +laughing like everything. He slapped a hand down on his knee, and +went on to say: 'Fine, Nick, finer than silk! I bet you he'll be as +mad as hops if he finds himself caught in such a trap, and loses the +race. You can depend on me every time. My affair comes off right in +the start, and I can easy get out there on my wheel long before the +first runner heaves in sight. I'll coach Pete Dudley in his part, +just as you were saying. It's the greatest trick you ever hatched +up, Nick, the very greatest!' Now, you can judge for yourself, Hugh, +whether it's safe for you to try to cross by that same quarry road +when the big Marathon race is on." + +Hugh seemed lost in thought for a brief interval. When he spoke +again there was a settled look of grim determination on his face that +Thad could easily understand, knowing the other as well as he did. + +"It isn't my way to show the white feather when the first cold wind +starts to blowing, Thad, and no matter what Nick is planning to do +I'm not going to give him the first chance to profit by my discovery +of that short-cut route from road to road." + +"That means you decline to be shoved off the path, does it, Hugh?" + +"If I start in that race, as I expect to," Hugh told him, "I intend +to make use of that short-cut, no matter if a dozen Tip Slavins, and +Pete Dudleys are lying in wait to trip me up. But I'm much obliged +to you all the same, Thad, for your warning. I'll be on my guard +from this time on, and they're not going to trap me with my eyes +blinded, I tell you that." + +Thad seemed to be lost in thought himself for a minute or so. +Possibly he was trying to figure out how he could best serve his +comrade in such an emergency. The gloomy woods surrounding the old +quarry did not possess any attraction in the eyes of Thad Stevens. +Though he had not shown the same degree of alarm as Horatio and +Julius at the time they heard those remarkable sounds, so like human +shrieks, nevertheless, Thad felt no hankering after another similar +experience. + +Still he would brave much in order to help the chum whose interests +were so dear to his own heart. He did not say what was in his mind, +only looked a bit wise, as he once more turned to Hugh, as though his +mind had been finally made up. + +"Just as you think best, Hugh," he went on to say quietly. "It may +be that one or more of the other fellows will be taking advantage of +that same old road, and there's safety in numbers, you know, they say. +Nick is likely to get his fingers burned if he attempts any of his +silly tricks. What do you suppose now he could plan to have those +chaps do? They wouldn't want to really hurt you, because that might +get them in bad with Captain Wambold, our police head. Can you think +of any fool play he'd be apt to conjure up, such as might make Tip +say it was the best and slickest scheme he'd ever heard about?" + +"Nick has so many wild ideas that he's likely to attempt nearly +anything," said Hugh. "If he could find a good place where a runner +would have to keep to the road I even believe he'd try to dig a deep +pit, and cover the same over, just as the wild-animal catchers do in +Africa, when they go out after big game for the menageries and zoos." + +"Why, would that work, do you think, Hugh?" cried the startled Thad, +mentally picturing his chum crashing through a false roadbed, and +dropping down into a deep hole from which, alone and unaided, he +could not hope to escape until much time had elapsed, and all hope of +winning the big Marathon was lost. + +"It might have done so if I hadn't chanced to possess a wide-awake +chum, who gave me due warning, and caused me to keep a sharp lookout. +As it is, if I glimpse a suspicious spot in my path I'll fight mighty +shy of the same; or by a big leap give it the go-by. Of course, +there might be other ways in which they could hope to detain me, such +as dropping down on my shoulders from a tree, and with their faces +covered so I couldn't recognize them." + +Thad looked grave. + +"Yes, they could do that, for a fact," he admitted. "Seems to me +you'll have to keep one eye aloft all the while, Hugh, while the +other is watching the ground for treachery. I must say this is a +fine state of affairs. Not only does Scranton High have to go smack +up against all the best runners of Allandale and Belleville, but be +on the lookout for treachery at home besides. I'd give something to +be one of a bunch of indignant fellows to take Nick Lang and his two +pals out to the woods some fine night, and give the same a coat of +tar and feathers, or else ride them on a rail. They're a disgrace to +the community, and Scranton ought to take them in hand right away. +That boy will set the town on fire yet I'm thinking, with his +desperate tricks." + +"He will, unless he soon sees a light, and turns over a new leaf," +admitted Hugh, who, it seems, had an idea of his own in connection +with the said Nick, which, perhaps, he might find an opportunity to +work out one of these days; but which he did not care to confide to +his chum, because he knew Thad would be apt to consider it +impossible, perhaps foolish. + +"There they go now, Hugh," suddenly remarked Thad in an undertone. +"You see, he has both Tip and Leon along with him, and they're +grinning as they look over this way. I warrant you Nick has been +elaborating on that fine scheme of his; and, in anticipation, they +can already see you held up in that lonely place, kicking your toes +at the bottom of a miserable pit, or else tied to a tree." + +"Don't scowl so savagely, Thad," warned Hugh. "There's no need of +letting them understand we're on to their game. The advantage always +lies in catching the other fellow off his guard. Let's laugh while +we walk past, as if we'd been figuring out how a certain prize was +already dangling close to our fingertips." + +So Thad managed to "take a brace," profiting by the sage advice of +his comrade; and, as they passed Nick and his two cronies, Hugh +remarked as pleasantly as he could: + +"I've been watching you run to-day, Nick, and I honestly believe you +are right up with the top-notchers in the game. There may be some +surprises next Saturday for those who think they've got it all +figured out who's going to win the prizes. And Nick, as far as I'm +concerned, I'd like to see you take the long-distance prize, honestly +and cleanly, if I can't get it myself. You're a representative of +Scranton High, Nick, and we're all out to see the old school do +herself proud." + +Nick seemed taken aback by these hearty words on the part of the +fellow whom he had so long sought an opportunity to injure. He shot +a hasty glance, accompanied by the uplifting of his heavy eyebrows, +toward his companions, who, thereupon, catching a sly wink, perhaps, +both chuckled audibly as though amused. + +"Oh! I've already as good as copped that Marathon prize," Nick went +on to say, at the same time thrusting out his chin in his customary +aggressive and boastful fashion. "I calculate to give the folks some +surprise by the ease with which I'll come in away ahead of the next +competitor. There'll be a wheen of those who also ran, bringing up +the tail of the procession. Long-distance is my best suit, and I've +waited a while to show up certain chaps in this town who think they +are just the thing. Don't worry about me, Morgan; Nick Lang +generally gets there when he throws his hat into the ring." + +At that the other two laughed uproariously, as though they thought +the joke too good for anything. Possibly they took Nick's reference +to "those who also ran" to mean Hugh Morgan particularly; and in +their minds they could see him desperately trying to break his bonds; +or climb up out of the deep pit into which he had gone crashing when +the covered mattress, formed of slender twigs and dead leaves, had +given way under his weight. + +Hugh and Thad walked on, the latter fairly boiling with +illy-suppressed anger. + +"That fellow always gives me a pain, Hugh," he was saying, as they +increased the distance separating them from the still merry trio in +the rear. "He is really the meanest boy you could find in all the +towns of this country. But fellows like him sometimes catch a +Tartar; so, perhaps, it might happen in this case," and Thad, who +evidently had something on his mind, would not commit himself +further, as they walked on in company. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +THE PROWLER + +There had been considerable of a change in connection with the big +open field where the boys of Scranton were allowed by the town +council and mayor to play baseball, and also football, since summer +waned. Somehow the success that attended the work of Scranton High +in the battles of the Three Town League, as narrated in an earlier +volume of this series, seemed to have stirred up many of the leading +citizens. Besides, Mr. Leonard, the efficient under-principal of the +high school, with a genuine love and sympathy for all boys in his +heart, had kept things at boiling pitch. + +Consequently there was, first of all, a move made to lease that +splendid field for a long term of years, from the owner, so that the +young people of Scranton might have some central place to gather for +all sorts of outdoor games and sports. + +So subscriptions were started looking to collect a fund with which +not only to erect some sort of decent grandstand, but a building that +would contain a number of conveniences such as most athletic grounds +and similar institutions can boast. + +This building had now been completed, and the boys were in full +possession. It contained, among other things, a score and more of +lockers, where the one who paid a small fee could keep his "fighting +togs," as Thad Stevens was wont to term his baseball clothes, or it +might be the scanty raiment he wore when exercising on the athletic +field, running, or boxing, or wrestling. + +Each boy who hired such a locker, of course, carried the key to the +same; and when engaged in practice work rested easy in the belief +that his street garments were securely taken care of. + +There was also a shower-bath and a pool in the building, as well as +several other conveniences that could be used in the summer time +during the hot weather. The boys arranged to take turns in shifts +with regard to keeping the building clean, and thus far the scheme +had worked very well; for the town did not care to go to the extra +expense of hiring a custodian. + +Besides this, a high fence was ordered to be built around the entire +grounds, for most other towns had their athletic fields enclosed. It +would keep the rowdy element from disturbing the players when any +game was in progress; and, as a small admission fee might often be +asked, having one or two gates through which admission to the grounds +could be obtained would facilitate matters greatly. + +But this was not all. Scranton had awakened to the fact that Nature +had been rather unkind to her young people, in that there was no +large lake, or even so much as a small river close by her borders. +When the boys and girls of the town felt inclined to skate after a +sharp freeze along about New Year's Day, they had to walk all the way +out to Hobson's mill-pond, situated between half and two-thirds of a +mile away. This was not so bad for some of the sturdy chaps, but +there were others who disliked taking such long tramps, especially +after violent exercising for hours, it might be, on the ice. + +So, after mature deliberation, and receiving valuable suggestions +from Mr. Leonard, as well as others who had seen similar things +successfully carried out in various places, it had been arranged to +flood the field after winter had fully set in. Then, during the time +of severe weather, the young folks would have a splendid sheet of ice +right at their doors, a comfortable retreat into which they could go +to warm up, or to put on and remove their skates. + +Here various games were expected to be indulged in, as the weather +permitted; and already a fine hockey Seven had been organized, under +the leadership of Hugh Morgan, with a promise of many exciting games +against rival teams. + +The high board fence was being erected, but would hardly be completed +before Spring; still, it gave an air of business to the grounds, and +the boys had already begun to congratulate themselves over the great +stride forward Scranton had taken in the way of catering to her +rising population. + +Of course, there were those in the town--you can always find a few in +every community--who seriously objected to so much "good money being +wasted," as they termed it, on such trivial things, when Scranton +really needed an up-to-date library building in place of the poor +apology for one that had to serve. + +These people, doubtless from worthy motives, though they were +short-sighted in their opposition, lost no opportunity for running +down the entire enterprise. The person who, perhaps, had more +influence than any of the others, and was more vehement in deriding +the "foolish expenditure of funds along such silly lines, instead of +trying to elevate the standard of reading among Scranton's young +people," was the rich widow, Mrs. Jardine. + +She had a son named Claude, whose life was rendered miserable by the +lofty ambition of his mother to make him a genius. She never ceased +talking upon all sorts of elevating subjects; and where other boys +were allowed to lead normal lives, and have lots of innocent if +strenuous fun during vacations, and holidays, poor Claude led a life +of bondage. + +He was rather an effeminate-looking boy, tall and slender, with a +face entirely destitute of color such as would indicate abounding +spirits and good health; but it was no wonder, everyone knew how he +was being made such a "sissy" of by his doting "mamma." + +Despite all this there seemed to be a spark of ordinary boyish +spirits concealed under Claude's superior airs. He sometimes stood +and watched the other fellows engaged in playing prisoner's base, or +some such rough-and-tumble game, with envy. Once upon a time his +mother, chancing to pass along the street in her fine car, was +horrified to discover her darling Claude actually taking part in some +"rowdy game," in which he scrambled with the rest just as vehemently, +and was, moreover, even worse off than the other boys with regard to +soiled garments and disheveled hair. Evidently the long suppressed +spirit of the lad had broken bounds, and for once he allowed himself +to be natural. + +The other fellows never tired of telling how she had called to him +almost frantically, as though she believed he had become inoculated +with some deadly germ, and must be contaminated, bundling the boy +into the car, and actually crying with dismay when she found that he +actually had a scratch upon his nose, which had been bleeding. But +it was also noticed that Claude grinned at his late fellow wrestlers +as he was borne triumphantly away, as though to emphasize the fact +that he had, at least, enjoyed one real period of excitement in his +life, to remain as a bright spot for many days. + +Hugh had often wondered whether there might not be some way through +which this deluded mother might be shown what a terrible error she +was making in bringing up her boy to be so inane and useless. He +needed physical development more than any other fellow in Scranton +High. Constant feeding upon lofty ideas, and never given a chance to +develop his muscles, was wrecking his health. Mr. Leonard had even +gone to Mrs. Jardine and entreated her to let him undertake a +moderate programme of athletic exercises with Claude; but he might as +well have tried to lift the high-school building as to make her +change her set ideas. + +Hugh and Thad had been out on a particular night after supper, +visiting another boy who chanced to live on the outskirts of town. +He had received a wonderful collection of curios from an uncle living +out in India, after whom he had been named; and upon being especially +invited over to view these things, which included a wonderful +assortment of rare postage stamps, the two chums had made it a point +to accept, being greatly interested in all boyish "hobbies." + +That was how they happened to be passing along the road close to the +athletic grounds about half-past nine o'clock that same night. + +There was a fair moon shining, but objects appeared more or less +misty, as often occurs under such conditions. The boys had about +exhausted their vocabulary of words that express delight, in +examining the many things of interest shown by "Limpy" Wallace, who +was a cripple, and had to use a crutch, he being also a great admirer +of Hugh Morgan, whom he considered in the light of a hero. + +Besides this, both boys were unusually tired after the exertions of +the day, and Thad frequently yawned in a most terrific fashion, as he +walked homeward. Probably these were the main reasons for their +unnatural silence, as they stalked along side by side; since it is +seldom that two lads will refrain from exchanging opinions on some +subject or other, when in company. + +Afterwards, in the light of what happened, they were inclined to +believe that it was exceedingly fortunate they had lapsed into this +queer condition of silence, for, otherwise, they would have missed +something that proved unusually interesting, as well as afforded them +more or less excitement. + +It was Thad who discovered it first. Perhaps he chanced to be +looking that way while Hugh was star-gazing. At any rate he gripped +his chum suddenly by the arm. + +"Sh! Hugh, what's that yonder, a skulking dog, or a fellow half bent +over?" was what Thad whispered in the ear of his chum. + +Both of them had come to a full stop, under the impulse of the +moment; and Thad was pointing a little to the right, which was where +the building erected on the athletic grounds stood, dimly seen in the +mysterious moonlight. + +So Hugh, staring quickly, made out the object indicated by his +companion. Really, he could hardly blame Thad for asking such a +question, because at first it was next to impossible to determine +whether it was a four-footed creature, or a human being who, for some +good reason, was trying to make himself appear as small as possible. + +But as Hugh continued to look he saw the other raise himself to his +full height, as though to take a cautious survey of his surroundings. +Then he knew that it was no canine prowling around to discover scraps +thrown aside by the carpenters working on the board fence, as they +ate their noon lunch. + +"It's a human being all right, Thad," Hugh whispered, in such a low +tone that even the sharpest pair of ears going could never have +caught the sound ten feet away. + +"Man, or boy, Hugh?" asked Thad, copying the example set by the +other, and even bending his head so that his lips might come closer +to Hugh's right ear. + +"Can't make that out," he was told. + +"But what in the wide world is he trying to do?" pursued Thad, his +curiosity now fully aroused, as the unknown again started to move +forward, pursuing the same strange cautious tactics as before. + +"That's what we ought to find out," Hugh told him. "I don't like the +way he's sneaking around here. It looks as if he might be up to some +game." + +"Oh! perhaps it's a tramp," suggested Thad, as the idea dawned upon +his brain. + +"He may be meaning to break into the building, to sleep there +to-night. I wouldn't put it past a hobo to steal anything he could +find left in the lockers. Hugh, it's up to us to put a kink in his +rope. Let's chase after him before he disappears." + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +CAUGHT IN THE ACT + +"Hold on, Thad," continued Hugh, as he put a restraining hand on the +shoulder of his more impulsive chum, "we've got to be careful, or +else he'll learn how we're meaning to spy on him. Bend over, and do +the grand sneak act." + +"He's headed straight for the building, Hugh!" breathed the other, as +he complied with the directions given by the one whom he was +accustomed to look upon in the light of a leader. + +"That's right, and I guess he's meaning to crawl inside, if only he +can find a window that's been left unfastened. Steady now, Thad; +he's stopped under one right now!" + +They continued to crouch there and watch what went on, their eyes +glued upon the dimly seen figure of the unknown. Greatly to the +surprise of Thad, the party stepped to one side, and seemed to be +dragging back a heavy plank, not of any vast length, but sufficiently +long to reach the window when placed on a slant. + +"Say, did you notice how he seemed to know just where that plank was +lying, Hugh?" asked Thad deliriously. "Seems like he must have been +spying out the land by daylight beforehand." + +"You're right there," whispered Hugh; "and he acts as if he felt +pretty certain that particular window would be unfastened, in the +bargain." + +"Hugh, that settles it," added the other sturdily, as though now +fully convinced. + +"Yes, settles what, Thad?" + +"Why, it's a _boy_, don't you see, and he must have left that +window unlatched on purpose this afternoon when some of the +fellows were shutting up." + +"Wait and see," advised Hugh, although almost convinced of the same +thing himself. + +The test was not long in coming. They could see the other "shinning" +up the sloping plank, as any athletic boy would be apt to do, without +any particular trouble. Now he had reached the window, and Thad held +his breath in suspense. He sighed as he heard a slight squeaking +sound. Evidently the sash which was supposed to be fastened every +night through ordinary prudence, had given way to his hand, when he +exerted some pressure. + +"He's going in, Hugh!" Thad observed, again laying a quivering hand +on the arm of his comrade, and then following these words with a low +exclamation of startled wonder: "Oh! look there, what's that queer +glow mean?" + +Hugh understood readily enough. + +"Why, he's got one of those little handy electric torches, you see, +and is using it so as to get his bearings inside the building." + +"Guess you're right, Hugh," admitted the other; "and there, he's +crawling over the sill now, as sure as anything. Oh! the skunk, what +can he be up to?" + +"We'll try and find out," said Hugh, with his usual promptness. "Now +he's gone further from the window let's be moving along. That plank +ought to make it easy sledding for fellows like us." + +Indeed, it would be hard to find a couple of more athletic boys than +Hugh and his chum. Their intense love for every type of outdoor +sport had kept them in splendid physical condition, so that their +muscles were as firm as those of an athlete in training. To make +their way up that sloping board and reaching the open window was +likely to prove a mere bit of child's play with such fellows. + +Hugh was the first to ascend. When he had raised himself so that he +could peep over the window ledge and see within the building he +apparently found the coast clear; for Thad, coming along just behind, +received a gentle prod with a toe, twice repeated, which he knew to +be a signal that all was well. + +By the time Thad arrived the other was already well within the room, +having slipped across the window-sill without making the slightest +sound. All was dark around them, but further on they could see that +weird shaft of light moving this way and that, indicating the spot +where the unknown intruder just then happened to be located. + +"He's making for the locker room, don't you see, Hugh?" Thad +ventured, with a perceptible quiver to his low voice. + +"Sure thing, and he knows where he's going, in the bargain," the +other went on. + +"Of course, it's no hobo, then," continued Thad. "That scamp knows +every foot of ground under this roof. You can see it by the way he +keeps straight on. Hugh, do you think it might be Nick Lang?" + +After all, it was only natural for Thad to jump to this conclusion, +because of the evil reputation enjoyed by the boy he mentioned. Nick +Lang had been the bully and the terror of Scranton for years. There +was seldom a prank played (from stealing fruit from neighboring +farmers, to painting old Dobbin, a stray nag accustomed to feeding on +the open lots, so that the ordinarily white horse resembled the +National flag, and created no end of astonishment as he stalked +around, prancing at a lively rate when the hot sun began to start the +turpentine to burning), but that everybody at once suspected Nick of +being the conspirator. + +Possibly he may not have always been the chief offender; but give Dog +Tray a bad name and he gets the blame of everything that happens +calculated to outrage the respectability of the law-abiding community. + +"I thought of him at first," replied Hugh, "but it strikes me that +chap isn't of Nick's build. You see his light leaves his figure +pretty much in the dark; for he's using it principally to show him +the way, so he won't stumble over any chair, and make no end of a +row." + +The two had been stealthily creeping forward all this while, and +were, therefore, gradually diminishing the distance separating them +from the bearer of the electric hand-torch. Thad had evidently been +consulting his memory concerning something, for presently he again +whispered in his chum's ear: + +"Then mebbe it might be Leon Disney, Hugh. Seems to me that sneak +would be just the one to try some mean trick like this. And, +besides, I happen to know he bought one of those little vest-pocket +lights down at Paul Kramer's store only three nights ago, because I +saw him testing them and heard him say he'd take it." + +"Yes, that looks significant, I must say, Thad. But I'm trying to +make out what he's done with his head. Don't you notice he's got it +bundled up with a sort of woollen comforter or something like that?" + +"Why, so he has," replied the other; "I tell you what, Hugh, he's +hoping to hide his face, so if he's discovered prowling around in +here no one can say positively that they recognized him. Leon is up +to all those sly tricks. He gets ideas like that out of the stories +he's so fond of soaking in." + +"Keep still now, Thad, and we'll creep closer," warned the other. + +They really had their hands full endeavoring to advance upon the +prowler without making any sort of sound that would arouse his +suspicions. Hugh realized that if anything of this sort occurred the +other would instantly throw the full glow of his little electric +torch in their direction, and, of course, immediately discover their +presence. If such a thing happened it might interfere with their +suddenly arranged plan of campaign, and prevent the capture they +contemplated, which would be a grievous disappointment to both boys. + +The unknown party had come to a standstill. He stood there in front +of the long row of new lockers in which the boys who meant to take +part in the principal events of the great athletic tournament kept +their possessions, without which they would be more or less +handicapped in their practice work. + +Thad had made another important discovery; indeed, it struck him as +so significant that he could not forbear dragging Hugh down so that +he could place his lips against the other's ear and whisper: + +"It's _your_ locker he's trying to open, Hugh, don't you see?" + +Hugh, of course, had already noted this circumstance, and felt duly +thrilled, for really it struck him as something more than an +accident, and along the lines of a deep design. Doubtless, his +active brain started to wrestle with the problem as to why any one +should wish to open his locker, since the only things he kept there +consisted of his running jersey and trunks and shoes. + +Could it be possible that this was only some small piece of +spite-work engineered by his old and inveterate enemy, Nick Lang, and +ordered carried out by one of the bully's cronies; while Nick himself +made certain to be in good company, so he could easily prove an alibi +if accused of the mean trick. + +It seemed almost too contemptible to be true, since Hugh could easily +purchase other garments down at the sporting-goods store in Scranton. +Still, some mean natures are small enough to love to give "stabs" +that might annoy the recipient; and boys sometimes grow so accustomed +to certain articles of wearing apparel that being compelled to "break +in" a new pair of running shoes might lose Hugh the great race! + +He gritted his teeth as a wave of indignation swept over him. Really +it was high time this contemptible spirit of annoying those he chose +to look upon in the light of enemies was crushed in Nick Lang. He +had carried on with a "high horse" too long already, and, for one, +Hugh felt as though combined action should be taken against him by +the respectable fellows of Scranton High. + +But it was far from Hugh's intention to stand there and see his +locker robbed by such an unprincipled fellow as Leon Disney, if, +indeed, the skulker proved to be the party they suspected. Possibly +Hugh moved too soon, for it would have been much wiser had he waited +until the sneak thief actually had the locker open, and disclosed his +full intention. + +Urged on to action by his indignation, Hugh started forward. Thad, +realizing that it was his chum's intention to do something radical, +skipped off a little to the right. He fancied that should the +skulker take the alarm and try to flee, making for the open window in +the rear, he was apt to turn aside and try to pass by; so his move +was intended to block this little game. + +It turned out to be needless, for so interested was the fellow with +the flash-light in his work of inserting a key in the lock, and +trying to turn it, that he did not appear to notice anything wrong +until Hugh was close at his elbow. Then, as Thad slipped around to +one side to cover all lines of retreat, Hugh reached out a hand and +caught hold of the fellow by the shoulder. At the same time he +exclaimed in a severe voice: + +"Well, what are you doing here, I want to know, trying to break into +my locker?" + +The other gave a tremendous start, and a low, bubbling cry, half of +fright, and also of disgust, came from his lips. The woollen muffler +fell from about his face, and, although he snapped off the light just +then by a movement of his thumb, the others had glimpsed his features. + +Thad had evidently hit the target in the bull's-eye when he mentioned +his suspicions concerning the probable identity of the skulker. It +was Leon Disney! + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +LEON PROMISES TO REFORM + +The startled boy struggled to get free, but Hugh had taken a firmer +grip upon his person, and saw to it that he could not squirm loose. + +"Quit your kicking!" cried Thad, indignantly, when one of the +fellow's shoes came in rough contact with his own shins; "or we'll +start something along the same lines! We know you, Leon Disney, so +there's no use trying to hide your face." + +Leaning over, Thad groped around until he managed to find the hand +that held the little electric torch. This latter article he tore +from the grasp of Leon, and immediately pressed the button that +caused the battery to work. The intense darkness around them was +dissipated to some degree. Thad threw the glow directly into the +face of the fellow Hugh was holding. + +Leon stopped his desperate struggles. He realized that the game was +up so far as trying to keep his identity a secret; and, being a most +resourceful sort of chap, he now resorted to another little scheme +which he had undoubtedly thought out, to be used in case he was +discovered, and cornered, while on his night mission. + +"Oh! is that you, Hugh?" he burst out, in a shaky voice. "Say, you +gave me an _aw_ful scare! I thought it must be some old tramp that +grabbed me, sure I did. It's all right now, Hugh, and I'm not +wanting to clear out, since I know who you are. That's Thad, too, I +reckon, holding my little flash-light. How you did startle me, +though. I never dreamed anybody was around here when I started to +come back after my watch." + +"What's that you say?" gasped Thad; "your watch? Tell that to the +marines, Leon Disney!" + +"But it's so, I tell you. Thad, it sure is," persisted the other +tenaciously, as though he had laid all his plans for just such an +"accident," whereby his attempt to rob Hugh's locker would be held +up. "I believe I must have forgotten to take it out of my locker +this evening when I was dressing, after hard work on the field, +running, and practising throwing the hammer. I never noticed it till +long after supper, and I was afraid of what my dad would say when he +asked me for it in the morning, to take back to the store where he +got it, to exchange for another. So, Hugh, don't you see, the idea +came to me that mebbe I might be able to get in the building out here +if a window happened to be unfastened; which turned out to be the +case, you know." + +"Yes, the very _first_ window you tackled in the bargain, Leon; how +fortunate for you!" sneered the unbelieving Thad. "And say, you +ought to know that this isn't your locker, because the numbers are +painted big enough on the door for anybody with only one eye to see." + +Even this did not appear to disconcert the other boy. He was a +slippery sort of customer, who always seemed able to find some sort +of ready excuse, or a way to "climb down a tree" when caught in the +act. + +He turned, and stared at the number 16 plainly on the door. Then he +grinned at Thad as he hurriedly went on to explain further; for his +inventive faculties seemed without end when they were exercised in +order to get him out of any bad scrape: + +"Well, that shows my first guess was the right one after all. You +see, Hugh, I knew my number was either 16 or 19, and, for the life of +me, I couldn't tell which. Of course, if the first belongs to you +when my number is 19, I was foolish to change my mind; though, of +course, even if the key opened your locker I'd have known my mistake +right away. No harm done, I hope, Hugh?" + +Thad made a low, growling sound, as though he put not the slightest +faith in the story Leon was telling. He knew the other to be utterly +unprincipled, and a willing tool in the hands of Nick Lang; indeed, +there were some things about the sneaky Leon that blunt, honest Thad +hated worse than the bullying propensities of the other boy. + +"So you really and truly left your watch in your locker, did you?" he +demanded, with a perceptible sneer in his tones. + +"I think I did; in fact, I'm certainly hoping so," Leon hastily +replied; "because if it doesn't happen to be there I don't know where +I could have lost it; and I'll get a fine turning over from dad in +the morning when he asks me for the same to take back, and exchange +for one that keeps decent time." + +"Oh!" continued the still skeptical Thad, thinking to corner Leon, +"then, perhaps, you'll prove your words by showing us the inside of +your locker right now? Number 19 it would be, you said; well, here +it is, on a direct line with Hugh's locker. Get busy with your key, +Leon, and open up!" + +Possibly Thad was confident that the other would not venture to do as +he demanded. He may have expected him to invent some handy excuse +for not complying; but then the other had already laid the foundation +for a reasonable sense of disappointment in case no watch was +forthcoming when the locker was opened; since he said he _hoped_ he +might have forgotten it when dressing, and not lost it on the way +home that evening at dusk. + +Leon started to obey with alacrity, as though he had no fears. His +key immediately opened the door, and this, upon being swung aside, +revealed a bundle of old athletic garments hastily thrown in without +regard to neatness. + +These Leon commenced to eagerly take out, one at a time. He was +careful how he handled them, as though fearful lest he might toss the +silver watch out, to land on the floor with disastrous results. + +As he picked up such various articles of wearing apparel as used by +an athlete in training, Leon continued to air his grievances, as +though he meant Hugh to understand how utterly impossible it was for +him to have intended any mean thing by breaking open a locker other +than his own: + +"It was silly of me getting those numbers mixed in my head, of +course; but then a figure nine is only a six turned upside down, you +see. I was so worked up over missing my clock that I just couldn't +think straight at all. Well, it isn't under that jersey, anyhow; nor +yet covered by those trunks. I remember now I pushed it away back, +so I couldn't drag it out. There's an old sweater I use when I'm +overheated, and afraid of taking cold; mebbe now it's under that." + +Reaching further in, Leon caught hold of the article in question, and +carefully drew it toward him. Then he as cautiously lifted the torn +sweater; and, as Thad turned the glow of the flash-light directly +into the box they all saw the watch reposing in the corner, just as +the boy had left it. + +Leon made a clutch for his property. He over-did the matter, Hugh +thought, acting in an exuberant fashion. + +"Oh! mebbe I'm not joyful over getting my hands on you again, you +poor old time-keeper!" he exclaimed, as he snatched the silver watch +up and shook it, as though any fault could be attached to the article +in question. "A fine chase you've given me to-night; and playing the +part of sneak-thief in the bargain; but then, of course, you believe +what I told you, now, Hugh, since you've seen that the watch was in +my locker?" + +Hugh did not care to fully commit himself, it seemed, judging from +the way in which he went on to say: + +"We've seen you recover your watch all right, Leon; and it was in +your locker just as you said; but whether you forgot it, or left it +there on purpose, is a question I'm not prepared to settle." + +Of course there was no further excuse for Hugh keeping that grip on +Leon's shoulder, so he released his hold, and the other gave a sigh +as of relief at this evidence of a change in policy on the part of +his captor. + +"Say, I wish you'd do me a great favor, Hugh," Leon went on to say, +as though he believed in the old maxim that it is wise to "strike +while the iron is hot." + +"As to what?" demanded the one addressed in this whining way. + +"What's the use of saying anything about this business?" Leon went on +eagerly. "It certainly wouldn't do any good, and I proved to you +that I did enter here just to recover my watch, didn't I? But mebbe +it might get to my dad's ears, how I'd gone and been so careless +about looking after my property. You see, he told me that if I lost +this birthday present he'd not get me another watch till I graduated +from high school; and say, I'm beginning to lose all hope of that +ever happening in my case. But you will keep mum about it, won't +you, Hugh; just to save me from getting up against it rough with my +strict dad?" + +It sounded like a reasonable request, Hugh must have thought. +Besides, no matter what the intentions of Leon may have been, there +had really been no harm done, owing to the fact of their being drawn +to the spot by discovering his skulking figure dimly outlined in the +moonlight. + +Hugh considered before committing himself to making any reply. He +did not believe most of what the other so glibly declared, partly +because he knew very well that Mr. Disney was not a strict parent at +all, but a most indifferent one, or he would never have allowed his +young hopeful to go in the company of Nick Lang, and take part in +many of the other's practical jokes. Some of these had bordered on a +serious nature, like the time the electric current was shut off +abruptly when the graduation exercises were going on at night-time in +the big auditorium in the high-school building; and the ensuing utter +darkness almost created a panic among the audience, composed +principally of women and young people, the wires having been severed, +it was later discovered, at a point where they entered the building. + +"I'll say this, Leon," he finally told the waiting boy; "I'll keep +quiet about this little thing for three days, and then feel free to +mention it, if the necessity arises. I'll make a further bargain +with you to this effect; you fight shy of the company of Nick Lang +after this, and I'll hold my tongue as long as I understand that +you've cut his acquaintance; otherwise, I'll feel free to speak; and +there are lots of people in this town who'll believe you had some +dark motive back of your breaking into this building to-night. Your +reputation is against you, Leon, you understand. Another fellow +might enter here, and everybody would believe what he said; but +you've long ago lost the confidence of everybody worth while in +Scranton. Is it a bargain, then?" + +Leon replied with alacrity; but then that was no sign that he meant +to keep his word. He had been caught in a downright lie on many +another occasion; so Hugh did not place much reliance on his promise +to reform. + +"Oh! as to that, Hugh," said the crafty Leon, "I've been figuring on +cutting away from Nick for a long time now, and I guess I'll do it. +He's got me in lots of nasty scrapes, you understand, and then just +laughs at me. I'd have given him the shake long since, only he +threatened to whip me black and blue if I ever did. But this would +be a good chance to try it out. Yes, I'll promise you to try and +break away from Nick; and I hope you'll keep mum about my coming here +to-night. If you don't mind, Thad, I'd like to have my flashlight +now. And I ought to be going back home in the bargain, because dad +doesn't like me to be out nights unless he knows where I'm at." + +Thad chuckled as though he considered this last remark in the light +of a joke; for Leon roamed the streets until a late hour every night +he chose; but, as there was no need of their staying longer, they +passed out of the window, and headed toward their respective homes. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +SCRANTON IN GALA ATTIRE + +That was, indeed, a busy Friday with the students of Scranton High. +Lessons had been tabooed entirely, for what was the use of trying to +hold the attention of the scholars upon dry subjects when their +thoughts continually roamed afield, and seemed concerned only with +what great things were scheduled for the next afternoon? Still, they +gathered at school, which was a sort of general headquarters where +the various committees appointed could consult, and go forth to the +work assigned to their particular charge. + +The girls were just as enthusiastic as the boys, and demanded equal +representation upon a number of the said committees, especially the +ones designed for the welcome and entertainment of the vast crowds +expected to be present from neighboring towns and villages. + +It was going to be an event long to be remembered in Scranton, and +the town dressed in gala attire in honor of the occasion. Flags and +banners were being displayed as though a great wave of patriotism had +overwhelmed the place. If a stranger had suddenly dropped down on +the town just then he must have believed American soldiers were on +the fighting line across in France, and that news had been cabled +over to the effect that they had met the enemy in their first +engagement, and won a decisive victory. + +The fairly good town brass band had promised to be on hand, and play +during the best part of the afternoon. Then there would be a host of +refreshment booths at which Scranton's fairest daughters would +preside, accompanied in each instance by a matron of mature years, to +lend dignity to the occasion. Here the good folks from Allandale, +Belleville and other places, who honored the town with their presence +would always be warmly welcomed, and given a cup of delicious tea, +coffee or chocolate, as they preferred, accompanied with sandwiches +galore, and even cake. + +Meanwhile it was planned that those who meant to take part in any of +the events on the long programme should have a last "workout" that +Friday afternoon. Saturday morning it was intended they should rest +up, so as to be in the pink of condition when the meet opened at one +o'clock. + +That might seem to be an early hour, as some had argued, but the +programme was so extended that there was a possibility of darkness +creeping up on them before the fifteen-mile Marathon, the greatest +event of the day, had been fully completed. + +During that energetic morning at school, when boys and girls were +hustling to carry out the part of the work entrusted to them, Hugh +had managed to keep an eye on Leon Disney from time to time. He felt +pretty certain that the tricky boy had no intention of fulfilling the +promise he had made under duress, and while a threat of exposure hung +over his head, like the famous sword of Damocles, suspended by but a +single hair. + +Leon watched Hugh also, and tried to act in a manner calculated not +to arouse suspicion; but Hugh understood from his actions how matters +probably stood. Leon had, of course, managed to see Nick Lang before +coming to school, and explain to him what a bad fix he had managed to +get himself in when caught in the act of breaking into Hugh Morgan's +locker at the athletic grounds building. + +No doubt it had been artfully arranged between the precious pair that +Leon was to seem to keep his distance away from Nick; and if at any +other time the latter joined a group amidst whom Leon chanced to be +standing the other was to immediately move away in an ostentatious +fashion that would cause Hugh to believe he meant to keep his given +word. + +But several times Hugh felt certain he detected sly winks exchanged +between Nick and his apparently estranged pal; which could only mean +that Leon was playing a double game. Still Hugh did not bother +telling anyone about the affair of the preceding night. No harm had +really been done, fortunately, and Leon might hold his evil +propensities in check for a while if he had reason to fear disclosure. + +The committees were wearing their badges proudly, and every member +seemed desirous of doing everything in his or her power to render the +athletic tournament a wonderful success. Nothing like it had ever +been attempted in the county, and for that reason they were compelled +to look up all manner of accounts in papers and magazines, in order +to do things properly. + +Mr. Leonard was a great help, for he, being a Princeton graduate, and +interested in all manner of athletics for years, had kept in touch +with such things. Then from various other unexpected sources +assistance cropped up. Why, even old Doctor Cadmus, the leading +physician of Scranton, proved to be a walking encyclopedia of +knowledge concerning the management of such an event; and it turned +out that several times long years before, in another community +entirely, he had had full charge of just such a tournament; also that +he had many articles laid away telling of the modern innovations that +had displaced the older method of doing things. + +After lunch the young people began to gather on the field by squads +and battalions, and it was soon quite an animated sight, with the +girls circulating around in gaily dressed bunches, and the various +candidates going through their various stunts under the personal +supervision of Mr. Leonard. + +There had been more or less talk concerning the advisability of +allowing school boys to undertake such a long Marathon race. Fifteen +miles, many thought, was far too strenuous an undertaking for lads as +yet in their teens. Full-fledged athletes only run twenty miles in +all the famous long-distance races, and even at that numbers of them +do not finish, the task being too much for them. + +But Mr. Leonard was of a different opinion, and he had his way. One +thing, however, he did insist on. This was that each and every +candidate entering for the Marathon fetch along with him a paper from +his family physician, stating that he had undergone a rigid +examination to ascertain whether he was in the pink of condition, and +without the slightest heart trouble. + +Doctor Cadmus gladly examined all the Scranton fellows free of +charge, and it was given out to the neighboring towns, from whence +aspiring runners hailed, that the lack of such a physician's +certificate would debar any candidate from the race. + +Hugh, along with several other fellows, intended to take a run of +from seven to ten miles over the course that Friday afternoon. They +did not wish to follow out the entire course, as that might injure +their prospects for the next day, so Mr. Leonard convinced them. But +half the distance would be apt to keep their muscles in good trim. + +Before making a start, however, Hugh wished to hang around, and watch +what the other fellows were doing. He was deeply interested in the +hammer throwing, as well as the sprinting, and, after seeing how well +the boys acquitted themselves, felt more than ever assured that +Scranton High would pull down quite a number of the fine prizes +offered to successful competitors. + +It was while things were thus booming that a car rolled past on the +main road leading out of town. Hugh noticed it particularly, for he +chanced to be over at that side of the extensive field. + +There was a chauffeur at the wheel, and in the tonneau a lady and a +boy sat, in whom Hugh quickly recognized Claude Jardine and his +mother. She held her face deliberately away from the bright scene, +as though appalled to know that so many parents in Scranton were so +unwise, almost foolish, as to allow their sons to participate in such +antics; and their daughters to attend the same. + +But Hugh chuckled when he saw Claude give a quick look up at his +mother, as if to make certain she was not looking; after which he +leaned forward and stared hard and eagerly at the wonderful picture +that athletic field presented. Hugh had good eyesight, and he could +detect the longing expression in the effeminate features of the boy +whose mother seemed bent on making him a weakling and a "sissy." + +"Poor Claude, I certainly do pity you," Hugh was telling himself as +the big car rolled on amidst a cloud of dust. "Deep down in your +heart you are yearning to be as other natural boys are, who have red +blood in their veins. If your dad had lived I warrant there'd be a +different story to tell, because they say he liked all kinds of +healthy sport; but, somehow, Mrs. Jardine has taken a dislike to such +things that seems to keep growing stronger all the time, until it's +become a regular mania with her. But unless she changes her mind +there'll be a day coming when she'll bitterly regret it all. I +suppose now, if she had a daughter she'd prevent her from associating +with Sue, and Ivy, and Peggy, as well as all the other high-school +girls whose mothers actually allow them to go to dances with us boys, +and even cheer the Scranton players in a rattling good baseball game." + +There was an air of feverish expectation rampant throughout the whole +town, and wherever young people got together the talk was of nothing +else save the great event on the programme for the next day. Even +many older persons seemed to have become infected with the sporting +virus, because memories of other days were being recalled; and it was +remarkable how many elderly men had once been deeply interested in +just such things, though, of course, along somewhat less modern lines. + +Then again there was an undercurrent of talk that carried a thrill +along with it. Stories that could not be confirmed, but were +believed more or less, began to be circulated to the effect that some +irresponsible parties meant to start something during the tournament +that was calculated to bring disrepute upon the town of Scranton. It +was even darkly hinted that the partly built, new, wooden fence had +been set on fire as a lark; and squads of curious boys and girls even +circulated along its entire length, bent upon ascertaining if such a +thing could really be true. + +When they failed to find any evidence of a fire, they were still +unconvinced; for, of course, it would be policy on the part of the +management to conceal all traces, so as to save the good name of the +town. + +These rumors could not be traced to any particular source, but there +are always a certain number of persons who delight to circulate such +stories, and, perhaps, unconsciously, add a little to the same with +each and every additional telling, until a trivial happening becomes +a colossal thing. + +That the committee in general charge of the great undertaking +cherished some sort of fear that some daring outrage might be +attempted by boys who were not connected with the high school was +evident from the fact that they had had warning notices printed at +the office of the _Weekly Courier_, notifying all boys who might +contemplate playing any sort of practical joke during the holding of +the carnival that Chief Adolph Wambold, the head of the local police, +would have his entire force on the grounds, and such offenders would +be harshly treated, if detected. + +The afternoon was well along when Hugh was approached by "Just" +Smith, one of the candidates who meant to try for the Marathon prize. + +"Several of the boys are meaning to start off on that seven-mile +spin, Hugh," the other announced as he came up; "and they want you to +come along. We can start together, and then separate, as we feel +disposed;" and, as this suited Hugh, he agreed. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +WHEN MUSCLES COUNTED + +There were four of them who made the start, Hugh, "Just" Smith, +Horatio Juggins, and "K. K.," the Kinkaid boy. Three of the bunch +had been fielders in the baseball nine that carried off the +championship pennant of the three-town high-school league the +preceding summer; and, having been known as great runners, it was +only natural that they had felt impelled to enter for the +long-distance race. + +An equal number could be expected from both Allandale and Belleville, +so that with others who would feel disposed to, at least, be in at +the start, though calculating to fall out after a few miles had been +run, possibly a full score would toe the string at the time the great +Marathon was called. + +In an event of this nature a big "field" adds to the excitement of +the occasion; and it is often noticed that those who have no +intention of finishing usually look the most confident during the +preparations for making the grand start. Well, they have no hope of +getting any fun out of the race after losing sight of the crowd, and +so they mean to take what they can beforehand. + +Talking is almost tabooed during such a race, since every breath lost +in useless conversation saps so much energy. Even on a trial run Mr. +Leonard had advised the boys to separate as soon as possible, and +keep some distance apart, mostly to obviate this temptation to +exchange views; so that each candidate could conserve every atom of +his powers. + +So it came about that by the time two miles had been run Hugh found +himself absolutely alone. Hugh had left the main thoroughfare, and +was passing along a byroad that would take him around through the +hilly country, until the Scranton turnpike was again reached. + +The other fellows had the option of doing as Hugh did, or they could +continue on further, and, perhaps, get a lift back home on some +farmer's wagon, or possibly a car bound for Scranton. Hugh had an +idea, however, that one of them was coming along the same road a mile +or more behind, and that it would turn out to be "Just" Smith. Some +words the other chap had uttered when they were together before +starting forth on the run gave Hugh this impression, though he could +not be positive about it. + +At the time, it gave him little concern; but then he could not look +into the immediate future, and see what it held for him. The coming +of "Just" Smith would yet turn out to be an event of the first +magnitude in Hugh's humble opinion; as the reader will soon learn. + +Hugh was jogging along nicely, and had long ago caught his second +wind. He kept "tabs" upon himself, in order to know just how his +energy held out, and if he was likely to be in condition for the +gruelling finish that might become necessary, over the last half mile +of the long course, should a visiting runner threaten to head the +list with the goal in sight, and the thousands of eager spectators +bursting out with cheers calculated to thrill the heart, and give +fresh impetus to wearied limbs. + +On the whole, Hugh felt fairly well satisfied with himself. He knew +he had gone about as fast as ordinary runners would care to travel, +who wished to conserve their strength toward the close of the race; +and that he was holding back a good reserve stock of energy. Yes, he +believed he was at his best, and if he failed to land the prize it +was because some fellow was a better runner than he could ever hope +to be. + +Just then he heard a sound that gave him a sudden thrill. It was +like a faint human cry for help, uttered in a weak voice, and seemed +to come from his right. + +Hugh stopped short. + +His first inclination was to instantly dash from the road and +endeavor to discover what caused that cry. Then he had a wave of +suspicion dart over him. Could this be a sly trick on the part of +some enemy, meant to lure him into the brush and rocks, where he +could, perhaps, be overpowered? But Nick, as well as his two +satellites, Leon Disney and Tip Slavin, had been on the grounds at +the time Hugh started his run, for he had taken particular notice of +this fact; consequently, it was hardly likely that they could be +concerned in any practical joke; and certainly no other fellow would +be guilty of such a thing. + +That decided Hugh. He left the road, and started toward the spot +where he judged that strange sound had welled forth. The country was +exceedingly rough just there, and he fancied that some sort of deep +gully, possibly a precipice, might lie off on his right, judging from +the aspect of the land. + +Not hearing the sound again, Hugh uttered a loud hello. Then, as he +continued to press hastily forward, he once more caught the +beseeching cry. It had an agonizing strain to it, and Hugh could +plainly make out the words: + +"Help! Oh! help! help!" + +Someone was evidently in trouble, Hugh decided, accelerating his pace +as well as the conditions of the rough surface of the ground +permitted. He had taken pains to locate the cry this time, and was, +therefore, altering his course just a little. + +Again he called, and once more received a reply, more fearful than +before: + +"Hurry! Oh! hurry, before it gives way, and I'm lost!" + +It sounded more like the voice of a girl than anything else. Hugh +was thrilled at the bare thought of one of the opposite sex being +caught in a trap whereby life itself was imperiled. + +He had been ascending all this time. From a single look, which he +cast over his shoulder, he could see the road he had lately come +along, trace its course, in fact, until it was lost at a bend half a +mile away. + +He noted that a runner had just turned that same bend, and was +jogging along in a rhythmic, contented fashion, as though satisfied +with the progress he was making; although "Just" Smith would have to +speed up considerable on the morrow if he wished to be anywhere near +the head of the procession when the race neared its close. Hugh, +somehow, fixed the fact of his comrade's presence on his mind. He +even mentally figured just how long it was likely to take the other +to reach the spot where he himself had left the road; for, perhaps, +that circumstance might loom up large in his calculations. + +Then he arrived at the brink of what seemed to be a precipice. The +presence of this told Hugh plainly the nature of the task that +awaited him. Someone had undoubtedly fallen over the brink, and was, +even then, hanging on desperately to some jutting rock or bush that +represented the only hope of safety from a serious fall. He threw +himself down and thrust his head out over the edge. What Hugh saw +was enough to give any boy a thrill of horror. Some ten feet below +the top a human figure sprawled, kicking with his legs in the +endeavor to find a brace for his feet. He was clinging to a bush +that seemed to be growing from the face of the precipice, and which +Hugh could see was slowly but surely giving way, one root after +another losing its grip in the soil and rocky crevices. + +Hugh recognized the imperiled boy instantly, though utterly amazed at +his discovery; he could not understand for the life of him how Claude +Jardine, of all fellows in Scranton, could be placed in such a +dreadful predicament. + +But Hugh did not waste a single precious second in trying to solve +that puzzle; it could be all made plain after he had managed to save +the poor chap. + +"Stop kicking, and keep perfectly still, Claude!" he instantly called. + +"But it's going to give way, and let me drop!" wailed the terrified +boy. + +"It'll do that all the sooner if you keep moving as you are," Hugh +told him sharply, with the tone of authority that one accustomed to +command might use. "I'm coming down after you, so don't be afraid. +Can you hold on just ten seconds more?" + +"I'll try to, but, oh! hurry, please!" came the trembling answer. + +Already Hugh was passing over the edge. He took care not to make a +false movement, for the precipice was all of forty feet in depth, and +a fall on the rocks below was bound to be a serious matter. + +To lower himself to where the imperiled boy clung he had to take +advantage of numerous projecting points of rock that offered him a +foothold, or a place where he could hang on with his hands. Hugh was +as nimble as any boy in Scranton, which fact proved of great +advantage to him just then. Had it been otherwise, he might have +himself fallen, and there would then have been a double tragedy. + +Somehow, through Hugh's mind flashed the memory of how Claude's +doting mother had always, on every occasion, condemned all athletic +exercises that were intended to build up the muscles, and give new +power to the body. It seemed the irony of fate that the life of her +precious boy was now going to hang upon the ability of Hugh Morgan to +sustain himself, and the weight of another, there upon the face of +that rocky precipice! Perhaps in times to come Mrs. Jardine would +discover how false her ideas were, and experience a radical change of +heart. The opportunity which Hugh had once sighed for had come to +him in a most wonderful way. + +He succeeded in making his way down in safety, though once he +slipped, and had a thrill of alarm pass over him. Now he found +himself alongside Claude. The boy's face was the color of ashes; +Hugh had never looked upon a corpse in all his life, but he could not +help comparing Claude's pallid countenance to one. + +He was glancing around with the eye of a general who lets nothing, no +matter how trivial, escape him. Just a foot below Claude's dangling +toes there was a narrow ledge. If only both of them could find +lodgment upon this; and have some hold above for their hands, they +might maintain their position until Hugh's shouts attracted "Just" +Smith to the spot, and he could do something to aid them. + +"Listen, Claude," he said earnestly. "There's a way to save you, if +only you keep your head about you. 'Just' Smith is coming along the +road, and I'll shout out to guide him here so he can help us." + +"But--the bush is going to give way right off!" gasped the terrified +boy. + +"Well, below us there's a ledge where we must plant our feet, and +hold on," continued Hugh, convincingly. "I'm going to drop down to +it now. Then you must try to lower yourself along the bush, inch by +inch, until you feel the ledge under you. Don't be afraid, because I +mean to grab hold of you; but when you feel me touching you, above +all things don't let go above, or you'll throw us both down. Now, be +ready, Claude; and, remember, it's going to be all right. Keep cool!" + +Of course, Hugh only said that last to reassure the poor chap. +Claude was already cold with fear, as cold as an icicle, in fact; and +quaking with fear in the bargain. + +It was easy enough for Hugh to drop down another foot or so, until he +felt the solid little ledge under him. Indeed, had it been +necessary, such an agile fellow very likely might have continued all +the way down to the base of the precipice. + +His next move was to find a firm hold for his left hand, to which he +could continue to cling while he sustained much of the weight of the +other boy, after the weakened roots of the bush gave way entirely. + +Claude was trying to do what he had been told, though in rather a +bungling fashion. Inch by inch he allowed the bush to slip through +his hands, looking down as well as he was able at the same time, in +order to ascertain just how near he might be to that same ledge Hugh +had told him of. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +THE CRISIS IN CLAUDE'S LIFE + +Hugh kept a watchful eye on that bush. He knew it was going to give +way presently, when, unless Claude had managed to secure a fresh grip +on some object with his poor scratched hands, he was likely to be +dashed downward. + +Fortune was, however, kind in that respect, for there chanced to be a +nice projection of rock, somewhat in the shape of a horn, just in the +right place for Claude to seize upon, and which would help sustain +his weight. Hugh knew very well, though, that most of the burden +would fall upon him; and he, therefore, prepared to accept it. + +"Here, reach out with your left hand, Claude, and take hold of this +rock. Your feet are both safely anchored on the ledge. Keep up your +grit, and everything will be all right yet. Do you understand what +I'm telling you, Claude?" + +"Yes, I do, Hugh," chattered the other, for his teeth were rattling +together in a way that reminded Hugh of the "Bones" at the end of a +minstrel line; if he had ever seen a Spanish stage performance he +would have said they made a sound like castanets in the hands of the +senorita who gave the national Castilian dance. + +Claude really managed to carry out that part of the task with a fair +amount of success. His other hand still gripped the bush, which +continued to gradually give way under the long and severe strain. + +Hugh braced himself. He had taken as firm a hold as was possible, +and had his other arm thrown around Claude. + +"Steady, now, Claude, it's almost gone. When you feel it give way, +try and make use of your right hand to find some other rocky point +where you can hold on. I think there's one such on the other side of +you. Above all, don't struggle, or you may throw me off my balance, +and then it's good-bye to both of us. Now, be ready!" + +Hugh's calculations proved to be correct, for the bush gave way, and +fell with a clatter of small stones and loosened earth, down toward +the bottom of the steep declivity. Claude uttered a cry of dismay +when he felt his support gone; but luckily he gripped the rocky knob +with his left hand more convulsively than ever, while Hugh sustained +him to the best of his ability. + +"That was well done, Claude," Hugh now told him, his main object +being to put a little more confidence in the other boy, and thus +lighten his own load. "We'll manage to cling here for a bit longer. +When I think 'Just' Smith is getting near by I'll let out a whoop +that is bound to fetch him to our assistance." + +One, two, three minutes passed. It was very trying to Hugh, and +already his muscles began to feel the undue strain keenly. But he +gritted his teeth, and waited, as it would be only a waste of breath +and energy to shout before the next runner was close enough up to +locate the sound. + +Claude was shivering as though he would shake to pieces. He had +received a dreadful fright, for a fact, and it was having its due +effect upon his never strong frame. What would his doting mamma +think, and say, Hugh told himself, almost with a chuckle of +amusement, could she see her darling then and there, and realize how +his very life depended upon the strong muscles and will to do things +that Hugh Morgan had developed in himself? + +How slowly the seconds passed! Hugh was trying to count, so as to +judge when the Marathon runner would be likely to have covered that +half-mile, and be at the spot where he, Hugh, had left the road. + +When, finally, the time had expired he again spoke to Claude. + +"Don't be startled, Claude, because I'm going to shout out. Hang +tight, now!" + +With that he sent out a whoop, and coupled it with the name of "Just" +Smith. There was no immediate response, but then Hugh had already +discounted this in his mind, remembering how he also had come to a +sudden stop, and listened as though unable to believe his ears. + +Again he shouted, and once more uttered the name of the other boy. +This time there came a speedy reply. + +"Hello! that you, Hugh?" + +"Yes, and I want help right away!" answered the boy who clung there +with a burden on his hands. "Turn out of the road to the left, and +hurry here. I'm down a precipice, Just. Keep coming, and I'll guide +you all right." + +So Hugh continued to utter loud shouts every dozen seconds or so. He +could catch the calls of the advancing runner, and knew from their +increasing loudness that he was gradually getting closer. + +Then, looking up, he saw a head projected over the brink above. He +could easily understand how "Just" Smith's eyes must have almost +started from their sockets when discovering the dreadful position of +the pair below; and especially after he had recognized Claude +Jardine, the last fellow in the wide world whom he would have +expected to see in such a fix. + +"H-h-how in the wide world did you get down there, Hugh?" gasped the +boy who leaned over the brink. + +"I came down after Claude here, who'd fallen over, and was hanging to +a bush that was giving way," explained Hugh. "And now it's up to you +to get us both out of this scrape, Just." + +"Oh, if only I had a rope!" cried the other, apparently nonplussed. + +"Well, wishes won't make one," said the practical Hugh; "and so we'll +have to do without. But if you look around sharply I think you'll +find a long pole there, for I remember noticing something of the +kind." + +The boy above vanished for a brief period, which seemed ages to the +anxious Claude; and even Hugh counted the seconds, for the strain was +something serious. Then again that friendly head appeared in view. + +"You were right, Hugh!" called the Smith boy; "there was such a pole +handy, and I've got the same right here now. It's plenty long enough +to reach down to you; but I'm wondering however I'll be able to draw +two of you up." + +"I don't expect you to, all by yourself, Just," Huge told him. "Poke +the end of it down here, and keep a good stiff grip on the butt. +Then we'll hold on, and find places to set our feet. Inch by inch, +and foot by foot, we'll manage to climb up. You can help a little by +keeping the stick coming, you know." + +"I get you, Hugh!" snapped the other eagerly; "and it's sure a right +good scheme. But be mighty careful you don't slip, either of you. +That fall'd break bones, even if it didn't kill you outright." + +"Don't worry about us, Just Smith; pay attention to your part of the +contract, and things are bound to work out first-class. Lower away, +and don't poke us off our perch, please. We've only got a risky hold +below here." + +So saying, Hugh encouraged the other two to do their part manfully. +Even Claude was shivering less than before, as though a breath of +renewed confidence might have been installed in his heart by this +close contact with such a stalwart chap as Hugh Morgan. It was going +to be the turning point in Claude's career, of that Hugh felt +positive. After this thrilling experience he was bound to awaken to +the fact that he was not like other boys of his age; and demand of +his mother that she permit him to participate in the life-giving +outdoor sports that are a part and parcel of boy nature. + +They began to climb. It was slow work, but Hugh would not be +hurried. Better that they waste time in gaining each foot than by an +unwise step ruin all. What matter if that arm of his was almost numb +with pain, and he had to press his teeth firmly together in order to +continue to hold up Claude? If only the other had been a normal boy +he could have helped himself wonderfully; but, as it was, he seemed +as weak and helpless as a kitten that had never opened its eyes as +yet. + +Well, half of the distance separating them from the top had been +safely navigated, and so far no accident had occurred. Hugh kept +encouraging his charge from time to time; and then speaking words +also to the laboring, anxious boy above, directing him just how to +proceed. + +Finally they reached the top. Hugh still ordered "Just" Smith to +hold the pole as he had been doing. Then he managed to push Claude +up so that he could crawl over the edge, which the other did in a +speedy manner, bordering on the ludicrous. + +Then, to the surprise, as well as delight of Hugh, what did Claude do +but turn and stretch out a helping hand, as though his first thought +was to assist his rescuer to top the rise; indeed, Hugh's one arm was +so utterly gone that he could hardly count on it for a single thing. +Hugh would not be apt to forget this action on the part of the +"sissy"; it proved what he had all along more than half suspected, +that Claude really did have the making of a genuine boy in him, given +half a chance for it to show itself, and the seed to germinate. And +Hugh determined that he would make it his particular business to see +that there came a change in Claude's dreary life. His mother could +hardly refuse anything asked by the one to whom she owed the life of +her son. + +Soon the trio lay upon the ground, breathing hard, and trying to talk +at the same time. Both Hugh and "Just" Smith were consumed with +curiosity to know how Claude happened to get into such a strange +predicament, and he hastened to explain. + +After all, there was nothing so very singular about it. His mother +had stopped in to see an old nurse, who had been in the family many +years but was at the time lying sick at her sister's place. +Something influenced Claude to get out of the big car to take a +little stroll. Perhaps the sight of all those happy lads running and +jumping and throwing weights had made him feel more than ever his own +narrow, confined life, kept out of the society of all the other boys +after school hours, and made to play the part of a "mollycoddle," as +Roosevelt called all such fellows who have never learned how to take +care of themselves when a bully threatens. + +Unused to the woods and hills, of course the first thing Claude did +was to lose all sense of direction. He became alarmed, and that made +matters worse than ever. So he had roamed about for almost a full +hour, dreadfully tiring his poor feet and limbs, since he had never +before in all his life walked so far and done such vigorous climbing. + +Then he had come to that precipice, and, thinking he might glimpse +the cottage where the old nurse lived, somewhere down in the valley, +he had incautiously crept too close to the brink, when his weight +caused a portion of the soil to give way. Finding himself falling, +Claude had clutched desperately around him, and, as it happened, his +fingers gripped a friendly bush, to which he continued to cling even +as he struggled to better his condition and shouted as best he was +able. + +Hugh finished the story, to the edification of "Just" Smith, who +admitted that if it had not been for the courage and muscular ability +of Hugh the other boy must long ago have fallen to the bottom of the +awful precipice. And Claude, shivering as he afterwards looked up at +the forty feet and more of rocky wall, vowed he would never rest +satisfied until he too had learned how to develop his muscles so that +if ever again caught in a similar scrape he might have a fighting +chance for his life. + +The two boys eventually found the cottage, although Mrs. Jardine and +the car had gone down the road hoping to overtake Claude, though they +were expected back again later; so, leaving Claude there, Hugh and +"Just" Smith continued their seven-mile run. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +STARTLING NEWS FROM THE JUGGINS BOY + +"Burr-r-r-r!" + +That was the telephone bell ringing. + +"Hugh, will you answer it, since the chances are the call is from +some one of your numerous boy chums?" the voice of Mrs. Morgan came +from the dining-room, where she was looking after the silver and +china, after washing up the supper dishes, for they temporarily +chanced to be without a hired-girl. + +Hugh guessed as much himself. He had already been called to the +phone several times since arriving home after his seven-mile spin. +Once it had been Claude's mother, begging him to be sure and call at +her house early in the morning, because she wanted to have a good, +long, earnest talk with him about Claude's future; and also to let +him know how brimful of gratitude a mother's heart could be toward +the brave boy who, at the risk of his own life, had saved her only +child for her. + +Hugh had promised he would see her, although he expected to be very +busy on the morning of the athletic tournament and then expressed the +hope that Claude and herself would honor the tournament with their +presence. This she hastily assured him she meant to do, because it +was now borne in on her heart that she had been making a terrible +mistake in reference to the way she was bringing up her darling +Claude. + +Needless to say, Hugh had chuckled joyously after that little talk. +He guessed he would have little trouble now in removing the scales +Mrs. Jardine had allowed to cover her eyes with regard to the +benefits to be derived by any boy, no matter how weak he might be, +through a judicious system of athletic exercises, the same to be +lengthened as he gradually grew more capable of standing fatigue. + +"Hello!" Hugh called. + +A voice he immediately recognized as that of Horatio Juggins greeted +him. "That you, Hugh?" + +"Just who it is; what's the matter, Horatio? Feeling the effects of +your little jog this afternoon? I hope not, for your sake, +to-morrow." + +"Oh! come off, Hugh," the other quickly replied. "I'd be a fine +candidate for a fifteen-mile Marathon race, wouldn't I, if seven +miles knocked me out? I'm as fit right now as a fiddle. But Hugh, +can you come right over here now? Something dreadful has happened." + +Hugh had a chilly feeling pass over him. It seemed as though some +sort of bad news was coming. Had the great meet been called off, for +some unknown reason or other? Somehow that struck him first as a +dire possibility, since it would grievously disappoint thousands of +eager boys and girls, not to mention many older folks with young +hearts. + +Now Hugh had intended to take that evening quietly, resting after his +strenuous afternoon, and absolutely refuse to allow Thad, or any +other fellow, to coax him outside the door. But already this resolve +began to weaken. That dim mention of some possible tragedy happening +started him going. + +"Of course I can come over, Horatio," he told the boy at the other +end of the wire; "and I'll do so right away on condition that it's no +joke. Tell me what's up first." + +"Oh! I meant to do that, Hugh," his friend hastened to say, and Hugh +could detect a tremor to the boyish voice that told of excitement. +"You see, it's K. K." + +"What's happened to him?" demanded Hugh, his mind instantly +suggesting all manner of terrible possibilities, from a sudden attack +of sickness to an accident whereby his life might be in danger; for +with boys these things sometimes happen as unexpectedly as a flash of +lightning from a clear sky. + +"Why, he never came back again from that run this afternoon, Hugh!" +Horatio was saying, in an awed tone now. + +"What's that you're telling me?" exclaimed the astonished Hugh. "I +thought I saw K. K. with some of the other fellows when I was +starting home just before dusk came on, though, of course, I may have +been mistaken about it." + +"You were, Hugh, you certainly were," Horatio assured him in a +softened tone. "His own mother ought to know, hadn't she? Well, +she's over here at our house right now, crying her eyes out, and +imagining all sorts of terrible things. You remember the Kinkaids +live close by us; and she knew her boy was going to take the run this +afternoon along with me, so she thought I could tell her if anything +had happened to detain him. Why, she says K. K. never missed his +supper before in all his life. It'd have to be something _fierce_ to +keep him away from his best meal of the whole day." + +Hugh was thinking swiftly. He realized that this was no little +matter to be dismissed as unimportant. Something certainly must have +happened to detain K. K. for all this time. Several hours had +elapsed since the other fellows reached the terminus of the long run +at the athletic grounds. Why then had not K. K. shown up? + +"Keep the rest till I get there, Horatio!" he told the other. + +"Then you're sure coming, are you, Hugh?" + +"Right away," Hugh added. + +"Well, I'm glad, because you'll know what to do about it. And +there's something else!" + +"Yes?" + +"I've got something to tell you that, say, I didn't have the heart to +explain to K. K.'s mother, because she's bad enough frightened as it +is; but it's looking particularly ugly to me, now that he hasn't come +back. Oh! perhaps there is more'n a grain of truth in all those +terrible stories those hayseeds tell about that place!" + +Hugh put up the receiver with a bang, made a dash for his cap, +slipped on his sweater, for he knew the night air was cold, and then +shot out of doors. Somehow those last few words of Horatio, +breathing of mystery as they did, had excited his curiosity until it +now reached fever-pitch. + +As he knew of several short-cuts across lots it took him but a few +minutes to arrive at the Juggins home. Horatio was waiting at the +door, and must have heard him running up the steps, for he instantly +opened it to admit him. + +"Gee, but I'm glad you've come, Hugh!" was his greeting. "She's in +there with mother, and taking on awful about it. It's a dreadful +thing to see a woman cry, Hugh. And I'm afraid there may be a good +reason for expecting the worst." + +"Tell me what you've got up your sleeve, Horatio," snapped Hugh, "and +quit giving all these dark hints. You know something connected with +K. K. that perhaps no one else does." + +"Guess I do, Hugh; for he confided in me, and told me not to say +anything to the rest. Oh, how foolish it was for K. K. to think he +could do that big job two days in succession; but he said he was +feeling equal to nearly anything; and just had to make the try, since +the notion had gripped him. But come on over to my den, Hugh, and +I'll tell you all about it. Then you must decide what's best to be +done; and say, I hope you can soothe Mrs. Kinkaid a bit in the +bargain." + +Ten seconds later and the two boys found themselves ensconced in the +room Horatio called his "den," although it was also his sleeping +apartment. But he had fixed it as near like a boy's ideal of a +lounging-place could be, the walls carrying the customary college +pennants and a great variety of other things besides that gave them a +rather crowded appearance. Evidently Horatio believed it added to +the charm, for he never entered that "sanctum" without an involuntary +smile of appreciation. + +Horatio closed the door softly after him. Hugh had also noticed how +he did this just as carefully when admitting him to the front hall; +and as though he expected that this must have aroused a certain +amount of curiosity, Horatio hastened to explain. + +"You see, the poor woman is so excited, and in such a nervous +condition, that she jumps up at the sound of a door closing, and +starts to rush out into the hall, believing that Justin has got back +home and hurried over to acquaint her with the joyous fact. Each +time her disappointment leaves her worse than before. She will be +needing Doctor Cadmus if this keeps on, as sure as anything." + +"Well, what is it you want to tell me, Horatio?" demanded Hugh, not +even taking the trouble to drop down into the chair the owner of the +"den" shoved toward him; for it seemed as though he must soon be on +the jump--there was evidently something hanging over their heads, +which would be needing prompt attention. + +"Why, it's just this, Hugh," began the other. "K. K. took a foolish +notion he'd like to say he'd gone over the full course just for +practice. And, Hugh. he told me he meant to make use of the +short-cut that crosses the old haunted quarry!" + +Hugh started, and looked serious. + +"Then, if anything has happened to K. K., it must have been while he +was crossing that mile tract between the two main roads," he went on +to say, without hesitation. Horatio nodded his head eagerly. + +"I jumped to that same conclusion, Hugh, only I didn't dare mention +it to Mrs. Kinkaid. I thought you ought to know first of all, and +decide on the program. It's terrible just to think of it; and K. K. +actually pretended to make light, too, of all those stories the +farmers have been telling about that awful place." + +"Hold your horses, Horatio!" Hugh exclaimed. "When I said that I +wasn't thinking of ghosts, or anything else unnatural. I meant that +in all probability poor K. K. met with some ordinary accident while +on that stretch, and has been unable to continue his run. He may +have tripped on a vine he failed to see, and either broken his leg, +or else sprained his ankle so badly that he can't even limp along. +I've known such a thing to happen--in fact, once I got myself in the +same pickle, and had to _crawl_ two miles to a house, every foot of +the way on hands and knees, because the pain was frightful whenever I +tried to stand up. Well, the chances are K. K. has had such a thing +befall him." + +Horatio heaved a tremendous sigh, as though quite a weighty load had +been taken off his chest. + +"You make me feel a heap better, Hugh, when you're so positive," he +hastened to admit. "I was afraid it might be something even worse +than a sprain; but never mind what I thought. The question now is, +what ought we do about it?" + +"There's only one thing that can be done," Hugh told him in his +customary straight-from-the-shoulder fashion, "which is for some of +his chums to organize a searching party, get the old Kinkaid car out, +and go up there to look over that abandoned road from one end to the +other. We'll find K. K., or know the reason why." + +"That sounds good to me, Hugh!" declared Horatio, always ready to +follow where a bold leader showed the way; "and perhaps we may have +an opportunity to discover whether there _is_ any truth about those +queer happenings the farmers keep telling of whenever the old quarry +is mentioned in their presence." + +"We'll not bother our minds about fairy stories," Hugh assured him. +"What we're meaning to do is to look for a practical explanation of +K. K.'s holding out. And, mark my words, the chances are ten to one +we'll find the poor chap groaning alongside that road somewhere. But +let's get busy now, Horatio!" + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +TO THE RESCUE OF K. K. + +Hugh would really have been better satisfied if he could have hurried +away without seeing K. K.'s mother. He feared that she might delay +progress more or less, and at such a time every minute counted. + +But at the same time he realized that the poor lady was in a dreadful +state of mind. It was necessary then that he try and soothe her +anxiety, for, as Horatio knew very well, Hugh Morgan had a way of +making other people feel the utmost confidence in him. + +"Well, let's see K. K.'s mother, Horatio; but we mustn't waste much +time. We'll have to get her permission to run the car. I only hope +there's a decent supply of gas aboard, or in the garage." + +Accordingly, Horatio led him into another room, where they found Mrs. +Kinkaid in a dreadfully nervous condition. She jumped to her feet on +discovering that Horatio had another boy with him, and then upon +seeing that it was not the one her heart was yearning after she +uttered a pitiful wail, and fell back into her chair again. + +Hugh wasted no time, but commenced telling her something of what he +had heard from Horatio, connected with K. K.'s foolish determination +to take in the entire course as though in the race. + +"Of a certainty he's fallen and sprained an ankle somewhere along +that cross-country road, Mrs. Kinkaid," he ended with. "We mean to +gather a few of the fellows, and if you'll give us permission to use +your big car we intend to run up there and look that road over from +end to end. There is no doubt but what we'll find K. K. and fetch +him back with us. So please try and feel that things will turn out +all right. Make up your mind we won't come back without him, that's +all there is to it." + +Somehow the very confidence shown in Hugh's words seemed to pass +along to the almost distracted lady. Her eyes lighted up with +renewed courage, and she even smiled, though wanly, it must be +confessed. But then Hugh was pretty much of a magician in regard to +arousing a feeling of hope in the most depressed mind. + +"You are a thousand times welcome to the car," she hurriedly assured +him; "and anything else you might want. It is dreadfully unfortunate +Mr. Kinkaid is away on one of his usual business trips to the west, +or he would insist on going with you. But I feel certain, Hugh, you +will manage things splendidly, and a mother's prayers will go after +you, that you may not only find my boy, but that he may not have been +seriously injured." + +"Then we'll not linger any longer, ma'am," said Hugh, eager to be on +the move. + +Horatio wrapped himself up warmly, and the two of them shot out of +the door. + +"Now, what first, Hugh?" + +Hugh seemed to have mapped out a plan of campaign in his mind, for he +answered without hesitation. + +"We must pick up several of the fellows--Thad for one, then Owen +Dugdale would be another good hand at hunting for a lost party; and, +well, Julius Hobson for the third. That will make five in +all,--enough to search the quarry road from end to end. Besides, we +ought to carry several lanterns, because, while there is a moon, I +reckon we'll find it far from light along that overgrown trail." + +"You just think of everything, Hugh," remarked Horatio, wonderingly. + +"Let's get the car, first of all," Hugh continued shrewdly, "because +it can save us many steps in picking up the other fellows." + +By this time they were at the Kinkaid home. Horatio was well +acquainted with the premises, as he had played with K. K. since they +were small boys together. Hugh had been told where the key of the +garage was hidden, and quickly discovered it hanging on a concealed +nail. + +"Wait till I throw the switch, and light up," said Horatio, for they +had electricity at the Kinkaid place, and, of course, a bulb lighted +in the garage was considered much safer than a lantern. + +As soon as the illumination came both boys set about examining the +big touring car that occupied the garage. + +"Bully!" ejaculated Horatio, after making the rounds with suspended +breath; "all the tires are as hard as anything. How about the supply +of gas, Hugh?" for his companion had occupied himself with making an +examination of the tank. + +"Plenty to carry us up and back twice over!" cried the delighted +Hugh. "This is what I call great luck. I was afraid there would be +a tire that needed changing; or else no gasolene at all. K. K. +didn't realize how kind he was to himself when he fitted up the old +car so handsomely, for some purpose." + +"Oh!" chuckled Horatio, "mebbe I know why. You see, there's going to +be another barn dance next Tuesday night up at Bailey's, and I think +K. K. asked a girl to go with him and Peggy Noland and Owen Dugdale. +Yes, he even told me there was still room for two more, if I could +coax somebody to keep me company." + +Hugh busied himself in starting the car going. He knew considerable +about mechanics, as most boys of the present generation do, since +automobiles have become so very common. Running it out of the garage +Hugh bade Horatio "hop aboard," which that worthy did without a +second invitation. + +"Better get Thad first of all, I reckon," suggested Hugh, as though +he might even have figured out how best to save themselves from any +unnecessary delay; "then we can clip around to Julius Hobson's place, +and pick up Owen last on our way out of town." + +The program suited Horatio first class. Indeed, he had such perfect +confidence in Hugh that anything the other said carried conviction +along with it. It is a fine thing for any boy to have aroused such a +spirit of trust in the minds of his comrades that they look up to him +as a sort of natural leader, and obey his slightest wish without +hesitation. But Hugh bore his honors with humility, and never +attempted to display the attributes of a czar. + +Great was the astonishment of Thad Stevens when he found two excited +fellows demanding that he bundle up and go with them for a night ride +up to the abandoned quarry that had gained such a bad reputation +among the country folks residing roundabout. + +The story was partly told in rapid-fire style, enough of it, at +least, to cause Thad to bounce into his heavy coat, and provide +himself with a lantern. He expected to become better informed from +time to time as they pushed along the road. + +Next came Julius Hobson. They found him at home also, and, of +course, he was duly worked up on hearing how poor K. K. had never +returned home from his run over the long course of fifteen miles. +When he heard that they needed lanterns Julius produced a new +electric flashlight which he had received for a birthday present, and +Hugh said it would do very well as an additional means of +illumination. + +Last of all they stopped at the home of Owen Dugdale, the dark-faced +lad who lived with his grandfather in a big house, and about whom +there had at one time been quite a little halo of mystery hanging. +["The Chums of Scranton High on Deck."] + +Again was the main fact mentioned concerning the necessity for a +searching party starting forth to find poor K. K. Owen did not have +to be urged to join the bunch; indeed, he showed himself eager to +accompany them. + +"I can fetch a lantern, if you want me to, Hugh," he observed; "and +say, do you know I'm of a mind to carry my new shotgun that I had +given to me just last month, when Grandfather concluded I was old +enough to want to go hunting. If we have to chase all around through +that place there's so many queer stories told about we might as well +be fixed so as to protect ourselves." + +"Huh!" snorted Horatio Juggins, skeptically, "I've always heard that +ghosts don't mind ordinary birdshot any more'n an alligator would. +But then fetch it along, Owen; it'll no doubt make us feel a little +better when we find ourselves up in that terribly lonely tract of +country. And who knows but what there might be a stray wildcat +abroad in those woods. Such things have been heard of, and I even +saw the skin of a whopper shown in the market." + +So Owen carried out his design, and when he got aboard the big car he +took with him not only a lantern, well filled with oil, but also his +brand new twelve-gauge shotgun. + +At last they were off. Every fellow felt a peculiar sense of +exhilaration that possibly even bordered on anticipation, take +possession of him; for the future was there before them all unknown. +Who could say what strange adventures might befall them before this +undertaking was finished? + +Of course they had the headlights turned on at full force, and Hugh +at the wheel found no difficulty in keeping the middle of the road. +He did not mean to pursue a reckless pace, because, if they met with +an accident it would spoil all their plans. Better to go at an +ordinary rate of speed, and make haste slowly, so to speak. + +Meanwhile there was a clatter of tongues aboard the big car. Julius, +Thad and Owen had dozens of pertinent questions ready to fire at +Horatio, who was kept busy making illuminating replies. Thus the +trio learned how K. K. had unwisely determined to cover the entire +course and only whispered his intention to his chum, Horatio, at the +same time binding him to silence, for fear lest Mr. Leonard put a +damper on his plans by vetoing the scheme in the start. + +Then suggestions began to flow like water after a storm. All sorts +of possibilities covering such a strange disappearance were advanced. +Owen believed that Horatio was not far amiss when he declared there +might be something in that ghost business, after all; and that poor +K. K. had found it out to his cost; though, beyond this broad +statement, Owen declined to commit himself, because he, of course, +could not imagine what a genuine ghost would look like, in the +daytime at that; or what such an apparition would be likely to do to +a boy who had had the ill-luck to fall into its clutches. + +A dozen additional ideas were advanced, some of them bordering on the +absurd and others really plausible. The unlimited resources of a +boy's fertile mind in conjuring up remarkable explanations in a +mysterious case like the one now engaging their attention had not yet +been reached at the time Hugh suddenly announced they were close to +the place where the abandoned quarry road started in from the +thoroughfare they were then following. + +"We just passed the twin oaks I remember stood alongside the road on +the left," he explained, at the same time slowing up considerably; +"and they are close to the turning-in place. I noticed them in +particular, you see, because I didn't want to lose even three seconds +when on the run, in searching for some sign of the spot; though, of +course, I could have looked for the marks of our tires left there at +the time we came back from our nutting excursion, and went through to +the other road. Yes, here we are right now, and I'm going to turn +in, boys." + +He negotiated the turn without accident, though the branches of the +trees did scrape against the sides of the car in a way that made some +of the occupants shudder; for already they were beginning to feel a +trace of the uneasiness that their gruesome surroundings were apt to +arouse within their boyish hearts. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +THE SEARCHING PARTY + +"Hugh, it looks like we mightn't need those lanterns after all," +remarked Horatio, after they had gotten well started along the dimly +seen quarry road. + +Indeed, the brilliant headlights of the big car illuminated a radius +of considerable size ahead of them and around. Every tiny twig was +thrown out into bold relief, as though a powerful sun had found a way +of forcing ingress through the canopy of leafless branches overhead. + +"Not just at present, perhaps," replied the driver at the wheel; "but +they may come in handy yet. We'll wait and see." + +Owen sat beside Hugh, the other three occupying the tonneau of the +car. There was abundance of room for all, and some to spare. Owen +held his new shotgun in his hands and he kept a close watch upon the +road ahead, just as though that idea connected with a ferocious +wildcat might have taken hold on his mind, and he believed there was +a possibility of such a thing coming to pass. + +Hugh drove with exceedingly great care, and made no attempt at speed. +Indeed, such a thing was utterly out of the question, with that rough +road to follow and the necessity of keeping a constant vigilant +outlook, lest they collide with some tree. When the quarry was in +full operation automobiles were an unknown luxury; and certainly no +provision had ever been made for such a contraption passing along +that crooked trail, with its numerous sharp curves intended to avoid +natural obstacles. Three separate times already had Hugh brought the +car to a full stop, and even caused the engine to cease its +throbbing. This was done in order that all of them might strain +their hearing, in hopes of catching some faint sound to tell that the +missing boy whom they sought was close at hand. + +But only disappointment succeeded each attempt to pick up +information. They caught the dismal hooting of an owl in some dead +tree not far away, but certainly such a doleful sound did not raise +their spirits materially. Several times while they were moving along +Owen had seen a movement amidst the brush that gave him a little +thrill; but the glimpses he obtained of the disappearing animal +convinced him in one instance that it was a red fox that scurried off +in alarm; while on the second occasion he rather imagined it was only +a ring-tailed raccoon scuttling away and badly frightened by the +intense white glow that had suddenly penetrated his dark quarters. + +If there was a wildcat within twenty miles the spot they certainly +never knew of it, because no such beast of prey disclosed its +presence to them while they continued on their way. + +But then there were plenty of thrills for the boys. Not only did the +weird hooting of that horned owl come to make their flesh creep, but +now and again they detected strange sounds that may have been caused +by limbs of the trees rubbing together in the night breeze, but which +had a wonderful resemblance to human groans. + +They had been pursuing their way along for some little time without +much attempt at conversation; but it is pretty hard for a parcel of +boys to remain long silent, no matter what the provocation. And +Horatio, for one, felt urged to free his mind of certain fancies that +had taken lodging there. + +"I say, fellows, doesn't this beat everything you ever saw all +hollow?" he went on to say, for there was really no need of their +keeping quiet, since they had not started out to steal a march upon +any enemy,--only to find poor lost K. K. "Just listen to that awful +groaning sound, will you? If I didn't know it was caused by the +limbs of trees sawing across each other in the wind I'd think +somebody was almost dying." + +"At another time I guess we wouldn't bother our heads about such a +silly thing," observed Julius Hobson; "but, of course, our minds are +full up with what may have happened to our comrade, and all that +noise makes us shiver a heap; it's so suggestive, so to speak." + +"Oh! what did you think you saw then, Owen?" gasped Horatio, as, +chancing to fix his gaze on the other, he noticed him suddenly +elevate his gun, as though tempted to shoot the same. + +Owen chuckled. + +"It was only a frisky rabbit, after all," he announced calmly enough. +"I was just covering him to find out how easy I could nail the +rascal, if only I was out hunting game instead of a lost boy. And +we'd have had rabbit stew at the Dugdale home to-morrow, let me tell +you, Horatio, if I'd cared to let fly, for I had him covered +handsomely." + +"Well, please don't do it in a hurry again, Owen," asked Horatio, +settling back once more, and hoping his throbbing heart might not +beat so loudly that any of his comrades could hear it pounding +against his ribs. "Remember this is no ordinary patch of woods we're +in right now. All sorts of stories have been told concerning the +country up here; and in passing through after nightfall we're doing +what a big bribe couldn't tempt any farmer's help to try. But, Hugh, +don't you think we must be getting pretty near that place by this +time?" + +"Just about two-thirds of the way, Horatio," he was informed. "That +leaning tree we passed is exactly three hundred and thirty-seven +paces from the place we left the road." + +"Well, what do you think of that for looking ahead, fellows!" +ejaculated Horatio. "Hugh here took all the trouble to count the +steps while passing through, the day he came up to examine the +ground. That's what I call preparedness, and I guess it counts in a +race, just as much as in getting ready for war." + +Hugh laughed as though momentarily amused. + +"Well, they're both in the same category, Horatio, if you look at +things from the right point of view; rival armies and rival athletes +contending for the prize which in both cases would mean victory. +Looking ahead is a useful hobby, and it's served me handsomely on +many an occasion. I consider no time wasted that is employed to +insure success; even if you never need the information you've picked +up it adds to your stock of knowledge; and no fellow can have too big +a fund of that." + +"Then we ought soon to be getting there, at this rate," continued +Horatio. "Let's hope nothing happens to our old car. We'd have a +jolly walk back to town if we broke down here and couldn't fix +things. I'd prefer making a fire and spending the night in the woods +to taking such a tramp, which would debar us from all hope of making +that big run to-morrow." + +"With K. K. out of the game the chances for Scranton High begin to +flicker some," admitted Julius. "He was showing unusual stamina +right now, and secretly I was backing K. K. to bring home the bacon +for our school. Of course, with Hugh and Horatio and 'Just' Smith +still in the ring it isn't hopeless by any means; but they do say +those Allandale chaps have unearthed several wonders at long-distance +running, and they are dying to knock Scranton down this time." + +Again Hugh stopped the car and bade the others listen. + +"It isn't that I thought I heard anything suspicious, fellows," he +went on to explain, when they manifested a certain amount of +excitement; "but, on general principles, I think we ought to stop +oftener, and find out if there's anything doing." + +After testing their combined hearing to the limit, and without any +success, Hugh again started up. It was Thad who spoke next, and +apparently he had been considering something that he would like to +have made clear. + +"What if we pass all the way through to the other road, without +learning a single thing, Hugh?" he went on to say; "do you mean to +give it up, and head for home then and there?" + +"Well, I should hope not, Thad!" burst out Horatio; "we're none of us +built that way. Because a fellow gets a single knock-down in a fight +ought he to throw up the sponge right away, and own himself beaten? +Why, we started out to find K. K., and sleep isn't going to visit my +eyes this night until we succeed. That's the way I look at it, and I +reckon the rest of you are in the same boat." + +"If such a thing should happen, Thad," said Hugh, sturdily, "we'll +simply turn around and come back again; only, under the new +conditions, some of you will have to turn out with the lanterns, and +search alongside the road as we go slowly along." + +Horatio gave a gasp that was plainly audible. + +"Do you really mean, Hugh," he went on to ask, in a voice that +trembled more or less despite Horatio's effort to control the same, +"that you half expect to find K. K. lying alongside the road, either +dead, or else insensible from the pain of his broken leg?" + +"Well, I wasn't just thinking things would be as bad as all that," +Hugh hastened to say. "What I had in mind was the chance of coming +on his footprints, and then trying to follow the same. We could +easily tell them, for K. K. had on his running shoes, you remember. +By tracking him, step by step, don't you see, we could tell just +where he met with his trouble, even find out, perhaps, the nature of +his accident, and continue to follow him up." + +"That would suit me first rate," said Julius, promptly; "and my fine +electric hand-torch might come into play with a vengeance. There's +nothing better going for following a trail in the dark, because the +light is focussed, you see, on a small compass. Why, you can pick up +night-walkers like everything when the fishing season's on, by using +a flashlight. I could even find a needle in a haystack, I believe, +with one of these jim-dandy contraptions." + +"All right, Julius, we'll appoint you head tracker, then," chuckled +Horatio. "But, after all, perhaps we'll run across our comrade yet, +before we get out of this tangle. We're about to come to the most +critical point of the entire trip, remember, for the old quarry is +just ahead of us." + +Horatio chanced to be on the side of the car toward the quarry. He +was not spending nearly so much time now looking ahead, leaving that +task to his chums; even while talking he kept his eyes fixed upon the +dark expanse that represented the surrounding woods, anticipating +catching a glimpse of something, he hardly knew what, at any moment +now. Doubtless all those silly yarns retailed by the ignorant +gossiping farm-hands in the market-place in Scranton, while they +tried to outdo one another in matching fairy stories, must have been +circulating through Horatio's brain just then. The heavy atmosphere +of the deserted stone quarry, and its lonely surroundings, added to +the mysterious disappearance of K. K., combined to make him +peculiarly susceptible to such influences as see ghosts in every +white object that moves in the darkness. + +This being the case with the Juggins boy it was not to be wondered at +that there could be traced a vein of actual gratification in his +voice when he suddenly electrified his companions by exclaiming: + +"Hugh! fellows, I tell you I saw it right then, just as that Swanson +farmhand vowed to me he did once on a time this last summer--it was a +light, waved up and down, back and forth, and just like they teach +you when you join the Signal Corps, and learn how to wigwag with a +flag or a lantern. It came from right over yonder, where we all know +the old quarry lies! And I'm not fooling, either; cross my heart if +I am!" + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +PROWLING AROUND THE QUARRY + +Everybody was staring hard by the time Horatio finished. Hugh, of +course, had immediately stopped the car on the road, so that they +were now stationary. + +It chanced that the spot was one of few where a glimpse of the quarry +could be picked up, as the boys had discovered at the time they +passed along this way, when we overtook them on their nutting trip. + +Seconds crept past. + +Each boy could measure time by the beating of his wildly accelerated +heart, and as these were throbbing at the rate of something like a +hundred pulsations per minute it can be easily understood that +"things were going some," to quote Horatio, when afterwards telling +the story. + +Then all of them saw what the first discoverer had attempted to +describe. They stared as though fascinated. Truly Horatio had said +well when he spoke of the odd movements of the mysterious light; for +it moved swiftly up and down, then sideways, and in eccentric +circles, after which it vanished as suddenly as it had come into +being. + +Some of the boys sighed, as though being wakened from a dream. +Horatio, of course, was full of deepest gratification, since he had +detected a skeptical air in the actions of Thad and Owen, which +seemed to place him in the light of one who "saw things where none +existed." + +"There, didn't I tell you?" he exclaimed, triumphantly. "And, say, +wasn't that--eh, party, whoever he might be, making some sort of +telegraphic signals with his old lantern or torch?" + +"Hugh, what do you think?" demanded Thad. "You're up in all that +kind of wigwag signal work, and perhaps now you could tell what it +means." + +"I lost some of it, I'm sorry to say, fellows," observed Hugh, +gravely; "but all the same I caught enough to tell me that waving of +a light was meant as a signal message, though who sent it, and to +whom, is all a mystery." + +"But could you make out enough of the message, Hugh, to give you any +idea what it stood for?" persisted Thad. + +"Yes, I believe I did," the other admitted, solemnly, so that each of +his chums bent closer to catch the next words that fell from his +lips. "I'm certain it spelled out the word 'help,' for one; and I +thought another was 'quick'!" + +"Oh! what do you think of that?" gasped Horatio. + +"The mystery deepens," added Owen, dramatically, just as he had +probably been accustomed to reading in some story of excitement. + +"Of course," continued Hugh, immediately, "we've got to take a look +around that same old quarry, and see what's going on. Somebody's +holding the fort there, even if it is said to be deserted. Who and +what he can be, of course, remains to be seen; but I'm not taking a +bit of stock in those old wives' yarns about a ghost, remember, +Horatio." + +"Then we'll have to leave the car on the road, won't we, Hugh, when +we tackle this big job?" questioned Owen. + +"Of course; and since I marked the best spot where anyone could make +their way along to the face of the quarry, we must start up again, +and keep moving till we strike that place." + +"But, Hugh, do you think the--er--party making those signals with a +light could have noticed our illumination, and that message was meant +for us?" Horatio went on to ask, solicitously. + +"I'm not prepared to say," he was told, "though I don't see how +anybody with eyes could miss discovering us coming along. And, +besides, the old car makes plenty of noise in the bargain, to attract +attention. So it looks as if he did know, and was trying to talk to +us." + +All this only added to the thrill that was forever passing through +each and every member of the night expedition. It would be +manifestly impossible to describe their mixed feelings as they +advanced slowly along the rough road so long abandoned to nature. A +dozen times Horatio believed he heard cries; why, it seemed as though +the air must be filled with uncanny sounds, for his lively +imagination was working at race-horse speed just then. + +The car stopped short. + +"Wow! what's happened now, Hugh?" whispered Horatio. + +"We've arrived at the getting-out place, that's all," came the steady +reply, as the chauffeur caused the engine to cease working and then +proceeded to leave his seat, after his companion had jumped out. + +The lanterns were now lighted and the electric torch made ready for +use. If hands trembled considerably during this operation, causing +several matches to be used before the desired results were obtained, +could anyone blame Owen and the other possessor of a lantern? It was +a most remarkable thing that no one evinced the slightest disposition +to stay by the car, and guard it against thieves. It was a case of +"follow the leader," and where Hugh went they were all bound to go +also. To be honest, the chances were that Horatio, for one, could +not have been coaxed to separate himself from the company of his four +chums; because there was a great deal of truth in that old maxim, "in +union there is strength." + +Hugh now led the way. He had been given one of the lanterns with +which to light a passage across the heaps of broken stones, earth, +and rubbish, cast there at the time in the remote past when the +quarry was in full blast, with workmen delving into the hillside, +blasting away sections through the use of dynamite or powder, and +sending out many wagon-loads of building-stone each of the six +working days of the week. + +They did not string out in single file, but kept bunched together. +Indeed, this came through no accident, but there was a method in +their madness; because, you see, no fellow would want to be the +hindmost in the file. + +Hugh showed a wonderful amount of knowledge of the place, considering +that he had never before in his life placed a foot upon the ground +and had to depend entirely on his former observations. But he kept +on as straight as could be expected, and presently Owen managed to +muster up courage enough to say in a low and most carefully guarded +tone: + +"Hugh, did you take note of the _exact_ spot where the light showed +up? I'm asking because you seem to be heading direct for somewhere." + +"I believe I know where it was," Hugh told him simply. "You see, I +noted several things about the face of the quarry that day we stopped +to look it over; and when I saw that dancing trail of fire I figured +out that it must be at just such a place, which spot I'm heading for +right now. And just as you spoke I had ample proof that I was right +in my guess." + +"Why, what happened, Hugh?" demanded Horatio eagerly. + +"I caught a faint glimpse of light up there," Hugh told him. "I +wonder none of the rest of you happened to notice the same. It made +me think that some person might be in one of those holes we saw in +the face of the wall--caves, the natives call them, Horatio says. As +this was somewhat deep only a tiny bit of illumination escaped, and +you could just detect that when at a certain angle. Stop short, now, +and see for yourselves, for there it is again!" + +Thrilled to the bone they stood and gaped. Hugh was pointing with +his disengaged hand, half holding the lantern back of him so that its +glow might not further interfere with their view. + +"You're right, Hugh; that's surely what it is," agreed Thad, almost +immediately; and each of the other three went on record with a +corresponding affirmative. + +"Then the next thing for us to do is to find some way of climbing up +to that same fissure," the leader explained, showing that he meant to +lose no time in trying to open negotiations with the unknown denizens +of the quarry, whose actions were becoming more and more mysterious +as time passed. + +"Which means that we're going to beard the tiger in his den," quoth +Owen, gripping his gun more firmly as he edged a little closer to +Hugh; for since he was the only member of the expedition who could be +said to possess a weapon it was proper that he should be found in the +van at such a crisis. + +They walked on, not hastily, and showing no outward sign of the +tumult that must have raged in each boyish heart. Now it was no +longer possible for them to discern that faint glow; but such a +little thing did not daunt them. Hugh had marked well the exact +location of their objective point, and Hugh seldom made mistakes, +those other confident fellows were telling themselves as they +cheerfully trudged along. + +The foot of the cliff was at hand. Rains and winds and snow +avalanches had, during the years that had passed since the hands of +men worked those diggings, served to cut loose great quantities of +debris from the face of the height, so that here and there at the +foot irregular pyramids of earth and rocks could be seen. Hugh now +seemed to have turned his attention from above and was bending half +over, as though examining the ground. Owen knew what this meant. +The other anticipated finding a track leading directly to the route +by means of which that cavern halfway up the cliff might be easiest +attained. + +And, as often happens, such reasoning proved to be the wisest thing +the searchers could have undertaken, for hardly had half a minute +elapsed than Hugh was heard to give vent to a low ejaculation of +gratification. + +No one spoke, but they understood that he had found the trail he was +looking for. Indeed, he at once started to move along, still bending +over, and holding his lighted lantern low, so that its none too good +illumination would best serve him. + +Now they reached a sort of strange little gully, where the silt had +washed down more heavily during the period of erosion than at any +other place. Looking up, the boys could see that it afforded a steep +but accessible avenue by means of which an agile person could ascend +the otherwise impregnable height towering above their heads. + +Hugh halted not, but started up. Owen came close behind him, holding +that formidable shotgun so that he could thrust it ahead of his +leader should an occasion arise necessitating action. But Hugh had +already warned him not to be rash, and under no condition to dream of +firing until he himself had given the order. + +It was a queer little procession that crept up that steep trail in +the gully formed by Nature during the heavy storms of summer and +winter. The twin lanterns glimmered and flickered as the night wind +puffed the tiny blazes; and ahead of all lay the white glow of the +electric hand-torch, showing them how they were now almost at the end +of their trail. + +Yes, the fissure extended straight into the face of the cliff. Hugh +was taking them directly to the place where undoubtedly the +mysterious unknown had stood on a sort of rocky platform, and +indulged in all those queer telegraphic code motions with a light of +some sort. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +A FRIENDLY GHOST + +Hugh led the way straight into the fissure. As they proceeded they +could see the light ahead growing stronger. Low sounds, as of +voices, also led them onward; and then, upon turning a bend, they +came upon a sight that had them all staring with wonder. + +It was indeed a cave, and of considerable dimensions. A wild beast +would have delighted in such a den in which to hide from the rigors +of winter, but to boys accustomed to the luxuries of home life it +would doubtless have few attractions, especially after the novelty of +camping-out had worn off in a week's time. + +It was a fire that burned which gave the light. A pile of dry wood, +mostly broken branches of dead trees, showed that the occupant of the +cave had laid in a supply against a rainy day. + +There, sitting with his back against the wall, was their missing +comrade K. K. His face looked unusually white, and bore an +expression of acute pain, which, however, he manfully tried from time +to time to dismiss by a ghastly grin, altogether assumed, since he +certainly was in no mood for laughing. + +They could see that his left leg was bandaged in some manner, as +though he might have broken the bones, and someone had tried to bind +up the limb. Even with that superficial glance Hugh marked the fact +that this had been done in a fashion indicating considerable previous +experience along such lines. + +And then they turned their attention upon the other party, the +mysterious one who doubtless had found poor K. K. helpless on the +ground and borne him to this cavern in the quarry. He was indeed a +wild-looking party, with long, unkempt hair and a sunburnt face in +which his glowing eyes were deep-seated. There was that about him to +convince Hugh instantly he must be deranged, although just then the +man bent over poor K. K. solicitously, and seemed to be tenderly +doing something calculated to ease his pain. + +Hugh coughed, meaning to draw attention to the fact of their arrival. +The man immediately stood up and bent a searching look upon the five +lads. Perhaps he had been hearing K. K. tell how some of his chums +would certainly be coming to search for him, and, therefore, even +though he might wish to remain in his hidden retreat undisturbed, he +manifested no hostility toward them, simply folded his arms and, +stepping back, watched their approach. + +Hugh made gestures to indicate that they were peacefully disposed. +In doing so he purposely used the signal code and spelled out the one +word, "friend." He saw the wildman's thin face take on a sudden +gleam of awakened interest, and he nodded his head in the +affirmative, as if to reassure Hugh that they were not unwelcome. +From this the boy knew the stranger must at some time have been in +the army, and that even while his brain was resting under a cloud he +could still send and receive messages such as had been at one time +his daily avocation. + +They reached the side of their unfortunate companion. He held out a +hand to welcome Hugh. + +"Oh! I'm mighty glad you've come, fellows, I can tell you," he told +them, with a tremor in his voice. "I've had a rotten time of it all +around, and suffered terribly. You see, I made a fool of myself, and +tripped over a vine, so that I was thrown into a gully, with my left +leg under me. Snapped both bones, he says, just above the ankle, and +a fine time I've got ahead of me this winter, with no skating, +hockey, or anything worth living for. But then it might have been +worse, because my neck is worth more to me than my ankle. But now I +do hope you can get me home. I never wanted to see home and mother +one-half as much as now." + +"Yes, we've come in the big car, K. K.," Hugh assured him. "And +we'll fetch you home right away. You ought to be looked after by +Doctor Wambold; broken bones are not things to be trifled with, and +while this party seems to have done the best he could it can only be +a makeshift." + +"Don't you believe it, Hugh," said the injured boy warmly; "why, he's +a regular jim-dandy about such jobs. I bet you he used to be an army +surgeon in his younger days, from hints he's let drop. And then he +knows the Signal Corps work right off the handle to boot, even +if--well, I won't say what I meant to. He's been so kind and +considerate to me; my own father couldn't have been more tender. +I've guessed the secret of the old haunted quarry, Hugh!" which last +he almost whispered in the other's ear. + +"Yes, I can say the same," muttered Hugh, "because, as soon as I saw +that he was using the regular army code of signals, I remembered +about hearing how a certain family over near Hackensack had an uncle +who used to be in the Signal Corps and was also later on an army +surgeon, but who had suffered a sunstroke, and, well, was said to be +a bit queer." + +"Yes," whispered K. K., "this is the same party. His name, I +remember, was Dr. Coursens, and there was some talk last summer about +his having got loose from the house and being drowned, they believed, +in the river, though his body was never found. Just to think of it, +he's been hiding here ever since, picking up his living almost like a +wild animal. Why, right now his clothes are nearly falling off his +back, and if he tries to hang out here much longer he'll be frozen to +death. But, Hugh, we must let his folks know where he is so they can +come after him. I believe, his mind is beginning to get a little +clear again, for at times he talks quite reasonably." + +This was all mighty interesting to Hugh, and he determined that he +would let no grass grow under his feet until he had seen to it that +the man with the deranged mind was once more restored to his family. +But the first thing to be done was to get poor K. K. safely back home. + +So he turned to the man and spoke to him, telling him that they +wished to get their comrade to the car, and at the same time thanking +him warmly for all he had done. Not a single word in reply did Hugh +receive. The man listened and nodded his head, as though he could +dimly understand what the boy was saying. Evidently he was in +something of a dazed condition, if, as K. K. affirmed, his senses +were beginning to assume a normal condition after years of darkness. + +It was a terrible job getting K. K. down from that elevated place. +The man showed them how best to manage. He seemed really solicitous, +and it could be seen that he had taken quite a liking to K. K. during +their brief intercourse, since the latter had been found groaning on +the ground. + +Eventually the level below the cliff was attained. Poor K. K. had +groaned many times, hard though he fought to repress the sounds, for +it was unavoidable that he should receive many jostlings while being +transferred to the lower level. + +Then they made their way across the open space, and finally arrived +at the waiting car, in which the injured youth was deposited and made +as comfortable as the conditions allowed. The deranged man watched +all this with a wistful gleam in his eye. He had fled from his kind +while still gripped in the darkness of madness, but with the first +glimmer of reason being seated once more on its throne he commenced +to yearn after human fellowship again. + +Since the boys had all taken such a deep-seated interest in the +matter it may be proper before the "ghost" of the haunted quarry is +dropped altogether from the story to state that the very next morning +Hugh went over to Hackensack and electrified the Coursen family with +certain remarkable news he brought. It ended in their all starting +forth and arriving at the quarry. They found the demented man +awaiting their coming as though he had guessed what Hugh had in his +mind. More than that he greeted them soberly, and called each member +of the family by name, something he had not been able to do since +that dark cloud descended upon his mind years back. + +There seemed reason to believe that in due time Doctor Coursen might +regain his full senses again and spend a few years more with his +delighted relatives before the end came. + +Hugh, of course, learned all about him and how he had served years in +the army, first as a sergeant in the Signal Corps, and later on +becoming a surgeon of considerable reputation before the accident in +the tropics deprived him of his reason. Perhaps it had been the +utterly helpless condition of poor K. K., when he came accidentally +upon the injured boy, that had strongly appealed to the surgical +spirit that still lay dormant in the brain and fingers of the insane +man and which had been the main cause of the light of reason +returning--surgery had been his passion, and the familiar work took +him back to other days, apparently. + +And that very night, when Doctor Cadmus, hastily summoned to the home +of Mrs. Kinkaid, examined the work of the deranged dweller of the +quarry cave, he had pronounced it simply marvelous the clever way in +which the other had set those bones and put a splint on the leg, with +such clumsy means for working at hand. He declared he meant to +interest himself deeply in the case and see if such a skillful +surgeon might not be restored to the world so much in need of his +kind, with the terrible war raging on the other side of the Atlantic. + +To conclude with this subject, at last accounts Dr. Coursen had so +far recovered as to send in his application for a berth in some +hospital over in France, where his wonderful knowledge of surgery +might prove useful to the countless wounded men at the front. And +doubtless ere this reaches the eye of the reader he may be across the +Atlantic, serving humanity in the great cause. + +Long would those five lads remember that strange expedition up to the +haunted quarry, and what a remarkable discovery they made after +arriving on the ground. It may be that Horatio, yes, and Julius +also, would be less apt to clothe anything along a mysterious nature +with ghostly attributes, after learning how common-sense and +investigation will, in nearly all cases, turn suspicion into +ridicule. But while the country folks, of course, also learned how +the phantom of the quarry had turned out to be just a crazy man who +had escaped from his confinement at home and gone back to primeval +ways of living, few of them would ever muster up the courage to visit +the deserted quarry after nightfall. It had too many thrilling +associations to please them; and besides, what was the use of going +out of their way just to feel the "goose-flesh" creep over their +bodies when an owl hooted, or some little forest animal gave a grunt? + +K. K., being young and healthy, and attended carefully by good old +Doctor Cadmus, was not confined to the house for many weeks. The +bones did not require resetting, and rapidly knitted, so that after a +while he could walk to and from school with the aid of a crutch; and +later this, in turn, gave way to a cane. When February came he even +threw this aid aside, and by March was seen taking his part in school +rushes, as though he had never been injured at all. But his skates +were never once used all winter, nor could he indulge in any +sledding, both of which were favorite pleasures with K. K. + +On the whole, however, he felt that he had much to be thankful for; +and tried not to be too greatly disappointed. But his chums would +miss him when the Marathon race was on; because he had been accounted +one of the best long-distance runners without exception that Scranton +High could boast. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +SCRANTON'S "OPEN-HOUSE" DAY + +Saturday opened with a promise of fair weather, and thousands of +anxious hearts beat high with satisfaction when this important fact +became manifest. + +Before the morning was half over many strangers were noticed in town, +having taken the day off in order to attend the wonderful meet, of +which so much had been said. Every boy in Scranton was wild-eyed, +and on the run most of the time, trying to be here, there, and in +half a dozen places at once, if such a thing were possible. + +Indeed, there was so much going on it reminded some people of the +famous circus that visited the town two years back, with three +separate rings, and something taking place in each at the same time; +so that the spectators hardly knew how to take it all in and keep +from being cross-eyed. + +Out at the athletic grounds there were crowds gathered. Men were +working at the fence, while another gang, under the orders of Mr. +Leonard, carefully put in place such paraphernalia as would be needed +in carrying out the programme. Even the big pole had been well +greased for the climbing match; while the hurdles for the obstacle +race were ready to be placed in position at the proper time; and a +thousand and one other matters engaged the attention of the physical +director, who was probably the most industrious man in seven counties +that Saturday A.M. + +Nor was that all. Some of the would-be contestants, not wholly +satisfied with their record for proficiency, and wishing to key +themselves up to top-notch speed against the now near hour of trial, +were on the ground, and in their working togs. Here a bunch galloped +swiftly around the cinder path, with one of their number holding the +watch on them to ascertain what time they made. Further along +several other fellows were jumping with might and main, and showing +either jubilation or deep chagrin as they found themselves able to do +a shade better than ever before, or else going backward in their +scoring. + +Indeed, that was going to be a red-letter day in the lives of all +Scranton's young people. They begrudged the passing minutes, because +their period of enjoyment would be shortened just so much with the +loss of every sixty seconds. + +When Hugh came on the grounds, after his trip to Hackensack, and +seeing the hermit of the quarry once more safely lodged in the bosom +of his delighted family, he had only one regret. This was the fact +that poor K. K., whose heart had been so set on carrying the colors +of Scranton High to victory in the Marathon race, should be debarred +from participating in the same by a cruel fate. + +As for himself Hugh was not quite so certain as before that he could +accomplish such a thing as getting over those fifteen miles ahead of +all competitors. What he had gone through with on the preceding day, +coupled with his night journey, and only partial rest, after getting +in bed at a late hour, had sapped some of his energy. + +But Hugh's grit and determination were just as strong as ever, and he +meant to do his level best. If he fell down, why, there were "Just" +Smith, and Horatio Juggins, as well as two other Scranton fellows, +any one of whom might be the winner. So long as the prize fell to a +Scranton High boy, it mattered little who carried off the honors, +Hugh felt. + +Noon came at last. + +Everything was now ready for the opening of the athletic tournament. +Chief Wambold kept watch and ward over the grounds, assisted by his +entire force of uniformed men. He evidently did not intend that any +boy, with a mind that turned to practical joking, should have a +chance to exercise his evil propensities unchecked. Should such a +thing be attempted the joker would find himself up against a snag +immediately; and, as those posters announced, he was going to be +harshly dealt with up to the "extreme penalty of the law." + +There were hundreds of people on the grounds at noon, which was a +pretty good marker for the immense crowds that would soon be heading +that way from every point of the compass. Most of these "early +birds" were, of course, out-of-town folks, farmers' families that had +come in, to market, perhaps, and they stayed over to see the great +show, because everybody living for many miles around Scranton had +heard about the meet, and and what a wonderful sight it would be, +well worth going miles to gaze upon. These thrifty and sensible +folks had, in many cases, brought their lunch along with them. +Perhaps they disliked the idea of eating in small restaurants, such +as Scranton, like most towns, boasted; but, no doubt, the main thing +was economy in these times of scanty cash and inflated war prices. + +It was well worth watching when they started to open their packages, +and spread out the contents on the ground or, as might be, on the +benches where they had taken up their positions the better to see +what went on. And really it would have made any boy's mouth water to +note the immense quantities of home-made pies, doughnuts, fried +chicken, and all such good things as were displayed in those farmer's +wives lunch packets. At least there must be no sign of hard times +when the family went on a picnic, or any other sort of pleasure jaunt. + +By then the crowds began to assemble in earnest. Town people, +fearing a crush, hastened to leave home with the lunch dishes +unwashed, and look for places to sit during the long afternoon. +Along the roads every type of car, wagon, carriage, and other styles +of equipages began to be seen, all heading toward the center of +interest, which was the town of Scranton. + +Hundreds came from Allandale; indeed, it might be safe to even say +thousands, for in every direction could be seen the colors of +Allandale High, just as though each enthusiastic boy and girl had +rounded up all their relatives and friends, and induced them to make +it a point to travel to the neighboring borough, there to shout and +shriek, and in other ways lend encouragement to each Allandale +aspirant for athletic honors wherever they showed up. + +Belleville, too, must look very much like the "Deserted Village" on +this particular afternoon; and, if the amount of business done +depended on the few who had remained at home, her merchants would +have to stay up until midnight in order to equal their customary +Saturday sales. + +At half-past twelve the throng had become so dense that Chief Wambold +and his men were compelled to enlist the services of a number of +willing volunteers who, temporarily decorated with a silver shield, +were vested with the authority of regular officers, in order to keep +avenues open, and prevent the throng from breaking through the ropes +upon the limited field where the athletes expected to compete. + +So far as attendance was concerned there was no longer the least +doubt but that the meet would prove an abounding success; the rest +remained to be proven. But the gathering athletes who began to +appear in little knots, coming from the dressing rooms of the +building, seemed full of confidence, and answered the loud salutes of +a myriad of friends in the crowd with reassuring nods, and gestures +calculated to buoy up their hopes. + +The programme would be varied. First would come several short +sprints between the best runners of hundred-yard distances in the +county. These were sure to key up the spectators by their thrilling +intensity, as is always the case. Following fast upon these there +would be hammer-throwing, and the toss of the discus. Then the +programme called for other athletic exhibitions along a line that +would lend variety, and enhance the interest, as the different +schools struggled for supremacy in the arena provided, spurred on to +do their utmost by ringing cheers, and the dearly beloved class songs. + +Everybody worth mentioning in Scranton would be there, from Dr. +Carmack, the supervising head of the county schools, as well as +principal of Scranton High, down the line to the Directors of the +Games, the town council, the mayors of the three boroughs, and a +whole host of notables besides. + +And how the fond eyes of father and mother would follow the movements +of John, or Edward, or Philip, as though he might be the only young +athlete worth watching in all that animated scene. If he won, they +had always known he did not have an equal in his specialty; and +should he be so unlucky as to come in at the heels of the pack, why, +it was easy to be seen that he had not been given a square deal by +some of the rival runners, who persisted in getting in his way, and +were probably leagued together to prevent him from carrying off the +prize. But no matter, he would always be a hero in the eyes of those +who loved him, though he might not decorate the family mantel at home +with the prizes he aspired to win. + +Hugh had kept fairly quiet after returning from Hackensack, and +seeing the hermit once more safe in the charge of his folks. He knew +that he must conserve his strength for the great undertaking that +confronted him that afternoon. Those who had entered for the +long-distance race would not be allowed, of course, to participate in +any other event; that had been laid down as law by Mr. Leonard when +they entered their names on the list of candidates. They must +simply stand around and watch what was going on until the time came +for staging the Marathon; when they could take their place in the +long string that would await the pistol shot intended to start them +on the telling grind. + +Horatio and "Just" Smith were on deck, looking fit and eager. Then, +too, there was Nick Lang, with a grin on his heavy face every time he +glanced toward the other three fellows. It was getting on, and some +of the earlier events had already been carried through, amidst great +roars of applause as the different prizes went, this one to an +Allandale fellow, another to a boy wearing the Belleville High +colors; and three in succession to local lads. + +"I don't exactly like the way that Nick Lang keeps on laughing to +himself every time he looks over in this direction," Horatio was +saying to the other two. + +"I've noticed the same thing," spoke up "Just" Smith; "and it makes +me wonder if the tricky fellow hasn't got some slick game up his +sleeve, as usual, looking to giving the rest of us trouble. You +notice, don't you, boys, that, look as you will, you can't see +anything of either that Tip Slavin, or Leon Disney. Now, when +fellows who are as fond of outdoor sports as those two have always +been, keep shy when such a great event as this meet is being pulled +off, there must be a pretty good reason." + +"They may be somewhere in the crowd," Hugh went on to say, "because +it'd be impossible for any single fellow to identify all that are in +that solid heaving yelling mass of people. Nick believes he has a +fair chance of leading the pack, and that makes him feel happy. I +heard him say only yesterday that the one fellow he was afraid of in +our whole bunch was K. K.; and now that accident has eliminated him, +why, naturally, Nick feels more confidence. In imagination he's +already receiving the grand Marathon prize, and hearing the crowds +yelling themselves hoarse." + +"Well," snorted Horatio, gritting his teeth in a way he had when +aroused, "if that's what pleases Nick he's got another guess coming; +for three of us are also in the game; and he's got to do some mighty +tall sprinting in that last half-mile if he expects to win out. Then +there are a lot of other fellows in the run who may give him a pain. +But, according to the programme, our race comes next after this pole +vaulting contest; so, boys, we'd better be moving around, and getting +our place in line, according to our several numbers." + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +THE GREAT MARATHON RACE + +It was plainly noticeable how that vast crowd began to stir, and show +signs of increased interest when the numerous trim runners entered +for the big Marathon started to gather for the preliminary stage of +the race. + +Each of the many contestants had a large number fastened upon both +the front and back of his thin upper garment. By these they might be +recognized even at a distance; and many persons carried field or +opera glasses of various types just on purpose to make out who each +runner was when he came in sight around the bend half a mile away, to +open on that last stretch that was likely to see the cruelest work of +all, if the competition chanced to be keen. + +The boys, as a rule, looked very much like lithe grayhounds, for your +natural runner is light of body, and can course along like the wind. +Still, this applies more to short-distance sprinters than those whose +specialty is endurance in a fifteen- or twenty-mile race. + +Several of the fellows were quite muscular in build, and gave +evidence of a grim determination such as the bulldog possesses. +These chaps might be easily distanced in the start, but they would +keep doggedly on, under the spur of the knowledge contained in that +old adage that "the race is not always to the swift." + +Hugh Morgan was, perhaps, the best built of them all, neither too +heavy, nor yet betraying a weakness that would crop out after the +first five miles had been covered, as might be the case with the more +slender fellows. + +They stood in line, listening to the last words of caution delivered +by Mr. Hitchens, a former Yale man who had umpired the baseball games +the preceding summer in such an impartial manner that everyone had +the utmost reliance on his fairness. + +He explained to them the simple conditions of the race,--how there +must be no fouling of any kind; just how often and where the +contestants must register their names in books kept by judges on the +course; how each was supposed to give his word of honor not to accept +any sort of lift for even a dozen feet; and that the great crowd +assembled would be waiting to acclaim the first-comer as the victor +in the greatest long-distance race ever attempted by high-school +boys, at least in that particular county. + +They were allowed a certain latitude as to their methods of running. +If any of them could cut across lots, and still cover the entire +course, as well as register faithfully wherever required, that was to +be their option. + +Having finished his little fatherly talk, the referee stepped to one +side, and gave the word for the runners to make ready. + +Every eye was glued on this or that contestant, according to the +humor of the spectator. Each Allandale visitor saw only Allandale in +that long line, swaying back and forth a trifle, like a reed shaken +in the wind. They could not believe it possible that any other +fellow had the slightest chance of coming in ahead of those +fleet-footed boys upon whose ability they pinned their full trust. + +So it was with the Belleville rooters; while, of course, the natives +were certain the prize was already as good as won by Hugh Morgan; or, +it might happen to be, Horatio Juggins, "Just" Smith, or possibly +Nick Lang, the last-named looking ever so confident, as he leaned +over nearly double in his favorite crouch, his fingertips in contact +with the ground, and his knees bent. + +Then came the sharp report of the pistol. + +"They're off!" involuntarily exclaimed a thousand persons in unison, +as the line of nimble runners was seen to leap into action, and shoot +away with amazing speed. + +There were a few little lively brushes in the start, before the +runners settled down to real business. Some were immediately left +behind, but this fact seemed to give them little concern, for they +kept jogging away as though quite happy. + +Doubtless, a number had entered with no idea of covering more than a +few miles of the long course. They just enjoyed the excitement, and +the honor of being able to say they had once run in a fifteen-mile +schoolboy Marathon race. + +After a bit these novices would drop out, perhaps even hasten back +with various clever excuses for giving up; and having gained the +cheers of their particular coterie of friends they could don a few +more clothes to keep off the chill, and settle back to watch the rest +of the entertainment. Their opinion would naturally be much sought +after, as to the chances of this or that genuine contestant; which +was one of the things they desired. + +As it takes considerable time for even fleet-footed runners to go +over a fifteen-mile course, the sensible committee, who knew just +about how long the crowd would have to wait, had provided plenty of +amusement meanwhile. + +Interspersed with a number of minor events, such as further sprinting +matches for younger entries, and some more pole vaulting, as well as +Indian club exhibitions of skill, would come the humorous features of +the meet. + +These are always popular with the country people; indeed, nearly +everybody seems to welcome them as a diversion calculated to raise +hearty laughter. + +There was also keen competition even in the potato race; and the +crowd yelled itself hoarse to see the antics of those who met with +all manner of mishaps when engaged in the hurdle, and the obstacle +affairs. + +The boys who had engaged to try for these prizes seemed to "get their +dander up," as some fellow expressed it, and the way they struggled +and vied with one another was "equal to a circus with a brass band." + +Although mention may not have been made of the fact up to now, the +Scranton band was giving of its very best from time to time, and the +air throbbed with martial music suitable to a country just then at +war with a foreign nation. It was a fair sort of band in the +bargain, and well worth listening to; so that the music really added +greatly to the enjoyment of the occasion. + +When the three-legged race was pulled off the spectators howled their +sympathy with this or that pair of contestants as they hopped along, +now rolling on the ground while bound together, and, at times, even +trying to creep in desperation, when it seemed as though a difference +of opinions in the two minds trying to control what was just the same +as one pair of legs, caused confusion, and a lack of progression. + +Later on came the climbing of the greased pole. This is always +comical enough, and aroused much enthusiasm. Nobody seems to be a +favorite, and each successful attempt to mount is greeted with +shrieks of laughter. So long as a valiant fellow is seen to be +steadily making his way upwards, inch by inch, he may be applauded; +but let him display the slightest hint of having "shot his bolt," and +begin to slip back again, howls of derision will greet his ears, so +that in confusion he finally gives it up, and retires in haste. + +All sorts of small means are resorted to in order to allow the +contestant to get a surer grip on the slippery pole; for, up to a +certain point, these are allowable. One rubs sand in his hands, and +for a brief time this seems to enable him to do splendid work; but +then it soon wears away, and then his troubles begin; until, unable +to make further progress, he is seen to glance over his shoulder to +note how far from the ground he has risen. This is a sure sign of +weakening, and, of course, the watchful crowd again roars at him to +keep right on, that he's doing nobly, and all that; but John knows +better, and so down he comes with a rush, and passes out, shaking his +head in disgust and bitter disappointment; for possibly he had been +within five feet of the top when his energies failed him. + +So the time went on, merrily enough. + +Many persons were declaring they had not enjoyed such an afternoon +for years, and felt weak from so much laughter. + +Watches were being consulted more and more frequently now. + +"It's getting time we saw something of those chaps," could be heard +here and there, showing that numbers had figured things out, or else +received a tip from an authority in the game as to just how long it +was likely to take a fleet runner to cover fifteen miles of good road. + +Anxious eyes were being strained unduly, watching the bend half a +mile beyond. It could be seen from almost any part of the field, +fortunately, though once the big board fence was in position, the +view would be partly cut off. + +It had been arranged, as is always done, that when a runner was +sighted nearing the bend a gun would be fired by the sentry on duty +there, to attract the attention of the crowd, so that they might have +the first glimpse of the leading contestants, as they rounded that +abrupt curve where the view was shut off. + +There was now nothing going on in the arena, the entire programme +having been carried out. Still, few, if any, left their seats, +although they had been there for several hours, it might be. The +deepest interest centered upon the completion of the Marathon race. +In comparison to this exhibition of school-boy endurance and pluck +the other affairs seemed to sink into insignificance; although at the +time they occurred doubtless those who had friends entered were +wildly excited. But then the race that has already been finished is +never as intensely interesting as the one in process of being run; +just as the fish landed never seems quite so wonderful as the fellow +who is still swimming the waters, and eyeing the baited hook as +though tempted to take a hazard. + +Seconds seemed fraught with undue importance, and many impatient +fellows, upon consulting their watches, were seen to hold the same up +to their ear, as though to make sure the time-piece had not stopped, +so leaden-footed did the minutes seem to move along. + +Some of the girls had commenced to sing their class songs, but in a +mild sort of way; for they did not wish to lose the sound that would +denote that a runner was in sight at the second bend, and could be +expected shortly to come into view at the head of the last half-mile +strip of road leading to the goal. + +Once an engine on the railroad not far away gave a sharp whistle that +thrilled everybody, and numberless eyes were glued on the point up +the road where the first runner must appear. Then a general laugh +ran around because of the false alarm. + +But everything must have an end, and that keen anxiety finally met +with its reward. Plainly came the heavy boom of the waiting gun. +Everyone craned his or her neck to see. Hearts beat quicker with +eager anticipation. Which one of the thirty contestants would be the +first to appear? There might be several in a bunch, primed for the +final sprint for goal. The very thought thrilled hearts, and added +color to cheeks, as well as made eyes sparkle with anticipation. +Allandale was not cheering now; Belleville rooters were strangely +quiet; for, so far, the outcome of the great race was still wrapped +in mystery; but the solution would soon come, they knew. + +Another heavy boom told that a second runner was just around the +bend, and when a third discharge quickly followed the crowd knew +there was going to be an exciting finish to the Marathon. + +Then a plainly audible sigh broke forth as the first runner was seen +rounding the bend, and starting on the home stretch, but wabbling +badly as he ran, being almost completely exhausted. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +ON THE FINAL MILE OF THE COURSE + +Meanwhile, in order to understand certain important events that came +about, it is necessary that we follow the runners, and devote this +chapter to what occurred up to the time that first fellow came +lunging around the final bend, having covered the whole course up to +the final lap. + +For a mile or so along the road there were bunches of schoolboys and +girls waiting to give some of the contestants a cheering word as they +flashed past. The enthusiasts, however, would not linger long, for +they likely enough wished to see the comical part of the programme +carried out. Besides, once the runners had straggled past their +posts the only interest remaining for them in the race was its +conclusion. So they would want to get back to the grounds, and +secure positions along the line to the first bend, where they could +greet each contestant as he appeared, and cheer him on; for he would +probably need encouragement, being near the point of exhaustion. + +Hugh had figured things out exactly, and knew what he could do. He +was not alarmed because several of the visiting runners led the way, +and even "Just" Smith had quite a little lead over him. + +Pegging along, Hugh covered mile after mile with a steadiness that he +had reduced to machine-like motion. He had timed himself, and the +whole course was mentally charted for his guidance. If he reached +the cut-off road at a certain time he would know things were moving +just as swiftly as necessary. Those boys who strained themselves in +that first seven miles would be apt to rue their rashness when they +began to feel their legs quiver with weakness under them, and still +miles remained to be covered ere the goal came in sight. And, +besides, they were sure to be in no condition for a hot final sprint, +in case of keen competition. + +So Hugh, having registered as required at two booths on the way, and +thus learned the order in which the trio ahead of him seemed to be +running, finally arrived at the sunken quarry road. He recognized +the landmarks before he reached the spot; and losing not a second of +time darted among the trees. + +"Just" Smith was still leading him, for here and there he could +distinguish the other's footprints, where the ground chanced to be a +little moist. Hugh also had reason to believe that Nick Lang was +coming strong not a great distance behind him. He wondered whether +Nick meant to take advantage of the old quarry road as well as he and +"Just" Smith, and Horatio in the bargain. For that matter Hugh did +not care an iota; if Nick considered it would be to his advantage he +was at liberty to benefit by this scheme of Hugh's. It was all for +the glory of Scranton High; and far better that Nick won the prize, +than that it should be taken by an Allandale, or a Belleville +contestant--that is, if he won it honestly. + +Apparently, on the face of the returns, when half of the fifteen-mile +course had been run, the victory was likely to be carried off by +Whipple, the fleet-winged Allandale chap who had played right field +during the baseball matches; "Just" Smith; himself; or possibly Nick +Lang. There was always a dim and remote possibility, however, of a +dark horse forging to the front on the home stretch. This might be +Horatio Juggins, or McKee, or perhaps that Belleville runner, Conway, +who had looked so confident when Hugh surveyed the line of eager +faces at the start. + +Hugh remembered every foot of the way along that quarry road. He had +a faculty for impressing features of the surrounding landscape on his +mind, so that he could recall it at pleasure, just as though he held +a photograph in his hand. + +Now he was drawing near the quarry itself, the loneliest and most +gruesome stretch of the entire cut-off; with "Just" Smith still in +the lead. Hugh felt proud of his chum, and often chuckled as he +contemplated the other's supreme delight in case a fickle fortune +allowed him to come in ahead; for honors of this sort were a rare +thing in the past of the Smith boy; and certainly he had never before +been so close to reaping such a colossal prize as the winning of the +Marathon would be reckoned. + +Now Hugh glimpsed the quarry on one side of him. How his thoughts +flew backward to marshal the strange events so recently happening +there, in which he and some of his comrades had had the good fortune +to participate. + +Just then he heard a plain groan. It gave him a little thrill, but +not because he fancied there was anything supernatural connected with +the sound. Looking in the direction from whence the groan came he +discovered a boy sitting on the ground, and rubbing his lower +extremities vigorously. + +It was "Just" Smith! Evidently something not down on the programme +had happened to the boy who led the race across the quarry road. +Hugh suspected treachery immediately. He turned aside, and sprang +towards his chum. + +"Hey! what ails you, 'Just' Smith?" he called out, wasting some of +his precious breath in the bargain. "This isn't the way to win a +Marathon, don't you know? What if you have barked your shin?--forget +all about it, and get moving again!" + +The Smith boy looked very sad, as he shook his face dolefully. + +"Huh! wish I could, Hugh," he hastened to mumble, still rubbing his +shin, and making faces as though it hurt him considerably. "I've +tried to run, but shucks; what's the use when you can hardly limp at +the best? I'm through, Hugh, sorry to say. You keep on, and bag the +prize; next to winning it myself I'd love to know _you_ took it away +from that Whipple chap." + +"But--how did the accident happen, 'Just' Smith?" continued Hugh. + +"Accident nothing!" snapped the other, between his set teeth. "It +was all a set-up game to knock one of us out of the race, I tell you. +If you'd been leading at the time, why, that shower of rocks must +have met you." + +"Rocks, did you say?" exclaimed Hugh, looking dark. + +Just then the sound of footsteps was heard. A runner went past them +on the full tear. It was Nick Lang, and when he turned his face +toward the two on their knees the wicked look on his grinning face +told more eloquently than words how his brain had been the one to +hatch up this miserable trick whereby he hoped to gain an advantage +over one of his schoolmates who might happen to be leading him in the +race. He vanished down the road, still running strong. "Just" Smith +almost howled, he was so furious. + +"That's the chap who engineered this rotten game, I tell you, Hugh!" +he snapped. "And chances are ten to one it was Leon Disney and that +Tip Slavin who threw all those stones, and then ran away laughing, so +I couldn't glimpse 'em. Say, I was struck in half a dozen places. +I've got a lump on my head nearly as big as a hen's egg; and my elbow +hurts like everything. I was so flustered that I must have got +twisted in a vine, or else struck a root, for I fell, and barked my +shin something fierce. I wanted to chase after the cowards, but knew +it was silly to think of such a thing. Then I tried to keep on, but +it wasn't any use, and I gave it up as a bad job. But Hugh, I hope +you don't mean to let that skunk profit by his trickery. Please +start off, and beat him out, if it takes a leg." + +"But I hate to leave you here, 'Just' Smith, much as I'd like to +chase after Nick, because now he deserves to be beaten." + +"Oh! don't bother about me, Hugh. I'll try and get to the main +road, even if I have to _crawl_. Later on you can come back for me +in some sort of rig. Whew! but I'm as mad as a hatter because I've +lost my fine chance, when I was going so strong, with plenty of +reserve force held back." + +Hugh realized that duty called upon him to do as his chum demanded. +It would be a shame if Nick Lang actually profited through such a +rank act of treachery toward his fellows of Scranton High. An +individual should be ready to sacrifice his school or its interests +to his own personal ambition, and certainly never should it be +allowed that he gain his ends through such a dastardly trick as the +waylaying of another on the road, and his being assaulted, as "Just" +Smith had been. + +"All right, I'll do it, then!" Hugh exclaimed, with a look of sudden +determination. "Expect me back later on, old fellow! Bye-bye! +Don't try to do too much, and hurt yourself worse!" + +With these words he sprang away. "Just" Smith gave him a parting +cheer, that must have come a bit hard, owing to the pain he suffered, +and also the bitter disappointment that wrung his boyish and +ambitious heart. + +Hugh had but one thought now, which was to speed along at such a clip +as to allow him to finally overtake and pass the treacherous Nick, +and leave him in the lurch. The spur of punishing the other for such +dastardly conduct was apt to prove an incentive calculated to add +considerably to Hugh's running. + +Nick had the advantage, since he must be well on the way to the main +thoroughfare by now; and once that was gained there was a clear field +ahead of him. But one more registering station remained, and that +was at a certain turn on the way home. Then would come the final +three miles, with the pace increasing constantly, as those in the +lead vied with each other to get ahead, or to retain that proud +position. + +Hugh quickly regained the mastery over his aroused feelings. He must +stay cool and collected so as to do exactly the right thing at the +right time. A little slip in the way of judgment was likely to lose +him the race, for he now learned as he gained the main road, that +there were not only one but two competitors ahead of him. + +Yes, the fleet-footed Whipple had somehow managed to spin along over +the ground, and was now not far behind Nick Lang. Possibly the +fellow from Allandale had also secretly examined the course and +discovered a cut-off on his own account, through means of which he +anticipated gaining a great advantage over all the other runners in +the Marathon. + +Hugh now set out to make steady gains. He must be within a certain +distance of those two fellows by the time the last stretch was +reached, or else all his hope of overtaking and passing them would be +lost. + +He found that his powers of endurance and speed had not been +misjudged, for they responded nobly when called upon for a further +spurt. Now, he was greatly lessening the distance separating him +from Whipple; who, in turn, seemed able to hold his own with Nick. + +The latter began to show the first signs of distress when they were +at the beginning of the last two miles. He looked over his shoulder, +and no runner ever is guilty of such an unwise proceeding unless his +heart has commenced to be filled with grave doubts as to his being a +winner. + +Again did Hugh notice Nick doing this, and he took fresh courage from +the circumstance. Yes, and looking more closely he also saw that +Nick was not running true to form any longer; he had begun to wobble +more or less, as though unable to continue on in a straight line. +That was another bad sign, since it causes the runner to cover +unnecessary ground; and also indicates a weakening heart. + +Hugh let out another burst of speed. He was closing the gap rapidly; +and, apparently, Whipple also seemed to be gaining on the almost +played-out Nick. + +They were now within less than a mile of the finish; the last turn +would soon be reached, with the gun booming out the fact of their +arrival. Hugh girded his loins for a Garrison finish, and gloried in +the conviction that he was in trim to do himself credit. + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +THE BOY WHO WON--CONCLUSION + +"It's Nick Lang, as sure as anything!" shouted a boy who happened to +possess an excellent pair of field-glasses. + +"Nick Lang in the lead!" howled another; "well, what do you think of +that? Where, oh, where, oh, where is Hugh Morgan about this time; +and 'Just' Smith in the bargain?" + +"But Nick is a Scranton High boy after all, and that's a heap better +than to see an Allandale fellow come in ahead!" cried another near by. + +"Look! a second runner has turned the bend; and see how he is coming +up on poor wobbly old Nick hand-over-fist!" + +"Hello! what's this mean?" whooped a visitor exultantly. "Surely I +know the second fellow's build. It's certainly our great Whipple! +He's going to cop the prize, boys! Give Whipple an Allandale yell +right now to encourage him!" + +Even as a score of boyish throats roared in response to this entreaty +a third runner was discovered rounding the bend. He appeared to be +tearing along at race-horse speed, as though having a reserve stock +of power upon which to call in this closing half-mile of the long +race. + +"Hugh Morgan!" + +The words seemed to run like wildfire through the vast crowd. +Everybody repeated them, some with a growing delight, others with a +sense of impending disaster to the wild hopes they had been so +ardently cherishing; all according to the viewpoint they held. +Scranton's register was rising, while Allandale visitors began to +feel something was on the verge of happening to crush the budding +paean of victory that was ready to bubble from their lips. + +Nick evidently knew that he had shot his bolt. He, doubtless, tried +frantically to encourage his legs to move faster, but they refused to +hearken to the call. Whipple was now rapidly closing the short gap +existing between them. At the same time it could be seen that the +Allandale runner veered a trifle, as though to give Nick a fairly +wide berth when passing. + +Plenty of fellows noticed this fact, nor did they wonder at it. The +tricky character of Nick Lang was pretty well known, and they +believed he would not hesitate about throwing himself sideways, so as +to collide with Whipple when the other was in the act of passing him; +although such a vindictive act could, of course, not better the +position of the local runner a particle. + +When Whipple actually took the lead a great roar arose from thousands +of throats. Doubtless many wild-eyed Allandale enthusiasts already +counted the victory as won. They could be seen commencing to throw +their hats and caps into the air, boy-fashion. Others, wiser, +gripped their hands, and held their breath while waiting to see the +actual finish of the great race. + +Of a truth Whipple was doing splendidly, there was no gainsaying +that; but coming on back of him was one who appeared to be making +much better time. Hugh was gaining fast, they could see. The only +question that remained to be settled was whether Whipple had it in +him to increase his pace sufficiently to cross the tape first; or, on +the other hand, if Hugh Morgan was able to speed up still more, and +close the gap. + +How the shouts rang out. Everybody seemed to be cheering madly at +the same time. Men stood up, and waved their arms; girls embraced +each other, though not an eye was turned away from that wonderful +finish of the great Marathon race. + +Now, Hugh had apparently released his final effort. He was gaining +faster and faster. Whipple seemed to know that he was in deadly +peril. He, too, looked back over his shoulder in alarm, possibly +meaning in desperation to almost burst a blood vessel if he found +that his rival was about to overtake him. + +That proved his eventual undoing, though the result was no longer in +doubt. He lost his balance, and, being so exhausted that he could +not stand longer, pitched headlong to the ground, just as the fleet +Hugh jumped into the lead, raced twenty steps further, broke the +extended tape, and thus won the race. + +How the heavens seemed to fairly quiver with the roars that broke +out! It had been a most thrilling finish for the greatest race ever +run in all the country. Time might come and time might go, but never +would those who had been so fortunate as to witness the conclusion of +the Marathon forget the thrilling spectacle. + +Hugh bore his honors meekly. + +He utterly declined to let some of the Scranton fellows pick him up +and bear him around on their shoulders, as they threatened to do. +After the prizes had been duly awarded the assemblage broke up, and +the roads leading out of Scranton were soon blocked with hundreds of +vehicles of every description carrying home the visitors. + +Even Allandale and Belleville had no reason to be disappointed over +the general results, for their young athletes had fared very well, +all things considered. Of course, most of them would rather have +seen the Marathon won by a representative from their school than to +"scoop in" all the other prizes grouped together; but since it had to +go to Scranton, they voiced the opinion of most people when they +declared they were glad Hugh Morgan had won it, and not Nick Lang. + +Even though overwhelmed with congratulations on every hand, Hugh did +not forget his promise to "Just" Smith. As soon as he could get into +his street clothes he hunted a fellow who chanced to have his +father's flivver handy, and easily won his consent to take him along +the road in the direction of Belleville, in order to find poor "Just" +Smith, and get him home again. + +This they did without any mishap, and it may be easily understood +that the disappointed boy hailed their coming with great joy. He +knew all about that gruelling finish of the big race in the bargain, +some of those Allandale chaps passing by in vehicles having readily +informed him as to the winner, and what a tremendously thrilling +sight the finish had been. + +Of course, since "Just" Smith had not once glimpsed the figures of +his assailants, and as conviction can hardly rest upon a burst of +vindictive boyish laughter, there was no public denunciation of Nick +Lang and his cronies. Everybody could give a good guess, however, as +to who was guilty; and after that Nick was destined to feel himself +more ostracized by his schoolmates than ever before. + +The great athletic tournament had proven to be a complete success, +being marred by no serious accidents, for which many a devoted mother +in Scranton gave thanks that same night, even though her boy may not +have won undying fame through gaining a prize. Hugh himself was more +than satisfied, though he would have been almost as well pleased had +it been poor "K. K.," "Just" Smith, or Horatio Juggins who had won +the big race, so long as the honor of Scranton High was upheld. + +That was to be the finish of the fall sports, but with winter so near +at hand, and that vast field being put in order for flooding, it +might readily be guessed the boys and girls of Scranton were in line +for considerable more fun while Jack Frost held sway over his frozen +dominions. That this supposition proved to be a correct one may be +judged from the title of the fourth and following volume in this +series, which can be had wherever boys' books are sold, and bearing +the suggestive title of "The Chums of Scranton High at Ice Hockey; +or, A Wizard on Steel Runners." Get it, if you have enjoyed reading +about Hugh Morgan and his loyal comrades in this and previous books; +you will find it just as deeply interesting as anything that has gone +before, since the boys of Scranton enter upon a fresh line of healthy +competition, this time upon the ice. + + + + +THE END + + + + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Chums of Scranton High on the +Cinder Path, by Donald Ferguson + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 13251 *** diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..df7920c --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #13251 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/13251) diff --git a/old/13251.txt b/old/13251.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..98464cc --- /dev/null +++ b/old/13251.txt @@ -0,0 +1,4879 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Chums of Scranton High on the Cinder +Path, by Donald Ferguson + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Chums of Scranton High on the Cinder Path + +Author: Donald Ferguson + +Release Date: August 22, 2004 [EBook #13251] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CHUMS OF SCRANTON HIGH *** + + + + +Produced by Al Haines + + + + + + + + + + +THE CHUMS OF SCRANTON HIGH + +On the Cinder Path + + + + +BY + + +DONALD FERGUSON + + + + +THE WORLD SYNDICATE PUBLISHING CO. + +CLEVELAND, O. NEW YORK, N. Y. + + + + +Copyright, MCMXIX + +by + +THE WORLD SYNDICATE PUBLISHING CO. + + + + + + +Printed in the United States of America + +by + +THE COMMERCIAL BOOKBINDING CO, + +CLEVELAND, O. + + + +CONTENTS + +CHAPTER + + I. THE FIVE NUT FORAGERS + II. ON THE OLD QUARRY ROAD + III. TALKING OF GHOSTS + IV. IN TRAINING FOR THE GREAT TOURNAMENT + V. TREACHERY IN THE AIR + VI. THE PROWLER + VII. CAUGHT IN THE ACT + VIII. LEON PROMISES TO REFORM + IX. SCRANTON IN GALA ATTIRE + X. WHEN MUSCLES COUNTED + XI. THE CRISIS IN CLAUDE'S LIFE + XII. STARTLING NEWS FROM THE JUGGINS BOY + XIII. TO THE RESCUE OF "K. K." + XIV. THE SEARCHING PARTY + XV. PROWLING AROUND THE QUARRY + XVI. A FRIENDLY "GHOST" + XVII. SCRANTON'S "OPEN HOUSE" DAY + XVIII. THE GREAT MARATHON RACE + XIX. ON THE FINAL MILE OF THE COURSE + XX. THE BOY WHO WON--CONCLUSION + + + + +THE CHUMS OF SCRANTON HIGH + + +CHAPTER I + +THE FIVE NUT FORAGERS + +The bright October sun was half-way down the western sky one Saturday +afternoon. Two-thirds of the Fall month had already gone, and the +air was becoming fairly crisp in the early mornings. + +All around the forest trees were painted various shades of bright +scarlet, burnt umber brown and vivid gold by the practiced fingers of +that master artist, the Frost-King. Flocks of robins and blackbirds +were gathering rather late this year, preparatory to taking their +annual pilgrimage to the warm Southland. They flew overhead at times +in vast numbers, making a tremendous chatter. + +A noisy bunch of crows cawed unceasingly amidst the treetops as a +large, lumbering old automobile passed along the country road, the +same filled with lively boys, and also a number of sacks stuffed to +their utmost capacity with what appeared to be black walnuts, +shell-bark hickories, butternuts, and even splendid large chestnuts. +Apparently, the strange and deadly blight that was attacking the +chestnut groves all through the East had not yet appeared in the +highly favored region around the town of Scranton, in which place the +boys in question lived, and attended the famous high school where Dr. +Carmack, also supervisor of the entire county schools, held forth. + +The five tired lads who formed this nutting party we have met before +in the pages of previous stories in this series; so that to those who +have been fortunate enough to possess such books they need no lengthy +introduction. + +First, there was Hugh Morgan, looking as genial and determined as +ever, and just as frequently consulted by his comrades, because his +opinion always carried considerable weight. Then came his most +intimate chum, Thad Stevens, who had played the position of backstop +so successfully during the summer just passed, and helped to win the +pennant for Scranton against the other two high schools of the +country, situated in the towns of Allendale and Belleville. + +Besides these two, there was included in the party a tall chap who +seemed to be acting as chauffeur, from which it might be judged that +he had supplied the means for taking this nutting trip far afield; +his name was Kenneth Kinkaid, but among his friends he answered to +the shorter appellation of "K. K." Then came a fourth boy of shorter +build, and more sturdy physique, Julius Hobson by name; and last, but +far from least, Horatio Juggins, a rather comical fellow who often +assumed a dramatic attitude, and quoted excerpts from some school +declamation, his favorite, of course, being "Horatio at the Bridge." + +It was "K. K." who got up the annual foraging expedition on this +particular year, and promised that they should go in style in the +antiquated seven-passenger car belonging to his father, who was a +commercial traveler, which car "K. K." often used, when he could +raise the cash to provide sufficient gasolene at twenty-five cents +per gallon. But on this momentous occasion each fellow had chipped +in his share pro rata; so that the generous provider of the big, open +car was not compelled to beg or borrow in order to properly equip the +expedition. + +For ten days and more previously some of the boys had industriously +interviewed the farmers who stood in the market-place during the early +mornings, selling the products of their acres. Doubtless numerous +good mothers wondered what caused such an early exodus from warm beds +those days, since farmers had a habit of getting rid of their produce +at dawn, and driving off home while most schoolboys were indulging in +their last nap. + +But, by various means, they had learned just where the nuts grew most +plentifully that season; and quite a list of available places had +been tabulated: to the Guernsey Woods for blacks; plenty of +shagbarks, and some shellbarks to be gathered over at the old Morton +Place, where no one had lived these seven years now; and they said +the chestnuts away up in that region miles beyond the mill-pond was +bearing a record crop this season, as if to make amends for lean +years a-plenty. + +Scranton was one of the few places where the boys still yearned after +a goodly supply of freshly gathered nuts to carry them through a long +and severe winter. Somehow they vied with one another in the +gathering of the harvest of the woods, and often these outings +yielded considerable sport, besides being profitable to the nutters. +On one momentous occasion the boys had even discovered the hive of a +colony of wild bees, cut the tree down, fought the enraged denizens +by means of smoke and fire, and eventually carried home a wonderful +stock of dearly earned honey that would make the buckwheat cakes +taste all the sweeter that winter because of the multitude of +swellings it cost the proud possessors. + +Hugh had been coaxed to join the party; not that he did not fully +enjoy such enterprises, but he had laid out another programme for +that afternoon. All through the morning these same lads had been +hard at work on the open field where Scranton played her baseball +games, and had such other gatherings as high-school fellows are +addicted. Here a fine new cinder path had been laid around the +grounds, forming an oval that measured just an eighth of a mile, to a +fraction. + +All through the livelong day on Saturdays, and in the afternoons +during weekdays, boys in strange-looking running costumes of various +designs could be seen diligently practicing at all manner of stunts, +from sprinting, leaping hurdles, engaging in the high jump, with the +aid of poles; throwing the hammer; and, in fact, every conceivable +exercise that would be apt to come under the head of a genuine +athletic tournament. + +For, to tell the secret without any evasion, that was just what +Scranton designed to have inside of another week--a monster affair +that included entries from all other schools in the county, and which +already promised to be one of the greatest and most successful meets +ever held. + +Hugh and his chums were every one of them entered for several events; +indeed, it would have been like looking for a needle in a haystack to +try and find a single Scranton boy above the age of ten, and sound of +wind, who had not taken advantage of the generous invitation to place +his name on the records, and go in for training along a certain line. +Those who could not sprint, leap the bars, throw hammer or discus, or +do any other of the ordinary stunts, might, at least, have some +chance of winning a prize in the climbing of the greased pole, the +catching of the greased pig, the running of the obstacle race, or +testing their ability to hop in the three-legged race, where each +couple of boys would have a right and left leg bound together, and +then attempt to cross a given line ahead of all like competitors. + +So even when they started out after lunch the whole five were a bit +tired; and a vast store of nuts, like the one they were fetching +home, cannot be gathered, no matter however plentiful they may be on +ground and trees, without considerable muscular effort on the part of +the ambitious collectors. + +Consequently, every fellow was feeling pretty stiff and sore about +the time we overtake them on the way home. Besides, most of them had +zigzag scratches on face and hands by which to remember the +wonderfully successful expedition for several days. Then there was +Julius Hobson with a soiled handkerchief bound around his left thumb, +which he solicitously examined every little while. He had, somehow, +managed to catch a frisky little squirrel, which, wishing to take +home, he had imprisoned in one of his side pockets that had a flap; +but, desirous of fondling the furry little object, he had +incautiously inserted his bare hand once too often; for its long +teeth, so useful for nut-cracking, went almost through his thumb, and +gave his such an electric shock that in the confusion the frightened +animal managed to escape once more to its native wilds. + +Hugh, as he went along toward home, was really taking mental notes +concerning the lay of the land, and with an object in view. He was +entered for the fifteen-mile Marathon race (an unusually long +distance for boys to run, by the way, and hardly advisable under +ordinary conditions), and one of the registering places where every +contestant had to sign his name to a book kept by a judge so as to +prove that he had actually reached that particular and important +corner of the rectangular course, had been the quaint little old road +tavern just half a mile back of them. + +"You're wondering just why I'm so curious about the country up here, +I can see, fellows," Hugh was saying about the time we meet them; +"and, as we all belong to the same school, and our dearest wish is to +see Scranton High win the prize that is offered by the committee in +the Marathon, I don't mind letting you in. I know something about +this country up here, and have traced on a surveyor's chart the +ordinary course a fellow would be apt to take in passing from the +second tally post, that old tavern back of us, along this road to the +canal, and from there across the old logging road to Hobson's Pond, +where there's going to be the last registering place before the dash +for home. Well, I've figured it out that a fellow would save +considerable ground if he left this same road half a mile below, and +cut across by way of the Juniper Swamp trail, striking in again along +about the Halpin Farm." + +His remarks created no end of interest, for there were several others +among the bunch who had also entered for that long-distance race; +and, naturally, they began to figure on how they might take advantage +of Hugh's discovery. It was all for the honor and credit of good old +Scranton High; so that it really mattered little just which fellow +crossed the line first, so long as he "saved the bacon." + +"It sounds pretty fine to me, Hugh," said Julius, "only I don't like +one thing." + +"What's that, Julius?" demanded the Juggins boy. + +"By following that Juniper Swamp trail and the old road Hugh +mentions, we'd have to pass close to that deserted stone quarry; and +say, the farmers all vow it's sure haunted." + + + + +CHAPTER II + +ON THE OLD QUARRY ROAD + +When Julius made this assertion, the other fellows looked at each +other in what might be said to be a queer way. In fact, they had all +heard certain absurd stories told in connection with the old quarry +that had not been worked for so many years that the road leading to +it across country had grown up in grass and weeds. Some adventurous +boys who went out there once declared it was a most gruesome place, +with pools of water covered with green scum lying around, and all +sorts of holes looking like the cave Robinson Crusoe found on his +island home to be seen where granite building rocks had been +excavated from the towering cliffs. + +It was K. K. who laughed first, actually laughed scornfully, though +Julius took it all so seriously. Thad Stevens followed with a +chuckle, after his peculiar fashion. + +"You give me a pain, Julius, you certainly do," ventured K. K. + +"To think," added Thad, assuming a lofty air of superior knowledge, +"of a fellow attending Scranton High believing the ridiculous yarns +these uneducated tillers of the soil and their hired help pass +around, about there being some sort of a genuine _ghost_ haunting the +old quarry--why, it's positively silly of you, Julius, and I don't +mind telling you so to your face." + +"Oh, hold on there, fellows!" expostulated the other boy; "I didn't +say that I really and truly believed any of those awful stories, did +I? But so many different persons have told me the same thing that, +somehow, I came to think there _might_ be some fire where there was +so much smoke. Of course, it can't be a ghost, but, nevertheless, +there are queer goings-on about that deserted quarry these +nights--three different people, and one of them a steady-going woman +in the bargain, assured me they had glimpsed moving lights there, a +sort of flare that did all sorts of zigzag stunts, like it was +cutting signals in the air." + +"Hugh, do you think that could be what they call wild-fire, or some +folks give it the name of will-o'-the-wisp, others say +jack-o'-lantern?" demanded Horatio Juggins, who had been listening +intently while all this talk was going on. + +"I'd hardly like to say," replied Hugh thoughtfully. "As a general +thing that odd, moving light is seen in low, damp places. Often it +is noticed in graveyards in the country, and is believed to be +induced by a condition of the atmosphere, causing something like +phosphorescence. You know what a firefly or lightning bug is like, +don't you, Horatio? Yes, and a glow-worm also? Well, they say that +there are black-looking pools of stagnant water lying around the old +quarry; and yes, I think the lights seen might come from just such +conditions." + +"That sounds all very well, Hugh," continued Julius, "but what about +the terrifying cry that sometimes wells up from that same place?" + +"A cry, Julius, do you say?" exclaimed Horatio, his eyes growing +round now with increasing wonder and thrilling interest, "do you +really and truly mean that, or are you only joshing?" + +"Well," the narrator went on to say soberly, "two fellows told me +they'd heard that same shriek. One was hunting a stray heifer when +he found himself near the quarry, and then got a shock that sent him +on the run all the way home, regardless of trees he banged into, for +it was night-time, with only a quarter-moon up in the western sky. +The other had laughed at all such silly stories, and to prove his +bravery concluded to venture out there one night when the moon was as +round as a cartwheel. He got close to the deserted workings when he +too had a chill as he heard the most outlandish cry agoing, three +times repeated, and----well, he grinned when he confessed that it +took him just about one-fifth the time to get back home that he'd +spent in the going." + +"Whee! perhaps there may be some sort of wild animal in one of the +caves they tell about up there?" ventured Horatio. "I'm not a +believer in ghosts, and I don't consider myself a coward, either; but +all the same it'd have to be something pretty big to induce me to +walk out there to that same lonely quarry after nightfall. Now laugh +if you want to, K. K." + +"Well," interrupted Hugh, just then, "we're approaching the place +right now where that old quarry road I spoke of starts in. I'd like +ever so much to take a look at that same quarry, by daylight, mind +you. Is there any objection, fellows, to our testing out that road +right now? It used to be a pretty fair proposition I've been told, +so far as a road goes, and I think we could navigate the same in this +car. K. K. how do you stand on that proposition, for one?" + +"Count me in on anything that promises an adventure, Hugh," came the +prompt reply. "There is plenty of gas in the tank, and if we do get +a puncture on the sharp stones we've got an extra tube along, with +lots and lots of muscle lying around loose for changing the same. +That's my answer, Hugh." + +"Thad, how about you?" continued the shrewd Hugh, well knowing that +by making an individual appeal he would be more apt to receive a +favorable response, because it goes against the average boy's pride +to be accounted a weakling, or one addicted to believing old wives' +fairy stories of goblins, and all such trash. + +"Oh, count me in, Hugh," responded the other, with an indifference +that may possibly have been partly assumed; but then Thad Stevens was +always ready to back his enterprising chum, no matter what the other +suggested. + +"Horatio, it's up to you now!" Hugh went on remorselessly, as K. K. +stopped the car at a signal from the other, and faint signs of what +had once been a road were to be distinguished just on the left. + +"Majority rules, you know," said the wise Juggins boy, "and already +three have given their assent; so it's no back-out for little +Horatio." + +"Course I'll agree, Hugh," quickly added Julius, when he saw that the +other had turned toward him. "I'm just as curious as the next fellow +to see that old haunted quarry--in the daytime, of course. Besides, +everybody knows there isn't any such thing as a ghost. All such +stories, when they're sifted down, turn out to be humbugs. Sometimes +the moving spectre is a white donkey browsing alongside the road. +Then again I've heard of how it was a swing that had a white pillow +left in it by the children, and the night wind caused it to advance +and retreat in a _terrible_ way. Hugh, let's investigate this silly +old business while we're on the spot." + +And by these wonderfully brave words Julius hoped to dissipate any +notion concerning his alleged timidity that may have lodged in the +brains of his chums. + +So K. K. started up again, and by another minute the old car had +passed in among the trees, with the overgrown brush "swiping" against +the sides every foot of the way. It was necessary that they proceed +slowly and cautiously, because none of them had ever been over that +long disused road before, and all sorts of obstacles might confront +the bold invaders of the wilds. + +Hugh was using his eyes to good advantage, and at his advice the +others did the same. It was a good thing the car was old, and that +it mattered nothing how those stiff branches scraped against the +sides during their forward progress. K. K. knew how to manage, all +right, and, although the trail was quite rough in places where the +heavy rains had washed the earth away, and left huge stones +projecting, he was able to navigate around these obstacles +successfully. + +Twice they came to low places where water ran, and there was some +danger of the heavy car becoming mired. At such times several of the +boys would jump out, and after investigating the conditions perhaps +throw a mass of stones and pieces of wood in, to make what Hugh +called a sort of a "corduroy road" across the swampy section of +ground. + +It was all very interesting in the bargain, and, for the time being, +the boys even forgot the fact that they were exceedingly tired. + +Then they seemed to be gradually ascending a grade, where the road +turned out to be somewhat better. + +"I imagine we're getting close to the quarry now, fellows," Hugh +informed them; "if what I was told is true. It will lie over here on +the right; and only for the dense growth of trees with their foliage +still hanging on, we might see the cliff forming the background of +the quarry right now." + +Julius and Horatio looked around them with increasing interest, and +perhaps a slight flutter of unusual vigor in the region of their +hearts. It was about as gloomy a scene as any of them had ever gazed +upon. Years had elapsed since work in the stone quarry had been +abandoned, and Nature, as usual, had done her best to hide the cruel +gashes made in her breast by man; the trees had grown and spread, +while bushes and weeds extended their sway so as to almost choke +everything around. The distant cawing of the crows sounded more +gruesome than ever amidst such surroundings; but there was no sign of +bird-life to be seen. It was as though the little feathered +creatures found this region too lonely even for their nest building. +Not even a red or gray squirrel frisked around a tree, or boldly +defied the intruders of his wilderness haunt. + +"There, I just had a glimpse of the place through an opening!" +suddenly announced Hugh; "I calculate that we'll soon come in plain +sight of the whole business, for this road leads straight across the +dumps, I was told, and then on again in the direction of Hobson's +Pond." + +The sun was passing behind the first cloud of the whole day just +then. Somehow the added somber conditions had an effect on all the +boys; for, with the temporary vanishing of the king of day, the +shadows around them appeared to grow bolder, and issue forth from +their secret retreats. + +"Ugh! this is certainly a fierce place for a fellow to visit, say +around midnight," K. K. was forced to admit, for he was the essence +of candor at all times. + +"Wild horses couldn't drag me up here at such a time as that," said +Horatio, as he looked ahead, and shivered, either with the chill of +the air, or from some other reason, he hardly knew himself. + +"Hugh, would you try it if someone dared you to?" demanded Julius +suddenly, taking the bull by the horns, so to speak. + +"I don't think I would, on a dare," replied the other calmly, yet +deliberately, as he smiled at the speaker; "but if there was any good +and sufficient reason for my doing the same, I'd agree to come alone, +and spend a whole night in the deserted quarry. However, I'm not +particularly _hankering_ after the experience, so please don't try to +hatch up any wild scheme looking to that end. If you want to come, +Julius, you're welcome to the job." + +Julius shuddered, and looked a bit pale at the very thought. + +"Oh! I wasn't even dreaming of it, Hugh," he hastened to declare. +"I'd much prefer to being asleep in my own comfy bed at home when +midnight comes around, and the last thing on earth you'd catch me +doing would be out hunting spooks." + +It was just as Julius finished saying this that they received a +sudden shock. A loud and thrilling sound, not unlike a human shriek, +came to their ears, filling each and every boy in the car with a +sense of unmitigated horror. It was so exceedingly dreadful that K. +K. involuntarily brought the auto to a full stop, and then turned a +face filled with mingled curiosity and awe upon his comrades. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +TALKING OF GHOSTS + +"That was no crow cawing, boys, believe me!" ejaculated K. K. + +"Crow! Well, I should say not!" added Horatio instantly. "If you +asked me right to my face I'd mention a donkey braying. Gee! but it +was fierce!" + +"But what would a donkey be doing away up here at the old quarry, +where there hasn't been a stroke of work done these many years; tell +me that?" demanded Julius defiantly. + +"I don't believe it was a donkey," said Hugh, shaking his head, as +though he, too, found himself exceedingly puzzled; "but I'm not in a +position to explain the thing. That was certainly a queer noise, for +a fact." + +"Extraordinary!" assented Thad Stevens. + +"Well, I should call it perfectly awful!" Horatio clipped in. + +"Horrible would be a better word to describe it," eagerly followed +Julius, who, it must be confessed, was trembling all over; of course, +not with fear, or anything like that, but just because of excitement, +he assured himself. + +"And," continued the sensible Hugh, "if that's the sort of noises +these farmer folks have been hearing right along, I don't wonder some +of them have been nearly scared out of their wits. It was bad enough +in broad daylight, with the sun shining; so what must it have seemed +like in the moonlight, or when it was pitch dark?" + +"Wow! excuse me from coming up here after dusk," muttered Julius. +"I'm no ghost-hunter, let me tell you. I know my weak points, and +seeing things in the night-time used to be one of the same. They had +a great time breaking me of it, too. Even now I sometimes dream of +queer things when I've got the nightmare, after eating too big a +Thanksgiving dinner; and when I wake up suddenly I'm all in a sweat, +and a poor old moth fluttering at the window will give me a start, +thinking it's the tiger getting in my East Indian bungalow." + +"Well, what's the program, Hugh?" asked K. K. "Shall I start up +again, so we can continue our journey along this tough old road; or +do you want to get out, and take a hunt around the quarry for the +thing that gave those yawps?" + +"Get out?" repeated Julius, in a sudden panic; "not for Joseph. +Don't count on _me_ for any such silly business. I came up here to get +walnuts and such; and I'm meaning to stick close to my engagement. +Side issues can't tempt me to change my mind. Guess I know when I'm +well off." + +"It's been several minutes since we heard that sound," Hugh went on +to remark; "and, so far, it hasn't been repeated." + +"Oh! it came three times, you remember, Hugh," suggested K. K.; "and, +like in baseball, I reckon it's three times and out. Whatever it was +let out those screeches it's certainly quieted down. How about going +on now, Hugh?" + +"If I was alone," mused the other, "I really believe I'd be half +tempted to take a prowl around, and find out if I could what all the +row meant. I never like to pass anything up, when my curiosity is +excited." + +"Oh, come back again some other time, Hugh, when you're not booked +for getting home!" sang out Horatio. "If you put it to a vote I +don't believe anybody in this bunch would seem wild to back you up +right now. Fact is, I can hear our supper-bell calling me ever so +loud. Hey! boys, how about that?" + +"Let's get a move on!" Julius hastened to reply, so that there could +be no mistaking his sentiments, at least. + +Julius was followed by K. K., although the latter shrugged his +shoulders as he added: + +"Perhaps it looks timid in us doing what we mean to, but really this +is none of our business, and we might get in some trouble bothering +around here. I read about a house that was said to be haunted, which +story a daring reporter said he'd investigate. He spent a night +there, and actually captured the ghost, who turned out to be just an +ordinary man, living on a place adjoining the haunted estate. He +owned up to being the pallid specter that had been giving the house +such a bad name; and said he wanted to buy the property in for a +song, as it would find no other purchaser if it had such an evil +reputation. Now, maybe somebody wants this quarry for thirty cents, +and this is his way of scaring other would-be purchasers away. We +don't want to butt in on any such game, you see." + +Hugh and the others laughed at such a clever explanation. + +"Whatever the truth may be," said Hugh, "I hardly believe it'll turn +out anything like that, K. K. But you might as well start on. We're +only losing time here, and it seems as though the _thing_ doesn't +mean to give as another sample of that swan song." + +"For which, thanks!" sighed Julius. "I know music when I hear it, +and if that's what they call a song of the dying swan excuse me from +ever listening to another. I can beat that all hollow through a +megaphone, and then not half try." + +So the chauffeur started up, and they were soon moving along the +rough road that had once, no doubt, been kept in repair, when the +heavy wagons carried out the building stone quarried from the +hillside, but which was now in a pretty bad shape. + +Two minutes afterwards and the road took them directly alongside the +quarry dump, where the excavated earth had been thrown. They could +now see the cliff rising up alongside. It looked strangely bleak, +for, of all things, there can hardly be a more desolate sight than an +abandoned stone-quarry, where the weeds and thistles have grown up, +and puddles of water abound. + +Of course, the boys all stared, as they slowly wound along the road +in full view of the entire panorama that was being unrolled before +their eyes. They noted how in places there seemed to be deep +fissures along the abrupt face of the high cliff. These looked like +caves, and some of them might be of considerable extent, judging from +their appearance. + +"If this great old place chanced to be nearer town," said K. K., +managing to get a quick glimpse, although, as a rule, he needed all +his attention riveted on the rough road he was trying to follow, "I +reckon some of the fellows would have high times exploring those same +holes in the hill." + +"It's just as well then it's as far distant as happens to be the +case," Hugh told him; "because the doctors in Scranton would have +broken arms and legs galore to practice on. That same old quarry +would make a dangerous playground." + +"Oh!" + +That was Julius uttering a startled exclamation. He gripped Horatio +so severely by the arm that he must have pinched the other. At any +rate, Horatio gave a jump, and turned white; just as though his +nerves had all been stretched to a high tension, so that anything +startled him. + +"Hey! what did you do that for?" snapped Horatio, drawing away. +"Think you're a ghost, Julius, and feel like biting, do you? Well, +try somebody else's arm, if you please." + +"But didn't any of the rest of you see it?" gasped the said Julius, +not deigning to quarrel over such a trivial thing as a pinch. + +"See what?" asked Steve, still staring hard at the quarry, which they +were by now fairly well past. + +"Well, I don't know exactly what it was," frankly admitted the +disturber of the peace. "But it moved, and beckoned to us to come on +over. You needn't laugh, Steve Mullane, I tell you I saw it plainly +right over yonder where that big clump of Canada thistles is growing. +Course I'm not pretending to say it was a man, or yet a wolf, but it +was something, and it sure did move!" + +Hugh was looking with more or less interest. He knew how things +appear to an excited imagination, and that those who believe in +uncanny objects seldom have any trouble about conjuring up specters +to satisfy their own minds. + +So all of them, save, perhaps, the driver, kept their eyes focussed +on the spot mentioned by Julius until the first clump of trees shut +out their view of the old stone quarry and its gruesome surroundings. + +"I looked as hard as I could," said Horatio, "but never a thing did I +see move. Guess you've got a return of your old malady, Julius, and +you were seeing things by daylight, just as you say you used to in +the dark." + +"The only explanation I can give," spoke up Hugh, and, of course, +every one lent a willing ear, because, as a rule, his opinions +carried much weight with his chums; "is that while Julius may have +seen something move, it was only a long, feathery plume of grass, +nodding and bowing in the wind. I've been fooled by the same sort of +object many a time. But let it pass, boys. We've turned our back on +the old quarry now, and are headed for the road again, two miles +above Hobson's mill-pond. I only hope we find it better going on +this end of the abandoned trail. This jumping is hard on the springs +of the car, and also on our bones." + +"For one," said Julius, "I hope never to set eyes on the place again." + +"Oh! that's silly talk, Julius," commented K. K. "Here's Hugh, who +means to take a run out this way again as soon as he can, so as to +time himself, and learn just what he can save by cutting across +country in the big race. And I wouldn't be surprised if he put +'Just' Smith up to the dodge, in addition to Horatio here and myself, +all being entered as contestants in the big Marathon race." + +"I certainly feel that way, K. K.," admitted Hugh firmly. "It +strikes me this is going to be worth trying. If one of our crowd can +save time by taking this route, while the other fellows go all the +way around by road, that same thing may give Scranton High the +clinching of the prize. It's all fair and square, too, for the +conditions only demand that the runners refuse all sorts of lifts +while on the road, and register at each and every tally place +designated. If they can cut a corner they are at liberty to do so." + +"Oh! well," said Julius; "I'm not entered in the Marathon, luckily +enough, so you see there's no need of my prowling around this spooky +place again. I haven't lost any quarry, that I know of; and Scranton +is a good enough place for me to do my athletic exercises in. But, +Hugh, if you should happen to find out about the thing that emitted +all those frightful squawks, I hope you'll promise to let us know the +particulars." + +"I can promise that easily enough, Julius," the other told him; +"though, just at present, my only concern is to gain time by this +cut-off, and so win the big event for our school. Now suppose we +drop this subject, and return to something pleasant." + +They continued to bump along the rocky road with its deep ruts. At +times K. K. had to make little detours in order to navigate around +some obstacle which could not be surmounted; for time had not dealt +lightly with the quarry road, and the rains and wintry frosts had +played havoc with its surface. + +But, eventually, they sighted light ahead. Steve was the first to +glimpse an opening, and announce that the main highway leading down +to Scranton must be close at hand. His words turned out to be true, +and soon afterwards they issued forth from the covert and found +themselves upon the turnpike, headed for home. + +Hugh turned around to mark the spot well in his mind, though he knew +that it was to be the exit, and not the entrance, to the short-cut, +in case he concluded to utilize the quarry road when the great race +was on. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +IN TRAINING FOR THE GREAT TOURNAMENT + +It was an afternoon on the following week, after school hours, and +the athletic field bordering the outskirts of the town of Scranton +afforded a pretty lively spectacle. Indeed, it could be readily seen +that the approaching tournament had taken a great hold upon the young +people of the town. + +Scores of boys were busily engaged in various exercises, under the +watchful eye of Mr. Leonard, the assistant principal under Dr. +Carmack. This determined-looking young fellow was a college +graduate, and had taken considerable interest in all manner of +athletics; indeed, it was well known that he had played on one or +more of the college teams during his course, and won quite an +enviable reputation for good work, though hardly reckoned a brilliant +star. + +Many who did not expect to participate in any of the numerous events +had gathered to watch what was going on; and, besides, there were +clusters of pretty high-school girls on the side lines, chattering +like magpies, and venting their opinions regarding the chances +certain favorites among their boy friends appeared to have in the way +of winning a prize. + +Scores were busily engaged in running around the cinder-path, taking +the high jump, trying the hurdles, so as to perfect themselves +against the coming Saturday when the wonderful event was to come off; +sprinting for the short races of fifty, or a hundred yards; throwing +the discus or the hammer, and numerous other lively doings. + +Among these participants there were a number whom the reader of +previous volumes in this series will readily recognize, and possibly +gladly meet again. There was Alan Tyree, for instance, whose +masterly pitching had done so much to land the pennant of the Three +Town High School League that season for Scranton; Owen Dugdale, the +efficient shortstop of the local nine; "Just" Smith, whose real name +it happened was Justin, but who seldom heard it outside of school and +home. He was a fleet runner, and had ably filled the position of +left fielder when Scranton carried the school colors to victory over +Allandale in that last heart-breaking game. Besides these, Joe +Danvers was on deck, doing all sorts of wonderful stunts at throwing +the hammer and taking the long jump, for Joe delighted in a variety +of specialties and did not confine himself to any one particular +thing; also might be seen one Claude Hastings, a chap who was a +regular monkey in his way, and who always kept the crowd laughing by +his antics, such as might be expected of a prize clown at the big +Barnum and Bailey circus. + +Yes, and there was Nick Lang, as big as life, running like the wind +around the cinder-path and looking as though he might have a pretty +fair chance to carry off some sort of prize. Nick had for a long +time been the town bully. He was not a rich man's son; in fact, +Nick's folks were poor, and some people even thought the big, +overgrown boy should be at work helping to keep the wolf from the +door, instead of still attending high school and making himself a +nuisance to decent folks through his delight in practical jokes and +his bullying propensities. + +But even those who detested Nick Lang the most were willing to admit +that he was a pretty fair athlete and could even have excelled along +several lines if only he were able to control that nasty temper of +his and "play fair." + +There were two other fellows, who were cronies of Nick's, and who, +apparently, had entered for some of the events, because both Leon +Disney and Tip Slavin were in evidence and hard at work practicing. + +Nick secretly hated, even as he also feared, Mr. Leonard, because the +under-teacher had once cowed him and made him "eat humble pie" before +the whole class; but, being a wise as well as pugnacious boy, Nick +managed to keep his feelings under control, and when Mr. Leonard was +around he usually behaved himself. + +Later in the afternoon, when most of the boys out for practice had +become more or less tired from their exertions, they gathered here +and there in little bunches to exchange "chaff," and express their +opinions concerning various matters that had a bearing on the coming +tournament. + +So Hugh Morgan found himself in a cluster that contained several of +his chums, as well as a sprinkling of other fellows. A trio of +lively highschool girls hovered near, and occasionally joined in the +conversation. They were Sue Barnes, whom Hugh usually counted on as +his partner when any dance was given in the country, or at +singing-school during the winter evenings; Ivy Middleton, Thad's +choice for company, because she was both jolly and genial; and pretty +Peggy Noland, whom Owen Dugdale liked, as had also Nick Lang, though +the latter had of late been badly snubbed by the scornful Peggy +because she could not stand for his rowdy ways. + +"Mr. Leonard says he's fully satisfied with the way most of the +fellows are showing up," Joe Danvers was saying, about that time. + +"Well, we can't afford to loaf, for a fact," remarked Just Smith, +soberly. "Let me tell you something, fellows. I was down in Paul +Kramer's sporting emporium just last evening, when who should walk in +but Big Ed. Patterson, the Allandale pitcher, who came so near to +downing us last summer. He looks as fine as silk, and told me +privately he calculates on carrying off that prize offered for hammer +throwing, because that is his pet hobby, you see. Yes, and more than +that, he said they were all crazy up at his 'burg' over the big meet, +boys being out practicing every sort of stunt, even to road-running +by moonlight." + +"That sounds good to me," Hugh observed, not appearing to show any +sign of alarm over the stirring news. "It means we'll have a +wonderfully successful affair. Who carries off the prizes is a +matter for the different schools to take care of, and those of us who +believe in clean, honest sport only hope the best fellows win." + +"Huh!" grunted Owen Dugdale, "it goes to show that Allandale is all +worked up over losing the baseball pennant to Scranton, and means to +get even by carrying off the majority of the prizes our committee has +offered for the dozen or more events to be contested for." + +"But he also informed me," continued the bearer of news, "that over +in Belleville they were just as much excited as in his town, so that +every fellow who'd entered for any event, even to climbing the +greased pole or the sack race, was diligently practicing his +particular stunt. Oh! it's just going to be the greatest athletic +tournament ever held in this section of the country, believe me." + +Some of the more timid among the boys seemed to think that Scranton +would come out second-best when the great meet was a thing of the +past; but others only found themselves more determined than ever to +win, after learning how their rivals had entered into the affair with +heart and soul. + +Hugh's often-expressed motto that the "best man should win" found an +echo in the majority of their hearts, and they vied with each other +in promising to give every ounce of ability to doing Scranton High +credit. + +Mr. Leonard came around to have a few words with his boys. He was a +great favorite with the majority of the scholars under his charge, +and to his clever method of coaching they attributed considerable of +their success on the diamond of recent months. If only his rules +were strictly adhered to it was possible that Allandale and +Belleville might be due for another rude surprise when they came +over, bent on carrying off the majority of the high honors. + +"It is going to be no easy sledding for anybody,--remember that, +fellows," the athletic instructor went on to say, after he had been +told how both adjoining towns entered in the meet were striving with +might and main to excel in every sort of event. "No matter who wins +he'll only get there by doing his level best. That's all Scranton +High asks of her representatives. Let there be no loafing, and if +some of our good friends from A and B succeed in carrying away a few +of the prizes, why, we'll know they earned the right, and are welcome +to their reward. And now, I'd like to see you runners try one more +ten-minute sprint, every one of you in a bunch, as a sort of wind-up +for the day." + +Accordingly they ran off to the starting-point and lined up, each +assuming his particular favorite crouching attitude, which he seemed +to think best fitted for a speedy "get-away" when the signal was +given. + +They ran like colts, and some displayed amazing speed, considering +that they had been diligently working out on that same cinder-path +for over two hours, with little intermissions between for resting. + +Those who expected to take part in the Marathon did not attempt to +compete with those fleet sprinters, though if they were pressed +doubtless they too could give quite an exhibition of fast running. + +But Mr. Leonard had taken great pains to inform them that the +successful long-distance runners always take things moderately easy +in the beginning of a race, preserving as much vigor as possible for +the gruelling finish. The chief idea was to keep just behind the +pace-maker, and be ready to rush to the front when on the +home-stretch. The fellow best able to preserve his full powers for +that last half-mile dash would be the one to carry off the honors. + +Nick Lang was there with the rest, watching Hugh out of the tail of +his eye, as if he considered that in the other he would find his +chief competitor; possibly he hoped to be able to pick up valuable +points by keeping watch and ward on Hugh. Hugh had even consulted +Mr. Leonard with regard to making use of his knowledge concerning +that "cut-off." In fact, he wanted to lay any doubts that may have +arisen in his own mind concerning its being perfectly legitimate that +he should profit by such knowledge. + +The athletic instructor assured him he was keeping fully within the +conditions of the race in so doing. + +"It is any competitor's privilege to go over the route as often as he +pleases," was the way Mr. Leonard put it; "and so long as he conforms +to the rules, such as keeping on his own feet every yard of the way, +accepting no lift from wagon or car, and registering faithfully at +the several stations provided, he has done all that is expected of +him. If by crossing a field he thinks he can cut off fifty feet or +more he is at liberty to make the attempt, although it may cost him +dear, through his meeting with some unexpected obstacle in his +progress, which would not have occurred had he stayed by the road. +Some fellows might believe they could do better than trying to cross +by way of that overgrown quarry road. Yes, you are keeping well +within the letter of the law in choosing your own way of going, Hugh. +Have no fears on that score, my boy." + +Mr. Leonard liked Hugh Morgan exceedingly; though that was not to be +wondered at, because Hugh was one of those boys who would never stoop +to do a tricky thing, no matter what allurements it held out; he +always "played square," and even won the high regard of his rivals in +many cases. + +When the October sun had reached the horizon the multitude of +contestants and spectators commenced to string back to town, for it +would soon be getting near supper time; and no fellow likes to be +late at the table, especially when he feels as hungry as a bear, +after exercising so violently for hours. + +Hugh was starting off alone, when Thad Stevens called out that he'd +like the other to "hold up a minute," until he could overtake him; +because it happened he had something to communicate which he thought +Hugh ought to know. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +TREACHERY IN THE AIR + +"Hugh, it looks to me like there's a hen on," was what Thad Stevens +said, as he joined his chum. + +"That's a queer remark for you to make, Thad," the other chuckled; +"after seeing what's been happening here on our athletic field this +afternoon, I'd be likely to say there were a good many score of hens +setting, each hoping to hatch out one of our dandy prizes next +Saturday." + +"Oh! you understand that I mean something crooked going on, Hugh," +Thad hastened to add. + +"That sounds serious enough. What do you know, Thad? The chances +are ten to one if anything in the way of trickery is contemplated I +can put my hand on the fellow who's guilty of the same." + +"Sure thing, Hugh, and his name is Nicholas in the bargain. They +call him Young Nick, to distinguish him from his father who's dead +and gone; but sometimes people say he's a regular Old Nick when it +comes to playing mean jokes, and getting into trouble of all kinds." + +"What's Nick Lang been up to now, Thad?" + +"Oh! just spying on you, for one thing!" exclaimed the other angrily. + +"He's welcome to chase around after me as often as he pleases," said +Hugh; "much good will it do him, I'm thinking. But tell me, why +should he go to all that bother, when my going-out and coming-in +don't interfere with his happiness a whit?" + +"Hugh, Nick is on to your scheme for making use of that short-cut +across by way of the old deserted quarry!" + +"You don't tell me?" Hugh observed. "Well, I came near speaking to +him about it myself, Thad. You see, Nick is entered for the +Marathon, just the same as a number of other Scranton High boys are. +If K. K., Just Smith, and several other fellows are to have the +benefit of that cut-off, if they choose to avail themselves of it, +why shouldn't Nick be included, I've been asking myself? Yes, and +I'd about concluded it was my duty to let him know; but if, as you +say, he's found out for himself I'll be saved all the bother of +telling." + +"He followed you across yesterday, Hugh. By a mere accident I heard +him telling Tip Slavin, and he seemed to think it a good joke, +because you never once suspected he was spying on you from behind +trees and bushes. Why, he says he followed you clear across to the +road again." + +Hugh shrugged his shoulders. + +"Then I give Nick full credit for carrying out a clever piece of +business. I never once remember suspecting that anybody was around. +But, Thad, what's worrying you? There isn't anything about that +discovery to excite you." + +"Hugh, that boy means to do something mean, and it's got a connection +with the short-cut quarry road in the bargain!" + +Hugh turned and looked at the speaker a little gravely. + +"I suppose now you've got some good reason for making that +accusation, Thad?" he ventured. + +"Yes, I have," came the quick reply. "I heard him say something to +that other sneak which I couldn't just catch, but it started Tip +laughing like everything. He slapped a hand down on his knee, and +went on to say: 'Fine, Nick, finer than silk! I bet you he'll be as +mad as hops if he finds himself caught in such a trap, and loses the +race. You can depend on me every time. My affair comes off right in +the start, and I can easy get out there on my wheel long before the +first runner heaves in sight. I'll coach Pete Dudley in his part, +just as you were saying. It's the greatest trick you ever hatched +up, Nick, the very greatest!' Now, you can judge for yourself, Hugh, +whether it's safe for you to try to cross by that same quarry road +when the big Marathon race is on." + +Hugh seemed lost in thought for a brief interval. When he spoke +again there was a settled look of grim determination on his face that +Thad could easily understand, knowing the other as well as he did. + +"It isn't my way to show the white feather when the first cold wind +starts to blowing, Thad, and no matter what Nick is planning to do +I'm not going to give him the first chance to profit by my discovery +of that short-cut route from road to road." + +"That means you decline to be shoved off the path, does it, Hugh?" + +"If I start in that race, as I expect to," Hugh told him, "I intend +to make use of that short-cut, no matter if a dozen Tip Slavins, and +Pete Dudleys are lying in wait to trip me up. But I'm much obliged +to you all the same, Thad, for your warning. I'll be on my guard +from this time on, and they're not going to trap me with my eyes +blinded, I tell you that." + +Thad seemed to be lost in thought himself for a minute or so. +Possibly he was trying to figure out how he could best serve his +comrade in such an emergency. The gloomy woods surrounding the old +quarry did not possess any attraction in the eyes of Thad Stevens. +Though he had not shown the same degree of alarm as Horatio and +Julius at the time they heard those remarkable sounds, so like human +shrieks, nevertheless, Thad felt no hankering after another similar +experience. + +Still he would brave much in order to help the chum whose interests +were so dear to his own heart. He did not say what was in his mind, +only looked a bit wise, as he once more turned to Hugh, as though his +mind had been finally made up. + +"Just as you think best, Hugh," he went on to say quietly. "It may +be that one or more of the other fellows will be taking advantage of +that same old road, and there's safety in numbers, you know, they say. +Nick is likely to get his fingers burned if he attempts any of his +silly tricks. What do you suppose now he could plan to have those +chaps do? They wouldn't want to really hurt you, because that might +get them in bad with Captain Wambold, our police head. Can you think +of any fool play he'd be apt to conjure up, such as might make Tip +say it was the best and slickest scheme he'd ever heard about?" + +"Nick has so many wild ideas that he's likely to attempt nearly +anything," said Hugh. "If he could find a good place where a runner +would have to keep to the road I even believe he'd try to dig a deep +pit, and cover the same over, just as the wild-animal catchers do in +Africa, when they go out after big game for the menageries and zoos." + +"Why, would that work, do you think, Hugh?" cried the startled Thad, +mentally picturing his chum crashing through a false roadbed, and +dropping down into a deep hole from which, alone and unaided, he +could not hope to escape until much time had elapsed, and all hope of +winning the big Marathon was lost. + +"It might have done so if I hadn't chanced to possess a wide-awake +chum, who gave me due warning, and caused me to keep a sharp lookout. +As it is, if I glimpse a suspicious spot in my path I'll fight mighty +shy of the same; or by a big leap give it the go-by. Of course, +there might be other ways in which they could hope to detain me, such +as dropping down on my shoulders from a tree, and with their faces +covered so I couldn't recognize them." + +Thad looked grave. + +"Yes, they could do that, for a fact," he admitted. "Seems to me +you'll have to keep one eye aloft all the while, Hugh, while the +other is watching the ground for treachery. I must say this is a +fine state of affairs. Not only does Scranton High have to go smack +up against all the best runners of Allandale and Belleville, but be +on the lookout for treachery at home besides. I'd give something to +be one of a bunch of indignant fellows to take Nick Lang and his two +pals out to the woods some fine night, and give the same a coat of +tar and feathers, or else ride them on a rail. They're a disgrace to +the community, and Scranton ought to take them in hand right away. +That boy will set the town on fire yet I'm thinking, with his +desperate tricks." + +"He will, unless he soon sees a light, and turns over a new leaf," +admitted Hugh, who, it seems, had an idea of his own in connection +with the said Nick, which, perhaps, he might find an opportunity to +work out one of these days; but which he did not care to confide to +his chum, because he knew Thad would be apt to consider it +impossible, perhaps foolish. + +"There they go now, Hugh," suddenly remarked Thad in an undertone. +"You see, he has both Tip and Leon along with him, and they're +grinning as they look over this way. I warrant you Nick has been +elaborating on that fine scheme of his; and, in anticipation, they +can already see you held up in that lonely place, kicking your toes +at the bottom of a miserable pit, or else tied to a tree." + +"Don't scowl so savagely, Thad," warned Hugh. "There's no need of +letting them understand we're on to their game. The advantage always +lies in catching the other fellow off his guard. Let's laugh while +we walk past, as if we'd been figuring out how a certain prize was +already dangling close to our fingertips." + +So Thad managed to "take a brace," profiting by the sage advice of +his comrade; and, as they passed Nick and his two cronies, Hugh +remarked as pleasantly as he could: + +"I've been watching you run to-day, Nick, and I honestly believe you +are right up with the top-notchers in the game. There may be some +surprises next Saturday for those who think they've got it all +figured out who's going to win the prizes. And Nick, as far as I'm +concerned, I'd like to see you take the long-distance prize, honestly +and cleanly, if I can't get it myself. You're a representative of +Scranton High, Nick, and we're all out to see the old school do +herself proud." + +Nick seemed taken aback by these hearty words on the part of the +fellow whom he had so long sought an opportunity to injure. He shot +a hasty glance, accompanied by the uplifting of his heavy eyebrows, +toward his companions, who, thereupon, catching a sly wink, perhaps, +both chuckled audibly as though amused. + +"Oh! I've already as good as copped that Marathon prize," Nick went +on to say, at the same time thrusting out his chin in his customary +aggressive and boastful fashion. "I calculate to give the folks some +surprise by the ease with which I'll come in away ahead of the next +competitor. There'll be a wheen of those who also ran, bringing up +the tail of the procession. Long-distance is my best suit, and I've +waited a while to show up certain chaps in this town who think they +are just the thing. Don't worry about me, Morgan; Nick Lang +generally gets there when he throws his hat into the ring." + +At that the other two laughed uproariously, as though they thought +the joke too good for anything. Possibly they took Nick's reference +to "those who also ran" to mean Hugh Morgan particularly; and in +their minds they could see him desperately trying to break his bonds; +or climb up out of the deep pit into which he had gone crashing when +the covered mattress, formed of slender twigs and dead leaves, had +given way under his weight. + +Hugh and Thad walked on, the latter fairly boiling with +illy-suppressed anger. + +"That fellow always gives me a pain, Hugh," he was saying, as they +increased the distance separating them from the still merry trio in +the rear. "He is really the meanest boy you could find in all the +towns of this country. But fellows like him sometimes catch a +Tartar; so, perhaps, it might happen in this case," and Thad, who +evidently had something on his mind, would not commit himself +further, as they walked on in company. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +THE PROWLER + +There had been considerable of a change in connection with the big +open field where the boys of Scranton were allowed by the town +council and mayor to play baseball, and also football, since summer +waned. Somehow the success that attended the work of Scranton High +in the battles of the Three Town League, as narrated in an earlier +volume of this series, seemed to have stirred up many of the leading +citizens. Besides, Mr. Leonard, the efficient under-principal of the +high school, with a genuine love and sympathy for all boys in his +heart, had kept things at boiling pitch. + +Consequently there was, first of all, a move made to lease that +splendid field for a long term of years, from the owner, so that the +young people of Scranton might have some central place to gather for +all sorts of outdoor games and sports. + +So subscriptions were started looking to collect a fund with which +not only to erect some sort of decent grandstand, but a building that +would contain a number of conveniences such as most athletic grounds +and similar institutions can boast. + +This building had now been completed, and the boys were in full +possession. It contained, among other things, a score and more of +lockers, where the one who paid a small fee could keep his "fighting +togs," as Thad Stevens was wont to term his baseball clothes, or it +might be the scanty raiment he wore when exercising on the athletic +field, running, or boxing, or wrestling. + +Each boy who hired such a locker, of course, carried the key to the +same; and when engaged in practice work rested easy in the belief +that his street garments were securely taken care of. + +There was also a shower-bath and a pool in the building, as well as +several other conveniences that could be used in the summer time +during the hot weather. The boys arranged to take turns in shifts +with regard to keeping the building clean, and thus far the scheme +had worked very well; for the town did not care to go to the extra +expense of hiring a custodian. + +Besides this, a high fence was ordered to be built around the entire +grounds, for most other towns had their athletic fields enclosed. It +would keep the rowdy element from disturbing the players when any +game was in progress; and, as a small admission fee might often be +asked, having one or two gates through which admission to the grounds +could be obtained would facilitate matters greatly. + +But this was not all. Scranton had awakened to the fact that Nature +had been rather unkind to her young people, in that there was no +large lake, or even so much as a small river close by her borders. +When the boys and girls of the town felt inclined to skate after a +sharp freeze along about New Year's Day, they had to walk all the way +out to Hobson's mill-pond, situated between half and two-thirds of a +mile away. This was not so bad for some of the sturdy chaps, but +there were others who disliked taking such long tramps, especially +after violent exercising for hours, it might be, on the ice. + +So, after mature deliberation, and receiving valuable suggestions +from Mr. Leonard, as well as others who had seen similar things +successfully carried out in various places, it had been arranged to +flood the field after winter had fully set in. Then, during the time +of severe weather, the young folks would have a splendid sheet of ice +right at their doors, a comfortable retreat into which they could go +to warm up, or to put on and remove their skates. + +Here various games were expected to be indulged in, as the weather +permitted; and already a fine hockey Seven had been organized, under +the leadership of Hugh Morgan, with a promise of many exciting games +against rival teams. + +The high board fence was being erected, but would hardly be completed +before Spring; still, it gave an air of business to the grounds, and +the boys had already begun to congratulate themselves over the great +stride forward Scranton had taken in the way of catering to her +rising population. + +Of course, there were those in the town--you can always find a few in +every community--who seriously objected to so much "good money being +wasted," as they termed it, on such trivial things, when Scranton +really needed an up-to-date library building in place of the poor +apology for one that had to serve. + +These people, doubtless from worthy motives, though they were +short-sighted in their opposition, lost no opportunity for running +down the entire enterprise. The person who, perhaps, had more +influence than any of the others, and was more vehement in deriding +the "foolish expenditure of funds along such silly lines, instead of +trying to elevate the standard of reading among Scranton's young +people," was the rich widow, Mrs. Jardine. + +She had a son named Claude, whose life was rendered miserable by the +lofty ambition of his mother to make him a genius. She never ceased +talking upon all sorts of elevating subjects; and where other boys +were allowed to lead normal lives, and have lots of innocent if +strenuous fun during vacations, and holidays, poor Claude led a life +of bondage. + +He was rather an effeminate-looking boy, tall and slender, with a +face entirely destitute of color such as would indicate abounding +spirits and good health; but it was no wonder, everyone knew how he +was being made such a "sissy" of by his doting "mamma." + +Despite all this there seemed to be a spark of ordinary boyish +spirits concealed under Claude's superior airs. He sometimes stood +and watched the other fellows engaged in playing prisoner's base, or +some such rough-and-tumble game, with envy. Once upon a time his +mother, chancing to pass along the street in her fine car, was +horrified to discover her darling Claude actually taking part in some +"rowdy game," in which he scrambled with the rest just as vehemently, +and was, moreover, even worse off than the other boys with regard to +soiled garments and disheveled hair. Evidently the long suppressed +spirit of the lad had broken bounds, and for once he allowed himself +to be natural. + +The other fellows never tired of telling how she had called to him +almost frantically, as though she believed he had become inoculated +with some deadly germ, and must be contaminated, bundling the boy +into the car, and actually crying with dismay when she found that he +actually had a scratch upon his nose, which had been bleeding. But +it was also noticed that Claude grinned at his late fellow wrestlers +as he was borne triumphantly away, as though to emphasize the fact +that he had, at least, enjoyed one real period of excitement in his +life, to remain as a bright spot for many days. + +Hugh had often wondered whether there might not be some way through +which this deluded mother might be shown what a terrible error she +was making in bringing up her boy to be so inane and useless. He +needed physical development more than any other fellow in Scranton +High. Constant feeding upon lofty ideas, and never given a chance to +develop his muscles, was wrecking his health. Mr. Leonard had even +gone to Mrs. Jardine and entreated her to let him undertake a +moderate programme of athletic exercises with Claude; but he might as +well have tried to lift the high-school building as to make her +change her set ideas. + +Hugh and Thad had been out on a particular night after supper, +visiting another boy who chanced to live on the outskirts of town. +He had received a wonderful collection of curios from an uncle living +out in India, after whom he had been named; and upon being especially +invited over to view these things, which included a wonderful +assortment of rare postage stamps, the two chums had made it a point +to accept, being greatly interested in all boyish "hobbies." + +That was how they happened to be passing along the road close to the +athletic grounds about half-past nine o'clock that same night. + +There was a fair moon shining, but objects appeared more or less +misty, as often occurs under such conditions. The boys had about +exhausted their vocabulary of words that express delight, in +examining the many things of interest shown by "Limpy" Wallace, who +was a cripple, and had to use a crutch, he being also a great admirer +of Hugh Morgan, whom he considered in the light of a hero. + +Besides this, both boys were unusually tired after the exertions of +the day, and Thad frequently yawned in a most terrific fashion, as he +walked homeward. Probably these were the main reasons for their +unnatural silence, as they stalked along side by side; since it is +seldom that two lads will refrain from exchanging opinions on some +subject or other, when in company. + +Afterwards, in the light of what happened, they were inclined to +believe that it was exceedingly fortunate they had lapsed into this +queer condition of silence, for, otherwise, they would have missed +something that proved unusually interesting, as well as afforded them +more or less excitement. + +It was Thad who discovered it first. Perhaps he chanced to be +looking that way while Hugh was star-gazing. At any rate he gripped +his chum suddenly by the arm. + +"Sh! Hugh, what's that yonder, a skulking dog, or a fellow half bent +over?" was what Thad whispered in the ear of his chum. + +Both of them had come to a full stop, under the impulse of the +moment; and Thad was pointing a little to the right, which was where +the building erected on the athletic grounds stood, dimly seen in the +mysterious moonlight. + +So Hugh, staring quickly, made out the object indicated by his +companion. Really, he could hardly blame Thad for asking such a +question, because at first it was next to impossible to determine +whether it was a four-footed creature, or a human being who, for some +good reason, was trying to make himself appear as small as possible. + +But as Hugh continued to look he saw the other raise himself to his +full height, as though to take a cautious survey of his surroundings. +Then he knew that it was no canine prowling around to discover scraps +thrown aside by the carpenters working on the board fence, as they +ate their noon lunch. + +"It's a human being all right, Thad," Hugh whispered, in such a low +tone that even the sharpest pair of ears going could never have +caught the sound ten feet away. + +"Man, or boy, Hugh?" asked Thad, copying the example set by the +other, and even bending his head so that his lips might come closer +to Hugh's right ear. + +"Can't make that out," he was told. + +"But what in the wide world is he trying to do?" pursued Thad, his +curiosity now fully aroused, as the unknown again started to move +forward, pursuing the same strange cautious tactics as before. + +"That's what we ought to find out," Hugh told him. "I don't like the +way he's sneaking around here. It looks as if he might be up to some +game." + +"Oh! perhaps it's a tramp," suggested Thad, as the idea dawned upon +his brain. + +"He may be meaning to break into the building, to sleep there +to-night. I wouldn't put it past a hobo to steal anything he could +find left in the lockers. Hugh, it's up to us to put a kink in his +rope. Let's chase after him before he disappears." + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +CAUGHT IN THE ACT + +"Hold on, Thad," continued Hugh, as he put a restraining hand on the +shoulder of his more impulsive chum, "we've got to be careful, or +else he'll learn how we're meaning to spy on him. Bend over, and do +the grand sneak act." + +"He's headed straight for the building, Hugh!" breathed the other, as +he complied with the directions given by the one whom he was +accustomed to look upon in the light of a leader. + +"That's right, and I guess he's meaning to crawl inside, if only he +can find a window that's been left unfastened. Steady now, Thad; +he's stopped under one right now!" + +They continued to crouch there and watch what went on, their eyes +glued upon the dimly seen figure of the unknown. Greatly to the +surprise of Thad, the party stepped to one side, and seemed to be +dragging back a heavy plank, not of any vast length, but sufficiently +long to reach the window when placed on a slant. + +"Say, did you notice how he seemed to know just where that plank was +lying, Hugh?" asked Thad deliriously. "Seems like he must have been +spying out the land by daylight beforehand." + +"You're right there," whispered Hugh; "and he acts as if he felt +pretty certain that particular window would be unfastened, in the +bargain." + +"Hugh, that settles it," added the other sturdily, as though now +fully convinced. + +"Yes, settles what, Thad?" + +"Why, it's a _boy_, don't you see, and he must have left that +window unlatched on purpose this afternoon when some of the +fellows were shutting up." + +"Wait and see," advised Hugh, although almost convinced of the same +thing himself. + +The test was not long in coming. They could see the other "shinning" +up the sloping plank, as any athletic boy would be apt to do, without +any particular trouble. Now he had reached the window, and Thad held +his breath in suspense. He sighed as he heard a slight squeaking +sound. Evidently the sash which was supposed to be fastened every +night through ordinary prudence, had given way to his hand, when he +exerted some pressure. + +"He's going in, Hugh!" Thad observed, again laying a quivering hand +on the arm of his comrade, and then following these words with a low +exclamation of startled wonder: "Oh! look there, what's that queer +glow mean?" + +Hugh understood readily enough. + +"Why, he's got one of those little handy electric torches, you see, +and is using it so as to get his bearings inside the building." + +"Guess you're right, Hugh," admitted the other; "and there, he's +crawling over the sill now, as sure as anything. Oh! the skunk, what +can he be up to?" + +"We'll try and find out," said Hugh, with his usual promptness. "Now +he's gone further from the window let's be moving along. That plank +ought to make it easy sledding for fellows like us." + +Indeed, it would be hard to find a couple of more athletic boys than +Hugh and his chum. Their intense love for every type of outdoor +sport had kept them in splendid physical condition, so that their +muscles were as firm as those of an athlete in training. To make +their way up that sloping board and reaching the open window was +likely to prove a mere bit of child's play with such fellows. + +Hugh was the first to ascend. When he had raised himself so that he +could peep over the window ledge and see within the building he +apparently found the coast clear; for Thad, coming along just behind, +received a gentle prod with a toe, twice repeated, which he knew to +be a signal that all was well. + +By the time Thad arrived the other was already well within the room, +having slipped across the window-sill without making the slightest +sound. All was dark around them, but further on they could see that +weird shaft of light moving this way and that, indicating the spot +where the unknown intruder just then happened to be located. + +"He's making for the locker room, don't you see, Hugh?" Thad +ventured, with a perceptible quiver to his low voice. + +"Sure thing, and he knows where he's going, in the bargain," the +other went on. + +"Of course, it's no hobo, then," continued Thad. "That scamp knows +every foot of ground under this roof. You can see it by the way he +keeps straight on. Hugh, do you think it might be Nick Lang?" + +After all, it was only natural for Thad to jump to this conclusion, +because of the evil reputation enjoyed by the boy he mentioned. Nick +Lang had been the bully and the terror of Scranton for years. There +was seldom a prank played (from stealing fruit from neighboring +farmers, to painting old Dobbin, a stray nag accustomed to feeding on +the open lots, so that the ordinarily white horse resembled the +National flag, and created no end of astonishment as he stalked +around, prancing at a lively rate when the hot sun began to start the +turpentine to burning), but that everybody at once suspected Nick of +being the conspirator. + +Possibly he may not have always been the chief offender; but give Dog +Tray a bad name and he gets the blame of everything that happens +calculated to outrage the respectability of the law-abiding community. + +"I thought of him at first," replied Hugh, "but it strikes me that +chap isn't of Nick's build. You see his light leaves his figure +pretty much in the dark; for he's using it principally to show him +the way, so he won't stumble over any chair, and make no end of a +row." + +The two had been stealthily creeping forward all this while, and +were, therefore, gradually diminishing the distance separating them +from the bearer of the electric hand-torch. Thad had evidently been +consulting his memory concerning something, for presently he again +whispered in his chum's ear: + +"Then mebbe it might be Leon Disney, Hugh. Seems to me that sneak +would be just the one to try some mean trick like this. And, +besides, I happen to know he bought one of those little vest-pocket +lights down at Paul Kramer's store only three nights ago, because I +saw him testing them and heard him say he'd take it." + +"Yes, that looks significant, I must say, Thad. But I'm trying to +make out what he's done with his head. Don't you notice he's got it +bundled up with a sort of woollen comforter or something like that?" + +"Why, so he has," replied the other; "I tell you what, Hugh, he's +hoping to hide his face, so if he's discovered prowling around in +here no one can say positively that they recognized him. Leon is up +to all those sly tricks. He gets ideas like that out of the stories +he's so fond of soaking in." + +"Keep still now, Thad, and we'll creep closer," warned the other. + +They really had their hands full endeavoring to advance upon the +prowler without making any sort of sound that would arouse his +suspicions. Hugh realized that if anything of this sort occurred the +other would instantly throw the full glow of his little electric +torch in their direction, and, of course, immediately discover their +presence. If such a thing happened it might interfere with their +suddenly arranged plan of campaign, and prevent the capture they +contemplated, which would be a grievous disappointment to both boys. + +The unknown party had come to a standstill. He stood there in front +of the long row of new lockers in which the boys who meant to take +part in the principal events of the great athletic tournament kept +their possessions, without which they would be more or less +handicapped in their practice work. + +Thad had made another important discovery; indeed, it struck him as +so significant that he could not forbear dragging Hugh down so that +he could place his lips against the other's ear and whisper: + +"It's _your_ locker he's trying to open, Hugh, don't you see?" + +Hugh, of course, had already noted this circumstance, and felt duly +thrilled, for really it struck him as something more than an +accident, and along the lines of a deep design. Doubtless, his +active brain started to wrestle with the problem as to why any one +should wish to open his locker, since the only things he kept there +consisted of his running jersey and trunks and shoes. + +Could it be possible that this was only some small piece of +spite-work engineered by his old and inveterate enemy, Nick Lang, and +ordered carried out by one of the bully's cronies; while Nick himself +made certain to be in good company, so he could easily prove an alibi +if accused of the mean trick. + +It seemed almost too contemptible to be true, since Hugh could easily +purchase other garments down at the sporting-goods store in Scranton. +Still, some mean natures are small enough to love to give "stabs" +that might annoy the recipient; and boys sometimes grow so accustomed +to certain articles of wearing apparel that being compelled to "break +in" a new pair of running shoes might lose Hugh the great race! + +He gritted his teeth as a wave of indignation swept over him. Really +it was high time this contemptible spirit of annoying those he chose +to look upon in the light of enemies was crushed in Nick Lang. He +had carried on with a "high horse" too long already, and, for one, +Hugh felt as though combined action should be taken against him by +the respectable fellows of Scranton High. + +But it was far from Hugh's intention to stand there and see his +locker robbed by such an unprincipled fellow as Leon Disney, if, +indeed, the skulker proved to be the party they suspected. Possibly +Hugh moved too soon, for it would have been much wiser had he waited +until the sneak thief actually had the locker open, and disclosed his +full intention. + +Urged on to action by his indignation, Hugh started forward. Thad, +realizing that it was his chum's intention to do something radical, +skipped off a little to the right. He fancied that should the +skulker take the alarm and try to flee, making for the open window in +the rear, he was apt to turn aside and try to pass by; so his move +was intended to block this little game. + +It turned out to be needless, for so interested was the fellow with +the flash-light in his work of inserting a key in the lock, and +trying to turn it, that he did not appear to notice anything wrong +until Hugh was close at his elbow. Then, as Thad slipped around to +one side to cover all lines of retreat, Hugh reached out a hand and +caught hold of the fellow by the shoulder. At the same time he +exclaimed in a severe voice: + +"Well, what are you doing here, I want to know, trying to break into +my locker?" + +The other gave a tremendous start, and a low, bubbling cry, half of +fright, and also of disgust, came from his lips. The woollen muffler +fell from about his face, and, although he snapped off the light just +then by a movement of his thumb, the others had glimpsed his features. + +Thad had evidently hit the target in the bull's-eye when he mentioned +his suspicions concerning the probable identity of the skulker. It +was Leon Disney! + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +LEON PROMISES TO REFORM + +The startled boy struggled to get free, but Hugh had taken a firmer +grip upon his person, and saw to it that he could not squirm loose. + +"Quit your kicking!" cried Thad, indignantly, when one of the +fellow's shoes came in rough contact with his own shins; "or we'll +start something along the same lines! We know you, Leon Disney, so +there's no use trying to hide your face." + +Leaning over, Thad groped around until he managed to find the hand +that held the little electric torch. This latter article he tore +from the grasp of Leon, and immediately pressed the button that +caused the battery to work. The intense darkness around them was +dissipated to some degree. Thad threw the glow directly into the +face of the fellow Hugh was holding. + +Leon stopped his desperate struggles. He realized that the game was +up so far as trying to keep his identity a secret; and, being a most +resourceful sort of chap, he now resorted to another little scheme +which he had undoubtedly thought out, to be used in case he was +discovered, and cornered, while on his night mission. + +"Oh! is that you, Hugh?" he burst out, in a shaky voice. "Say, you +gave me an _aw_ful scare! I thought it must be some old tramp that +grabbed me, sure I did. It's all right now, Hugh, and I'm not +wanting to clear out, since I know who you are. That's Thad, too, I +reckon, holding my little flash-light. How you did startle me, +though. I never dreamed anybody was around here when I started to +come back after my watch." + +"What's that you say?" gasped Thad; "your watch? Tell that to the +marines, Leon Disney!" + +"But it's so, I tell you. Thad, it sure is," persisted the other +tenaciously, as though he had laid all his plans for just such an +"accident," whereby his attempt to rob Hugh's locker would be held +up. "I believe I must have forgotten to take it out of my locker +this evening when I was dressing, after hard work on the field, +running, and practising throwing the hammer. I never noticed it till +long after supper, and I was afraid of what my dad would say when he +asked me for it in the morning, to take back to the store where he +got it, to exchange for another. So, Hugh, don't you see, the idea +came to me that mebbe I might be able to get in the building out here +if a window happened to be unfastened; which turned out to be the +case, you know." + +"Yes, the very _first_ window you tackled in the bargain, Leon; how +fortunate for you!" sneered the unbelieving Thad. "And say, you +ought to know that this isn't your locker, because the numbers are +painted big enough on the door for anybody with only one eye to see." + +Even this did not appear to disconcert the other boy. He was a +slippery sort of customer, who always seemed able to find some sort +of ready excuse, or a way to "climb down a tree" when caught in the +act. + +He turned, and stared at the number 16 plainly on the door. Then he +grinned at Thad as he hurriedly went on to explain further; for his +inventive faculties seemed without end when they were exercised in +order to get him out of any bad scrape: + +"Well, that shows my first guess was the right one after all. You +see, Hugh, I knew my number was either 16 or 19, and, for the life of +me, I couldn't tell which. Of course, if the first belongs to you +when my number is 19, I was foolish to change my mind; though, of +course, even if the key opened your locker I'd have known my mistake +right away. No harm done, I hope, Hugh?" + +Thad made a low, growling sound, as though he put not the slightest +faith in the story Leon was telling. He knew the other to be utterly +unprincipled, and a willing tool in the hands of Nick Lang; indeed, +there were some things about the sneaky Leon that blunt, honest Thad +hated worse than the bullying propensities of the other boy. + +"So you really and truly left your watch in your locker, did you?" he +demanded, with a perceptible sneer in his tones. + +"I think I did; in fact, I'm certainly hoping so," Leon hastily +replied; "because if it doesn't happen to be there I don't know where +I could have lost it; and I'll get a fine turning over from dad in +the morning when he asks me for the same to take back, and exchange +for one that keeps decent time." + +"Oh!" continued the still skeptical Thad, thinking to corner Leon, +"then, perhaps, you'll prove your words by showing us the inside of +your locker right now? Number 19 it would be, you said; well, here +it is, on a direct line with Hugh's locker. Get busy with your key, +Leon, and open up!" + +Possibly Thad was confident that the other would not venture to do as +he demanded. He may have expected him to invent some handy excuse +for not complying; but then the other had already laid the foundation +for a reasonable sense of disappointment in case no watch was +forthcoming when the locker was opened; since he said he _hoped_ he +might have forgotten it when dressing, and not lost it on the way +home that evening at dusk. + +Leon started to obey with alacrity, as though he had no fears. His +key immediately opened the door, and this, upon being swung aside, +revealed a bundle of old athletic garments hastily thrown in without +regard to neatness. + +These Leon commenced to eagerly take out, one at a time. He was +careful how he handled them, as though fearful lest he might toss the +silver watch out, to land on the floor with disastrous results. + +As he picked up such various articles of wearing apparel as used by +an athlete in training, Leon continued to air his grievances, as +though he meant Hugh to understand how utterly impossible it was for +him to have intended any mean thing by breaking open a locker other +than his own: + +"It was silly of me getting those numbers mixed in my head, of +course; but then a figure nine is only a six turned upside down, you +see. I was so worked up over missing my clock that I just couldn't +think straight at all. Well, it isn't under that jersey, anyhow; nor +yet covered by those trunks. I remember now I pushed it away back, +so I couldn't drag it out. There's an old sweater I use when I'm +overheated, and afraid of taking cold; mebbe now it's under that." + +Reaching further in, Leon caught hold of the article in question, and +carefully drew it toward him. Then he as cautiously lifted the torn +sweater; and, as Thad turned the glow of the flash-light directly +into the box they all saw the watch reposing in the corner, just as +the boy had left it. + +Leon made a clutch for his property. He over-did the matter, Hugh +thought, acting in an exuberant fashion. + +"Oh! mebbe I'm not joyful over getting my hands on you again, you +poor old time-keeper!" he exclaimed, as he snatched the silver watch +up and shook it, as though any fault could be attached to the article +in question. "A fine chase you've given me to-night; and playing the +part of sneak-thief in the bargain; but then, of course, you believe +what I told you, now, Hugh, since you've seen that the watch was in +my locker?" + +Hugh did not care to fully commit himself, it seemed, judging from +the way in which he went on to say: + +"We've seen you recover your watch all right, Leon; and it was in +your locker just as you said; but whether you forgot it, or left it +there on purpose, is a question I'm not prepared to settle." + +Of course there was no further excuse for Hugh keeping that grip on +Leon's shoulder, so he released his hold, and the other gave a sigh +as of relief at this evidence of a change in policy on the part of +his captor. + +"Say, I wish you'd do me a great favor, Hugh," Leon went on to say, +as though he believed in the old maxim that it is wise to "strike +while the iron is hot." + +"As to what?" demanded the one addressed in this whining way. + +"What's the use of saying anything about this business?" Leon went on +eagerly. "It certainly wouldn't do any good, and I proved to you +that I did enter here just to recover my watch, didn't I? But mebbe +it might get to my dad's ears, how I'd gone and been so careless +about looking after my property. You see, he told me that if I lost +this birthday present he'd not get me another watch till I graduated +from high school; and say, I'm beginning to lose all hope of that +ever happening in my case. But you will keep mum about it, won't +you, Hugh; just to save me from getting up against it rough with my +strict dad?" + +It sounded like a reasonable request, Hugh must have thought. +Besides, no matter what the intentions of Leon may have been, there +had really been no harm done, owing to the fact of their being drawn +to the spot by discovering his skulking figure dimly outlined in the +moonlight. + +Hugh considered before committing himself to making any reply. He +did not believe most of what the other so glibly declared, partly +because he knew very well that Mr. Disney was not a strict parent at +all, but a most indifferent one, or he would never have allowed his +young hopeful to go in the company of Nick Lang, and take part in +many of the other's practical jokes. Some of these had bordered on a +serious nature, like the time the electric current was shut off +abruptly when the graduation exercises were going on at night-time in +the big auditorium in the high-school building; and the ensuing utter +darkness almost created a panic among the audience, composed +principally of women and young people, the wires having been severed, +it was later discovered, at a point where they entered the building. + +"I'll say this, Leon," he finally told the waiting boy; "I'll keep +quiet about this little thing for three days, and then feel free to +mention it, if the necessity arises. I'll make a further bargain +with you to this effect; you fight shy of the company of Nick Lang +after this, and I'll hold my tongue as long as I understand that +you've cut his acquaintance; otherwise, I'll feel free to speak; and +there are lots of people in this town who'll believe you had some +dark motive back of your breaking into this building to-night. Your +reputation is against you, Leon, you understand. Another fellow +might enter here, and everybody would believe what he said; but +you've long ago lost the confidence of everybody worth while in +Scranton. Is it a bargain, then?" + +Leon replied with alacrity; but then that was no sign that he meant +to keep his word. He had been caught in a downright lie on many +another occasion; so Hugh did not place much reliance on his promise +to reform. + +"Oh! as to that, Hugh," said the crafty Leon, "I've been figuring on +cutting away from Nick for a long time now, and I guess I'll do it. +He's got me in lots of nasty scrapes, you understand, and then just +laughs at me. I'd have given him the shake long since, only he +threatened to whip me black and blue if I ever did. But this would +be a good chance to try it out. Yes, I'll promise you to try and +break away from Nick; and I hope you'll keep mum about my coming here +to-night. If you don't mind, Thad, I'd like to have my flashlight +now. And I ought to be going back home in the bargain, because dad +doesn't like me to be out nights unless he knows where I'm at." + +Thad chuckled as though he considered this last remark in the light +of a joke; for Leon roamed the streets until a late hour every night +he chose; but, as there was no need of their staying longer, they +passed out of the window, and headed toward their respective homes. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +SCRANTON IN GALA ATTIRE + +That was, indeed, a busy Friday with the students of Scranton High. +Lessons had been tabooed entirely, for what was the use of trying to +hold the attention of the scholars upon dry subjects when their +thoughts continually roamed afield, and seemed concerned only with +what great things were scheduled for the next afternoon? Still, they +gathered at school, which was a sort of general headquarters where +the various committees appointed could consult, and go forth to the +work assigned to their particular charge. + +The girls were just as enthusiastic as the boys, and demanded equal +representation upon a number of the said committees, especially the +ones designed for the welcome and entertainment of the vast crowds +expected to be present from neighboring towns and villages. + +It was going to be an event long to be remembered in Scranton, and +the town dressed in gala attire in honor of the occasion. Flags and +banners were being displayed as though a great wave of patriotism had +overwhelmed the place. If a stranger had suddenly dropped down on +the town just then he must have believed American soldiers were on +the fighting line across in France, and that news had been cabled +over to the effect that they had met the enemy in their first +engagement, and won a decisive victory. + +The fairly good town brass band had promised to be on hand, and play +during the best part of the afternoon. Then there would be a host of +refreshment booths at which Scranton's fairest daughters would +preside, accompanied in each instance by a matron of mature years, to +lend dignity to the occasion. Here the good folks from Allandale, +Belleville and other places, who honored the town with their presence +would always be warmly welcomed, and given a cup of delicious tea, +coffee or chocolate, as they preferred, accompanied with sandwiches +galore, and even cake. + +Meanwhile it was planned that those who meant to take part in any of +the events on the long programme should have a last "workout" that +Friday afternoon. Saturday morning it was intended they should rest +up, so as to be in the pink of condition when the meet opened at one +o'clock. + +That might seem to be an early hour, as some had argued, but the +programme was so extended that there was a possibility of darkness +creeping up on them before the fifteen-mile Marathon, the greatest +event of the day, had been fully completed. + +During that energetic morning at school, when boys and girls were +hustling to carry out the part of the work entrusted to them, Hugh +had managed to keep an eye on Leon Disney from time to time. He felt +pretty certain that the tricky boy had no intention of fulfilling the +promise he had made under duress, and while a threat of exposure hung +over his head, like the famous sword of Damocles, suspended by but a +single hair. + +Leon watched Hugh also, and tried to act in a manner calculated not +to arouse suspicion; but Hugh understood from his actions how matters +probably stood. Leon had, of course, managed to see Nick Lang before +coming to school, and explain to him what a bad fix he had managed to +get himself in when caught in the act of breaking into Hugh Morgan's +locker at the athletic grounds building. + +No doubt it had been artfully arranged between the precious pair that +Leon was to seem to keep his distance away from Nick; and if at any +other time the latter joined a group amidst whom Leon chanced to be +standing the other was to immediately move away in an ostentatious +fashion that would cause Hugh to believe he meant to keep his given +word. + +But several times Hugh felt certain he detected sly winks exchanged +between Nick and his apparently estranged pal; which could only mean +that Leon was playing a double game. Still Hugh did not bother +telling anyone about the affair of the preceding night. No harm had +really been done, fortunately, and Leon might hold his evil +propensities in check for a while if he had reason to fear disclosure. + +The committees were wearing their badges proudly, and every member +seemed desirous of doing everything in his or her power to render the +athletic tournament a wonderful success. Nothing like it had ever +been attempted in the county, and for that reason they were compelled +to look up all manner of accounts in papers and magazines, in order +to do things properly. + +Mr. Leonard was a great help, for he, being a Princeton graduate, and +interested in all manner of athletics for years, had kept in touch +with such things. Then from various other unexpected sources +assistance cropped up. Why, even old Doctor Cadmus, the leading +physician of Scranton, proved to be a walking encyclopedia of +knowledge concerning the management of such an event; and it turned +out that several times long years before, in another community +entirely, he had had full charge of just such a tournament; also that +he had many articles laid away telling of the modern innovations that +had displaced the older method of doing things. + +After lunch the young people began to gather on the field by squads +and battalions, and it was soon quite an animated sight, with the +girls circulating around in gaily dressed bunches, and the various +candidates going through their various stunts under the personal +supervision of Mr. Leonard. + +There had been more or less talk concerning the advisability of +allowing school boys to undertake such a long Marathon race. Fifteen +miles, many thought, was far too strenuous an undertaking for lads as +yet in their teens. Full-fledged athletes only run twenty miles in +all the famous long-distance races, and even at that numbers of them +do not finish, the task being too much for them. + +But Mr. Leonard was of a different opinion, and he had his way. One +thing, however, he did insist on. This was that each and every +candidate entering for the Marathon fetch along with him a paper from +his family physician, stating that he had undergone a rigid +examination to ascertain whether he was in the pink of condition, and +without the slightest heart trouble. + +Doctor Cadmus gladly examined all the Scranton fellows free of +charge, and it was given out to the neighboring towns, from whence +aspiring runners hailed, that the lack of such a physician's +certificate would debar any candidate from the race. + +Hugh, along with several other fellows, intended to take a run of +from seven to ten miles over the course that Friday afternoon. They +did not wish to follow out the entire course, as that might injure +their prospects for the next day, so Mr. Leonard convinced them. But +half the distance would be apt to keep their muscles in good trim. + +Before making a start, however, Hugh wished to hang around, and watch +what the other fellows were doing. He was deeply interested in the +hammer throwing, as well as the sprinting, and, after seeing how well +the boys acquitted themselves, felt more than ever assured that +Scranton High would pull down quite a number of the fine prizes +offered to successful competitors. + +It was while things were thus booming that a car rolled past on the +main road leading out of town. Hugh noticed it particularly, for he +chanced to be over at that side of the extensive field. + +There was a chauffeur at the wheel, and in the tonneau a lady and a +boy sat, in whom Hugh quickly recognized Claude Jardine and his +mother. She held her face deliberately away from the bright scene, +as though appalled to know that so many parents in Scranton were so +unwise, almost foolish, as to allow their sons to participate in such +antics; and their daughters to attend the same. + +But Hugh chuckled when he saw Claude give a quick look up at his +mother, as if to make certain she was not looking; after which he +leaned forward and stared hard and eagerly at the wonderful picture +that athletic field presented. Hugh had good eyesight, and he could +detect the longing expression in the effeminate features of the boy +whose mother seemed bent on making him a weakling and a "sissy." + +"Poor Claude, I certainly do pity you," Hugh was telling himself as +the big car rolled on amidst a cloud of dust. "Deep down in your +heart you are yearning to be as other natural boys are, who have red +blood in their veins. If your dad had lived I warrant there'd be a +different story to tell, because they say he liked all kinds of +healthy sport; but, somehow, Mrs. Jardine has taken a dislike to such +things that seems to keep growing stronger all the time, until it's +become a regular mania with her. But unless she changes her mind +there'll be a day coming when she'll bitterly regret it all. I +suppose now, if she had a daughter she'd prevent her from associating +with Sue, and Ivy, and Peggy, as well as all the other high-school +girls whose mothers actually allow them to go to dances with us boys, +and even cheer the Scranton players in a rattling good baseball game." + +There was an air of feverish expectation rampant throughout the whole +town, and wherever young people got together the talk was of nothing +else save the great event on the programme for the next day. Even +many older persons seemed to have become infected with the sporting +virus, because memories of other days were being recalled; and it was +remarkable how many elderly men had once been deeply interested in +just such things, though, of course, along somewhat less modern lines. + +Then again there was an undercurrent of talk that carried a thrill +along with it. Stories that could not be confirmed, but were +believed more or less, began to be circulated to the effect that some +irresponsible parties meant to start something during the tournament +that was calculated to bring disrepute upon the town of Scranton. It +was even darkly hinted that the partly built, new, wooden fence had +been set on fire as a lark; and squads of curious boys and girls even +circulated along its entire length, bent upon ascertaining if such a +thing could really be true. + +When they failed to find any evidence of a fire, they were still +unconvinced; for, of course, it would be policy on the part of the +management to conceal all traces, so as to save the good name of the +town. + +These rumors could not be traced to any particular source, but there +are always a certain number of persons who delight to circulate such +stories, and, perhaps, unconsciously, add a little to the same with +each and every additional telling, until a trivial happening becomes +a colossal thing. + +That the committee in general charge of the great undertaking +cherished some sort of fear that some daring outrage might be +attempted by boys who were not connected with the high school was +evident from the fact that they had had warning notices printed at +the office of the _Weekly Courier_, notifying all boys who might +contemplate playing any sort of practical joke during the holding of +the carnival that Chief Adolph Wambold, the head of the local police, +would have his entire force on the grounds, and such offenders would +be harshly treated, if detected. + +The afternoon was well along when Hugh was approached by "Just" +Smith, one of the candidates who meant to try for the Marathon prize. + +"Several of the boys are meaning to start off on that seven-mile +spin, Hugh," the other announced as he came up; "and they want you to +come along. We can start together, and then separate, as we feel +disposed;" and, as this suited Hugh, he agreed. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +WHEN MUSCLES COUNTED + +There were four of them who made the start, Hugh, "Just" Smith, +Horatio Juggins, and "K. K.," the Kinkaid boy. Three of the bunch +had been fielders in the baseball nine that carried off the +championship pennant of the three-town high-school league the +preceding summer; and, having been known as great runners, it was +only natural that they had felt impelled to enter for the +long-distance race. + +An equal number could be expected from both Allandale and Belleville, +so that with others who would feel disposed to, at least, be in at +the start, though calculating to fall out after a few miles had been +run, possibly a full score would toe the string at the time the great +Marathon was called. + +In an event of this nature a big "field" adds to the excitement of +the occasion; and it is often noticed that those who have no +intention of finishing usually look the most confident during the +preparations for making the grand start. Well, they have no hope of +getting any fun out of the race after losing sight of the crowd, and +so they mean to take what they can beforehand. + +Talking is almost tabooed during such a race, since every breath lost +in useless conversation saps so much energy. Even on a trial run Mr. +Leonard had advised the boys to separate as soon as possible, and +keep some distance apart, mostly to obviate this temptation to +exchange views; so that each candidate could conserve every atom of +his powers. + +So it came about that by the time two miles had been run Hugh found +himself absolutely alone. Hugh had left the main thoroughfare, and +was passing along a byroad that would take him around through the +hilly country, until the Scranton turnpike was again reached. + +The other fellows had the option of doing as Hugh did, or they could +continue on further, and, perhaps, get a lift back home on some +farmer's wagon, or possibly a car bound for Scranton. Hugh had an +idea, however, that one of them was coming along the same road a mile +or more behind, and that it would turn out to be "Just" Smith. Some +words the other chap had uttered when they were together before +starting forth on the run gave Hugh this impression, though he could +not be positive about it. + +At the time, it gave him little concern; but then he could not look +into the immediate future, and see what it held for him. The coming +of "Just" Smith would yet turn out to be an event of the first +magnitude in Hugh's humble opinion; as the reader will soon learn. + +Hugh was jogging along nicely, and had long ago caught his second +wind. He kept "tabs" upon himself, in order to know just how his +energy held out, and if he was likely to be in condition for the +gruelling finish that might become necessary, over the last half mile +of the long course, should a visiting runner threaten to head the +list with the goal in sight, and the thousands of eager spectators +bursting out with cheers calculated to thrill the heart, and give +fresh impetus to wearied limbs. + +On the whole, Hugh felt fairly well satisfied with himself. He knew +he had gone about as fast as ordinary runners would care to travel, +who wished to conserve their strength toward the close of the race; +and that he was holding back a good reserve stock of energy. Yes, he +believed he was at his best, and if he failed to land the prize it +was because some fellow was a better runner than he could ever hope +to be. + +Just then he heard a sound that gave him a sudden thrill. It was +like a faint human cry for help, uttered in a weak voice, and seemed +to come from his right. + +Hugh stopped short. + +His first inclination was to instantly dash from the road and +endeavor to discover what caused that cry. Then he had a wave of +suspicion dart over him. Could this be a sly trick on the part of +some enemy, meant to lure him into the brush and rocks, where he +could, perhaps, be overpowered? But Nick, as well as his two +satellites, Leon Disney and Tip Slavin, had been on the grounds at +the time Hugh started his run, for he had taken particular notice of +this fact; consequently, it was hardly likely that they could be +concerned in any practical joke; and certainly no other fellow would +be guilty of such a thing. + +That decided Hugh. He left the road, and started toward the spot +where he judged that strange sound had welled forth. The country was +exceedingly rough just there, and he fancied that some sort of deep +gully, possibly a precipice, might lie off on his right, judging from +the aspect of the land. + +Not hearing the sound again, Hugh uttered a loud hello. Then, as he +continued to press hastily forward, he once more caught the +beseeching cry. It had an agonizing strain to it, and Hugh could +plainly make out the words: + +"Help! Oh! help! help!" + +Someone was evidently in trouble, Hugh decided, accelerating his pace +as well as the conditions of the rough surface of the ground +permitted. He had taken pains to locate the cry this time, and was, +therefore, altering his course just a little. + +Again he called, and once more received a reply, more fearful than +before: + +"Hurry! Oh! hurry, before it gives way, and I'm lost!" + +It sounded more like the voice of a girl than anything else. Hugh +was thrilled at the bare thought of one of the opposite sex being +caught in a trap whereby life itself was imperiled. + +He had been ascending all this time. From a single look, which he +cast over his shoulder, he could see the road he had lately come +along, trace its course, in fact, until it was lost at a bend half a +mile away. + +He noted that a runner had just turned that same bend, and was +jogging along in a rhythmic, contented fashion, as though satisfied +with the progress he was making; although "Just" Smith would have to +speed up considerable on the morrow if he wished to be anywhere near +the head of the procession when the race neared its close. Hugh, +somehow, fixed the fact of his comrade's presence on his mind. He +even mentally figured just how long it was likely to take the other +to reach the spot where he himself had left the road; for, perhaps, +that circumstance might loom up large in his calculations. + +Then he arrived at the brink of what seemed to be a precipice. The +presence of this told Hugh plainly the nature of the task that +awaited him. Someone had undoubtedly fallen over the brink, and was, +even then, hanging on desperately to some jutting rock or bush that +represented the only hope of safety from a serious fall. He threw +himself down and thrust his head out over the edge. What Hugh saw +was enough to give any boy a thrill of horror. Some ten feet below +the top a human figure sprawled, kicking with his legs in the +endeavor to find a brace for his feet. He was clinging to a bush +that seemed to be growing from the face of the precipice, and which +Hugh could see was slowly but surely giving way, one root after +another losing its grip in the soil and rocky crevices. + +Hugh recognized the imperiled boy instantly, though utterly amazed at +his discovery; he could not understand for the life of him how Claude +Jardine, of all fellows in Scranton, could be placed in such a +dreadful predicament. + +But Hugh did not waste a single precious second in trying to solve +that puzzle; it could be all made plain after he had managed to save +the poor chap. + +"Stop kicking, and keep perfectly still, Claude!" he instantly called. + +"But it's going to give way, and let me drop!" wailed the terrified +boy. + +"It'll do that all the sooner if you keep moving as you are," Hugh +told him sharply, with the tone of authority that one accustomed to +command might use. "I'm coming down after you, so don't be afraid. +Can you hold on just ten seconds more?" + +"I'll try to, but, oh! hurry, please!" came the trembling answer. + +Already Hugh was passing over the edge. He took care not to make a +false movement, for the precipice was all of forty feet in depth, and +a fall on the rocks below was bound to be a serious matter. + +To lower himself to where the imperiled boy clung he had to take +advantage of numerous projecting points of rock that offered him a +foothold, or a place where he could hang on with his hands. Hugh was +as nimble as any boy in Scranton, which fact proved of great +advantage to him just then. Had it been otherwise, he might have +himself fallen, and there would then have been a double tragedy. + +Somehow, through Hugh's mind flashed the memory of how Claude's +doting mother had always, on every occasion, condemned all athletic +exercises that were intended to build up the muscles, and give new +power to the body. It seemed the irony of fate that the life of her +precious boy was now going to hang upon the ability of Hugh Morgan to +sustain himself, and the weight of another, there upon the face of +that rocky precipice! Perhaps in times to come Mrs. Jardine would +discover how false her ideas were, and experience a radical change of +heart. The opportunity which Hugh had once sighed for had come to +him in a most wonderful way. + +He succeeded in making his way down in safety, though once he +slipped, and had a thrill of alarm pass over him. Now he found +himself alongside Claude. The boy's face was the color of ashes; +Hugh had never looked upon a corpse in all his life, but he could not +help comparing Claude's pallid countenance to one. + +He was glancing around with the eye of a general who lets nothing, no +matter how trivial, escape him. Just a foot below Claude's dangling +toes there was a narrow ledge. If only both of them could find +lodgment upon this; and have some hold above for their hands, they +might maintain their position until Hugh's shouts attracted "Just" +Smith to the spot, and he could do something to aid them. + +"Listen, Claude," he said earnestly. "There's a way to save you, if +only you keep your head about you. 'Just' Smith is coming along the +road, and I'll shout out to guide him here so he can help us." + +"But--the bush is going to give way right off!" gasped the terrified +boy. + +"Well, below us there's a ledge where we must plant our feet, and +hold on," continued Hugh, convincingly. "I'm going to drop down to +it now. Then you must try to lower yourself along the bush, inch by +inch, until you feel the ledge under you. Don't be afraid, because I +mean to grab hold of you; but when you feel me touching you, above +all things don't let go above, or you'll throw us both down. Now, be +ready, Claude; and, remember, it's going to be all right. Keep cool!" + +Of course, Hugh only said that last to reassure the poor chap. +Claude was already cold with fear, as cold as an icicle, in fact; and +quaking with fear in the bargain. + +It was easy enough for Hugh to drop down another foot or so, until he +felt the solid little ledge under him. Indeed, had it been +necessary, such an agile fellow very likely might have continued all +the way down to the base of the precipice. + +His next move was to find a firm hold for his left hand, to which he +could continue to cling while he sustained much of the weight of the +other boy, after the weakened roots of the bush gave way entirely. + +Claude was trying to do what he had been told, though in rather a +bungling fashion. Inch by inch he allowed the bush to slip through +his hands, looking down as well as he was able at the same time, in +order to ascertain just how near he might be to that same ledge Hugh +had told him of. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +THE CRISIS IN CLAUDE'S LIFE + +Hugh kept a watchful eye on that bush. He knew it was going to give +way presently, when, unless Claude had managed to secure a fresh grip +on some object with his poor scratched hands, he was likely to be +dashed downward. + +Fortune was, however, kind in that respect, for there chanced to be a +nice projection of rock, somewhat in the shape of a horn, just in the +right place for Claude to seize upon, and which would help sustain +his weight. Hugh knew very well, though, that most of the burden +would fall upon him; and he, therefore, prepared to accept it. + +"Here, reach out with your left hand, Claude, and take hold of this +rock. Your feet are both safely anchored on the ledge. Keep up your +grit, and everything will be all right yet. Do you understand what +I'm telling you, Claude?" + +"Yes, I do, Hugh," chattered the other, for his teeth were rattling +together in a way that reminded Hugh of the "Bones" at the end of a +minstrel line; if he had ever seen a Spanish stage performance he +would have said they made a sound like castanets in the hands of the +senorita who gave the national Castilian dance. + +Claude really managed to carry out that part of the task with a fair +amount of success. His other hand still gripped the bush, which +continued to gradually give way under the long and severe strain. + +Hugh braced himself. He had taken as firm a hold as was possible, +and had his other arm thrown around Claude. + +"Steady, now, Claude, it's almost gone. When you feel it give way, +try and make use of your right hand to find some other rocky point +where you can hold on. I think there's one such on the other side of +you. Above all, don't struggle, or you may throw me off my balance, +and then it's good-bye to both of us. Now, be ready!" + +Hugh's calculations proved to be correct, for the bush gave way, and +fell with a clatter of small stones and loosened earth, down toward +the bottom of the steep declivity. Claude uttered a cry of dismay +when he felt his support gone; but luckily he gripped the rocky knob +with his left hand more convulsively than ever, while Hugh sustained +him to the best of his ability. + +"That was well done, Claude," Hugh now told him, his main object +being to put a little more confidence in the other boy, and thus +lighten his own load. "We'll manage to cling here for a bit longer. +When I think 'Just' Smith is getting near by I'll let out a whoop +that is bound to fetch him to our assistance." + +One, two, three minutes passed. It was very trying to Hugh, and +already his muscles began to feel the undue strain keenly. But he +gritted his teeth, and waited, as it would be only a waste of breath +and energy to shout before the next runner was close enough up to +locate the sound. + +Claude was shivering as though he would shake to pieces. He had +received a dreadful fright, for a fact, and it was having its due +effect upon his never strong frame. What would his doting mamma +think, and say, Hugh told himself, almost with a chuckle of +amusement, could she see her darling then and there, and realize how +his very life depended upon the strong muscles and will to do things +that Hugh Morgan had developed in himself? + +How slowly the seconds passed! Hugh was trying to count, so as to +judge when the Marathon runner would be likely to have covered that +half-mile, and be at the spot where he, Hugh, had left the road. + +When, finally, the time had expired he again spoke to Claude. + +"Don't be startled, Claude, because I'm going to shout out. Hang +tight, now!" + +With that he sent out a whoop, and coupled it with the name of "Just" +Smith. There was no immediate response, but then Hugh had already +discounted this in his mind, remembering how he also had come to a +sudden stop, and listened as though unable to believe his ears. + +Again he shouted, and once more uttered the name of the other boy. +This time there came a speedy reply. + +"Hello! that you, Hugh?" + +"Yes, and I want help right away!" answered the boy who clung there +with a burden on his hands. "Turn out of the road to the left, and +hurry here. I'm down a precipice, Just. Keep coming, and I'll guide +you all right." + +So Hugh continued to utter loud shouts every dozen seconds or so. He +could catch the calls of the advancing runner, and knew from their +increasing loudness that he was gradually getting closer. + +Then, looking up, he saw a head projected over the brink above. He +could easily understand how "Just" Smith's eyes must have almost +started from their sockets when discovering the dreadful position of +the pair below; and especially after he had recognized Claude +Jardine, the last fellow in the wide world whom he would have +expected to see in such a fix. + +"H-h-how in the wide world did you get down there, Hugh?" gasped the +boy who leaned over the brink. + +"I came down after Claude here, who'd fallen over, and was hanging to +a bush that was giving way," explained Hugh. "And now it's up to you +to get us both out of this scrape, Just." + +"Oh, if only I had a rope!" cried the other, apparently nonplussed. + +"Well, wishes won't make one," said the practical Hugh; "and so we'll +have to do without. But if you look around sharply I think you'll +find a long pole there, for I remember noticing something of the +kind." + +The boy above vanished for a brief period, which seemed ages to the +anxious Claude; and even Hugh counted the seconds, for the strain was +something serious. Then again that friendly head appeared in view. + +"You were right, Hugh!" called the Smith boy; "there was such a pole +handy, and I've got the same right here now. It's plenty long enough +to reach down to you; but I'm wondering however I'll be able to draw +two of you up." + +"I don't expect you to, all by yourself, Just," Huge told him. "Poke +the end of it down here, and keep a good stiff grip on the butt. +Then we'll hold on, and find places to set our feet. Inch by inch, +and foot by foot, we'll manage to climb up. You can help a little by +keeping the stick coming, you know." + +"I get you, Hugh!" snapped the other eagerly; "and it's sure a right +good scheme. But be mighty careful you don't slip, either of you. +That fall'd break bones, even if it didn't kill you outright." + +"Don't worry about us, Just Smith; pay attention to your part of the +contract, and things are bound to work out first-class. Lower away, +and don't poke us off our perch, please. We've only got a risky hold +below here." + +So saying, Hugh encouraged the other two to do their part manfully. +Even Claude was shivering less than before, as though a breath of +renewed confidence might have been installed in his heart by this +close contact with such a stalwart chap as Hugh Morgan. It was going +to be the turning point in Claude's career, of that Hugh felt +positive. After this thrilling experience he was bound to awaken to +the fact that he was not like other boys of his age; and demand of +his mother that she permit him to participate in the life-giving +outdoor sports that are a part and parcel of boy nature. + +They began to climb. It was slow work, but Hugh would not be +hurried. Better that they waste time in gaining each foot than by an +unwise step ruin all. What matter if that arm of his was almost numb +with pain, and he had to press his teeth firmly together in order to +continue to hold up Claude? If only the other had been a normal boy +he could have helped himself wonderfully; but, as it was, he seemed +as weak and helpless as a kitten that had never opened its eyes as +yet. + +Well, half of the distance separating them from the top had been +safely navigated, and so far no accident had occurred. Hugh kept +encouraging his charge from time to time; and then speaking words +also to the laboring, anxious boy above, directing him just how to +proceed. + +Finally they reached the top. Hugh still ordered "Just" Smith to +hold the pole as he had been doing. Then he managed to push Claude +up so that he could crawl over the edge, which the other did in a +speedy manner, bordering on the ludicrous. + +Then, to the surprise, as well as delight of Hugh, what did Claude do +but turn and stretch out a helping hand, as though his first thought +was to assist his rescuer to top the rise; indeed, Hugh's one arm was +so utterly gone that he could hardly count on it for a single thing. +Hugh would not be apt to forget this action on the part of the +"sissy"; it proved what he had all along more than half suspected, +that Claude really did have the making of a genuine boy in him, given +half a chance for it to show itself, and the seed to germinate. And +Hugh determined that he would make it his particular business to see +that there came a change in Claude's dreary life. His mother could +hardly refuse anything asked by the one to whom she owed the life of +her son. + +Soon the trio lay upon the ground, breathing hard, and trying to talk +at the same time. Both Hugh and "Just" Smith were consumed with +curiosity to know how Claude happened to get into such a strange +predicament, and he hastened to explain. + +After all, there was nothing so very singular about it. His mother +had stopped in to see an old nurse, who had been in the family many +years but was at the time lying sick at her sister's place. +Something influenced Claude to get out of the big car to take a +little stroll. Perhaps the sight of all those happy lads running and +jumping and throwing weights had made him feel more than ever his own +narrow, confined life, kept out of the society of all the other boys +after school hours, and made to play the part of a "mollycoddle," as +Roosevelt called all such fellows who have never learned how to take +care of themselves when a bully threatens. + +Unused to the woods and hills, of course the first thing Claude did +was to lose all sense of direction. He became alarmed, and that made +matters worse than ever. So he had roamed about for almost a full +hour, dreadfully tiring his poor feet and limbs, since he had never +before in all his life walked so far and done such vigorous climbing. + +Then he had come to that precipice, and, thinking he might glimpse +the cottage where the old nurse lived, somewhere down in the valley, +he had incautiously crept too close to the brink, when his weight +caused a portion of the soil to give way. Finding himself falling, +Claude had clutched desperately around him, and, as it happened, his +fingers gripped a friendly bush, to which he continued to cling even +as he struggled to better his condition and shouted as best he was +able. + +Hugh finished the story, to the edification of "Just" Smith, who +admitted that if it had not been for the courage and muscular ability +of Hugh the other boy must long ago have fallen to the bottom of the +awful precipice. And Claude, shivering as he afterwards looked up at +the forty feet and more of rocky wall, vowed he would never rest +satisfied until he too had learned how to develop his muscles so that +if ever again caught in a similar scrape he might have a fighting +chance for his life. + +The two boys eventually found the cottage, although Mrs. Jardine and +the car had gone down the road hoping to overtake Claude, though they +were expected back again later; so, leaving Claude there, Hugh and +"Just" Smith continued their seven-mile run. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +STARTLING NEWS FROM THE JUGGINS BOY + +"Burr-r-r-r!" + +That was the telephone bell ringing. + +"Hugh, will you answer it, since the chances are the call is from +some one of your numerous boy chums?" the voice of Mrs. Morgan came +from the dining-room, where she was looking after the silver and +china, after washing up the supper dishes, for they temporarily +chanced to be without a hired-girl. + +Hugh guessed as much himself. He had already been called to the +phone several times since arriving home after his seven-mile spin. +Once it had been Claude's mother, begging him to be sure and call at +her house early in the morning, because she wanted to have a good, +long, earnest talk with him about Claude's future; and also to let +him know how brimful of gratitude a mother's heart could be toward +the brave boy who, at the risk of his own life, had saved her only +child for her. + +Hugh had promised he would see her, although he expected to be very +busy on the morning of the athletic tournament and then expressed the +hope that Claude and herself would honor the tournament with their +presence. This she hastily assured him she meant to do, because it +was now borne in on her heart that she had been making a terrible +mistake in reference to the way she was bringing up her darling +Claude. + +Needless to say, Hugh had chuckled joyously after that little talk. +He guessed he would have little trouble now in removing the scales +Mrs. Jardine had allowed to cover her eyes with regard to the +benefits to be derived by any boy, no matter how weak he might be, +through a judicious system of athletic exercises, the same to be +lengthened as he gradually grew more capable of standing fatigue. + +"Hello!" Hugh called. + +A voice he immediately recognized as that of Horatio Juggins greeted +him. "That you, Hugh?" + +"Just who it is; what's the matter, Horatio? Feeling the effects of +your little jog this afternoon? I hope not, for your sake, +to-morrow." + +"Oh! come off, Hugh," the other quickly replied. "I'd be a fine +candidate for a fifteen-mile Marathon race, wouldn't I, if seven +miles knocked me out? I'm as fit right now as a fiddle. But Hugh, +can you come right over here now? Something dreadful has happened." + +Hugh had a chilly feeling pass over him. It seemed as though some +sort of bad news was coming. Had the great meet been called off, for +some unknown reason or other? Somehow that struck him first as a +dire possibility, since it would grievously disappoint thousands of +eager boys and girls, not to mention many older folks with young +hearts. + +Now Hugh had intended to take that evening quietly, resting after his +strenuous afternoon, and absolutely refuse to allow Thad, or any +other fellow, to coax him outside the door. But already this resolve +began to weaken. That dim mention of some possible tragedy happening +started him going. + +"Of course I can come over, Horatio," he told the boy at the other +end of the wire; "and I'll do so right away on condition that it's no +joke. Tell me what's up first." + +"Oh! I meant to do that, Hugh," his friend hastened to say, and Hugh +could detect a tremor to the boyish voice that told of excitement. +"You see, it's K. K." + +"What's happened to him?" demanded Hugh, his mind instantly +suggesting all manner of terrible possibilities, from a sudden attack +of sickness to an accident whereby his life might be in danger; for +with boys these things sometimes happen as unexpectedly as a flash of +lightning from a clear sky. + +"Why, he never came back again from that run this afternoon, Hugh!" +Horatio was saying, in an awed tone now. + +"What's that you're telling me?" exclaimed the astonished Hugh. "I +thought I saw K. K. with some of the other fellows when I was +starting home just before dusk came on, though, of course, I may have +been mistaken about it." + +"You were, Hugh, you certainly were," Horatio assured him in a +softened tone. "His own mother ought to know, hadn't she? Well, +she's over here at our house right now, crying her eyes out, and +imagining all sorts of terrible things. You remember the Kinkaids +live close by us; and she knew her boy was going to take the run this +afternoon along with me, so she thought I could tell her if anything +had happened to detain him. Why, she says K. K. never missed his +supper before in all his life. It'd have to be something _fierce_ to +keep him away from his best meal of the whole day." + +Hugh was thinking swiftly. He realized that this was no little +matter to be dismissed as unimportant. Something certainly must have +happened to detain K. K. for all this time. Several hours had +elapsed since the other fellows reached the terminus of the long run +at the athletic grounds. Why then had not K. K. shown up? + +"Keep the rest till I get there, Horatio!" he told the other. + +"Then you're sure coming, are you, Hugh?" + +"Right away," Hugh added. + +"Well, I'm glad, because you'll know what to do about it. And +there's something else!" + +"Yes?" + +"I've got something to tell you that, say, I didn't have the heart to +explain to K. K.'s mother, because she's bad enough frightened as it +is; but it's looking particularly ugly to me, now that he hasn't come +back. Oh! perhaps there is more'n a grain of truth in all those +terrible stories those hayseeds tell about that place!" + +Hugh put up the receiver with a bang, made a dash for his cap, +slipped on his sweater, for he knew the night air was cold, and then +shot out of doors. Somehow those last few words of Horatio, +breathing of mystery as they did, had excited his curiosity until it +now reached fever-pitch. + +As he knew of several short-cuts across lots it took him but a few +minutes to arrive at the Juggins home. Horatio was waiting at the +door, and must have heard him running up the steps, for he instantly +opened it to admit him. + +"Gee, but I'm glad you've come, Hugh!" was his greeting. "She's in +there with mother, and taking on awful about it. It's a dreadful +thing to see a woman cry, Hugh. And I'm afraid there may be a good +reason for expecting the worst." + +"Tell me what you've got up your sleeve, Horatio," snapped Hugh, "and +quit giving all these dark hints. You know something connected with +K. K. that perhaps no one else does." + +"Guess I do, Hugh; for he confided in me, and told me not to say +anything to the rest. Oh, how foolish it was for K. K. to think he +could do that big job two days in succession; but he said he was +feeling equal to nearly anything; and just had to make the try, since +the notion had gripped him. But come on over to my den, Hugh, and +I'll tell you all about it. Then you must decide what's best to be +done; and say, I hope you can soothe Mrs. Kinkaid a bit in the +bargain." + +Ten seconds later and the two boys found themselves ensconced in the +room Horatio called his "den," although it was also his sleeping +apartment. But he had fixed it as near like a boy's ideal of a +lounging-place could be, the walls carrying the customary college +pennants and a great variety of other things besides that gave them a +rather crowded appearance. Evidently Horatio believed it added to +the charm, for he never entered that "sanctum" without an involuntary +smile of appreciation. + +Horatio closed the door softly after him. Hugh had also noticed how +he did this just as carefully when admitting him to the front hall; +and as though he expected that this must have aroused a certain +amount of curiosity, Horatio hastened to explain. + +"You see, the poor woman is so excited, and in such a nervous +condition, that she jumps up at the sound of a door closing, and +starts to rush out into the hall, believing that Justin has got back +home and hurried over to acquaint her with the joyous fact. Each +time her disappointment leaves her worse than before. She will be +needing Doctor Cadmus if this keeps on, as sure as anything." + +"Well, what is it you want to tell me, Horatio?" demanded Hugh, not +even taking the trouble to drop down into the chair the owner of the +"den" shoved toward him; for it seemed as though he must soon be on +the jump--there was evidently something hanging over their heads, +which would be needing prompt attention. + +"Why, it's just this, Hugh," began the other. "K. K. took a foolish +notion he'd like to say he'd gone over the full course just for +practice. And, Hugh. he told me he meant to make use of the +short-cut that crosses the old haunted quarry!" + +Hugh started, and looked serious. + +"Then, if anything has happened to K. K., it must have been while he +was crossing that mile tract between the two main roads," he went on +to say, without hesitation. Horatio nodded his head eagerly. + +"I jumped to that same conclusion, Hugh, only I didn't dare mention +it to Mrs. Kinkaid. I thought you ought to know first of all, and +decide on the program. It's terrible just to think of it; and K. K. +actually pretended to make light, too, of all those stories the +farmers have been telling about that awful place." + +"Hold your horses, Horatio!" Hugh exclaimed. "When I said that I +wasn't thinking of ghosts, or anything else unnatural. I meant that +in all probability poor K. K. met with some ordinary accident while +on that stretch, and has been unable to continue his run. He may +have tripped on a vine he failed to see, and either broken his leg, +or else sprained his ankle so badly that he can't even limp along. +I've known such a thing to happen--in fact, once I got myself in the +same pickle, and had to _crawl_ two miles to a house, every foot of +the way on hands and knees, because the pain was frightful whenever I +tried to stand up. Well, the chances are K. K. has had such a thing +befall him." + +Horatio heaved a tremendous sigh, as though quite a weighty load had +been taken off his chest. + +"You make me feel a heap better, Hugh, when you're so positive," he +hastened to admit. "I was afraid it might be something even worse +than a sprain; but never mind what I thought. The question now is, +what ought we do about it?" + +"There's only one thing that can be done," Hugh told him in his +customary straight-from-the-shoulder fashion, "which is for some of +his chums to organize a searching party, get the old Kinkaid car out, +and go up there to look over that abandoned road from one end to the +other. We'll find K. K., or know the reason why." + +"That sounds good to me, Hugh!" declared Horatio, always ready to +follow where a bold leader showed the way; "and perhaps we may have +an opportunity to discover whether there _is_ any truth about those +queer happenings the farmers keep telling of whenever the old quarry +is mentioned in their presence." + +"We'll not bother our minds about fairy stories," Hugh assured him. +"What we're meaning to do is to look for a practical explanation of +K. K.'s holding out. And, mark my words, the chances are ten to one +we'll find the poor chap groaning alongside that road somewhere. But +let's get busy now, Horatio!" + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +TO THE RESCUE OF K. K. + +Hugh would really have been better satisfied if he could have hurried +away without seeing K. K.'s mother. He feared that she might delay +progress more or less, and at such a time every minute counted. + +But at the same time he realized that the poor lady was in a dreadful +state of mind. It was necessary then that he try and soothe her +anxiety, for, as Horatio knew very well, Hugh Morgan had a way of +making other people feel the utmost confidence in him. + +"Well, let's see K. K.'s mother, Horatio; but we mustn't waste much +time. We'll have to get her permission to run the car. I only hope +there's a decent supply of gas aboard, or in the garage." + +Accordingly, Horatio led him into another room, where they found Mrs. +Kinkaid in a dreadfully nervous condition. She jumped to her feet on +discovering that Horatio had another boy with him, and then upon +seeing that it was not the one her heart was yearning after she +uttered a pitiful wail, and fell back into her chair again. + +Hugh wasted no time, but commenced telling her something of what he +had heard from Horatio, connected with K. K.'s foolish determination +to take in the entire course as though in the race. + +"Of a certainty he's fallen and sprained an ankle somewhere along +that cross-country road, Mrs. Kinkaid," he ended with. "We mean to +gather a few of the fellows, and if you'll give us permission to use +your big car we intend to run up there and look that road over from +end to end. There is no doubt but what we'll find K. K. and fetch +him back with us. So please try and feel that things will turn out +all right. Make up your mind we won't come back without him, that's +all there is to it." + +Somehow the very confidence shown in Hugh's words seemed to pass +along to the almost distracted lady. Her eyes lighted up with +renewed courage, and she even smiled, though wanly, it must be +confessed. But then Hugh was pretty much of a magician in regard to +arousing a feeling of hope in the most depressed mind. + +"You are a thousand times welcome to the car," she hurriedly assured +him; "and anything else you might want. It is dreadfully unfortunate +Mr. Kinkaid is away on one of his usual business trips to the west, +or he would insist on going with you. But I feel certain, Hugh, you +will manage things splendidly, and a mother's prayers will go after +you, that you may not only find my boy, but that he may not have been +seriously injured." + +"Then we'll not linger any longer, ma'am," said Hugh, eager to be on +the move. + +Horatio wrapped himself up warmly, and the two of them shot out of +the door. + +"Now, what first, Hugh?" + +Hugh seemed to have mapped out a plan of campaign in his mind, for he +answered without hesitation. + +"We must pick up several of the fellows--Thad for one, then Owen +Dugdale would be another good hand at hunting for a lost party; and, +well, Julius Hobson for the third. That will make five in +all,--enough to search the quarry road from end to end. Besides, we +ought to carry several lanterns, because, while there is a moon, I +reckon we'll find it far from light along that overgrown trail." + +"You just think of everything, Hugh," remarked Horatio, wonderingly. + +"Let's get the car, first of all," Hugh continued shrewdly, "because +it can save us many steps in picking up the other fellows." + +By this time they were at the Kinkaid home. Horatio was well +acquainted with the premises, as he had played with K. K. since they +were small boys together. Hugh had been told where the key of the +garage was hidden, and quickly discovered it hanging on a concealed +nail. + +"Wait till I throw the switch, and light up," said Horatio, for they +had electricity at the Kinkaid place, and, of course, a bulb lighted +in the garage was considered much safer than a lantern. + +As soon as the illumination came both boys set about examining the +big touring car that occupied the garage. + +"Bully!" ejaculated Horatio, after making the rounds with suspended +breath; "all the tires are as hard as anything. How about the supply +of gas, Hugh?" for his companion had occupied himself with making an +examination of the tank. + +"Plenty to carry us up and back twice over!" cried the delighted +Hugh. "This is what I call great luck. I was afraid there would be +a tire that needed changing; or else no gasolene at all. K. K. +didn't realize how kind he was to himself when he fitted up the old +car so handsomely, for some purpose." + +"Oh!" chuckled Horatio, "mebbe I know why. You see, there's going to +be another barn dance next Tuesday night up at Bailey's, and I think +K. K. asked a girl to go with him and Peggy Noland and Owen Dugdale. +Yes, he even told me there was still room for two more, if I could +coax somebody to keep me company." + +Hugh busied himself in starting the car going. He knew considerable +about mechanics, as most boys of the present generation do, since +automobiles have become so very common. Running it out of the garage +Hugh bade Horatio "hop aboard," which that worthy did without a +second invitation. + +"Better get Thad first of all, I reckon," suggested Hugh, as though +he might even have figured out how best to save themselves from any +unnecessary delay; "then we can clip around to Julius Hobson's place, +and pick up Owen last on our way out of town." + +The program suited Horatio first class. Indeed, he had such perfect +confidence in Hugh that anything the other said carried conviction +along with it. It is a fine thing for any boy to have aroused such a +spirit of trust in the minds of his comrades that they look up to him +as a sort of natural leader, and obey his slightest wish without +hesitation. But Hugh bore his honors with humility, and never +attempted to display the attributes of a czar. + +Great was the astonishment of Thad Stevens when he found two excited +fellows demanding that he bundle up and go with them for a night ride +up to the abandoned quarry that had gained such a bad reputation +among the country folks residing roundabout. + +The story was partly told in rapid-fire style, enough of it, at +least, to cause Thad to bounce into his heavy coat, and provide +himself with a lantern. He expected to become better informed from +time to time as they pushed along the road. + +Next came Julius Hobson. They found him at home also, and, of +course, he was duly worked up on hearing how poor K. K. had never +returned home from his run over the long course of fifteen miles. +When he heard that they needed lanterns Julius produced a new +electric flashlight which he had received for a birthday present, and +Hugh said it would do very well as an additional means of +illumination. + +Last of all they stopped at the home of Owen Dugdale, the dark-faced +lad who lived with his grandfather in a big house, and about whom +there had at one time been quite a little halo of mystery hanging. +["The Chums of Scranton High on Deck."] + +Again was the main fact mentioned concerning the necessity for a +searching party starting forth to find poor K. K. Owen did not have +to be urged to join the bunch; indeed, he showed himself eager to +accompany them. + +"I can fetch a lantern, if you want me to, Hugh," he observed; "and +say, do you know I'm of a mind to carry my new shotgun that I had +given to me just last month, when Grandfather concluded I was old +enough to want to go hunting. If we have to chase all around through +that place there's so many queer stories told about we might as well +be fixed so as to protect ourselves." + +"Huh!" snorted Horatio Juggins, skeptically, "I've always heard that +ghosts don't mind ordinary birdshot any more'n an alligator would. +But then fetch it along, Owen; it'll no doubt make us feel a little +better when we find ourselves up in that terribly lonely tract of +country. And who knows but what there might be a stray wildcat +abroad in those woods. Such things have been heard of, and I even +saw the skin of a whopper shown in the market." + +So Owen carried out his design, and when he got aboard the big car he +took with him not only a lantern, well filled with oil, but also his +brand new twelve-gauge shotgun. + +At last they were off. Every fellow felt a peculiar sense of +exhilaration that possibly even bordered on anticipation, take +possession of him; for the future was there before them all unknown. +Who could say what strange adventures might befall them before this +undertaking was finished? + +Of course they had the headlights turned on at full force, and Hugh +at the wheel found no difficulty in keeping the middle of the road. +He did not mean to pursue a reckless pace, because, if they met with +an accident it would spoil all their plans. Better to go at an +ordinary rate of speed, and make haste slowly, so to speak. + +Meanwhile there was a clatter of tongues aboard the big car. Julius, +Thad and Owen had dozens of pertinent questions ready to fire at +Horatio, who was kept busy making illuminating replies. Thus the +trio learned how K. K. had unwisely determined to cover the entire +course and only whispered his intention to his chum, Horatio, at the +same time binding him to silence, for fear lest Mr. Leonard put a +damper on his plans by vetoing the scheme in the start. + +Then suggestions began to flow like water after a storm. All sorts +of possibilities covering such a strange disappearance were advanced. +Owen believed that Horatio was not far amiss when he declared there +might be something in that ghost business, after all; and that poor +K. K. had found it out to his cost; though, beyond this broad +statement, Owen declined to commit himself, because he, of course, +could not imagine what a genuine ghost would look like, in the +daytime at that; or what such an apparition would be likely to do to +a boy who had had the ill-luck to fall into its clutches. + +A dozen additional ideas were advanced, some of them bordering on the +absurd and others really plausible. The unlimited resources of a +boy's fertile mind in conjuring up remarkable explanations in a +mysterious case like the one now engaging their attention had not yet +been reached at the time Hugh suddenly announced they were close to +the place where the abandoned quarry road started in from the +thoroughfare they were then following. + +"We just passed the twin oaks I remember stood alongside the road on +the left," he explained, at the same time slowing up considerably; +"and they are close to the turning-in place. I noticed them in +particular, you see, because I didn't want to lose even three seconds +when on the run, in searching for some sign of the spot; though, of +course, I could have looked for the marks of our tires left there at +the time we came back from our nutting excursion, and went through to +the other road. Yes, here we are right now, and I'm going to turn +in, boys." + +He negotiated the turn without accident, though the branches of the +trees did scrape against the sides of the car in a way that made some +of the occupants shudder; for already they were beginning to feel a +trace of the uneasiness that their gruesome surroundings were apt to +arouse within their boyish hearts. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +THE SEARCHING PARTY + +"Hugh, it looks like we mightn't need those lanterns after all," +remarked Horatio, after they had gotten well started along the dimly +seen quarry road. + +Indeed, the brilliant headlights of the big car illuminated a radius +of considerable size ahead of them and around. Every tiny twig was +thrown out into bold relief, as though a powerful sun had found a way +of forcing ingress through the canopy of leafless branches overhead. + +"Not just at present, perhaps," replied the driver at the wheel; "but +they may come in handy yet. We'll wait and see." + +Owen sat beside Hugh, the other three occupying the tonneau of the +car. There was abundance of room for all, and some to spare. Owen +held his new shotgun in his hands and he kept a close watch upon the +road ahead, just as though that idea connected with a ferocious +wildcat might have taken hold on his mind, and he believed there was +a possibility of such a thing coming to pass. + +Hugh drove with exceedingly great care, and made no attempt at speed. +Indeed, such a thing was utterly out of the question, with that rough +road to follow and the necessity of keeping a constant vigilant +outlook, lest they collide with some tree. When the quarry was in +full operation automobiles were an unknown luxury; and certainly no +provision had ever been made for such a contraption passing along +that crooked trail, with its numerous sharp curves intended to avoid +natural obstacles. Three separate times already had Hugh brought the +car to a full stop, and even caused the engine to cease its +throbbing. This was done in order that all of them might strain +their hearing, in hopes of catching some faint sound to tell that the +missing boy whom they sought was close at hand. + +But only disappointment succeeded each attempt to pick up +information. They caught the dismal hooting of an owl in some dead +tree not far away, but certainly such a doleful sound did not raise +their spirits materially. Several times while they were moving along +Owen had seen a movement amidst the brush that gave him a little +thrill; but the glimpses he obtained of the disappearing animal +convinced him in one instance that it was a red fox that scurried off +in alarm; while on the second occasion he rather imagined it was only +a ring-tailed raccoon scuttling away and badly frightened by the +intense white glow that had suddenly penetrated his dark quarters. + +If there was a wildcat within twenty miles the spot they certainly +never knew of it, because no such beast of prey disclosed its +presence to them while they continued on their way. + +But then there were plenty of thrills for the boys. Not only did the +weird hooting of that horned owl come to make their flesh creep, but +now and again they detected strange sounds that may have been caused +by limbs of the trees rubbing together in the night breeze, but which +had a wonderful resemblance to human groans. + +They had been pursuing their way along for some little time without +much attempt at conversation; but it is pretty hard for a parcel of +boys to remain long silent, no matter what the provocation. And +Horatio, for one, felt urged to free his mind of certain fancies that +had taken lodging there. + +"I say, fellows, doesn't this beat everything you ever saw all +hollow?" he went on to say, for there was really no need of their +keeping quiet, since they had not started out to steal a march upon +any enemy,--only to find poor lost K. K. "Just listen to that awful +groaning sound, will you? If I didn't know it was caused by the +limbs of trees sawing across each other in the wind I'd think +somebody was almost dying." + +"At another time I guess we wouldn't bother our heads about such a +silly thing," observed Julius Hobson; "but, of course, our minds are +full up with what may have happened to our comrade, and all that +noise makes us shiver a heap; it's so suggestive, so to speak." + +"Oh! what did you think you saw then, Owen?" gasped Horatio, as, +chancing to fix his gaze on the other, he noticed him suddenly +elevate his gun, as though tempted to shoot the same. + +Owen chuckled. + +"It was only a frisky rabbit, after all," he announced calmly enough. +"I was just covering him to find out how easy I could nail the +rascal, if only I was out hunting game instead of a lost boy. And +we'd have had rabbit stew at the Dugdale home to-morrow, let me tell +you, Horatio, if I'd cared to let fly, for I had him covered +handsomely." + +"Well, please don't do it in a hurry again, Owen," asked Horatio, +settling back once more, and hoping his throbbing heart might not +beat so loudly that any of his comrades could hear it pounding +against his ribs. "Remember this is no ordinary patch of woods we're +in right now. All sorts of stories have been told concerning the +country up here; and in passing through after nightfall we're doing +what a big bribe couldn't tempt any farmer's help to try. But, Hugh, +don't you think we must be getting pretty near that place by this +time?" + +"Just about two-thirds of the way, Horatio," he was informed. "That +leaning tree we passed is exactly three hundred and thirty-seven +paces from the place we left the road." + +"Well, what do you think of that for looking ahead, fellows!" +ejaculated Horatio. "Hugh here took all the trouble to count the +steps while passing through, the day he came up to examine the +ground. That's what I call preparedness, and I guess it counts in a +race, just as much as in getting ready for war." + +Hugh laughed as though momentarily amused. + +"Well, they're both in the same category, Horatio, if you look at +things from the right point of view; rival armies and rival athletes +contending for the prize which in both cases would mean victory. +Looking ahead is a useful hobby, and it's served me handsomely on +many an occasion. I consider no time wasted that is employed to +insure success; even if you never need the information you've picked +up it adds to your stock of knowledge; and no fellow can have too big +a fund of that." + +"Then we ought soon to be getting there, at this rate," continued +Horatio. "Let's hope nothing happens to our old car. We'd have a +jolly walk back to town if we broke down here and couldn't fix +things. I'd prefer making a fire and spending the night in the woods +to taking such a tramp, which would debar us from all hope of making +that big run to-morrow." + +"With K. K. out of the game the chances for Scranton High begin to +flicker some," admitted Julius. "He was showing unusual stamina +right now, and secretly I was backing K. K. to bring home the bacon +for our school. Of course, with Hugh and Horatio and 'Just' Smith +still in the ring it isn't hopeless by any means; but they do say +those Allandale chaps have unearthed several wonders at long-distance +running, and they are dying to knock Scranton down this time." + +Again Hugh stopped the car and bade the others listen. + +"It isn't that I thought I heard anything suspicious, fellows," he +went on to explain, when they manifested a certain amount of +excitement; "but, on general principles, I think we ought to stop +oftener, and find out if there's anything doing." + +After testing their combined hearing to the limit, and without any +success, Hugh again started up. It was Thad who spoke next, and +apparently he had been considering something that he would like to +have made clear. + +"What if we pass all the way through to the other road, without +learning a single thing, Hugh?" he went on to say; "do you mean to +give it up, and head for home then and there?" + +"Well, I should hope not, Thad!" burst out Horatio; "we're none of us +built that way. Because a fellow gets a single knock-down in a fight +ought he to throw up the sponge right away, and own himself beaten? +Why, we started out to find K. K., and sleep isn't going to visit my +eyes this night until we succeed. That's the way I look at it, and I +reckon the rest of you are in the same boat." + +"If such a thing should happen, Thad," said Hugh, sturdily, "we'll +simply turn around and come back again; only, under the new +conditions, some of you will have to turn out with the lanterns, and +search alongside the road as we go slowly along." + +Horatio gave a gasp that was plainly audible. + +"Do you really mean, Hugh," he went on to ask, in a voice that +trembled more or less despite Horatio's effort to control the same, +"that you half expect to find K. K. lying alongside the road, either +dead, or else insensible from the pain of his broken leg?" + +"Well, I wasn't just thinking things would be as bad as all that," +Hugh hastened to say. "What I had in mind was the chance of coming +on his footprints, and then trying to follow the same. We could +easily tell them, for K. K. had on his running shoes, you remember. +By tracking him, step by step, don't you see, we could tell just +where he met with his trouble, even find out, perhaps, the nature of +his accident, and continue to follow him up." + +"That would suit me first rate," said Julius, promptly; "and my fine +electric hand-torch might come into play with a vengeance. There's +nothing better going for following a trail in the dark, because the +light is focussed, you see, on a small compass. Why, you can pick up +night-walkers like everything when the fishing season's on, by using +a flashlight. I could even find a needle in a haystack, I believe, +with one of these jim-dandy contraptions." + +"All right, Julius, we'll appoint you head tracker, then," chuckled +Horatio. "But, after all, perhaps we'll run across our comrade yet, +before we get out of this tangle. We're about to come to the most +critical point of the entire trip, remember, for the old quarry is +just ahead of us." + +Horatio chanced to be on the side of the car toward the quarry. He +was not spending nearly so much time now looking ahead, leaving that +task to his chums; even while talking he kept his eyes fixed upon the +dark expanse that represented the surrounding woods, anticipating +catching a glimpse of something, he hardly knew what, at any moment +now. Doubtless all those silly yarns retailed by the ignorant +gossiping farm-hands in the market-place in Scranton, while they +tried to outdo one another in matching fairy stories, must have been +circulating through Horatio's brain just then. The heavy atmosphere +of the deserted stone quarry, and its lonely surroundings, added to +the mysterious disappearance of K. K., combined to make him +peculiarly susceptible to such influences as see ghosts in every +white object that moves in the darkness. + +This being the case with the Juggins boy it was not to be wondered at +that there could be traced a vein of actual gratification in his +voice when he suddenly electrified his companions by exclaiming: + +"Hugh! fellows, I tell you I saw it right then, just as that Swanson +farmhand vowed to me he did once on a time this last summer--it was a +light, waved up and down, back and forth, and just like they teach +you when you join the Signal Corps, and learn how to wigwag with a +flag or a lantern. It came from right over yonder, where we all know +the old quarry lies! And I'm not fooling, either; cross my heart if +I am!" + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +PROWLING AROUND THE QUARRY + +Everybody was staring hard by the time Horatio finished. Hugh, of +course, had immediately stopped the car on the road, so that they +were now stationary. + +It chanced that the spot was one of few where a glimpse of the quarry +could be picked up, as the boys had discovered at the time they +passed along this way, when we overtook them on their nutting trip. + +Seconds crept past. + +Each boy could measure time by the beating of his wildly accelerated +heart, and as these were throbbing at the rate of something like a +hundred pulsations per minute it can be easily understood that +"things were going some," to quote Horatio, when afterwards telling +the story. + +Then all of them saw what the first discoverer had attempted to +describe. They stared as though fascinated. Truly Horatio had said +well when he spoke of the odd movements of the mysterious light; for +it moved swiftly up and down, then sideways, and in eccentric +circles, after which it vanished as suddenly as it had come into +being. + +Some of the boys sighed, as though being wakened from a dream. +Horatio, of course, was full of deepest gratification, since he had +detected a skeptical air in the actions of Thad and Owen, which +seemed to place him in the light of one who "saw things where none +existed." + +"There, didn't I tell you?" he exclaimed, triumphantly. "And, say, +wasn't that--eh, party, whoever he might be, making some sort of +telegraphic signals with his old lantern or torch?" + +"Hugh, what do you think?" demanded Thad. "You're up in all that +kind of wigwag signal work, and perhaps now you could tell what it +means." + +"I lost some of it, I'm sorry to say, fellows," observed Hugh, +gravely; "but all the same I caught enough to tell me that waving of +a light was meant as a signal message, though who sent it, and to +whom, is all a mystery." + +"But could you make out enough of the message, Hugh, to give you any +idea what it stood for?" persisted Thad. + +"Yes, I believe I did," the other admitted, solemnly, so that each of +his chums bent closer to catch the next words that fell from his +lips. "I'm certain it spelled out the word 'help,' for one; and I +thought another was 'quick'!" + +"Oh! what do you think of that?" gasped Horatio. + +"The mystery deepens," added Owen, dramatically, just as he had +probably been accustomed to reading in some story of excitement. + +"Of course," continued Hugh, immediately, "we've got to take a look +around that same old quarry, and see what's going on. Somebody's +holding the fort there, even if it is said to be deserted. Who and +what he can be, of course, remains to be seen; but I'm not taking a +bit of stock in those old wives' yarns about a ghost, remember, +Horatio." + +"Then we'll have to leave the car on the road, won't we, Hugh, when +we tackle this big job?" questioned Owen. + +"Of course; and since I marked the best spot where anyone could make +their way along to the face of the quarry, we must start up again, +and keep moving till we strike that place." + +"But, Hugh, do you think the--er--party making those signals with a +light could have noticed our illumination, and that message was meant +for us?" Horatio went on to ask, solicitously. + +"I'm not prepared to say," he was told, "though I don't see how +anybody with eyes could miss discovering us coming along. And, +besides, the old car makes plenty of noise in the bargain, to attract +attention. So it looks as if he did know, and was trying to talk to +us." + +All this only added to the thrill that was forever passing through +each and every member of the night expedition. It would be +manifestly impossible to describe their mixed feelings as they +advanced slowly along the rough road so long abandoned to nature. A +dozen times Horatio believed he heard cries; why, it seemed as though +the air must be filled with uncanny sounds, for his lively +imagination was working at race-horse speed just then. + +The car stopped short. + +"Wow! what's happened now, Hugh?" whispered Horatio. + +"We've arrived at the getting-out place, that's all," came the steady +reply, as the chauffeur caused the engine to cease working and then +proceeded to leave his seat, after his companion had jumped out. + +The lanterns were now lighted and the electric torch made ready for +use. If hands trembled considerably during this operation, causing +several matches to be used before the desired results were obtained, +could anyone blame Owen and the other possessor of a lantern? It was +a most remarkable thing that no one evinced the slightest disposition +to stay by the car, and guard it against thieves. It was a case of +"follow the leader," and where Hugh went they were all bound to go +also. To be honest, the chances were that Horatio, for one, could +not have been coaxed to separate himself from the company of his four +chums; because there was a great deal of truth in that old maxim, "in +union there is strength." + +Hugh now led the way. He had been given one of the lanterns with +which to light a passage across the heaps of broken stones, earth, +and rubbish, cast there at the time in the remote past when the +quarry was in full blast, with workmen delving into the hillside, +blasting away sections through the use of dynamite or powder, and +sending out many wagon-loads of building-stone each of the six +working days of the week. + +They did not string out in single file, but kept bunched together. +Indeed, this came through no accident, but there was a method in +their madness; because, you see, no fellow would want to be the +hindmost in the file. + +Hugh showed a wonderful amount of knowledge of the place, considering +that he had never before in his life placed a foot upon the ground +and had to depend entirely on his former observations. But he kept +on as straight as could be expected, and presently Owen managed to +muster up courage enough to say in a low and most carefully guarded +tone: + +"Hugh, did you take note of the _exact_ spot where the light showed +up? I'm asking because you seem to be heading direct for somewhere." + +"I believe I know where it was," Hugh told him simply. "You see, I +noted several things about the face of the quarry that day we stopped +to look it over; and when I saw that dancing trail of fire I figured +out that it must be at just such a place, which spot I'm heading for +right now. And just as you spoke I had ample proof that I was right +in my guess." + +"Why, what happened, Hugh?" demanded Horatio eagerly. + +"I caught a faint glimpse of light up there," Hugh told him. "I +wonder none of the rest of you happened to notice the same. It made +me think that some person might be in one of those holes we saw in +the face of the wall--caves, the natives call them, Horatio says. As +this was somewhat deep only a tiny bit of illumination escaped, and +you could just detect that when at a certain angle. Stop short, now, +and see for yourselves, for there it is again!" + +Thrilled to the bone they stood and gaped. Hugh was pointing with +his disengaged hand, half holding the lantern back of him so that its +glow might not further interfere with their view. + +"You're right, Hugh; that's surely what it is," agreed Thad, almost +immediately; and each of the other three went on record with a +corresponding affirmative. + +"Then the next thing for us to do is to find some way of climbing up +to that same fissure," the leader explained, showing that he meant to +lose no time in trying to open negotiations with the unknown denizens +of the quarry, whose actions were becoming more and more mysterious +as time passed. + +"Which means that we're going to beard the tiger in his den," quoth +Owen, gripping his gun more firmly as he edged a little closer to +Hugh; for since he was the only member of the expedition who could be +said to possess a weapon it was proper that he should be found in the +van at such a crisis. + +They walked on, not hastily, and showing no outward sign of the +tumult that must have raged in each boyish heart. Now it was no +longer possible for them to discern that faint glow; but such a +little thing did not daunt them. Hugh had marked well the exact +location of their objective point, and Hugh seldom made mistakes, +those other confident fellows were telling themselves as they +cheerfully trudged along. + +The foot of the cliff was at hand. Rains and winds and snow +avalanches had, during the years that had passed since the hands of +men worked those diggings, served to cut loose great quantities of +debris from the face of the height, so that here and there at the +foot irregular pyramids of earth and rocks could be seen. Hugh now +seemed to have turned his attention from above and was bending half +over, as though examining the ground. Owen knew what this meant. +The other anticipated finding a track leading directly to the route +by means of which that cavern halfway up the cliff might be easiest +attained. + +And, as often happens, such reasoning proved to be the wisest thing +the searchers could have undertaken, for hardly had half a minute +elapsed than Hugh was heard to give vent to a low ejaculation of +gratification. + +No one spoke, but they understood that he had found the trail he was +looking for. Indeed, he at once started to move along, still bending +over, and holding his lighted lantern low, so that its none too good +illumination would best serve him. + +Now they reached a sort of strange little gully, where the silt had +washed down more heavily during the period of erosion than at any +other place. Looking up, the boys could see that it afforded a steep +but accessible avenue by means of which an agile person could ascend +the otherwise impregnable height towering above their heads. + +Hugh halted not, but started up. Owen came close behind him, holding +that formidable shotgun so that he could thrust it ahead of his +leader should an occasion arise necessitating action. But Hugh had +already warned him not to be rash, and under no condition to dream of +firing until he himself had given the order. + +It was a queer little procession that crept up that steep trail in +the gully formed by Nature during the heavy storms of summer and +winter. The twin lanterns glimmered and flickered as the night wind +puffed the tiny blazes; and ahead of all lay the white glow of the +electric hand-torch, showing them how they were now almost at the end +of their trail. + +Yes, the fissure extended straight into the face of the cliff. Hugh +was taking them directly to the place where undoubtedly the +mysterious unknown had stood on a sort of rocky platform, and +indulged in all those queer telegraphic code motions with a light of +some sort. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +A FRIENDLY GHOST + +Hugh led the way straight into the fissure. As they proceeded they +could see the light ahead growing stronger. Low sounds, as of +voices, also led them onward; and then, upon turning a bend, they +came upon a sight that had them all staring with wonder. + +It was indeed a cave, and of considerable dimensions. A wild beast +would have delighted in such a den in which to hide from the rigors +of winter, but to boys accustomed to the luxuries of home life it +would doubtless have few attractions, especially after the novelty of +camping-out had worn off in a week's time. + +It was a fire that burned which gave the light. A pile of dry wood, +mostly broken branches of dead trees, showed that the occupant of the +cave had laid in a supply against a rainy day. + +There, sitting with his back against the wall, was their missing +comrade K. K. His face looked unusually white, and bore an +expression of acute pain, which, however, he manfully tried from time +to time to dismiss by a ghastly grin, altogether assumed, since he +certainly was in no mood for laughing. + +They could see that his left leg was bandaged in some manner, as +though he might have broken the bones, and someone had tried to bind +up the limb. Even with that superficial glance Hugh marked the fact +that this had been done in a fashion indicating considerable previous +experience along such lines. + +And then they turned their attention upon the other party, the +mysterious one who doubtless had found poor K. K. helpless on the +ground and borne him to this cavern in the quarry. He was indeed a +wild-looking party, with long, unkempt hair and a sunburnt face in +which his glowing eyes were deep-seated. There was that about him to +convince Hugh instantly he must be deranged, although just then the +man bent over poor K. K. solicitously, and seemed to be tenderly +doing something calculated to ease his pain. + +Hugh coughed, meaning to draw attention to the fact of their arrival. +The man immediately stood up and bent a searching look upon the five +lads. Perhaps he had been hearing K. K. tell how some of his chums +would certainly be coming to search for him, and, therefore, even +though he might wish to remain in his hidden retreat undisturbed, he +manifested no hostility toward them, simply folded his arms and, +stepping back, watched their approach. + +Hugh made gestures to indicate that they were peacefully disposed. +In doing so he purposely used the signal code and spelled out the one +word, "friend." He saw the wildman's thin face take on a sudden +gleam of awakened interest, and he nodded his head in the +affirmative, as if to reassure Hugh that they were not unwelcome. +From this the boy knew the stranger must at some time have been in +the army, and that even while his brain was resting under a cloud he +could still send and receive messages such as had been at one time +his daily avocation. + +They reached the side of their unfortunate companion. He held out a +hand to welcome Hugh. + +"Oh! I'm mighty glad you've come, fellows, I can tell you," he told +them, with a tremor in his voice. "I've had a rotten time of it all +around, and suffered terribly. You see, I made a fool of myself, and +tripped over a vine, so that I was thrown into a gully, with my left +leg under me. Snapped both bones, he says, just above the ankle, and +a fine time I've got ahead of me this winter, with no skating, +hockey, or anything worth living for. But then it might have been +worse, because my neck is worth more to me than my ankle. But now I +do hope you can get me home. I never wanted to see home and mother +one-half as much as now." + +"Yes, we've come in the big car, K. K.," Hugh assured him. "And +we'll fetch you home right away. You ought to be looked after by +Doctor Wambold; broken bones are not things to be trifled with, and +while this party seems to have done the best he could it can only be +a makeshift." + +"Don't you believe it, Hugh," said the injured boy warmly; "why, he's +a regular jim-dandy about such jobs. I bet you he used to be an army +surgeon in his younger days, from hints he's let drop. And then he +knows the Signal Corps work right off the handle to boot, even +if--well, I won't say what I meant to. He's been so kind and +considerate to me; my own father couldn't have been more tender. +I've guessed the secret of the old haunted quarry, Hugh!" which last +he almost whispered in the other's ear. + +"Yes, I can say the same," muttered Hugh, "because, as soon as I saw +that he was using the regular army code of signals, I remembered +about hearing how a certain family over near Hackensack had an uncle +who used to be in the Signal Corps and was also later on an army +surgeon, but who had suffered a sunstroke, and, well, was said to be +a bit queer." + +"Yes," whispered K. K., "this is the same party. His name, I +remember, was Dr. Coursens, and there was some talk last summer about +his having got loose from the house and being drowned, they believed, +in the river, though his body was never found. Just to think of it, +he's been hiding here ever since, picking up his living almost like a +wild animal. Why, right now his clothes are nearly falling off his +back, and if he tries to hang out here much longer he'll be frozen to +death. But, Hugh, we must let his folks know where he is so they can +come after him. I believe, his mind is beginning to get a little +clear again, for at times he talks quite reasonably." + +This was all mighty interesting to Hugh, and he determined that he +would let no grass grow under his feet until he had seen to it that +the man with the deranged mind was once more restored to his family. +But the first thing to be done was to get poor K. K. safely back home. + +So he turned to the man and spoke to him, telling him that they +wished to get their comrade to the car, and at the same time thanking +him warmly for all he had done. Not a single word in reply did Hugh +receive. The man listened and nodded his head, as though he could +dimly understand what the boy was saying. Evidently he was in +something of a dazed condition, if, as K. K. affirmed, his senses +were beginning to assume a normal condition after years of darkness. + +It was a terrible job getting K. K. down from that elevated place. +The man showed them how best to manage. He seemed really solicitous, +and it could be seen that he had taken quite a liking to K. K. during +their brief intercourse, since the latter had been found groaning on +the ground. + +Eventually the level below the cliff was attained. Poor K. K. had +groaned many times, hard though he fought to repress the sounds, for +it was unavoidable that he should receive many jostlings while being +transferred to the lower level. + +Then they made their way across the open space, and finally arrived +at the waiting car, in which the injured youth was deposited and made +as comfortable as the conditions allowed. The deranged man watched +all this with a wistful gleam in his eye. He had fled from his kind +while still gripped in the darkness of madness, but with the first +glimmer of reason being seated once more on its throne he commenced +to yearn after human fellowship again. + +Since the boys had all taken such a deep-seated interest in the +matter it may be proper before the "ghost" of the haunted quarry is +dropped altogether from the story to state that the very next morning +Hugh went over to Hackensack and electrified the Coursen family with +certain remarkable news he brought. It ended in their all starting +forth and arriving at the quarry. They found the demented man +awaiting their coming as though he had guessed what Hugh had in his +mind. More than that he greeted them soberly, and called each member +of the family by name, something he had not been able to do since +that dark cloud descended upon his mind years back. + +There seemed reason to believe that in due time Doctor Coursen might +regain his full senses again and spend a few years more with his +delighted relatives before the end came. + +Hugh, of course, learned all about him and how he had served years in +the army, first as a sergeant in the Signal Corps, and later on +becoming a surgeon of considerable reputation before the accident in +the tropics deprived him of his reason. Perhaps it had been the +utterly helpless condition of poor K. K., when he came accidentally +upon the injured boy, that had strongly appealed to the surgical +spirit that still lay dormant in the brain and fingers of the insane +man and which had been the main cause of the light of reason +returning--surgery had been his passion, and the familiar work took +him back to other days, apparently. + +And that very night, when Doctor Cadmus, hastily summoned to the home +of Mrs. Kinkaid, examined the work of the deranged dweller of the +quarry cave, he had pronounced it simply marvelous the clever way in +which the other had set those bones and put a splint on the leg, with +such clumsy means for working at hand. He declared he meant to +interest himself deeply in the case and see if such a skillful +surgeon might not be restored to the world so much in need of his +kind, with the terrible war raging on the other side of the Atlantic. + +To conclude with this subject, at last accounts Dr. Coursen had so +far recovered as to send in his application for a berth in some +hospital over in France, where his wonderful knowledge of surgery +might prove useful to the countless wounded men at the front. And +doubtless ere this reaches the eye of the reader he may be across the +Atlantic, serving humanity in the great cause. + +Long would those five lads remember that strange expedition up to the +haunted quarry, and what a remarkable discovery they made after +arriving on the ground. It may be that Horatio, yes, and Julius +also, would be less apt to clothe anything along a mysterious nature +with ghostly attributes, after learning how common-sense and +investigation will, in nearly all cases, turn suspicion into +ridicule. But while the country folks, of course, also learned how +the phantom of the quarry had turned out to be just a crazy man who +had escaped from his confinement at home and gone back to primeval +ways of living, few of them would ever muster up the courage to visit +the deserted quarry after nightfall. It had too many thrilling +associations to please them; and besides, what was the use of going +out of their way just to feel the "goose-flesh" creep over their +bodies when an owl hooted, or some little forest animal gave a grunt? + +K. K., being young and healthy, and attended carefully by good old +Doctor Cadmus, was not confined to the house for many weeks. The +bones did not require resetting, and rapidly knitted, so that after a +while he could walk to and from school with the aid of a crutch; and +later this, in turn, gave way to a cane. When February came he even +threw this aid aside, and by March was seen taking his part in school +rushes, as though he had never been injured at all. But his skates +were never once used all winter, nor could he indulge in any +sledding, both of which were favorite pleasures with K. K. + +On the whole, however, he felt that he had much to be thankful for; +and tried not to be too greatly disappointed. But his chums would +miss him when the Marathon race was on; because he had been accounted +one of the best long-distance runners without exception that Scranton +High could boast. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +SCRANTON'S "OPEN-HOUSE" DAY + +Saturday opened with a promise of fair weather, and thousands of +anxious hearts beat high with satisfaction when this important fact +became manifest. + +Before the morning was half over many strangers were noticed in town, +having taken the day off in order to attend the wonderful meet, of +which so much had been said. Every boy in Scranton was wild-eyed, +and on the run most of the time, trying to be here, there, and in +half a dozen places at once, if such a thing were possible. + +Indeed, there was so much going on it reminded some people of the +famous circus that visited the town two years back, with three +separate rings, and something taking place in each at the same time; +so that the spectators hardly knew how to take it all in and keep +from being cross-eyed. + +Out at the athletic grounds there were crowds gathered. Men were +working at the fence, while another gang, under the orders of Mr. +Leonard, carefully put in place such paraphernalia as would be needed +in carrying out the programme. Even the big pole had been well +greased for the climbing match; while the hurdles for the obstacle +race were ready to be placed in position at the proper time; and a +thousand and one other matters engaged the attention of the physical +director, who was probably the most industrious man in seven counties +that Saturday A.M. + +Nor was that all. Some of the would-be contestants, not wholly +satisfied with their record for proficiency, and wishing to key +themselves up to top-notch speed against the now near hour of trial, +were on the ground, and in their working togs. Here a bunch galloped +swiftly around the cinder path, with one of their number holding the +watch on them to ascertain what time they made. Further along +several other fellows were jumping with might and main, and showing +either jubilation or deep chagrin as they found themselves able to do +a shade better than ever before, or else going backward in their +scoring. + +Indeed, that was going to be a red-letter day in the lives of all +Scranton's young people. They begrudged the passing minutes, because +their period of enjoyment would be shortened just so much with the +loss of every sixty seconds. + +When Hugh came on the grounds, after his trip to Hackensack, and +seeing the hermit of the quarry once more safely lodged in the bosom +of his delighted family, he had only one regret. This was the fact +that poor K. K., whose heart had been so set on carrying the colors +of Scranton High to victory in the Marathon race, should be debarred +from participating in the same by a cruel fate. + +As for himself Hugh was not quite so certain as before that he could +accomplish such a thing as getting over those fifteen miles ahead of +all competitors. What he had gone through with on the preceding day, +coupled with his night journey, and only partial rest, after getting +in bed at a late hour, had sapped some of his energy. + +But Hugh's grit and determination were just as strong as ever, and he +meant to do his level best. If he fell down, why, there were "Just" +Smith, and Horatio Juggins, as well as two other Scranton fellows, +any one of whom might be the winner. So long as the prize fell to a +Scranton High boy, it mattered little who carried off the honors, +Hugh felt. + +Noon came at last. + +Everything was now ready for the opening of the athletic tournament. +Chief Wambold kept watch and ward over the grounds, assisted by his +entire force of uniformed men. He evidently did not intend that any +boy, with a mind that turned to practical joking, should have a +chance to exercise his evil propensities unchecked. Should such a +thing be attempted the joker would find himself up against a snag +immediately; and, as those posters announced, he was going to be +harshly dealt with up to the "extreme penalty of the law." + +There were hundreds of people on the grounds at noon, which was a +pretty good marker for the immense crowds that would soon be heading +that way from every point of the compass. Most of these "early +birds" were, of course, out-of-town folks, farmers' families that had +come in, to market, perhaps, and they stayed over to see the great +show, because everybody living for many miles around Scranton had +heard about the meet, and and what a wonderful sight it would be, +well worth going miles to gaze upon. These thrifty and sensible +folks had, in many cases, brought their lunch along with them. +Perhaps they disliked the idea of eating in small restaurants, such +as Scranton, like most towns, boasted; but, no doubt, the main thing +was economy in these times of scanty cash and inflated war prices. + +It was well worth watching when they started to open their packages, +and spread out the contents on the ground or, as might be, on the +benches where they had taken up their positions the better to see +what went on. And really it would have made any boy's mouth water to +note the immense quantities of home-made pies, doughnuts, fried +chicken, and all such good things as were displayed in those farmer's +wives lunch packets. At least there must be no sign of hard times +when the family went on a picnic, or any other sort of pleasure jaunt. + +By then the crowds began to assemble in earnest. Town people, +fearing a crush, hastened to leave home with the lunch dishes +unwashed, and look for places to sit during the long afternoon. +Along the roads every type of car, wagon, carriage, and other styles +of equipages began to be seen, all heading toward the center of +interest, which was the town of Scranton. + +Hundreds came from Allandale; indeed, it might be safe to even say +thousands, for in every direction could be seen the colors of +Allandale High, just as though each enthusiastic boy and girl had +rounded up all their relatives and friends, and induced them to make +it a point to travel to the neighboring borough, there to shout and +shriek, and in other ways lend encouragement to each Allandale +aspirant for athletic honors wherever they showed up. + +Belleville, too, must look very much like the "Deserted Village" on +this particular afternoon; and, if the amount of business done +depended on the few who had remained at home, her merchants would +have to stay up until midnight in order to equal their customary +Saturday sales. + +At half-past twelve the throng had become so dense that Chief Wambold +and his men were compelled to enlist the services of a number of +willing volunteers who, temporarily decorated with a silver shield, +were vested with the authority of regular officers, in order to keep +avenues open, and prevent the throng from breaking through the ropes +upon the limited field where the athletes expected to compete. + +So far as attendance was concerned there was no longer the least +doubt but that the meet would prove an abounding success; the rest +remained to be proven. But the gathering athletes who began to +appear in little knots, coming from the dressing rooms of the +building, seemed full of confidence, and answered the loud salutes of +a myriad of friends in the crowd with reassuring nods, and gestures +calculated to buoy up their hopes. + +The programme would be varied. First would come several short +sprints between the best runners of hundred-yard distances in the +county. These were sure to key up the spectators by their thrilling +intensity, as is always the case. Following fast upon these there +would be hammer-throwing, and the toss of the discus. Then the +programme called for other athletic exhibitions along a line that +would lend variety, and enhance the interest, as the different +schools struggled for supremacy in the arena provided, spurred on to +do their utmost by ringing cheers, and the dearly beloved class songs. + +Everybody worth mentioning in Scranton would be there, from Dr. +Carmack, the supervising head of the county schools, as well as +principal of Scranton High, down the line to the Directors of the +Games, the town council, the mayors of the three boroughs, and a +whole host of notables besides. + +And how the fond eyes of father and mother would follow the movements +of John, or Edward, or Philip, as though he might be the only young +athlete worth watching in all that animated scene. If he won, they +had always known he did not have an equal in his specialty; and +should he be so unlucky as to come in at the heels of the pack, why, +it was easy to be seen that he had not been given a square deal by +some of the rival runners, who persisted in getting in his way, and +were probably leagued together to prevent him from carrying off the +prize. But no matter, he would always be a hero in the eyes of those +who loved him, though he might not decorate the family mantel at home +with the prizes he aspired to win. + +Hugh had kept fairly quiet after returning from Hackensack, and +seeing the hermit once more safe in the charge of his folks. He knew +that he must conserve his strength for the great undertaking that +confronted him that afternoon. Those who had entered for the +long-distance race would not be allowed, of course, to participate in +any other event; that had been laid down as law by Mr. Leonard when +they entered their names on the list of candidates. They must +simply stand around and watch what was going on until the time came +for staging the Marathon; when they could take their place in the +long string that would await the pistol shot intended to start them +on the telling grind. + +Horatio and "Just" Smith were on deck, looking fit and eager. Then, +too, there was Nick Lang, with a grin on his heavy face every time he +glanced toward the other three fellows. It was getting on, and some +of the earlier events had already been carried through, amidst great +roars of applause as the different prizes went, this one to an +Allandale fellow, another to a boy wearing the Belleville High +colors; and three in succession to local lads. + +"I don't exactly like the way that Nick Lang keeps on laughing to +himself every time he looks over in this direction," Horatio was +saying to the other two. + +"I've noticed the same thing," spoke up "Just" Smith; "and it makes +me wonder if the tricky fellow hasn't got some slick game up his +sleeve, as usual, looking to giving the rest of us trouble. You +notice, don't you, boys, that, look as you will, you can't see +anything of either that Tip Slavin, or Leon Disney. Now, when +fellows who are as fond of outdoor sports as those two have always +been, keep shy when such a great event as this meet is being pulled +off, there must be a pretty good reason." + +"They may be somewhere in the crowd," Hugh went on to say, "because +it'd be impossible for any single fellow to identify all that are in +that solid heaving yelling mass of people. Nick believes he has a +fair chance of leading the pack, and that makes him feel happy. I +heard him say only yesterday that the one fellow he was afraid of in +our whole bunch was K. K.; and now that accident has eliminated him, +why, naturally, Nick feels more confidence. In imagination he's +already receiving the grand Marathon prize, and hearing the crowds +yelling themselves hoarse." + +"Well," snorted Horatio, gritting his teeth in a way he had when +aroused, "if that's what pleases Nick he's got another guess coming; +for three of us are also in the game; and he's got to do some mighty +tall sprinting in that last half-mile if he expects to win out. Then +there are a lot of other fellows in the run who may give him a pain. +But, according to the programme, our race comes next after this pole +vaulting contest; so, boys, we'd better be moving around, and getting +our place in line, according to our several numbers." + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +THE GREAT MARATHON RACE + +It was plainly noticeable how that vast crowd began to stir, and show +signs of increased interest when the numerous trim runners entered +for the big Marathon started to gather for the preliminary stage of +the race. + +Each of the many contestants had a large number fastened upon both +the front and back of his thin upper garment. By these they might be +recognized even at a distance; and many persons carried field or +opera glasses of various types just on purpose to make out who each +runner was when he came in sight around the bend half a mile away, to +open on that last stretch that was likely to see the cruelest work of +all, if the competition chanced to be keen. + +The boys, as a rule, looked very much like lithe grayhounds, for your +natural runner is light of body, and can course along like the wind. +Still, this applies more to short-distance sprinters than those whose +specialty is endurance in a fifteen- or twenty-mile race. + +Several of the fellows were quite muscular in build, and gave +evidence of a grim determination such as the bulldog possesses. +These chaps might be easily distanced in the start, but they would +keep doggedly on, under the spur of the knowledge contained in that +old adage that "the race is not always to the swift." + +Hugh Morgan was, perhaps, the best built of them all, neither too +heavy, nor yet betraying a weakness that would crop out after the +first five miles had been covered, as might be the case with the more +slender fellows. + +They stood in line, listening to the last words of caution delivered +by Mr. Hitchens, a former Yale man who had umpired the baseball games +the preceding summer in such an impartial manner that everyone had +the utmost reliance on his fairness. + +He explained to them the simple conditions of the race,--how there +must be no fouling of any kind; just how often and where the +contestants must register their names in books kept by judges on the +course; how each was supposed to give his word of honor not to accept +any sort of lift for even a dozen feet; and that the great crowd +assembled would be waiting to acclaim the first-comer as the victor +in the greatest long-distance race ever attempted by high-school +boys, at least in that particular county. + +They were allowed a certain latitude as to their methods of running. +If any of them could cut across lots, and still cover the entire +course, as well as register faithfully wherever required, that was to +be their option. + +Having finished his little fatherly talk, the referee stepped to one +side, and gave the word for the runners to make ready. + +Every eye was glued on this or that contestant, according to the +humor of the spectator. Each Allandale visitor saw only Allandale in +that long line, swaying back and forth a trifle, like a reed shaken +in the wind. They could not believe it possible that any other +fellow had the slightest chance of coming in ahead of those +fleet-footed boys upon whose ability they pinned their full trust. + +So it was with the Belleville rooters; while, of course, the natives +were certain the prize was already as good as won by Hugh Morgan; or, +it might happen to be, Horatio Juggins, "Just" Smith, or possibly +Nick Lang, the last-named looking ever so confident, as he leaned +over nearly double in his favorite crouch, his fingertips in contact +with the ground, and his knees bent. + +Then came the sharp report of the pistol. + +"They're off!" involuntarily exclaimed a thousand persons in unison, +as the line of nimble runners was seen to leap into action, and shoot +away with amazing speed. + +There were a few little lively brushes in the start, before the +runners settled down to real business. Some were immediately left +behind, but this fact seemed to give them little concern, for they +kept jogging away as though quite happy. + +Doubtless, a number had entered with no idea of covering more than a +few miles of the long course. They just enjoyed the excitement, and +the honor of being able to say they had once run in a fifteen-mile +schoolboy Marathon race. + +After a bit these novices would drop out, perhaps even hasten back +with various clever excuses for giving up; and having gained the +cheers of their particular coterie of friends they could don a few +more clothes to keep off the chill, and settle back to watch the rest +of the entertainment. Their opinion would naturally be much sought +after, as to the chances of this or that genuine contestant; which +was one of the things they desired. + +As it takes considerable time for even fleet-footed runners to go +over a fifteen-mile course, the sensible committee, who knew just +about how long the crowd would have to wait, had provided plenty of +amusement meanwhile. + +Interspersed with a number of minor events, such as further sprinting +matches for younger entries, and some more pole vaulting, as well as +Indian club exhibitions of skill, would come the humorous features of +the meet. + +These are always popular with the country people; indeed, nearly +everybody seems to welcome them as a diversion calculated to raise +hearty laughter. + +There was also keen competition even in the potato race; and the +crowd yelled itself hoarse to see the antics of those who met with +all manner of mishaps when engaged in the hurdle, and the obstacle +affairs. + +The boys who had engaged to try for these prizes seemed to "get their +dander up," as some fellow expressed it, and the way they struggled +and vied with one another was "equal to a circus with a brass band." + +Although mention may not have been made of the fact up to now, the +Scranton band was giving of its very best from time to time, and the +air throbbed with martial music suitable to a country just then at +war with a foreign nation. It was a fair sort of band in the +bargain, and well worth listening to; so that the music really added +greatly to the enjoyment of the occasion. + +When the three-legged race was pulled off the spectators howled their +sympathy with this or that pair of contestants as they hopped along, +now rolling on the ground while bound together, and, at times, even +trying to creep in desperation, when it seemed as though a difference +of opinions in the two minds trying to control what was just the same +as one pair of legs, caused confusion, and a lack of progression. + +Later on came the climbing of the greased pole. This is always +comical enough, and aroused much enthusiasm. Nobody seems to be a +favorite, and each successful attempt to mount is greeted with +shrieks of laughter. So long as a valiant fellow is seen to be +steadily making his way upwards, inch by inch, he may be applauded; +but let him display the slightest hint of having "shot his bolt," and +begin to slip back again, howls of derision will greet his ears, so +that in confusion he finally gives it up, and retires in haste. + +All sorts of small means are resorted to in order to allow the +contestant to get a surer grip on the slippery pole; for, up to a +certain point, these are allowable. One rubs sand in his hands, and +for a brief time this seems to enable him to do splendid work; but +then it soon wears away, and then his troubles begin; until, unable +to make further progress, he is seen to glance over his shoulder to +note how far from the ground he has risen. This is a sure sign of +weakening, and, of course, the watchful crowd again roars at him to +keep right on, that he's doing nobly, and all that; but John knows +better, and so down he comes with a rush, and passes out, shaking his +head in disgust and bitter disappointment; for possibly he had been +within five feet of the top when his energies failed him. + +So the time went on, merrily enough. + +Many persons were declaring they had not enjoyed such an afternoon +for years, and felt weak from so much laughter. + +Watches were being consulted more and more frequently now. + +"It's getting time we saw something of those chaps," could be heard +here and there, showing that numbers had figured things out, or else +received a tip from an authority in the game as to just how long it +was likely to take a fleet runner to cover fifteen miles of good road. + +Anxious eyes were being strained unduly, watching the bend half a +mile beyond. It could be seen from almost any part of the field, +fortunately, though once the big board fence was in position, the +view would be partly cut off. + +It had been arranged, as is always done, that when a runner was +sighted nearing the bend a gun would be fired by the sentry on duty +there, to attract the attention of the crowd, so that they might have +the first glimpse of the leading contestants, as they rounded that +abrupt curve where the view was shut off. + +There was now nothing going on in the arena, the entire programme +having been carried out. Still, few, if any, left their seats, +although they had been there for several hours, it might be. The +deepest interest centered upon the completion of the Marathon race. +In comparison to this exhibition of school-boy endurance and pluck +the other affairs seemed to sink into insignificance; although at the +time they occurred doubtless those who had friends entered were +wildly excited. But then the race that has already been finished is +never as intensely interesting as the one in process of being run; +just as the fish landed never seems quite so wonderful as the fellow +who is still swimming the waters, and eyeing the baited hook as +though tempted to take a hazard. + +Seconds seemed fraught with undue importance, and many impatient +fellows, upon consulting their watches, were seen to hold the same up +to their ear, as though to make sure the time-piece had not stopped, +so leaden-footed did the minutes seem to move along. + +Some of the girls had commenced to sing their class songs, but in a +mild sort of way; for they did not wish to lose the sound that would +denote that a runner was in sight at the second bend, and could be +expected shortly to come into view at the head of the last half-mile +strip of road leading to the goal. + +Once an engine on the railroad not far away gave a sharp whistle that +thrilled everybody, and numberless eyes were glued on the point up +the road where the first runner must appear. Then a general laugh +ran around because of the false alarm. + +But everything must have an end, and that keen anxiety finally met +with its reward. Plainly came the heavy boom of the waiting gun. +Everyone craned his or her neck to see. Hearts beat quicker with +eager anticipation. Which one of the thirty contestants would be the +first to appear? There might be several in a bunch, primed for the +final sprint for goal. The very thought thrilled hearts, and added +color to cheeks, as well as made eyes sparkle with anticipation. +Allandale was not cheering now; Belleville rooters were strangely +quiet; for, so far, the outcome of the great race was still wrapped +in mystery; but the solution would soon come, they knew. + +Another heavy boom told that a second runner was just around the +bend, and when a third discharge quickly followed the crowd knew +there was going to be an exciting finish to the Marathon. + +Then a plainly audible sigh broke forth as the first runner was seen +rounding the bend, and starting on the home stretch, but wabbling +badly as he ran, being almost completely exhausted. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +ON THE FINAL MILE OF THE COURSE + +Meanwhile, in order to understand certain important events that came +about, it is necessary that we follow the runners, and devote this +chapter to what occurred up to the time that first fellow came +lunging around the final bend, having covered the whole course up to +the final lap. + +For a mile or so along the road there were bunches of schoolboys and +girls waiting to give some of the contestants a cheering word as they +flashed past. The enthusiasts, however, would not linger long, for +they likely enough wished to see the comical part of the programme +carried out. Besides, once the runners had straggled past their +posts the only interest remaining for them in the race was its +conclusion. So they would want to get back to the grounds, and +secure positions along the line to the first bend, where they could +greet each contestant as he appeared, and cheer him on; for he would +probably need encouragement, being near the point of exhaustion. + +Hugh had figured things out exactly, and knew what he could do. He +was not alarmed because several of the visiting runners led the way, +and even "Just" Smith had quite a little lead over him. + +Pegging along, Hugh covered mile after mile with a steadiness that he +had reduced to machine-like motion. He had timed himself, and the +whole course was mentally charted for his guidance. If he reached +the cut-off road at a certain time he would know things were moving +just as swiftly as necessary. Those boys who strained themselves in +that first seven miles would be apt to rue their rashness when they +began to feel their legs quiver with weakness under them, and still +miles remained to be covered ere the goal came in sight. And, +besides, they were sure to be in no condition for a hot final sprint, +in case of keen competition. + +So Hugh, having registered as required at two booths on the way, and +thus learned the order in which the trio ahead of him seemed to be +running, finally arrived at the sunken quarry road. He recognized +the landmarks before he reached the spot; and losing not a second of +time darted among the trees. + +"Just" Smith was still leading him, for here and there he could +distinguish the other's footprints, where the ground chanced to be a +little moist. Hugh also had reason to believe that Nick Lang was +coming strong not a great distance behind him. He wondered whether +Nick meant to take advantage of the old quarry road as well as he and +"Just" Smith, and Horatio in the bargain. For that matter Hugh did +not care an iota; if Nick considered it would be to his advantage he +was at liberty to benefit by this scheme of Hugh's. It was all for +the glory of Scranton High; and far better that Nick won the prize, +than that it should be taken by an Allandale, or a Belleville +contestant--that is, if he won it honestly. + +Apparently, on the face of the returns, when half of the fifteen-mile +course had been run, the victory was likely to be carried off by +Whipple, the fleet-winged Allandale chap who had played right field +during the baseball matches; "Just" Smith; himself; or possibly Nick +Lang. There was always a dim and remote possibility, however, of a +dark horse forging to the front on the home stretch. This might be +Horatio Juggins, or McKee, or perhaps that Belleville runner, Conway, +who had looked so confident when Hugh surveyed the line of eager +faces at the start. + +Hugh remembered every foot of the way along that quarry road. He had +a faculty for impressing features of the surrounding landscape on his +mind, so that he could recall it at pleasure, just as though he held +a photograph in his hand. + +Now he was drawing near the quarry itself, the loneliest and most +gruesome stretch of the entire cut-off; with "Just" Smith still in +the lead. Hugh felt proud of his chum, and often chuckled as he +contemplated the other's supreme delight in case a fickle fortune +allowed him to come in ahead; for honors of this sort were a rare +thing in the past of the Smith boy; and certainly he had never before +been so close to reaping such a colossal prize as the winning of the +Marathon would be reckoned. + +Now Hugh glimpsed the quarry on one side of him. How his thoughts +flew backward to marshal the strange events so recently happening +there, in which he and some of his comrades had had the good fortune +to participate. + +Just then he heard a plain groan. It gave him a little thrill, but +not because he fancied there was anything supernatural connected with +the sound. Looking in the direction from whence the groan came he +discovered a boy sitting on the ground, and rubbing his lower +extremities vigorously. + +It was "Just" Smith! Evidently something not down on the programme +had happened to the boy who led the race across the quarry road. +Hugh suspected treachery immediately. He turned aside, and sprang +towards his chum. + +"Hey! what ails you, 'Just' Smith?" he called out, wasting some of +his precious breath in the bargain. "This isn't the way to win a +Marathon, don't you know? What if you have barked your shin?--forget +all about it, and get moving again!" + +The Smith boy looked very sad, as he shook his face dolefully. + +"Huh! wish I could, Hugh," he hastened to mumble, still rubbing his +shin, and making faces as though it hurt him considerably. "I've +tried to run, but shucks; what's the use when you can hardly limp at +the best? I'm through, Hugh, sorry to say. You keep on, and bag the +prize; next to winning it myself I'd love to know _you_ took it away +from that Whipple chap." + +"But--how did the accident happen, 'Just' Smith?" continued Hugh. + +"Accident nothing!" snapped the other, between his set teeth. "It +was all a set-up game to knock one of us out of the race, I tell you. +If you'd been leading at the time, why, that shower of rocks must +have met you." + +"Rocks, did you say?" exclaimed Hugh, looking dark. + +Just then the sound of footsteps was heard. A runner went past them +on the full tear. It was Nick Lang, and when he turned his face +toward the two on their knees the wicked look on his grinning face +told more eloquently than words how his brain had been the one to +hatch up this miserable trick whereby he hoped to gain an advantage +over one of his schoolmates who might happen to be leading him in the +race. He vanished down the road, still running strong. "Just" Smith +almost howled, he was so furious. + +"That's the chap who engineered this rotten game, I tell you, Hugh!" +he snapped. "And chances are ten to one it was Leon Disney and that +Tip Slavin who threw all those stones, and then ran away laughing, so +I couldn't glimpse 'em. Say, I was struck in half a dozen places. +I've got a lump on my head nearly as big as a hen's egg; and my elbow +hurts like everything. I was so flustered that I must have got +twisted in a vine, or else struck a root, for I fell, and barked my +shin something fierce. I wanted to chase after the cowards, but knew +it was silly to think of such a thing. Then I tried to keep on, but +it wasn't any use, and I gave it up as a bad job. But Hugh, I hope +you don't mean to let that skunk profit by his trickery. Please +start off, and beat him out, if it takes a leg." + +"But I hate to leave you here, 'Just' Smith, much as I'd like to +chase after Nick, because now he deserves to be beaten." + +"Oh! don't bother about me, Hugh. I'll try and get to the main +road, even if I have to _crawl_. Later on you can come back for me +in some sort of rig. Whew! but I'm as mad as a hatter because I've +lost my fine chance, when I was going so strong, with plenty of +reserve force held back." + +Hugh realized that duty called upon him to do as his chum demanded. +It would be a shame if Nick Lang actually profited through such a +rank act of treachery toward his fellows of Scranton High. An +individual should be ready to sacrifice his school or its interests +to his own personal ambition, and certainly never should it be +allowed that he gain his ends through such a dastardly trick as the +waylaying of another on the road, and his being assaulted, as "Just" +Smith had been. + +"All right, I'll do it, then!" Hugh exclaimed, with a look of sudden +determination. "Expect me back later on, old fellow! Bye-bye! +Don't try to do too much, and hurt yourself worse!" + +With these words he sprang away. "Just" Smith gave him a parting +cheer, that must have come a bit hard, owing to the pain he suffered, +and also the bitter disappointment that wrung his boyish and +ambitious heart. + +Hugh had but one thought now, which was to speed along at such a clip +as to allow him to finally overtake and pass the treacherous Nick, +and leave him in the lurch. The spur of punishing the other for such +dastardly conduct was apt to prove an incentive calculated to add +considerably to Hugh's running. + +Nick had the advantage, since he must be well on the way to the main +thoroughfare by now; and once that was gained there was a clear field +ahead of him. But one more registering station remained, and that +was at a certain turn on the way home. Then would come the final +three miles, with the pace increasing constantly, as those in the +lead vied with each other to get ahead, or to retain that proud +position. + +Hugh quickly regained the mastery over his aroused feelings. He must +stay cool and collected so as to do exactly the right thing at the +right time. A little slip in the way of judgment was likely to lose +him the race, for he now learned as he gained the main road, that +there were not only one but two competitors ahead of him. + +Yes, the fleet-footed Whipple had somehow managed to spin along over +the ground, and was now not far behind Nick Lang. Possibly the +fellow from Allandale had also secretly examined the course and +discovered a cut-off on his own account, through means of which he +anticipated gaining a great advantage over all the other runners in +the Marathon. + +Hugh now set out to make steady gains. He must be within a certain +distance of those two fellows by the time the last stretch was +reached, or else all his hope of overtaking and passing them would be +lost. + +He found that his powers of endurance and speed had not been +misjudged, for they responded nobly when called upon for a further +spurt. Now, he was greatly lessening the distance separating him +from Whipple; who, in turn, seemed able to hold his own with Nick. + +The latter began to show the first signs of distress when they were +at the beginning of the last two miles. He looked over his shoulder, +and no runner ever is guilty of such an unwise proceeding unless his +heart has commenced to be filled with grave doubts as to his being a +winner. + +Again did Hugh notice Nick doing this, and he took fresh courage from +the circumstance. Yes, and looking more closely he also saw that +Nick was not running true to form any longer; he had begun to wobble +more or less, as though unable to continue on in a straight line. +That was another bad sign, since it causes the runner to cover +unnecessary ground; and also indicates a weakening heart. + +Hugh let out another burst of speed. He was closing the gap rapidly; +and, apparently, Whipple also seemed to be gaining on the almost +played-out Nick. + +They were now within less than a mile of the finish; the last turn +would soon be reached, with the gun booming out the fact of their +arrival. Hugh girded his loins for a Garrison finish, and gloried in +the conviction that he was in trim to do himself credit. + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +THE BOY WHO WON--CONCLUSION + +"It's Nick Lang, as sure as anything!" shouted a boy who happened to +possess an excellent pair of field-glasses. + +"Nick Lang in the lead!" howled another; "well, what do you think of +that? Where, oh, where, oh, where is Hugh Morgan about this time; +and 'Just' Smith in the bargain?" + +"But Nick is a Scranton High boy after all, and that's a heap better +than to see an Allandale fellow come in ahead!" cried another near by. + +"Look! a second runner has turned the bend; and see how he is coming +up on poor wobbly old Nick hand-over-fist!" + +"Hello! what's this mean?" whooped a visitor exultantly. "Surely I +know the second fellow's build. It's certainly our great Whipple! +He's going to cop the prize, boys! Give Whipple an Allandale yell +right now to encourage him!" + +Even as a score of boyish throats roared in response to this entreaty +a third runner was discovered rounding the bend. He appeared to be +tearing along at race-horse speed, as though having a reserve stock +of power upon which to call in this closing half-mile of the long +race. + +"Hugh Morgan!" + +The words seemed to run like wildfire through the vast crowd. +Everybody repeated them, some with a growing delight, others with a +sense of impending disaster to the wild hopes they had been so +ardently cherishing; all according to the viewpoint they held. +Scranton's register was rising, while Allandale visitors began to +feel something was on the verge of happening to crush the budding +paean of victory that was ready to bubble from their lips. + +Nick evidently knew that he had shot his bolt. He, doubtless, tried +frantically to encourage his legs to move faster, but they refused to +hearken to the call. Whipple was now rapidly closing the short gap +existing between them. At the same time it could be seen that the +Allandale runner veered a trifle, as though to give Nick a fairly +wide berth when passing. + +Plenty of fellows noticed this fact, nor did they wonder at it. The +tricky character of Nick Lang was pretty well known, and they +believed he would not hesitate about throwing himself sideways, so as +to collide with Whipple when the other was in the act of passing him; +although such a vindictive act could, of course, not better the +position of the local runner a particle. + +When Whipple actually took the lead a great roar arose from thousands +of throats. Doubtless many wild-eyed Allandale enthusiasts already +counted the victory as won. They could be seen commencing to throw +their hats and caps into the air, boy-fashion. Others, wiser, +gripped their hands, and held their breath while waiting to see the +actual finish of the great race. + +Of a truth Whipple was doing splendidly, there was no gainsaying +that; but coming on back of him was one who appeared to be making +much better time. Hugh was gaining fast, they could see. The only +question that remained to be settled was whether Whipple had it in +him to increase his pace sufficiently to cross the tape first; or, on +the other hand, if Hugh Morgan was able to speed up still more, and +close the gap. + +How the shouts rang out. Everybody seemed to be cheering madly at +the same time. Men stood up, and waved their arms; girls embraced +each other, though not an eye was turned away from that wonderful +finish of the great Marathon race. + +Now, Hugh had apparently released his final effort. He was gaining +faster and faster. Whipple seemed to know that he was in deadly +peril. He, too, looked back over his shoulder in alarm, possibly +meaning in desperation to almost burst a blood vessel if he found +that his rival was about to overtake him. + +That proved his eventual undoing, though the result was no longer in +doubt. He lost his balance, and, being so exhausted that he could +not stand longer, pitched headlong to the ground, just as the fleet +Hugh jumped into the lead, raced twenty steps further, broke the +extended tape, and thus won the race. + +How the heavens seemed to fairly quiver with the roars that broke +out! It had been a most thrilling finish for the greatest race ever +run in all the country. Time might come and time might go, but never +would those who had been so fortunate as to witness the conclusion of +the Marathon forget the thrilling spectacle. + +Hugh bore his honors meekly. + +He utterly declined to let some of the Scranton fellows pick him up +and bear him around on their shoulders, as they threatened to do. +After the prizes had been duly awarded the assemblage broke up, and +the roads leading out of Scranton were soon blocked with hundreds of +vehicles of every description carrying home the visitors. + +Even Allandale and Belleville had no reason to be disappointed over +the general results, for their young athletes had fared very well, +all things considered. Of course, most of them would rather have +seen the Marathon won by a representative from their school than to +"scoop in" all the other prizes grouped together; but since it had to +go to Scranton, they voiced the opinion of most people when they +declared they were glad Hugh Morgan had won it, and not Nick Lang. + +Even though overwhelmed with congratulations on every hand, Hugh did +not forget his promise to "Just" Smith. As soon as he could get into +his street clothes he hunted a fellow who chanced to have his +father's flivver handy, and easily won his consent to take him along +the road in the direction of Belleville, in order to find poor "Just" +Smith, and get him home again. + +This they did without any mishap, and it may be easily understood +that the disappointed boy hailed their coming with great joy. He +knew all about that gruelling finish of the big race in the bargain, +some of those Allandale chaps passing by in vehicles having readily +informed him as to the winner, and what a tremendously thrilling +sight the finish had been. + +Of course, since "Just" Smith had not once glimpsed the figures of +his assailants, and as conviction can hardly rest upon a burst of +vindictive boyish laughter, there was no public denunciation of Nick +Lang and his cronies. Everybody could give a good guess, however, as +to who was guilty; and after that Nick was destined to feel himself +more ostracized by his schoolmates than ever before. + +The great athletic tournament had proven to be a complete success, +being marred by no serious accidents, for which many a devoted mother +in Scranton gave thanks that same night, even though her boy may not +have won undying fame through gaining a prize. Hugh himself was more +than satisfied, though he would have been almost as well pleased had +it been poor "K. K.," "Just" Smith, or Horatio Juggins who had won +the big race, so long as the honor of Scranton High was upheld. + +That was to be the finish of the fall sports, but with winter so near +at hand, and that vast field being put in order for flooding, it +might readily be guessed the boys and girls of Scranton were in line +for considerable more fun while Jack Frost held sway over his frozen +dominions. That this supposition proved to be a correct one may be +judged from the title of the fourth and following volume in this +series, which can be had wherever boys' books are sold, and bearing +the suggestive title of "The Chums of Scranton High at Ice Hockey; +or, A Wizard on Steel Runners." Get it, if you have enjoyed reading +about Hugh Morgan and his loyal comrades in this and previous books; +you will find it just as deeply interesting as anything that has gone +before, since the boys of Scranton enter upon a fresh line of healthy +competition, this time upon the ice. + + + + +THE END + + + + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Chums of Scranton High on the +Cinder Path, by Donald Ferguson + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CHUMS OF SCRANTON HIGH *** + +***** This file should be named 13251.txt or 13251.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/3/2/5/13251/ + +Produced by Al Haines + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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