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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/18587-8.txt b/18587-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..0f8863e --- /dev/null +++ b/18587-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,4774 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Chums of Scranton High, 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 + Hugh Morgan's Uphill Fight + + +Author: Donald Ferguson + + + +Release Date: June 14, 2006 [eBook #18587] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CHUMS OF SCRANTON HIGH*** + + +E-text prepared by Al Haines + + + +Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this + file which includes the original illustration. + See 18587-h.htm or 18587-h.zip: + (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/8/5/8/18587/18587-h/18587-h.htm) + or + (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/8/5/8/18587/18587-h.zip) + + + + + +THE CHUMS OF SCRANTON HIGH + +Or + +Hugh Morgan's Uphill Fight + +by + +DONALD FERGUSON + + + + + + + +[Frontispiece: "Are you through?" demanded, Hugh sternly.] + + + + +The Goldsmith Publishing Co. +Cleveland +Made in U. S. A. +Copyright, 1919 + + + + +CONTENTS + + +CHAPTER + + I. A FENCE WITH A HISTORY + II. THE BOYS OF OLD SCRANTON + III. HUGH SHOULDERS A HEAVY TASK + IV. IN FOR A FROLIC + V. THE TRAGIC AFFAIR ON THE ROAD + VI. MAKING A GOOD JOB OF IT + VII. CALLED OUT FOR PRACTICE + VIII. THAD MAKES A DISCOVERY + IX. JUST BETWEEN CHUMS + X. A VISITOR FROM BELLEVILLE HIGH + XI. HUGH'S PETS IN DANGER + XII. THE TRAP + XIII. A COLD RECEPTION + XIV. NICK AS A GAP-STOPPER + XV. PRETTY POLLY UNDER SUSPICION + XVI. THE RESCUE AT HOBSON'S MILL-POND + XVII. LITTLE BRUTUS AND HIS "COLLECTION" + XVIII. A STRAIGHT DRIVE FOR THE TRUTH + XIX. HUGH REACHES HIS GOAL + XX. LOOKING FORWARD--CONCLUSION + + + + +THE CHUMS OF SCRANTON HIGH + + +CHAPTER I + +A FENCE WITH A HISTORY + +"The best day so far this spring, fellows!" + +"It feels mighty much like baseball weather, for a fact, Otto!" + +"True for you, K. K., though there's still just a little tang to this +April air." + +"What of that, Eli? The big leagues have opened shop all over the +land, and the city papers are already full of baseball scores, and +diamond lore. We ought to be getting busy ourselves in little old +Scranton." + +"Allandale High is practicing. Sandy Dowd and I saw a bunch of the +boys out on their field after school yesterday, didn't we, Sandy?" + +"That's right, we did. And I understand Belleville expects to put an +extra hard-hitting nine in the game this season. They're still sore +over the terrible drubbing Allandale gave them last summer." + +"Since Scranton has now become a member of the Three-Town League, +taking the place of Lawrence when that nine dropped out, seems to me we +ought to lose no time if we expect to commence practicing. That same +Allandale team swept the circuit, you remember, like a hurricane." + +"We've plenty of good material, fellows, believe me, right here in +Scranton High. And somehow I've got a hunch that we're going to make +even mighty Allandale take a tumble before the season gets old." + +"Don't boast too soon, Eli Griffin. That's a wee Yankee trick you must +have inherited from your forebears." + +"Easy for you to say that, Andy McGuffey. Why, you're a regular old +pessimist, like all your canny Scotch ancestors were. You love to look +at the world through smoked glasses. On my part, I prefer to use +rose-colored ones, and expect the best sort of things to happen, even +if I do get fooled lots of times." + +A number of well-grown lads were perched in all sorts of grotesque +attitudes along the top rail of the campus fence. That same fence of +Scranton High was almost as famous, in its modest way, as the one at +Yale known throughout the length and breadth of the whole land. + +It had stood there, repaired at stated and frequent intervals, for at +least two score of years. Hundreds upon hundreds of Scranton lads, +long since grown to manhood, and many of them gone forth to take their +appointed places in the busy marts of the world, kept a warm corner in +their hearts for sacred memories of that dear old fence. Many a +glorious campaign of sport or mischief had been talked over by a line +of students perched along the flat rail at the summit of that same +fence. More than one contemplated school mutiny had been hatched in +excited whispers amidst those never-to-be-forgotten historic +surroundings. + +Why, when a few years back the unthinking and officious School +Directors voted to have that fence demolished, simply because it seemed +to be out of keeping with the grand new building that had been erected, +a storm of angry protest arose from students and parents; while letters +arrived from a score and more of eminent men who were proud to call +Scranton their birthplace. So overwhelming was the flood, that a hurry +call for an extra meeting of the Board went out, at which their former +ill-advised decision was rescinded. + +And so there that fence remained, beloved of every boy in Scranton, the +younger fry only longing for the day to come when passing for the high +school they, too, might have the proud privilege of "roosting" on its +well-worn rails. Possibly it will still be in existence when some of +their sons also reach the dignity of wearing the freshman class colors, +and of battling on gridiron and diamond for the honor of Old Scranton. + +As to the identity of the boys in question, from whom those remarks +proceeded, they might just as well be briefly introduced here as later, +as all of them are destined to take part in the lively doings that will +be recorded in this and in other volumes of this series. + +Otto was Otto Brand; Eli Griffin came of New England parentage, and had +some of the traits that distinguish Yankees the world over, though a +pretty fine fellow, all told; Andy McGuffey, as his name would +indicate, could look back to a Scotch ancestry, and occasionally a +touch of the brogue might be detected in his speech; Sandy Dowd had red +hair, blue eyes and a host of very noticeable freckles; but could be +good-natured in spite of any drawbacks; while the lad called "K. K." +was in reality Kenneth Kinkaid; but since boys generally have little +use for a name that makes a mouthful, he was known far and wide under +that singularly abbreviated cognomen. + +The Committee on Sports connected with Scranton High was a body of +seniors appointed by the students themselves, and given authority to +handle all questions connected with athletics. As a rule, they carried +out their duties in a broad-minded fashion, and not only merited the +confidence of the entire school but also the respect of the faculty as +well. + +There was considerable anxiety abroad just at present, because it was +well known that the committee had been discussing the possible make-up +of the baseball team to which would be given the proud privilege of +representing the school that season in the Three-Town League. No one +knew absolutely just who would be selected among the numerous +candidates, though, of course, it was only natural that many +entertained wild hopes, which were only doomed to disappointment. + +Two more boys came sauntering along, and found places on the "roost." +One of these was a burly fellow with a pugnacious face and a bold eye. +He seemed to be no favorite among the boys, though they treated him +with a certain amount of respect. Well, there is never a town or a +village but has its particular bully; and for several years now Nick +Lang had ably filled that role in Scranton. + +He was a born "scrapper," and never so happy as when annoying others. +A fight appeared to be the acme of pleasure with him, and it was seldom +that he could be seen without some trace of a mix-up on his face in the +shape of scratches, or a suspicious hue about one of his eyes. + +The other boy was Leon Disney, the "under-study" of Nick. While just +as tough as the other, Leon never displayed the same amount of +boldness. He would rather attain his revenge through some petty means, +being a born sneak. The boys only tolerated Leon because Nick chose to +stand up for him; and every one disliked to anger the Lang fellow, on +account of his way of making things unpleasant for others. + +The general talk continued, with Nick taking part in it, for he at +least was known to be a smart hand at athletics, and had often led in +such things as hammer-throwing and wrestling. + +During the course of the conversation, which had become general, Eli +chanced to mention the name of Owen Dugdale. + +"Why, they say that even he aspires to get a place on the substitute +list, just to think of his nerve. Perhaps a few other fellows might +feel they'd been slighted if the committee turned them down for Owen +Dugdale." + +"Hold up there a bit, Eli," said K. K., reprovingly. "If I were you +I'd go a little slow about running a fellow down, just because he +happens to be called Owen Dugdale, and live with a queer old gentleman +he calls his grandfather, but who chooses to keep aloof from Scranton +folks as if he were a hermit. I happen to know that two of our most +respected chums, Hugh Morgan and Thad Stevens, seem to have taken a +great liking for that dark-faced chap. I've seen Owen in their company +considerably of late." + +Eli gave a snort of disdain. He was one of those impulsive boys who +often say disagreeable things on the spur of the moment, and then +perhaps afterwards feel sorry for having done so. Evidently, he had +taken a notion to dislike the said Owen, and did not care who knew it. + +"That fellow had been a mystery ever since he and his ancient +granddaddy came to Scranton, and started to live in that old house +called The Rookery, and which used to be thought a haunted place. I've +always had a hunch they must be some relation to the notorious Luther +Dugdale who has had a bad reputation as a dishonest operator down in +the Wall Street district in New York. Why, lately I even asked my +cousin in a letter about that man, and he wrote me the old chap had +strangely disappeared some years ago, carrying off a big bunch of +boodle dishonestly gained. Well, I'm not saying it's the same old +rascal who's living in our midst right now, but, fellows, you can draw +your own conclusions, for they came here just two years ago this +summer!" + +"Wow! that's something new you're telling us, Eli!" + +"It takes _you_ to pick up clues, and you'll miss your vocation if you +don't look for a job with the Government Secret Service, believe me, +Eli!" + +"So Hugh Morgan has taken up with that gloomy looking chap Owen, has +he?" remarked Nick Lang, with a suggestive wink at his crony, Leon. +"Mebbe, now, I might badger him into having a friendly little bout with +fists through that kid. As the rest of you happen to know I've tried +about every other way to make the coward fight, and he only gives me +one of his smiles, and says he's opposed to scrapping. That wise +mother of his has tied little Hughy to her apron strings, seems like; +but I'll get him yet, see if I don't." + +The other fellows exchanged significant looks and nods. Hugh Morgan +had apparently always been more or less of an enigma to them. They +knew he was no coward, for only the last winter he had leaped boldly +into the river at the risk of his own life, and saved little Tommy +Crabbe just when the unfortunate child was about to be drawn by the +fierce current under the ice. Still, no one had even known Hugh to be +engaged in a fight. There was some deep object back of his reluctance +so to demean himself, most of the fellows believed, and as he was so +well liked, they respected his motives. + +Just then keen-eyed Andy McGuffey was heard to cry out: + +"Speak of an angel and you'll hear the rustle of his wings, and there +comes our Hugh right now. See, he's waving his hand to us, and is +hurrying along at almost a run. Say, it may be he's fetching some news +from the committee, because he told me he had an idea they'd reach an +understanding this afternoon. Yes, he's looking mighty wise, so I +reckon we're going to hear something drop." + + + + +CHAPTER II + +THE BOYS OF OLD SCRANTON + +The boy advancing toward the comrades perched on the campus fence was +bright of face, and with laughing eyes that made him hosts of friends. +Few had ever seen Hugh Morgan angry, though there was a report that on +a certain occasion he had stopped to give old Garry Owen the truckman a +piece of his mind, and threaten to have him arrested if he was ever +seen beating his poor horse when the animal was stalled with a load too +heavy for his strength. Yes, and although Garry was known to have a +fiery Irish tongue, he had been subdued by the arguments which Hugh +hurled at him, and meekly promised to go easy with his stinging whip +after that. + +Hugh seemed to be a trimly built lad, who evidently believed in keeping +not only his mind but his body also well trained, since so much +depended on good health. He lived with his mother and smaller sister. +His father had been dead some years now, but apparently the widow had +plenty of means to afford them a good living. They resided in a nice +house and kept one servant. + +Most of the boys of Scranton High thought Hugh a fine fellow, and +envied Thad Stevens the privilege of being his closest chum. A few, +however, had no use for Hugh, and among them were such fellows as Nick +Lang and Leon Disney. They pretended to dislike him because he had no +"nerve," which was only another method of saying that he absolutely +declined to be egged into a dispute, and had a wonderful way of cooling +off all would-be fighters who dared him to a fist test. + +Those who knew Hugh best felt certain there must be some good and valid +reason for his action in this respect. He had taken none of them into +his confidence, however, and they could only surmise what it might be. +The general consensus of opinion was that possibly at some time in his +younger years, Hugh may have shown signs of an ungovernable temper, and +his wise mother had made him solemnly promise never to allow himself to +be drawn into a fight unless it was to protect some one weaker than +himself who was being rudely treated by a bully. + +He nodded his head as he drew near the group, for by now the eager boys +had left their lofty perch, and gathered in an excited bunch to learn +what was in the wind. + +"News, fellows!" exclaimed the latest addition to the group, "great +news for the Scranton lovers of baseball!" + +"Then the committee have finished making out their programme, and mebbe +even decided on the lucky candidates who'll have a chance to show what +they've got in them to put the school on the map this year?" + +"A pretty good guess for you, Eli, so go up head," laughed Hugh; "for +I've just been told that is what has come about. Their deliberations +have closed, and presently there will be a general call issued for a +full meeting, at which their report is to be read. Then everybody will +know whether or not they have been deemed worthy of making a try for +honors in the diamond this season." + +"We'll all be mighty glad when it's over, and those of us who are +unfortunate enough to get left high and dry can know the worst," said +K. K. + +"Huh! you needn't lose any sleep over that, K. K.!" exclaimed Sandy +Dowd. "Everybody knows you're a jim-dandy at the bat, and a clever +fielder in the bargain. Wish I had as much chance as you and Hugh here +of making the nine. But then we must put faith in our committee, and +believe they'll select the ones they firmly believe are best fitted for +the job of holding down those heavy sluggers of Allandale. The rest of +us can root for the glory of old Scranton, and even that counts." + +"But the committee, it seems, have gone even further," continued Hugh, +looking around at the eager faces of his chums, and also some who could +hardly be classed under that head. + +"Go on and tell us the news, Hugh! Don't ye see we're just dying to +know?" pleaded Andy McGuffey. + +"Have they been in touch with Allandale and Belleville?" asked the +sagacious Eli. + +"It seems that last night they went over to Allandale to meet the +committee of that place, as well as the one representing Belleville," +continued Hugh. "Matters of every kind were taken up and discussed. +The meeting ended with a programme being laid out that is to be rigidly +adhered to. Two weeks from tomorrow, Saturday, we will find ourselves +up against Belleville; and on the following Saturday it's to be +Allandale. Those two clubs have found a way of having their meetings +come off on Wednesday afternoons at three, a special favor granted by +the directors of the respective schools on account of there being but +three clubs in the league." + +"Two weeks, and as yet we don't even know who's going to be on our +team!" burst out Eli. "Seems to me that's an awful short time to get +settled down into our best stride. Allandale will have a terrible +bulge on us, Hugh, because I hear they've kept almost the same team +that carried off the honors last year." + +"If anything it's said to be some stronger," added Sandy Dowd, +ponderously, for he had a habit of looking solemn at times, in spite of +his blue eyes, red hair and mottled face. "An Allandale fellow told me +they expected to wipe up the earth with both Belleville and Scranton +this term." + +"Huh! better spell able first," grunted Eli. "I hope there's no more +delay than is necessary about notifying the candidates who've been +selected to appear on the athletic field after school every day, and +keep hustling till supper time. We've just _got_ to make the sand fly, +if we expect to catch up with those older teams." + +"Well," Hugh assured him, "you'll know all about it by tomorrow night, +because the last knot will have been untied by then, and everybody +notified to come out to the meeting. Then beginning on next Monday +afternoon, hard practice for the lucky ones, to be continued every +decent day during the week, with a game against a picked nine on +Saturday." + +"Will Mr. Leonard coach the team as he promised, Hugh?" asked K. K. + +Mr. Leonard was the assistant of the head of the Scranton schools, a +pretty fine sort of a young man, who had gained quite some fame as an +athlete while at Princeton, and was well fitted for the task of +athletic instructor, which post he filled in addition to other duties. + +"He told me he would take the greatest pleasure in trying to build up a +winning team for Scranton," Hugh informed them. + +"Good for Mr. Leonard, he's a dandy!" exclaimed Eli; and that seemed to +be the consensus of opinion; though Nick was seen to allow his upper +lip to curl a bit at mention of the athletic instructor's name. + +There was a reason back of that, as the other boys well knew, for they +remembered the time when Nick had been handled pretty briskly by Mr. +Leonard, and made to apologize for some rude remark he had thrown out +heedlessly in his rough way. It could hardly be expected that Nick +would ever have a very good opinion of the young man who had humbled +his swollen pride in the presence of the same fellows whom he had so +long ridden rough-shod over. + +"Well, the afternoon is getting on, and supper-time will be around +before long; so, for one, I'm going to head for home," observed K. K. + +There was a general exodus, and the famous fence was soon abandoned by +the entire group of boys. They started off by twos and threes, with +the general drift of conversation circling around the one great +subject--the meeting to be called for Saturday night in the school, at +which the report of the committee would be made, together with an +announcement as to their choice as to candidates to be tried out for +the various positions on the season's team. + +Hugh and K. K. walked along in company. Hugh always fancied the +Kinkaid boy, for there was something dependable about him that won the +confidence of almost all his mates. K. K. was one of the most +remarkable chaps, who, while engaging in the customary rough and tumble +sports of boys with red blood in their veins, still seemed able to keep +himself always tidy and neat. No one ever knew how he did it, and a +few were wont to call him a "sissy," but K. K. was far from that. Only +one boy attending Scranton High could really come under such a name, +and he was Reggie Van Alstyne, who had always been a veritable dude. + +"Oh! I had nearly forgotten an errand my mother commissioned me to do +for her," Hugh suddenly exclaimed. "I'll have to leave you here, K. +K., and turn back." + +The other laughed. + +"Too much baseball on the brain, I reckon, Hugh," he went on to say; +"but then, with your fetching us that good news, it wasn't to be +wondered that you let such a little thing as an errand for your mother +slip out of your mind. If I can help any, tell me, Hugh." + +"Oh! no, I've just got to step in at Madame Pangborn's and ask her +something. My mother is interested in Red Cross work, you know, and +the old Madame has a connection with the French branch of that service. +Most of the material the ladies of Scranton have been getting ready is +sent abroad through the queer old lady, who, they say, once used to +queen it at the court of Louis Napoleon. She's over eighty years of +age now, but quite rich, I've been told. And if you've never been in +her house you'd be interested in seeing how she lives. That wonderful +green parrot of hers can rattle off a whole string of songs and +sayings. It almost gives you the creeps to hear Jocko performing, for +it strikes you as what Andy McGuffey would call uncanny. Well, so +long, K. K. I hope you make the team, all right." + +"Same to you, Hugh; but nobody doubts that, for we all think you're +away above all the rest of the Scranton boys as an all-round athlete, +barring none. Some may be able to outdo you in their specialty, but +they're weak in other stunts." + +So they parted, K. K. continuing on his way home, while Hugh turned +into a side street, and went whistling along after the manner of a boy +whose mind knew no care. Presently he came to a large house. It was +rather dingy on the outside, but Hugh, who had often been indoors, knew +there was some elegant old mahogany furniture, as well as other +mementoes of the former life of the Madame when she filled a high niche +at the French court, before the republic was inaugurated. + +His knock at the door--for instead of an electric bell the lady +insisted on using one of those enormous old silver-plated knockers, +that used to be the fashion fifty or sixty years back--was answered by +a colored woman, who seemed to know the boy, for she smiled pleasantly. + +"Yassir, de missus is in," she told him in answer to his question. +"Jes' yo' walk on back to de library, honey, an' dar you'll find her, +sewin' like she always does dese amazin' times. You knows de way, I +reckons, sah." + +"I certainly do, Sarah," he assured her as he started along the wide +hall. + +When he knocked gently at the library door, he was told to enter, which +Hugh proceeded to do. A very wrinkled and old woman sat in a big +chair. The table was covered with material for all sorts of bandages, +and such things as are urgently needed wherever hideous war is raging. +Hugh noticed that at sight of him Madame Pangborn seemed pleased. He +wondered why, but was not long in learning. + +"Oh! I am glad you've dropped in to see me, Hugh," she told him; +"because something very strange has happened, and perhaps you might be +able to advise me. In fact, Hugh, I fear I am being systematically +robbed!" + + + + +CHAPTER III + +HUGH SHOULDERS A HEAVY TASK + +Hugh hardly knew how to take that astonishing declaration on the part +of the old lady. He remembered that she was very peculiar in some +ways, and the very first thought that flashed into the boy's mind was +to the effect that Madame Pangborn might be getting what some fellows +would, impolitely of course, have called "daffy." + +Still her black eyes flashed with all their old-time vigor, and she +appeared to be very much in earnest. More to humor her than anything +else Hugh remarked in a sympathetic voice: + +"I'm sorry to hear that, ma'am. Of course if I can do anything for you +I'll be only too glad of the chance. Would you mind telling me about +it?" + +"Thank you for your kindness, my son," she went on, eagerly. "You see, +a woman of my age, who has studied human nature for a long time, comes +to know the weaknesses of boys, even while believing in them to the +utmost. At times the temptation may be more than their powers of +resistance can stand, and they are irresistibly impelled to take +something that excites their cupidity. I am prone to believe most of +them find it possible to resist such an inclination. Still, alas! I +have known of occasions where the temptation carried the day. This +seems to be one of them. My heart is feeling very sore over it, too. +I thought at first to speak to Chief Wambold, but somehow I hesitated. +And then it happened precisely as before." + +"Do you mean to say you have missed something on two separate +occasions, ma'am?" Hugh hastened to ask, beginning to realize now that +"where there was smoke there must be a fire," and that after all there +was something more in this affair than a mere specter brought into +being through an old lady's whim. + +"Yes, it has occurred twice, and on each occasion that same boy chanced +to be in my house. Oh! it is too bad, too bad! And he such a quiet +and respectful young chap in the bargain." + +"Please tell me more about it, for I can't possibly be of any +assistance to you, Mrs. Pangborn, unless I know the facts," Hugh +continued, his curiosity beginning to rise by jumps. + +"The first time," the old lady went on to say, consulting what seemed +to be a diary which she picked up from her overloaded table, "was just +a week ago today. I had been busy as usual, for an additional number +of pieces came in from those kind ladies of Scranton who are helping me +sew for the brave wounded poilus of my country, valiant France. This +lad brought in a package which Mrs. Ackerman had given into his charge. +I remember I chatted with him quite a while, and was interested in all +he said so respectfully; for it happened I had heard a number of +peculiar things in the way of town gossip concerning him and his aged +grandfather." + +She paused as if to recover her breath. Hugh, on his part, had started +as though he might have received a sudden shock. Possibly his thoughts +flew instantly toward one particular boy who happened to have an old +grandfather, and about whom there had always been more or less +mysterious comment in the town. + +"After he had gone away, letting himself out at my request, so as to +save Sarah from coming up from the kitchen, I had occasion to pass into +the other room, which also opens into the front hall. Something +impelled me to idly count over some souvenir spoons that I have +personally collected from various parts of the world, and each one of +which has a peculiar value for me far, far beyond its pecuniary worth. + +"To my surprise and dismay I found that there were only eleven, when +there should have been twelve. I keep them there on a table so as to +show them to some of my kind lady friends, for I am particularly proud +of my collection, and Sarah had only that morning brightened them all +superbly until they glistened. + +"So I called her up and asked her if she could remember counting the +spoons at the time she cleaned them. She assured me solemnly that the +entire twelve were in the open case when she placed them on the table +at my orders. + +"It remained a puzzle to me for a whole week. I believed, of course, +that Sarah must have unconsciously mislaid a spoon, which would be +found sooner or later. At the same time I remembered the visit of that +lad, who had never been in my house before, and how he might have +glanced into the drawing-room through accident, and seeing my souvenir +spoons, been tempted to purloin one. But every time that terrible +thought flashed into my mind I indignantly refused to harbor it, I love +all boys so much. + +"Then again today he came with more work turned in by Mrs. Ackerman, +who had for some reason of her own selected him as her messenger. I +actually forgot all my ugly suspicions in the charm of his manly +conversation, until some time after he had gone, again, at my +suggestion, letting himself out. I hurried into the drawing-room, and +with trembling fingers proceeded to count my spoons. There were but +ten of them left in the open box. Another had strangely vanished!" + +Hugh almost gasped, he was so tremendously interested in this thrilling +recital. + +"You are certain you did not make any mistake, Mrs. Pangborn?" he +asked, for want of something better to say. + +"Please step into the other room and count them for yourself, Hugh," +she quickly told him. "You can use the connecting door if you wish, +instead of passing around by way of the hall." + +Hugh came back a minute later. His face was very grave. + +"It is just as you told me, ma'am," he remarked, softly, at the same +time shaking his head, as though he could not bring himself to believe +it was as bad as the old lady suspected; that there must be some other +and reasonable explanation for the vanishing of the spoons; surely Owen +Dugdale could not be guilty of such a base theft! + +"What can I believe, Hugh?" she almost wailed. "I do not walk in my +sleep, and that colored girl is as honest as your own mother, I feel +positive. Please tell me you will try and find out the answer to this +distressing puzzle." + +"I can easily promise you that I will at least do my level best to +learn where your property went, Mrs. Pangborn; and if possible recover +it for you," he hastened to assure her. + +"Thank you very much, my son. As soon as I saw you I seemed to feel an +inspiration that Providence had sent you to me in my distress. For it +would break my heart if I were compelled to have that poor, weak boy +arrested, and charged with so grievous a breach of the law. You being +a boy may be able to have a certain amount of influence over him. You +may even induce him to own up to his act, and send me back my precious +spoons. The ones taken by some accident are the very ones I value +most." + +"While I give you my promise willingly enough, ma'am," Hugh went on to +say deliberately, "I want to add that I can't believe it possible Owen +Dugdale could be so small and mean as to yield to an impulse, and take +anything that belonged to another." + +"That is splendid of you, Hugh!" she cried, her black eyes sparkling +with genuine admiration. "I love a boy who has faith in his fellows, +and thinks the best of them, no matter how circumstantial evidence may +seem to blacken their characters. And my son, if only you can find an +explanation of this puzzle that will exonerate your young companion, I +shall be very happy indeed. A great load will have been removed from +my poor old heart. I would rather lose the entire twelve spoons than +learn that Owen Dugdale were guilty." + +"Then you will not say a word of this to any one," he continued, +"particularly Chief Wambold, who everybody knows has a great itching to +shine as a wonderful sleuth, but makes himself only ridiculous whenever +he tries to unearth any uncommon happening?" + +"I gladly give you my promise to keep silent, Hugh," she assured him, +holding out her withered hand, resplendant with lovely gems, diamonds, +rubies and pearls, for like most French women, the Madame was more than +commonly fond of jewelry. "And from what you say, as well as your +mentioning the boy's name before I spoke it, I assume that you know +Owen Dugdale?" + +"I have latterly become greatly interested in him, ma'am, and we have +been much together," he told her simply. "Since I pride myself on +being something of a reader of human nature, I feel almost certain that +there must be a great mistake somewhere; and that when the truth is +discovered, you and I will laugh, and say it was ridiculous for us to +even think Owen could have taken the spoons!" + +The old lady's eyes glistened as she heard these brave words. Standing +up for a friend was one of Hugh Morgan's leading traits; and yet, if +the truth were known, he did not feel _quite_ so positive as his words +would indicate. Things certainly looked dark for the Dugdale boy. +Hugh, when he came to think over the whole matter, was bound to be +smitten with a grave fear lest the worst come to pass. + +"Somehow I seem to have unbounded confidence in your ability to +accomplish the impossible, Hugh Morgan," she told him, which words of +praise thrilled him to the heart, for he was, after all, human and a +boy. "Only good words have come to me about you from all those with +whom I converse; for though you may think it odd in an old woman who +never had a son of her own, I have all my life been interested in other +people's children, particularly boys, seven of whom I have had educated +at my expense. Ah! they are either fighting bravely for the life of +France just now, or else filling patriots' graves in the battle +country." + +Hugh asked a few more questions that chanced to occur to him. Then he +prepared to take his leave. + +"I will think it all over, ma'am," he remarked, as she gave him her +dainty if wrinkled hand to press, "and like as not I'll conjure up some +scheme by which we can prove whether Owen is innocent or guilty. You +see I could be hidden in that room and a trap set, you sending him word +to call for a package you wished him to deliver. Then if he went out +without even looking into the drawing-room, and yet another of your +spoons disappeared, we'd know to a certainty that the trouble lay +inside this house." + +"Hugh, you give me fresh hope!" she cried, with her eyes glistening as +though the tears were trying to flow. "Oh! I would almost pray that +something of the sort turned out to be the case, for somehow I have +taken a great interest in Owen Dugdale. I mean later on to find an +opportunity to meet that wonderful grandfather of his, for somehow I +suspect he may turn out to be an exile of note who has taken this means +for hiding his identity. I have known eminent Russians to do that from +fear of the Czar's secret agents." + +Hugh could not but remember how some of the people chose to believe old +Mr. Dugdale was keeping in hiding from some far less honorable cause; +but of course he did not say anything about that. He went out of +Madame Pangborn's big house with a sense of having undertaken a great +responsibility; and realizing that an up-hill task lay upon his young +shoulders which might test his utmost abilities to carry through. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +IN FOR A FROLIC + +The high-school boys and girls of Scranton, like those of most other +communities, delighted in getting up occasional entertainments so dear +to the hearts of young people. A straw-ride late in the summer; it +might be a class-spread under difficult conditions on account of the +envy of the other grades at school; and once in a while a jolly barn +dance was engineered by a committee composed of both sexes. + +There was just such a pleasant outing arranged for this same Friday +night. Some of the fellows had made up a party to go out several miles +to where a big barn, as yet empty of the anticipated crop of hay, +offered them excellent facilities for a merry hop. + +A trio of darky players had been engaged. The leader was quite famous +through that section of country and had played at such affairs for +years. Everybody for miles around knew Daddy Whitehead and the fiddle +from which he could extract the most enticing music boys and girls had +ever danced to; while his assistants, Mose Coffin and Abe Skinner were +fairly good with the violoncello and oboe, making a good combination +capable of playing up-to-date dances, as well as others known to the +fathers and mothers of the present generation. + +These affairs were conducted with a due respect to the proprieties. A +middle-aged lady invariably went along in the carryall to chaperone the +young people, although there was a deal of fun going and coming back +home, as well as on the floor of the great barn, with its many lanterns +to serve in lieu of electric lights. + +Hugh was going, of course. He and his best chum, Thad Stevens, had a +pretty fair car in which to transport the two girls whom they had +invited as their partners. These same girls were co-eds with Hugh and +Thad on the weekly paper which Scranton High issued, just as many other +schools do. They were named Sue Barnes and Ivy Middleton. Sue was +Hugh's company, while the dark-haired vivacious Ivy seemed to have a +particular attraction for Thad. + +By the way, since Thad has thus far not been introduced to the reader, +it might be a good idea to say a few words about him before going any +further with the exciting events that happened on the Friday night of +the barn hop. + +Thad was a quick-tempered lad, in which respect he seemed to differ +radically from Hugh, who somehow managed to keep his under wonderful +control, as though he had long practiced holding it in subjection. +Strangely enough, Thad's folks came of Quaker stock, and "thee" and +"thou" had been familiar words to his young ears. But Thad apparently +had not inherited the peaceful ways of his ancestors, for he had been +in more than a few battles with some of his more pugnacious school +companions, nor did he always come out from these encounters first best. + +All the same, Thad was a pretty clever chap, and Hugh had always been +very fond of his chum. They got on wonderfully well together, and +seldom had the least "tiff." + +It was Thad who had secured his father's old car for the special +occasion. He turned up at Hugh's house about half-past seven that +evening. It was a calm night, and the moon was just rising in the +east, being a little past her full period. + +"Say, this couldn't be improved on any, according to my notion, Thad," +Hugh remarked, as, attracted by the call of the klaxon outside, he +hurried forth, wearing his overcoat, for the night air was quite +chilly, it being still only April. + +"A bang-up night for a dance," echoed the enthusiastic Thad; "just cool +enough to keep us from getting overheated. The farmer's wife will make +the coffee, and spread a table for us in her big kitchen, she promised; +and the girls are to provide lots of good things. We're mighty lucky +for once, Hugh." + +"How many do you think will be on hand?" asked the other, settling down +alongside the driver. + +"Well, ten couple have solemnly promised to attend, barring some +accident; and I reckon there may be several more show up, because we've +done lots of talking about the jolly time we expected to have. I only +hope that Nick Lang and his crowd will have the decency to stay away. +If they show up there's bound to be trouble brewing." + +"I'm afraid so," acceded Hugh, seriously, "for Nick is never so happy +as when he's making other folks miserable. But the farmer has a stout +hired man, who will be on deck to keep an eye on our cars, and other +conveyances; so there'll hardly be any tricks attempted with the lines, +taking wheels off buggies, and all such practical jokes, such as those +fellows dearly love to play." + +"I heard Owen Dugdale was coming," Thad went on to say, as they started +off, "which is something unusual for him, because up to now we've never +seen him at a hop." + +"Now how did you learn that?" laughed Hugh. + +"Oh! a little bird told me," replied the other. "Fact is, Hugh, pretty +Peggy Noland told my sister Grace Owen had asked her to be his company +to this hop, and she had accepted, because somehow she always liked +Owen." + +"Whew! I wonder now how Nick Lang will feel about that?" ventured +Hugh. "You know Peggy used to have him for her company a number of +times. But I remember how annoyed she looked at the class spread when +he acted so rudely, and made everybody present wish he had stayed at +home." + +"Oh! Peggy says she will never, never go anywhere again with that +terrible Nick Lang. She never did like him any too well, and now she +detests him. I only hope Nick isn't mean enough to try to pick on Owen +because Peggy's accepted his offer to take her to the barn hop." + +There were so many other things pressing on Hugh's mind just then that +he did not give the matter much attention. Later on, perhaps he might +have it brought forcibly before him, and in a manner bordering on +tragedy in the bargain. + +Hugh meant to take Thad into his confidence at the first favorable +opportunity. He knew his chum would never breathe a syllable of what +he told him; and possibly two heads might prove better than one in +solving what promised to be a great enigma. But the time was too short +now to even mention the matter. Perhaps later on as they chanced to +come together between the dances he would find the opening he sought to +confide in Thad. He did excite the other's curiosity, however, by +saying just before they drew up in front of the Barnes' home: + +"I've got something queer to tell you, Thad, when I get the chance. +Perhaps it'll come while we're resting between dances. I've undertaken +a pretty big proposition, and I'd like to have you share it with me." + +"Well, now, you _have_ got me guessing," chuckled Thad. "What a fellow +you are for undertaking big things. Nothing seems to faize you, Hugh, +Can't you just give me a little clue to feed on till you explain it +all? It's mean to stir me up like that, you know, old fellow." + +"All I can tell you now," said Hugh, who had discovered some one +peeping out through the lace curtains at the parlor window, and knew +how anxious Sue must be for him to run up the steps and ring the door +bell, "is that it concerns Owen Dugdale. So just let your +curiosity-mill work on that until I can spin the whole odd yarn." + +"Whew! you've twisted me up worse than ever now," he heard Thad +muttering, as he hastened to make for the door, where the eager Sue +awaited him, having seen the car stopping at the curb. + +As Ivy lived only a short block away, they speedily had her installed +alongside the chattering Sue in the back seat; though possibly on the +way home the girls might prefer to change partners, as Ivy was heard to +say she just dearly loved to be alongside the chauffeur when out in a +car, because the view was so much better. + +On the road they passed several vehicles, all bound in the same +direction. Now it was a slow car that managed to roll along "like an +ice-wagon," as Thad laughingly called out on going ahead. Then again +it was a buggy pulled by a horse; for there were actually a few of +these almost extinct quadrupeds still to be found in some of the family +stables of Scranton. + +"Listen! that must be the carryall ahead of us," called out Thad, not +venturing to turn his head when he spoke, because the road was rather +poor, with ditches on either side, while the moon gave rather a poor +light, since it had not yet risen above the haze near the horizon. + +Some one aboard was noisily tooting the horn, for some boys seem to be +up to all manner of mischief every hour of the day, and dearly love to +make a noise in the world, even though it rasps on other people's ears +distressingly. + +Once they arrived at their destination, they found it a very gay scene. +The barn had been quite prettily decorated by some of the girls who had +come out during the last two afternoons after school to sweep the +floor, and instruct the farmer and his helper just where to hang the +many lanterns they had fetched along. + +There was Daddy Whitehead, with his famous fiddle, which he was already +tuning up, so as to be ready to commence operations; while his "band," +consisting of Abe Skinner and Mose Coffin, sat there with huge grins on +their faces, and also an expectant look. They had undoubtedly noted +the huge hampers of eatables that came with each party, and could +anticipate a delightful break in the monotony of sawing away, or +blowing steadily into that oboe instrument. + +Chattering girls and boys were soon strewn all about the place. The +farmer and his good wife seemed to be enjoying the picture, since it +must have reminded them of somewhat similar episodes in their own +younger years, when life seemed buoyant, and without any trouble such +as time always brings in its train. + +Soon the first dance started, and immediately the floor was covered +with happy couples whirling in the maze of a waltz. More vehicles +arrived, and others joined in the festivities. This continued for two +solid hours, with brief respites to allow both musicians and dancers a +chance to "rest up." + +Then some of the girls were called upon to pass into the kitchen of the +farmhouse to start work at getting supper ready; though none of the +boys were allowed to accompany them, being told that they would only +interfere with the work. + +It happened that among those who took this duty on themselves were both +Ivy and Sue, so that Hugh and Thad found they were without partners. +They were feeling a bit fatigued in the bargain, and following the +example of several other fellows who were in the same fix, they +strolled outside for a breath of cool air, taking care to pick up their +overcoats, as they were flushed from exercise. + +Here Thad demanded that Hugh explain what his strange words meant with +reference to Owen Dugdale. He listened while the other told the story +in low tones; for while they believed themselves alone in the +moonlight, it was always possible that some other fellow might be +loitering close by, and thus overhear what was not intended for his +ears. + +Thad of course was deeply interested by what he heard. He, too, +declared that it seemed preposterous to think that Owen could demean +himself so much as to deliberately steal what belonged to the queer old +French madame. At the same time Thad admitted he considered the +circumstantial evidence fairly strong. + +"My father's a lawyer, you know, Hugh," he went on to say, "and I've +heard him say circumstantial evidence has hanged many an innocent man. +We ought to go mighty slow about believing Owen guilty without better +proof than his having been in the house on both occasions." + + + + +CHAPTER V + +THE TRAGIC AFFAIR ON THE ROAD + +"Let's walk up the road a bit," suggested Hugh. "It's too cool to sit +here after getting so heated up inside the barn. And Sue told me +they'd be all of a quarter of an hour laying the supper out." + +"I'm with you, Hugh. After those cranky dances, it'll do both of us +good to step out in some other way than that silly tango, and monkey +climb. Have you thought up any scheme yet for learning the truth about +Owen?" + +"Not yet," came the reply, "though I've several ideas on tap, and may +settle on one soon. It's such a serious affair that I'm afraid to +hurry too fast. Why, if the boy is innocent, as we both seem to +believe, he'd be terribly humiliated if he learned that he had been +under suspicion. I've found out he's quite proud, and that's one +reason he hasn't mingled with the young folks much since coming to our +town. He knows there are strange rumors about his grandfather, and +that some people are even talking about Mr. Dugdale as if they +suspected him of being a notorious crook in hiding." + +"Listen! what's all that loud talking ahead there mean?" suddenly +exclaimed Thad. + +They both stopped short, and held their breath while listening. + +"Would you believe it!" cried Thad, "that was certainly Nick Lang's +gruff voice I heard just then. If that chap's around this region, he's +come out on purpose to kick up some sort of a shindy. It would be just +like his way." + +Hugh felt a thrill pass over him. It was as though some innate warning +told him he would sooner or later be mixed up in the mess Nick meant to +start. Somehow, his thoughts instinctively flew to Owen Dugdale, and +he remembered what Thad had remarked earlier in the evening about the +possibility of Nick picking on Owen simply because Peggy Noland chose +to accompany the other to the hop, in preference to accepting Nick for +a partner. + +The voices were growing even more boisterous. + +"Let's get a move on us, and sprint up that way, Hugh," suggested Thad, +unable to restrain his impatience. + +"Might as well," the other grimly told him. + +Accordingly, they started to run. All the while they could hear +disputing voices raised in anger and excitement. Apparently, Nick was +aroused, and looking for trouble; when he allowed himself to jump into +this aggressive mood, somebody was liable to feel the weight of his +heavy fist before the end of the affair came. At least such had always +been the case in the past. + +Nick was not the only one doing the talking. Hugh thought he several +times caught the sound of a voice that might belong to Owen. Then +there were also others in the heated argument, some of them apparently +egging the pugnacious Nick on, while yet a few more seemed to be trying +to cast oil on troubled waters. + +At least Owen was not alone with Nick and his ugly cronies, Hugh +realized, though, after all, that would not count for much. Fellows +like Leon Disney and several others of the same stripe would be only +too well pleased to pair off and attack any other boy who might show a +disposition to interfere with the designs of their leader, the bully of +the town, big blustering Nick Lang. + +Faster still did Hugh and Thad run along. They feared lest something +happen before they could arrive on the spot. Both of them were grimly +resolved that they would never stand by and see that overgrown fellow +abuse a smaller boy like Owen. + +As they drew nearer, they discovered that Owen was trying to stand up +for his action. He seemed to be declaring that any fellow had a +perfect right to ask a girl to accompany him to a dance, and if she did +not wish to accept she would say so. He was not trying to cut anybody +out, and if Peggy Noland would rather go home with another fellow, +Nick, for instance, she had only to say so. But so long as she gave +him to understand that she preferred to have him for an escort, he did +not mean to be driven away by anybody, no matter if they were twice his +size. + +Somehow, when Hugh caught the drift of what Owen was saying, his heart +burned within him, for he realized that the boy was made of the right +kind of stuff. In build and muscular ability he was no match for Nick +Lang; but evidently his courage was equal to any test; and it is that +makes the man, not his physique alone. + +"Bully for Owen!" Thad could be heard muttering between his pants as he +raced along; "if that big coward strikes him, he's going to answer to +me for it, no matter what happens." + +Now that was just what was passing through Hugh's mind at the same +moment. True, a social hop might be one of the last places in the wide +world for a boy to allow himself to be drawn into a brutal fight; but +if his hand were forced by Nick Lang everything else must be forgotten, +Hugh decided. + +Somehow, he felt better after that. He could even think of his mother +without any burning regret and shame, for had she not impressed it upon +his mind years back that no matter how averse a boy may be to entering +a fist fight, when it is in defense of a girl, or a smaller lad, he is +perfectly justified in so doing, putting aside all his scruples, even +his sacred promise to his mother. + +Matters were now getting pretty close to the breaking point. They +could hear Nick ranting as to what he ought to do to a fellow who +played him such a trick as to come between him and the girl he had +always taken to hops and singing school. + +"Do you know what I got a good mind to do to you, sonny?" he roared, +and doubtless added emphasis to his words by shaking that big fist of +his under Owen's nose. + +"I haven't the least idea," replied Owen, steadily enough, considering +that he must surely know sufficient concerning Nick's ways to +understand the danger he was in. "All I say is that I had a perfect +right to ask any girl to come to the hop with me. Since she accepted, +you must look for an explanation from Peggy. I'm sure I don't feel +obliged to ask you whether I can breathe the same air as you do or not. +The country is big enough for both of us, Nick Lang. You go your way, +and I'll go mine." + +"I'll go when I'm done with you, and not a minute before," snarled the +other. "So get ready to take your medicine. Mebbe when Peggy sees +your nose all bloody, and one eye closed up, with a black circle coming +around the other, she won't think you so pretty a sight." + +"What's going on here?" + +It was Hugh who asked this as he and Thad managed to arrive on the +scene, to discover a group of boys standing there on the moonlit road +surrounding the two principals in the heated argument, who were facing +each other so threateningly. + +Nick turned his head to take a look. Even in the moonlight, the sudden +grin that came upon his red face was noticeable. Apparently it pleased +him to know that the boy whom he had never thus far been able to coax +into a row with him had arrived on the spot. He must have judged that +this was a piece of double luck, in that he might take revenge upon the +one who had interfered with his pleasure, and at the same time force +Hugh Morgan, who had never been known to engage in any rowdy practices, +to enter into a rough-and-tumble scrap with him. + +"Hello! so you're there, are you, Hugh Morgan?" he called out, with a +ring of savage delight in his heavy voice. "Glad you've dropped in +just in time to see me give a good friend of yours a little lesson in +politeness. Here's Owen saying how he thinks it good taste to step in +between a fellow and his best girl. I'm meaning to knock a different +notion into his silly head. Sometimes you have to pound things into +some people, you understand." + +"I'd advise you to try nothing of the sort, Nick," said Hugh, steadily. + +At that the other laughed aloud. + +"Why, you don't mean to tell me you'd stick in your little oar, Hugh, +and try to teach me a few tricks, do you? I could put you on your back +with one hand behind me. Fellers that are tied to their mother's apron +strings ain't apt to know a heap about how to take care of themselves +in a stand-up fight. Mebbe now you're meaning all of you to pick on +me? Well, I've got a few nervy pals hangin' around who'd like nothing +better than to have you try that game." + +Owen had not attempted to escape while Nick's attention was thus taken +up with the newcomers, though possibly he might have been forgiven had +he done so, considering all the conditions. But evidently Owen had +plenty of nerve, even though he might be lacking in brawn equal to the +bully's larger figure. + +Nick now turned again upon the other. His gestures became even more +offensive, as though despite Hugh's grave warning, he meant to attack +Owen, come what might, and give him the drubbing which according to +his, Nick's light, was long overdue. + +Suddenly, without the least warning, his fist shot out. Owen +apparently was not expecting such a cowardly blow, and hence must have +been taken unawares. The consequence was that the blow landed on the +side of his head when he tried instinctively to duck. It sounded +horribly suggestive, and made Hugh's blood fairly boil as anger swept +over him in a wild wave. + +Owen staggered and fell. Gamely, he attempted to scramble to his +knees, and before Nick could prevent him had even done this, trying to +strike back in return. The boy was furious because of having been +dealt such a foul blow; he would have leaped at the giant just then if +the necessity arose. + +Nick was in his element. Scenes like this were so frequent in his life +that he fairly delighted in them, just as another boy less pugilistic +in his nature might glory in taking snap-shot pictures, catching fish, +or camping in the woods. Fighting and Nick Lang were synonymous terms, +it might almost be said. + +Sweeping the threatening hand of Owen aside almost contemptuously, Nick +suddenly sent in another swift jolt, such as he knew so well how to +deliver, having taken a few lessons from some reformed prize fighter. +Poor Owen went down again in a pitiful heap. He did not have the +slightest chance against such a master in the art of delivering heavy +blows that could not be parried. As one of the boys who looked on with +staring eyes, too much afraid of the bully to interfere, was heard to +say, it was "like taking candy from the baby for Nick to strike that +boy, unacquainted with the art of self-defense." + +This time the boy was really unable to do more than struggle to his +knees. There he knelt trying to recover his breath, and not yet wholly +conquered, though unable to make any further threatening gestures +toward his cruel oppressor. + +Hugh had already started to quietly remove both his overcoat and the +under one. These he handed over to Thad for safe-keeping. Nick saw +his actions with keen delight. Apparently, the hope he had entertained +of forcing Hugh Morgan into meeting him in a clean-cut issue, to see +which would prove the better man, was about to be realized. + +"It's just got to be done, I see," Hugh was saying, as he faced the +leering victor in the unequal affair just concluded. "You big coward, +I'm going to teach you that there's danger in picking on a boy smaller +than yourself. In other words, you're due for a thrashing you'll never +forget. Now look out for yourself!" + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +MAKING A GOOD JOB OF IT + +A fight between two boys is not a very pleasant subject with which to +deal. In this particular circumstance there were, however, mitigating +conditions that would almost make it a pleasure to describe the battle. +Hugh was standing up for the rights of the weak, and had only plunged +into the scrimmage when he saw that Nick had treated Owen in a most +cruel manner. + +Once he started in and he meant business. There could be no half-way +measures in handling so crafty and unprincipled a customer as the town +bully. He must be carried off his feet with the impetuosity of the +attack; and while still bewildered thoroughly punished. As Hugh had +well said he needed a lasting lesson. Perhaps after this Nick would +think twice before attacking a weaker boy, who might have a friend +capable and willing to take up cudgels in his behalf. + +Nick flourished those big fists of his, and commenced to dance +tauntingly around as though meaning to enlist the admiration of his +cronies, who had never yet seen him come out of a battle second-best, +and therefore deemed him invincible. + +Hugh leaped at him with fury glowing in his eyes. Some powerful fever +seemed to have utterly overwhelmed the boy. Thad and those others +stared as though they could not believe their vision. Was this +impetuous boy who struck down Nick's guard as though nothing could +restrain his attack, the same Hugh Morgan who on numerous occasions had +been known to arbitrate a dispute, and declare that it was not worth +getting into a temper over? A miracle seemed to have happened. The +sight of Nick's brutal treatment of Owen Dugdale must have transformed +Hugh into a merciless avenger. In that supreme moment he had +constituted himself the champion of all those lads in Scranton who, in +times past, had suffered cruel wrongs at the hands of the sneering +bully. + +There was a furious exchange of blows. Nick knew how to fight, but on +this occasion something seemed to go wrong with his customary +programme. Why, when he hit out his hardest, and expected to see his +antagonist reeling back before the blow, to his consternation, it was +cleverly warded off, and the next instant something crashed against his +own face that made a myriad of luminous stars, never indexed in the +galaxy of the heavens, flash before his eyes. + +Then Nick was seen to stagger, and fall down. That was perhaps the +first time he had ever taken a dose of his own medicine. How often had +he stood jeeringly over some wretched fellow whom he had sent to grass, +counting him out with monotonous chant, in which the joy of brutal +victory was prominent? + +"Get up and try it again!" said a stern voice. "That is only a taste +of what is due you! I hope you have not had enough yet, you cowardly +brute!" + +Leon Disney and those two other cronies of Nick's were holding their +breath with dismay. They had never expected to see the time when any +one could knock their boastful leader out in this easy fashion. What +previous opinions they had entertained concerning Hugh Morgan's prowess +must now be reversed. + +Stung by this taunt, Nick immediately scrambled to his feet. He seemed +a bit what he himself would have termed "groggy," being familiar with +the slang of the prize ring, but in spite of this he leaped wildly at +his enemy. + +Thad Stevens feared for his chum when he saw the fury of this attack; +but he need not have worried. Hugh was able to look out for himself. +Although those boys had never known him to take part in a single +encounter, Hugh had apparently made a study of the art of self-defense. +There can be no harm in knowing _how_ to fight, if one is resolved +never to indulge in the game save as a very last resort. And whatever +reason it was by which Hugh had bound himself up to the present, +apparently the time had arrived when he could break his promise with +honor. + +There was another brief struggle, exceedingly brief, to tell the truth. +Then, for the second time, Nick, the boss of all juvenile Scranton up +to this amazing hour, was thrown heavily to the ground, on which he +landed with a terrible crash. + +"That's two for you!" said Hugh, in a hissing voice, as though he might +be speaking between his set teeth. "Now, if you're able get up again, +and give me a chance to finish my job, of which I'm already sick." + +Nick was not yet defeated, though it took him longer to rise this time +than before. He was wary, too, and plainly disliked the idea of coming +in contact with those sturdy arms of Hugh Morgan. Seeing that Nick did +not mean to attack him, but had commenced to say harsh things in the +endeavor to force his rival to assume the aggressive, in hopes that the +advantage would fall to his share, Hugh lost no time in obliging him. + +Vain were Nick's most desperate efforts to ward off the inevitable. +Hugh had decided to finish the bout with this third round, and the way +he pummeled staggering Nick almost dazed Leon Disney and those other +fellows, staring as though in the throes of a nightmare. + +When for the third time clumsy Nick went down heavily before the attack +of the aroused Hugh, he refused to make the least effort to get on his +feet. Evidently Nick was a wise boy in one sense; he knew when he had +had enough of an unpleasant thing. + +"Are you through?" demanded Hugh, sternly. "If you say the word I'll +have some of your crowd stand you up on your pegs again, so I may knock +you down. While I'm at it I want to make it a thorough job. Have you +had all you want for tonight?" + +In deadly fear lest Hugh be tempted to put his threat into execution, +Nick managed to swallow his pride, and mumble that he guessed he must +be out of condition just then, a fact so evident that Thad had to laugh +aloud. + +"All right, then," said Hugh, stepping back, for he had been standing +over the fallen boy in a threatening attitude, like a Roman gladiator +who had thrown his rival, and was waiting to see what signal the +emperor gave so as to decide the vanquished man's fate. + +He took one look around at Leon and those two other fellows. They +quailed before his fierce glance. + +"If any of the rest of you feel like having a try with me while I'm in +the humor, now's your chance! Don't all speak at once, please," said +Hugh, grimly. + +When they saw him take a step in their direction, they shrank back. +Although not averse to having a little entertainment of the sort at +times, none of them seemed to particularly fancy being made a scapegoat. + +"We're satisfied, Hugh," said Leon, hurriedly. "Nick got trimmed neat +and good. It's been coming to him for a long time, I guess." + +There is a saying to the effect that "rats desert a sinking ship"; and +when Nick's hour for defeat arrived, even these hitherto admiring +cronies threatened to turn their backs on him. + +Aroused by this taunt, he scrambled to his feet. Nick was a sight +indeed with his face bloody, and one of his eyes giving evidence of +going into mourning. He snarled something at Leon with a degree of his +one-time ferocity, and the other turned back to assist him off the +field. Nick stopped to look back. He made no threat, but the +malevolence in that stare toward Hugh told better than words would have +done what bitterness was in his heart. No town bully is dethroned +without his hating the object of his humiliation. Hugh had better be +on his guard, for every one knew that Nick Lang would never rest until +he had at least tried to even up the score. + +Hugh calmly put on his garments again. Thad and the others were +voicing their admiration for his recent gallant deed, but somehow their +praise seemed to grate on the boy's nerves. + +"Please don't keep on saying those things, fellows," he begged them, +presently. "I know you mean it in kindness, but I'd rather try and +forget this unpleasant business. I had to break a promise tonight, and +it hurts ten times worse than any of the few cracks Nick got in at me. +But then my mother always told me she would not for worlds have me +stand by and see a bully injure one weaker than himself. I just had to +do it, that's all there is to it. And, Owen, old chap, I'm mighty glad +I happened to be around to give you a helping hand." + +Owen Dugdale had watched all this exciting happening with varied +emotions. Each time his detested oppressor had gone crashing to the +earth, he seemed to feel his own injuries less and less. When the +fight was over, and Nick had received such a decided thrashing, Owen +felt like dancing around. He was a boy, every inch of him, with all a +boy's feelings; and Nick had humiliated him dreadfully, as well as +taken a mean advantage over him on account of his superior strength. + +"I'm a thousand times obliged to you, Hugh!" cried the grateful Owen, +wringing the other's hand vigorously; "of course this winds up my +evening's pleasure, and I was enjoying myself more than any time in my +whole life." + +"Why should it put a stop to your fun?" demanded Hugh. "What if you +have got a bloody nose, and a lump on your forehead. See here how my +knuckles are badly skinned, will you; and I fancy I've something of a +scratch on my right cheek, where he got to me. We'll wash up back of +the farmhouse, you and I, Owen. Of course all the folks will have to +know what's happened; but then we needn't be ashamed of the part we +took in the little circus." + +"Yes, be a sport, Owen," said Thad, encouragingly. "There isn't a +single girl at the hop but who will sing out 'good!' when they hear +that Nick Lang met his match tonight. And say, Owen, Peggy Noland will +likely clap her hands with joy when she learns of what's happened, and +then be extra nice when she sees how that brute marked you. Sympathy +is akin to love you know, they say, Owen." + +Owen had to laugh at this good-natured "joshing," but he allowed +himself to be persuaded to accompany Hugh to the rear of the farmhouse. +Here Thad soon secured a basin, and some warm water, as well as soap +and a towel. The boys performed their ablusions, and in the end made +quite a respectable appearance. + +"Why, both of you are all right," said Thad, gaily, after the job had +been completed. "Just think how Nick will look when he shows his face +again. Chances are he'll stick to his house all day Saturday and +Sunday; and when school opens on Monday prepare to listen to a tough +story of how he got up in the night and in the dark ran plumb up +against a half-open door, which would account for his black eye and +swollen face. Oh! I know, because I've spun that yarn myself once." + +Supper was announced just then, and the boys trooped in to enjoy the +bountiful spread that had been provided for them. A buzz ran around +the room, and all eyes were fastened on Hugh and Owen in eager +curiosity. Thad thought it up to him to explain what had happened, so +that no one might rest under a misapprehension. And when he briefly +described how Hugh had so thoroughly whipped the hitherto invincible +town bully, every one applauded. It might be noticed also that pretty +Peggy Noland looked at her company with unshed tears in her eyes; and +she was unusually good to Owen the balance of the evening, so that he +had a jolly time of it, taken in all. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +CALLED OUT FOR PRACTICE + +When Monday saw the gathering of boys and girls at school, there were +two subjects that seemed to engross their conversation. One of these +concerned the royally good time enjoyed by those who had been at the +barn hop on Friday evening; and of course the other was connected with +the meeting held in the schoolhouse Saturday night, at which almost +every boy in town had been present, to hear the report of the Athletic +Committee, and learn who the lucky ones were. + +Of course four-fifths of the aspirants entertained hopes that lightning +might be so kind as to strike the little rod which each had modestly +erected. There were doubtless burning regrets when the long list had +been finished, many disappointed fellows trying to laugh, and appear as +though they had never wanted the job anyway. + +The call had gone forth for every boy selected to appear on the field +immediately after school that same Monday afternoon, for initial +practice. There was considerable speculation as to who would finally +bear off the honors, and make the first string of players. Being a +substitute was as much as some of them had any desire for, for as such +they might share in the glory, and have only a small measure of the +actual work. + +When just before school took up, Nick Lang came along, he was the +"cynosure of every eye," as Reggie Van Alstyne was heard to remark in +his elegant way. + +Nick had evidently made up his mind to just "grin and stand it." He +could scowl in his old fashion, and thus restrain others from being +"too fresh." These fellows need not begin to imagine themselves all +Hugh Morgans, and they had better leave him alone unless they were +seeking trouble. + +Dr. Carmack thought it his duty that morning, at general exercises, to +speak of the meeting which he had attended on Saturday night. + +"It was a thoroughly representative meeting of Scranton young people," +he went on to say in his cordial way, which always endeared him to the +students of all the schools under his jurisdiction. "The committee +carried out their business in a commendable manner, and submitted a +list of names of acceptable candidates that in my opinion could not be +excelled. Let every one who is given the opportunity to contest for +the prizes, do his level best; and when later on the nine has been +selected we all hope and believe they will bring great honor to Old +Scranton High." + +Of course the good doctor had been told about the little affair on the +road at the time the barn hop was in progress; but he was a wise +pedagogue, and made no mention of it in his address. Nick writhed in +his seat every time he saw the principal look his way, his guilty +conscience causing his fears to rise, with the thought that he might be +further humiliated before the entire school. + +But the encounter had taken place far beyond the jurisdiction of the +school rules; and Dr. Carmack was usually satisfied to let his boys +settle these things among themselves. Besides, doubtless, he grimly +concluded that Nick, whose reputation as a universal bully of course he +knew full well, had been pretty well punished already, since his +bruised face and dark-rimmed eye spoke eloquently. + +Later on that morning, when Hugh had occasion to go to the office of +the Head on some errand, he met with an unusually warm reception. + +"Pardon me for speaking about what I know must be a sore subject with +you, Hugh," remarked the principal, as the boy was about to depart +after concluding his errand. "But I have had a graphic account of that +miserable affair Friday night. Permit me to say that you acted quite +right, and I commend you for it. The boys of Scranton are deeply +indebted to you for punishing a brutal bully. I understand that it has +always been much against your principles to engage in a fight; which +makes your championing the cause of a weaker boy all the more +justifiable." + +"Oh! you are giving me far too much credit, Doctor Carmack," said Hugh, +reddening with confusion. "I could hardly claim I had any great +scruples about not engaging in such things that are almost universal +among boys. But years ago I promised my mother never to let my temper +get the better of me; and under no conditions to strike a companion in +anger, unless it was to save myself from a beating, or to whip a bully +who was abusing some one weaker than himself." + +"Then you have a very wise mother, Hugh, let me tell you!" declared the +gentleman, who knew boys "like a book," from long association with +thousands of them. "She doubtless had her reasons for asking you to +take that pledge." + +"I have never told even my chum, Thad Stevens, what it meant, sir," +said the boy, eagerly, "but I do not mind speaking of it to you." + +"Please don't do it, Hugh, if it brings up any memories that you would +rather forget," exclaimed the principal, "though I feel honored by what +you say." + +"But I do not mind telling you, sir; indeed, I would rather do so, for +it must seem strange to you that when I can use my fists so well, +apparently, I should all this while have avoided every chance for +trouble with others. The fact of the matter is, Doctor Carmack, that I +am constituted very like my father was; and once upon a time his temper +got the better of him, so that he attacked a man who had insulted him, +and seriously injured him. That man always had a limp through the +remainder of his life. He and my father became good friends, but my +dad could never forgive himself for what he did. He used to say that +it was a mercy he had not actually killed the man in his blind passion. +And after he died, my good mother, seeing that I had just the same +Morgan temper, once I was thoroughly aroused, feared that it might get +me into some dreadful trouble. And so she told me about my father, and +I made her that solemn promise which, until Friday night, had never +been broken." + +There was a suspicious moisture in the eyes of the doctor. He squeezed +the hand of Hugh vigorously, as though he could easily love such a +manly boy. + +"Of course you told your good mother all about it, Hugh, when you got +home?" he went on to say, with a trace of huskiness in his voice. + +"I could not have slept a wink, sir, if I had not gone to her room, and +kneeling beside her bed poured out the whole story. She cried a +little, because, I suppose, it brought back some old memories that had +often saddened her; but she told me again and again I had done exactly +as she would have wished me to. Oh! she is the most sensible mother +any fellow ever had, I assure you, sir." + +"And I also believe that you are supremely blessed in that respect, +Hugh," said the gentleman, solemnly. "Be very careful that you never +in all your life do anything to bruise the heart of that noble mother. +I thought it best not to mention anything in connection with the +matter. For one thing I could see you had done your work thoroughly, +and that Nick had already received sufficient punishment. That is all, +Hugh, and I thank you for taking me into your confidence." + +When afternoon finally came around, and school was over early, there +was a scramble among the boys, and a great hurrying home to get a bite +to eat, after which, of course, every fellow who had any sort of +baseball uniform would don the same, and show up at the grounds to take +part in the practice. The air seemed surcharged with some electrical +influence. All the talk was along the line of baseball slang. Even +many of the girls were drawn to the spot to watch what went on, for +they had become enthusiasts, and were in prime condition to "root" for +Scranton High when the time came for the first contest on the diamond. + +The scene was a busy one, with scores of boys doing various +stunts--knocking flies to those in the field, passing balls with the +vigor of veterans, and chattering like a lot of magpies all the while. +Out of this throng, Mr. Leonard, the athletic instructor, once a +Princeton player of some note, was expecting to bring order, and get +some kind of game started. + +Baseball is quite unlike football. In the latter instance, every boy +has to receive an education before he is at all fitted to fill the +position assigned to him. There must be long arduous drills in a dozen +particulars, from bucking the line, and carrying the ball, to making a +flying tackle, or punting. Then the intricate system of signals must +be thoroughly learned, so that instinct takes the place of reason in +the carrying out the play. + +But every kid plays baseball from the time he can toddle. By degrees +they keep on improving their game, so that when they arrive at the +dignity of high school freshmen honor, it is only a question of +ability, rather than any necessity as to education in the art of +driving home a runner, or snatching a liner hot from the bat. + +So Mr. Leonard anticipated having only to inoculate his bunch with the +proper virus and ambition, after which he could let the drilling do the +rest. + +Among others who were out was Nick Lang. There was nothing really +strange about that fact, because Nick would almost rather play ball +than eat; and any boy about whom this can be said must be pretty fond +of the National sport. Nick had always shown considerable knack in +playing, though he was apt to make himself disagreeable, and want to +run things. Possibly this trait might not show so prominently, now +that his conceit had been so heavily bumped in his encounter with Hugh. +Then again, Mr. Leonard was not the only one to let a boy take +advantage of him. He would make sure, if Nick were to get on the nine +through his superior playing, to have a substitute handy capable of +taking his place; and at the first sign of insubordination, it would be +good-by to Nick and farewell to his hopes of playing on the team. + +Hugh was surprised not to see Thad Stevens among those present. Thad +had received a summons along with thirty other boys. Hugh guessed it +must be something pretty serious that could keep his chum from turning +up. Perhaps, when he ran home to change his clothes, his mother had +given him an errand to do. Thad was an obedient boy, and although he +may have begrudged the afternoon lost, still there would be plenty of +time to train for his position, if he had the luck to be selected in +the end. + +All the time they worked, and afterwards with picked nines played a +short game, Hugh kept on the lookout, but no Thad showed up. This was +so queer that Hugh made up his mind he must drop in at the Stevens +domicile on his way home to supper, and find out what had happened to +keep his chum, who was as enthusiastic as himself over baseball +matters, from coming around for the first test. + +More than once that afternoon Hugh received warning words from some of +the other boys concerning Nick Lang. + +"He isn't the kind of a fellow to forget and forgive, Hugh, remember," +K. K. went on to say, with a shake of his head. "I've studied the +beast, and I know how he's made up. Right now he glares at you every +time he happens to come near. And if looks could kill, they'd be +conducting your funeral tomorrow, Hugh. He's a tough one, all right, +and you knocked the conceit out of his head when you gave him that +dandy black eye. Be on your guard, Hugh, and never trust Nick Lang; +for he's not only a brute but a treacherous one in the bargain." + +But Hugh only laughed on hearing this warning. + +"Thank you for what you say, K. K." he told the other. "You make the +fourth fellow to tell me about the same thing. But really, I don't +believe there's as much danger as you seem to believe. Fellows like +Nick are careful not to get struck by lightning twice. The burnt child +dreads the fire, they say. Nick's bark is worse than his bite; and I +think I've drawn the fangs of the wolf, K. K. Thank you again." + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +THAD MAKES A DISCOVERY + +When Hugh, on his way home, came in sight of the Stevens place, he was +quite surprised to discover his chum Thad seated on one of the low gate +posts, and apparently waiting for him to pass along. + +"Why, hello! what does this mean, I'd like to know?" burst out Hugh. +"After being honored with summons to come out and start practice at +baseball, you run home to get on your togs and then forget all about +it. But, joking aside, what really did happen to you, Thad, tell me?" + +Thad was looking unusually serious, Hugh thought. Evidently something +quite out of the usual line must have occurred to detain him; and Hugh, +on his part, would not have been a natural boy had he not felt more or +less curiosity concerning its nature. + +"Oh! that was only an accident," the other commenced saying. "I +begrudged losing my first chance to get limbered up; but so far as that +goes, there'll be plenty of occasions later on. You see, I had to go +on an important errand for my mother." + +"It must have taken you out of town, then," remarked Hugh; "or else +you'd have showed up at the athletic grounds later on." + +"The fact of the matter is, I had to run over to Chestnut Hill, which +you know is some ten miles away," explained Thad, as he made room +alongside for his chum. "It was a matter that could not be delayed, so +I didn't even bother running to the field to report to Mr. Leonard. At +that I hoped to breeze along fast enough to fetch me back in time to +have a little turn with the boys; but I counted without considering +that I was dealing with an old car; and sure enough one of the back +tires had to take on a puncture." + +"And as you didn't carry an extra tire along, you just had to lay off +and mend the same," chuckled Hugh. "I was afraid that might happen the +other night when on our way to the hop; but we were lucky enough to +escape it. Of course, on the road home, I wouldn't have cared much, +because all the fun was over by then; and the girls would consider it +something of a joke for us to bump along on a flat tire. But I see the +old flivver in by the barn, so you did manage to get it home after all, +eh, Thad?" + +"Oh! yes, though I made a beastly mess of my tire-mending, I'm afraid. +I ought to take a few more lessons in that art, because I've always +been weak there. And when I found how late it was after getting here I +concluded not to hustle around to the grounds. I guessed you'd be +cropping up to find out what had become of a certain baseball crank who +had played hookey. So I've been sitting here about ten minutes, I +should judge." + +"Is that all?" asked Hugh. + +"Well, no, it isn't," snapped Thad, "though I wonder how your sharp +eyes noticed anything peculiar about my manner. There is a lot more to +tell you, Hugh." + +"Suppose you get started then, and let's hear of your adventures," the +other went on to say, with kindling interest. "Did any tramp try to +hold you up on the road; or was it necessary for you to stop and help +put out a fire in some farmhouse; like the time both of us had that +pleasure, and received the biggest dinner we ever got away with as a +reward?" + +Thad shook his head in the negative. + +"If you kept on guessing all day long I don't believe you'd hit the +mark, Hugh. Still, in one sense you're right when you call it an +adventure; though a pretty mild one. I'll tell you about it." + +"Wish you would, Thad," grumbled Hugh, pretending to look anxious to +hurry along on his way home. "Playing ball for three hours gives a +fellow a ferocious appetite, you know; and we have chicken pot pie at +our house tonight, which is one of my favorite dishes. So please get a +move on you." + +"Well, after I managed to mend my tire, being set on accomplishing the +job if it took me till dark, I started along the road, and presently +drew near town. That was about half an hour ago, I should imagine. I +had just stopped to take another look at the tire, which seemed to be +flattening more or less, when I heard some one calling weakly. When I +turned to look I found that by some accident I had stopped exactly in +front of that queer old place which we've always called the Rookery, +because it looks as if spooks might live there." + +As Thad paused to catch his breath, Hugh elevated his eyebrows. +Apparently his interest no longer flagged, for he instinctively guessed +that something unusual must come out of Thad's mention of the strange +old place, where, as he well knew, Owen Dugdale and his eccentric +grandfather lived by themselves. + +"When I caught the sound of a voice again," continued Thad, "I was +interested, because I had heard the one word 'help' uttered. Some one +must be in trouble, I told myself; and then all of a sudden I +remembered who lived there. So I started my machine and moved off the +road, to leave it clear for other cars to pass by if any came along. +After that I jumped out and hurried over to the stone wall that, as you +know, surrounds the wild-looking grounds of the place. + +"The voice still sounded, and I could see somebody lying on the ground +there. I vaulted the low stone wall, and soon found that it was old +Mr. Dugdale. He seemed glad to see me, though really he didn't know me +from Adam, because I had never had a word with him before. + +"While out taking exercise in the grounds he had been suddenly seized +with an acute attack of rheumatism or sciatica in one of his legs, and +had been unable to get back to the house alone. Then seeing me stop +and step out to look at my mended tire, he had called as loud as he +could, to attract my attention, hoping that I'd be kind and neighborly +enough to help him to the house; for as he explained to me his grandson +Owen was off playing ball just then." + +"Yes," Hugh broke in with, "Owen was on deck, and did splendidly. He +may be able to make the team if he continues to improve. So you, of +course, assisted the old gentleman, as he asked, and got him safely to +his house?" + +"Yes, that's what I did," replied Thad, "and it seemed that his pains +began to leave him once he got to walking. He said it was +characteristic of the disease to come and go suddenly and mysteriously. +When we arrived I had to help him up the steps, for he insisted on my +coming in. Well, to tell you the honest truth, Hugh, I was a little +curious to see what that queer old house did look like inside, and so I +didn't hold back at all. Now, you've likely never been there yourself, +even though you've been getting pretty intimate with Owen lately?" + +"Once he asked me to step in, but it happened that I was in a hurry to +get home. I supposed some time or other he would renew the invitation, +but I also remembered that his grandfather was said to be queer, and +averse to meeting strangers; so I've thought nothing about it. Well, +is there anything more coming, or does that end your adventure?" + +Thad drew a long breath, and looked sober. + +"I only wish it did, that's right, Hugh," he continued, mysteriously. +"Up to then the whole thing hadn't amounted to a row of beans, so far +as giving me a thrill went. But the worst was yet to come." + +"Go on, and don't stop so often, Thad," urged Hugh. "I believe you do +it just to tantalize me. What wonderful secret did you discover there? +Is that old house the rendezvous of a nest of counterfeiters, or might +it be where they manufacture moonshine whiskey, like those mountaineers +do down in Georgia?" + +"Oh! come, it's nothing like that, Hugh, so don't allow your +imagination to carry you away. I did get something of a shock, though, +and I guess you'll feel the same way when you learn about it. Well, +the old gentleman asked me who I was, and if I knew his grandson Owen, +as well as a lot of other questions. Fact is, Hugh, I rather guess he +must have taken a violent liking for me right on, the spot, for when I +said I must be going two different times, he begged me to stay with him +just a little while longer. + +"I knew I would be too late for the ball practice anyhow, and besides I +didn't have on my old suit, because mother had asked me not to wait to +change my clothes. So I sat down again each time, and answered some +more questions. The old gentleman interested me a whole lot in the +bargain, and I soon made up my mind that those silly people who had +been hinting that Old Mr. Dugdale might be that notorious Wall Street +speculator who had such a bad name, and who'd disappeared several years +ago, didn't know what they were talking about. Why, he is a polished +gentleman, and a foreigner at that, I tell you, Hugh. + +"He started talking about his grandson. How his wrinkled face lighted +up when I said my chum, Hugh Morgan, had taken a great fancy for Owen, +and that I shared in the same feeling. You could see easily enough +that Mr. Dugdale believes the sun rises and sets in that boy of his. +Nothing would do, finally, but that he should take me to seen the den +Owen had fitted up for himself, because there was plenty of room in the +big house, and every fellow he knew had some kind of a den in which he +could keep his boyish treasures, in the way of foreign postage stamp +albums, photos taken by himself connected with outings he had been on, +college flags and burgees, and well, just such traps as the average boy +liked to see around him when he's out of school, and settling down to +read a favorite book. + +"Of course, Hugh, I told him it would be too much for his aching leg, +but he assured me the pain had now all left him; and he wanted to know +if there was anything I could suggest that Owen might have to add to +his comfort while at home studying his lessons or reading. So I went +with him upstairs. Say, it's a real queer house, and must look a whole +lot spooky at night time; because they only burn lamps and candles, for +there's no electricity connection at all, or any gas either, I suppose. + +"At the end of a long hall we came to where three steps led down into a +room. It was a bully place, I will say that, with plenty of light from +a lot of small dinky windows that faced on three sides of the room. +Owen had fixed it up in good taste in the bargain. He must have plenty +of spending money, because there were lots of traps around, from a pair +of expensive snow shoes hanging on the wall to a splendid toboggan +tilted up in a corner. + +"In fact, Hugh, the place was pretty well filled with boy truck. It +looked cozy to me, and I ought to know something about a boy's den; +haven't I arranged mine seven separate times, until now it's back where +I started? Well, of course, to please the old gentleman, I walked +around, and peeked at things and told him Owen had as fine a loafing +place as any boy in Scranton; which sort of talk seemed to tickle Mr. +Dugdale a heap. + +"Then, Hugh, I got my shock, all right. It seemed to grip my heart +just as if an ice-cold hand had been laid on it. You see, in nosing +around I chanced to set eyes on something that lay half hidden among +some papers on a side table. Hugh, you could have knocked me down with +a feather when I saw that it was a souvenir tea spoon, an ornate one at +that, representing some foreign city, I don't know which, for I was too +flustered by my terrible discovery to look close. Now, what do you +think of that?" + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +JUST BETWEEN CHUMS + +"Oh! I'm sorry to hear that, Thad!" exclaimed Hugh. "Are you dead +certain it was a souvenir spoon you glimpsed? Couldn't you have been +mistaken?" + +The other boy shook his head in the negative. + +"I sure wish I could say so, Hugh, and that's a fact," he replied; "but +I've got pretty good eyes, and I ought to know what such things look +like, for hasn't my mother been collecting the same for ten years now. +Of course, ours are all of this country, representative of cities and +places she and dad have visited. But this one was different. I'm as +certain as anything that it must have come from some foreign place, +because the style and marking stamped is of no American workmanship." + +Evidently, what he had just heard caused Hugh considerable anxiety. It +seemed as though things were getting darker for Owen Dugdale with every +passing day. Even stout-hearted Hugh felt his doubts rising. He +wondered if, after all, he had made a mistake in his judgment of Owen, +and his belief in the boy's honesty. Hugh remembered some of the +things that were being said around town concerning the old man of the +dismal place called the "Rookery." His aversion to meeting people, as +well as other odd traits about him, had caused no end of talk. Some +even said they were not Americans, but foreigners, English possibly. + +Altogether Hugh felt considerably exercised. He shut his teeth hard +together, however, and told himself that no matter how many suspicious +circumstances seemed to surround Owen, he would still continue to have +faith in the boy. + +"Whenever I think of Owen's clear eyes," he told Thad, "and the way +they look you fair and square in the face, I feel positive that boy +can't be a sneak and a thief. No one with such honest eyes could do +mean things. Such fellows are patterned on a different model nearly +always." + +"Well, I've believed a good deal as you do myself, Hugh," admitted +Thad. "Just take that Leon Disney, for instance. There's a chap who +never could look straight at any one he was talking to." + +"You're right, Thad. He keeps on shifting his eyes up and down all the +while. I've often noticed it about Leon, and made up my mind it was an +uneasy conscience that made him act so." + +"Then, after all I've told you, Hugh, you still believe in Owen?" + +"I'm going to hold firm until the evidence is all in," said the other. + +"You're a good friend, I must say," Thad hastened to observe, a gleam +of honest admiration showing in his eyes. "I only hope you'll stand by +me as well, in case I ever get into any trouble, that's all." + +"I'd stand by you to the last ditch, and then some," Hugh told him, +with an affectionate smile; "for we're chums, and what's the use of +having a pal unless he '11 go through thick and thin for you. But I'm +a little surprised about one thing, Thad." + +"Do you mean about my actions in that house, Hugh?" + +"I should have thought you'd been quick to say something about the +spoon, so as to draw the old gentleman out," continued the other. + +"Oh! I didn't dare do such a thing as that, Hugh. It would have been +pretty bold in me, you know." + +"There might be ways to do it without seeming rude, Thad. For +instance, what was to hinder you from picking it up and expressing your +admiration for such a thing. Then by using your eyes, you could have +told whether Mr. Dugdale was surprised at seeing the spoon there, or +not. His actions more than anything he might say would have given you +a pointer, don't you see?" + +"Yes, I can understand that all right, now you've mentioned it, Hugh," +chuckled the other. "It's so easy to grip a thing after some one has +shown you how. Remember those envious Spanish courtiers who tried to +take Columbus down a peg by saying it was a simple thing to discover +America, since all you had to do was to set sail, and heading into the +west keep going on till you bumped up against the islands that at that +time they thought were the East Indies. Then, you remember, Columbus +asked them to stand an egg on end, which they tried and tried without +success, until he gently cracked one end, and it stood up all right. +Oh! yes, I can see now I might have done a lot of things that didn't +happen to occur to me just then." + +"I'm sorry you let such a good chance slip by without nailing it," said +Hugh. + +"Well, it might happen," added Thad, as though an idea had come into +his brain like an electric flash, "that another opportunity will come +along, and if it does, I give you my word I'll learn something worth +while." + +"How did you like the old gentleman," continued Hugh; "and after +meeting him, do you take any stock in the stories that have been +floating around town about his being the clever rascal who disappeared +from Wall Street two years ago?" + +"Why, he seemed very pleasant, so far as I could see," replied Thad, +slowly. "Course I don't pretend to be a smart enough reader of human +nature to say positively that old Mr. Dugdale is all to the good; but +he is well read, and I seemed to see what looked like a twinkle in the +corners of his eyes as though he might have a fair sense of humor in +his make-up." + +"He liked you, too, didn't he, Thad?" continued Hugh. + +"Well, to be honest with you, I really believe the old gentleman did +act a little that way. Perhaps, it was because he'd heard Owen mention +my name as one of his few friends; and Mr. Dugdale was wanting to show +how pleased he felt to know me. Yes, he acted as if he would like to +see me again; in fact, he asked me to come in some time, and visit Owen +in his den, for the boy often seemed lonely, he told me." + +"Poor Owen! let's hope this will all come out right in the end, then," +Hugh finally said, as though his own mind was made up not to allow the +latest discovery to influence him against the Dugdale boy. + +"But we've got to admit," added the other, seriously, "that it adds to +the tangle a heap, and makes it look worse than before. However, I'll +try and learn a thing or two. Give me a little, time to get my slow +wits working, Hugh; and I may have more news for you. All the same, it +wouldn't surprise me if you took a spurt and came in across the line +ahead of me." + +"Whatever makes you say that?" demanded Hugh. + +"Oh! I know you so well, that's all," laughed his chum, giving him a +nudge in the side with his elbow. "I wager the chances are ten to one +you're beginning to turn over a little scheme in your mind right now. +How about that, Hugh?" + +"If I am," retorted the other, "I don't intend telling you the first +thing about it until there's some solid foundation for the theory to +rest on." + +"Same here," chuckled Thad, with a wink that had a deal of significance +about it, Hugh could see. "Mebbe I've got a whiff of an idea myself +that might turn out worth while; but wild horses couldn't drag a hint +of the same from me so early in the game. So we're quits on that +score, you see, Hugh." + +The other jumped down off the wide-topped post, as though he thought he +should be continuing on his way home. + +"I must be going, Thad," he remarked. "Supper-time, almost, you know; +and besides I have some chores to do. When a fellow will keep pets the +way I do, he's got to expect to spend some little time looking after +them. I wouldn't want to let any of mine suffer for lack of attention." + +"And I wager they never do, Hugh!" declared the other, with his +customary stanch faith in his chum. "You have it fixed so that your +homing pigeons can always get feed from a trough that allows only a +scant ration to come down at a time, your 'lazy boy's self-feeder,' +I've heard you call it. And as for those fine Belgian hares that would +take first prize at any rabbit show, they live on the fat of the land. +Right now you're cultivating a bed of lettuce for them, as well as a +lot of cabbages, and such truck. Oh! no fear of any dumb beast, or +bird going hungry when it has Hugh Morgan for an owner." + +"Thank you for the neat compliment, Thad," said Hugh, the glow in his +eyes telling how much he appreciated such honest praise. "I may have +my faults, like every boy has, but being cruel to or neglectful of +little creatures that are in my keeping isn't one of them. I'd hate to +think I could let a poor rabbit go hungry. I'd get out of bed in the +middle of the night, cold as it might be, and go out to my hutch, if I +got an idea in my head that I'd left a window open that might allow a +draught to blow in on the poor things." + +"Well, I don't take to pets the same as you do, Hugh, but all the same +I can understand how you feel about them. It's the right way, to, and +no boy with any heart in him could be mean to helpless little animals. +I warrant you I know one fellow in Scranton who wouldn't get out of his +warm bed for any pet that ever lived." + +"I suppose you're meaning Nick Lang," remarked Hugh. "Well, I don't +know. To tell you the truth, that boy is a mystery to me. Sometimes I +think that, bad as he seems to be, Nick isn't quite all yellow; that +there's a little streak of white in his make-up." + +"Why, you surprise me, Hugh, when I hear you say that, and after all +you've seen of his mean ways, too. Think how he started to beat poor +Owen up that night; yes, and for years back he's been a big bully, +trying to have things his own way, and ruling by might of his fists. +Why, nearly everybody in Scranton believes him to be utterly +irreclaimable. What makes you say such a queer thing?" + +"I may be mistaken after all," said Hugh, slowly, "but here's a +singular thing I saw only yesterday. I haven't mentioned it to a +living soul, but it set me to thinking, and wondering whether, after +all, if a big hulking fellow like Nick were given a fair chance to make +good, he mightn't change and astonish the neighborhood. + +"I was going along a side street when I got a thrill. There was a +buggy with a frisky horse attached standing in front of a house. The +man had gone inside and very imprudently left his child, a little +fellow of some five years of age, to sit there in the vehicle, not even +bothering to hitch the beast. + +"Well, the boy, like most kids would do, had started playing with the +whip; and I saw him give the horse quite a blow. No doubt he was +imitating his father in doing that. The spirited beast started +rearing, and then acted as if about to make a dash down the street. It +would have been putting the child's life in danger, you can easily see. + +"I started to run, but never could have made it. Then I saw some one +jump for the horse's head, and have a little tussle with the animal. +It was Nick Lang. He hadn't stopped to think of any danger to himself. +I drew up and watched him. He conquered the beast, fastened him to a +hitching post, and then started to scold the white-faced little boy for +having touched the whip. The bully was showing in his nature, after +all, that splendid exhibition of nerve and quick wit. + +"Nick noticed me then, for the first time, and acted confused, as if +caught doing something he would not like folks to know. He shook his +finger in the boy's face again threateningly, gave me a sneering look, +and then stalked along down the street whistling like anything. And, +Thad, the boy who could do a thing like that off-hand can't be quite +_all_ bad, though people oughtn't to be blamed for thinking he is. +So-long, Thad!" + + + + +CHAPTER X + +A VISITOR FROM BELLEVILLE HIGH + +On the following afternoon, which chanced to be Tuesday, more boys than +before appeared at the recreation grounds for practice. Mr. Leonard +had sent out an urgent call for every one of the numerous candidates to +be on hand, since they expected to organize two nines. They would have +a fierce game, in order that he might have an opportunity to watch the +actions of every aspirant, and get pointers as to his capacity for +filling a gap. + +The boys appeared in all sorts of suits, some even hunting up football +togs because they had no others handy, and felt that they must make +some sort of a show at appearing in uniform. + +But the suits would be ready on time, for a local tailor had agreed to +make as many as were needed of various sizes, and to have them done +with a rush. Already Mr. Leonard, being furnished with ample funds, +had ordered bats and balls, bases, and all manner of necessary adjuncts +that go with a well-organized baseball team. Meanwhile, they must make +a virtue of necessity, and do the best they could with the stock in +hand. + +After some knocking of balls, and catching of flies, the boys were +tooled off in two fairly matched nines, and a game was started. They +had just got well along in this, when Thad, who was sitting on a bench +alongside Hugh, it being their turn at bat, suddenly remarked: + +"Hello! we're going to be spied on, it seems, Hugh; for notice that +chap coming along on his motorcycle, will you? Don't you know who he +is, just because he's wearing a pair of big goggles, and has his cap +pulled down over his forehead? Why, that's a Belleville boy named +Oliver Kramer. They call him O. K. for short; and I kind of guess it +stands for his character pretty well, because he's straight. I'm a +little surprised to see _him_ nosing around here today, trying to find +out what sort of crowd Scranton High can put in the field." + +"Oh! there's nothing queer about that, Thad," Hugh remonstrated, +quickly. "You can easily see it stands to reason those fellows over in +Belleville are anxious to get a line on what we expect to do, so as to +know just how much push they ought to put in their own work. He isn't +trying to spy things out, or he wouldn't come up so boldly. See, +there, he's starting to speak to Mr. Leonard now, and the old Princeton +athlete is shaking hands with him. Like as not O. K. has a dad who +used to be a college-mate of Mr. Leonard." + +Hugh himself, followed by Thad, walked that way. Hugh had been told by +Mr. Leonard that he was to be the field captain of the Scranton High +team. In fact, that seemed to be taken for granted by all the boys, +who were very well satisfied to have such a general favorite and +all-round good athlete for a leader. Consequently, Mr. Leonard had +caught Hugh's eye, and made a beckoning motion with his hand, evidently +wishing him to meet the Belleville boy. + +But the two had run across one another on several previous occasions, +it happened. Hugh shook hands with O. K. cordially, as did also Thad. +The latter was already ashamed of having entertained such thoughts in +connection with this friendly visit of the owner of the motorcycle, +whom he had always known to be a fine chap. + +"Our fellows are practicing this afternoon, just as your crowd is, +Captain Morgan," O. K. was saying. "I would have been with them, only +yesterday I happened to hurt a finger a bit, for you see I'm the +catcher of our nine, and it was thought best for me to lay off a few +days so as to let it mend." + +"And you dropped over to see if we were making any headway, I suppose?" +remarked Hugh, while Mr. Leonard went off to resume his duties, anxious +to see every play that came along; for he would not have much time to +decide on the line-up of the team, which must afterwards get all the +practice possible, in order to do Scranton High justice. + +O. K. laughed good-naturedly. + +"I hope, now, you won't suspect me of being a spy, and trying to pick +up pointers which might serve us later on in a hotly contested game," +he went on to say. "Fact is, I'm so much of a baseball crank that I +live and move and have my being in the great game. I came over hoping +to find you'd made a bully good start, because we Belleville boys want +your strongest team to face us a week from next Saturday. We expect to +win the game, that goes without saying, but none of us will be +satisfied to have a regular walkover of it." + +"Make your mind easy on that score, O. K.," snapped Thad, aggressively. +"We expect to have a lot of hard-hitting and splendid fielding boys on +the diamond, who will be out for blood. If you get the better of +Scranton High, you'll deserve all the praise you receive; and we'll be +the first to give you a cheer." + +"Well, I'm beginning to believe a little that way myself," admitted O. +K. in his frank way, as Nick Lang knocked out a screamer that went far +over the head of the center fielder. "That chap is a born batter. I +reckon, now, he must be your best card in the pack." + +"Oh! we've got a few others who can meet the ball," advised Thad, +proudly. "Watch that throwin', will you? Mighty few fellows could +send the ball all the way from deep center to the home plate, as +straight as a die. That kid's name is Sandy Dowd. You may not be so +glad to see him work later on, O. K. Just warn your sluggers they +needn't expect any home-runs if they put the ball out in center." + +They stood there and watched for some little time. Occasionally the +boy from Belleville would make some remark. His eyes sought the agile +figure of the athletic instructor from time to time. + +"One thing you Scranton fellows are lucky in, which is, having such a +splendid coach as Mr. Leonard. Why, he used to go to Princeton with my +dad, as I only learned a day or so ago. He's coming over to take +dinner with us next Sunday. Let me tell you, he's some peach of a +physical director. Dad says he was one of the most popular fellows in +college, and that as a half-back on the gridiron, he made a reputation +second to none." + +Hugh and Thad looked especially pleased to hear this outside praise of +the man for whom they themselves had come to entertain the utmost +respect and admiration. + +"Yes," said Hugh, warmly, "we expect that if Scranton has any show in +the games that are to be played in the Three-town League this season, +most of the credit will lie at the door of Mr. Leonard. He seems to be +a wonder at getting a boy to bring out every atom of energy and vim +that lies in him. Only Nick Lang acts surly under him. That's the big +fellow who made that three-bagger a while ago. He's the bully of the +town." + +"Used to be, you mean, Hugh, up to the time--" began Thad, when the +other shook his head at him discouragingly. + +"None of that now, if you please, Thad. We want to forget bygones, and +only remember that we're in the baseball world these days. There, Eli +hit the ball a good hard smack, but it went straight at the short-stop, +who handled it neatly for an out. Our turn out in the field now, Thad. +Glad to have seen you, O. K. Carry a message back home to Belleville +for me, will you? Tell your fellows Scranton High has found herself at +last, in the world of sports, and is primed to give both Belleville and +Allandale a hard tussle for the prize." + +"I'll tell them that with pleasure, Captain Morgan," replied the other, +"and add a few remarks of my own about what I have seen of your +hustling crowd over here. May the best nine win, and the contests +leave no after bitter sting. If we can't get the prize, we'd be glad +to see you fellows beat Allandale, because they'd be unbearable if they +won two years running." + +O. K. soon afterwards mounted his motorcycle and went spinning along +the road like a streak, leaving a cloud of dust behind him, also an +odor of gasoline. The practice game continued with varying fortunes. +In fact, it mattered very little which side won, as various pitchers +were being tried out under the eagle eye of Mr. Lawrence; his principal +object being to form an opinion as to the respective merits of the many +players. + +When another afternoon they met again, doubtless Mr. Lawrence would +have decided to eliminate several of the players as utterly beyond hope +of ever making the regular nine. So by degrees he would decide who was +best fitted for each and every position, with a number of able +substitutes, who could be called on should there be any change +necessary during a game, from injury, or because a certain player +failed to do what was expected of him. + +After the game had come to an end, and the crowd commenced to separate, +as usual, Hugh and Thad started to walk home together. They overtook +Owen Dugdale and hastened to join him. Both boys doubtless had a +little thrill just then, remembering how often the other had been in +their thoughts lately. + +Owen seemed to be in great spirits. + +"I never knew that I had it in me to become so fond of baseball as I +seem to be doing right now," he told them. "Of course I played a +little at several kinds of games like cricket, and since coming here to +Scranton I've been knocking flies for some of the boys, and playing in +scrub games. But now I enjoy it ever so much, though, of course, I +don't dream that I'll have the good luck to be selected for the team, +when there are so many who know more about the game than I do." + +"You can safely leave all that to Mr. Leonard, Owen," said Hugh. "I've +been keeping tabs on your play at short, and honestly, I want to say, +you're doing mighty well. I heard Mr. Leonard say so, too. While you +may not be picked for that position, there's a likelihood that you will +be held as a substitute. Only practice your batting all you can, Owen; +that's your weakest point. I'll show you a wrinkle about bunting that +may help you a lot." + +"Thank you, Hugh, ever so much!" exclaimed the other, his fine eyes +glowing with gratitude. "You've always been mighty kind to me, for a +fact. Was that boy on the motorcycle one of the Belleville fellows? I +thought I heard Otto Brand say so." + +"Yes," replied Hugh, "his name is Oliver Kramer, thought they call him +just O. K., as we dubbed our comrade K. K. for short. He hurt his +hand, and is laid off for a spell, because he is the catcher of the +Belleville High team, you see. O. K. is a fine chap. He ran over here +to see what we were doing, and to warn us we'd have to get a hustle on +if we hoped to have even a look-in, because Allandale is working like +anything, while Belleville means to do her best this year." + +"Belleville had better get a move on," suggested Thad, caustically, +"unless she wants to share the fate of poor old Lawrence. Both teams +beat Lawrence so badly last season that her club disbanded, for the +fellows started to squabbling among themselves, which of course ruins +any organization going." + +So, chatting as they walked along, the three boys finally parted at a +corner where their several ways led in different directions. Hugh +glanced back over his shoulder once in the direction of the receding +figure of Owen Dugdale. What was in his mind just then it might be +hard to say; but at least the expression on his face would indicate +that his former confidence in the Dugdale boy had not yet been +extinguished. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +HUGH'S PETS IN DANGER + +"Rotten luck, Hugh, to have that practice game called off this +afternoon just because it rained a little. The ground wasn't drenched +very much, and we could have done some work, anyhow. But it's too late +now." + +Thad was on the way home from school on Wednesday afternoon when he +said this. He had hastened and overtaken the other a block or so away +from the campus. Already the rain had stopped. Mr. Leonard, however, +had sent word around that there would be no baseball practice that day; +but for every one to be on hand Thursday P. M., as no excuses would be +taken for absence, when every day counted so much now. + +"Hold on, please, Hugh and Thad!" called some one from the rear; and +looking back they discovered a lame boy called Limpy Wallace, who +always carried a crutch and had to twist his body in a curious fashion +when he wished to make speed. + +Limpy could get over ground wonderfully well, considering the +difficulties under which he labored. More than once he had been held +up by Doctor Carmack to the other boys at Scranton High as a rebuke for +their laziness. If a fellow who had so much to contend with could +always appear so satisfied, and manage to get along as well as he did, +they ought to be ashamed to dawdle, and waste time when they had all +their faculties intact. + +Limpy Wallace was a constant and consistent admirer of Hugh Morgan. In +fact, he might be said to fairly worship the other boy, who had always +treated him most kindly, and seemed to sympathize with his having been +cheated by a cruel Fate out of the ordinary pleasures connected with +the average boy's life. Limpy Wallace would have gone far out of his +way to do Hugh a favor. He now came bounding along, with his crutch +making rapid jumps, and apparently every muscle in his poor distorted +body in action. + +But his thin face was lighted up with eagerness. Evidently, it was no +ordinary motive that had caused the lame boy to exert himself so +earnestly in order to overtake the two chums. + +"I've got something to tell you, Hugh," he panted, for he was almost +out of breath, owing to his exertions; an ordinary boy might have run +over that same stretch without showing it much, but it must have been a +strenuous undertaking for the cripple. + +"Glad to hear it," laughed Hugh. "I'm waiting to have some one tell me +that our team is going to wipe up the ground with both Allandale and +Belleville when we come to grips. Is your news of that sort, Limpy?" + +Of course he was only joking when he said this. Every one called the +other Limpy, nor did he seem to mind it a particle; indeed, only from +the teachers at school and his folks at home was it likely that he ever +heard his name of Osmond spoken. + +"Shucks! it hasn't a thing to do with baseball, or any other outdoor +sport, Hugh," the cripple hastened to say. "Because I heard your name +mentioned plainly I felt that you ought to know what little I managed +to pick up." + +"All right, then, Limpy, start ahead, and spin the yarn," said Hugh. +"Has some one been remarking what a poor excuse of an athlete Hugh +Morgan is; and that he ought never to have been given his job as field +captain of the Scranton High baseball team? It's no more than I +expected, Limpy, and my feelings can't be hurt a bit; so don't try to +spare me." + +"Listen, then, please, and you, too, Thad, seeing that you're his +chum," began the other, eagerly. "It was just an accident, you +understand, because I never yet was intentionally guilty of trying to +overhear what other fellows were saying. I had been tired out at +recess, and was lying down on that bench, you remember, that stands in +the corner of the grounds. It happens to have a back to it, and I +guess no one could notice me there. The other fellows were walking +around in bunches, and talking to beat the band. All at once I heard +your name spoken, and in an angry voice; so I just raised my head a +little to take a peep. Who should I see standing near by but that big +bully, Nick Lang, and his faithful shadow, Leon Disney." + +Thad dug his elbow into Hugh's short ribs as if to emphasize the remark +just made by Limpy Wallace. When two such arch schemers as Nick and +Leon got off by themselves, and were seen to have their heads together, +the chances were there must be some mischief afloat. + +"Well, after that I just lay still and listened, because I felt sure +they must be getting up some sort of a game to play even with you, +Hugh, because you gave Nick such a beautiful trouncing the other night, +so I was told. It was hard luck that I could only catch a word now and +then, for some of the boys were calling out to each other; and that +silly clown, Claude Hastings, had begun to sing one of his comic songs, +while he capered around like a baboon. But I did hear Nick say the +words: 'Get even,' 'show him who's who in this burgh,' and 'Belgian +hares.' Do they put you wise to anything, Hugh?" + +"I should say they did, Limpy!" ejaculated the impetuous Thad, even +before Hugh could speak the first word in reply. "Why, who's got prize +Belgian hares in Scranton but Hugh Morgan? Now, that cunning old +schemer, Nick Lang, knows how much Hugh thinks of his pets, and the +chances are ten to one he's hatched up a scheme to steal or kill every +lasting one of the rabbits. It would be just like him. Hugh, of +course you'll be forewarned, and take the necessary precautions to nip +his little plot in the bud." + +Hugh himself looked serious. A slight frown could be seen on his +usually calm and reposeful face. + +"I could stand almost any attempted injury to myself a lot better than +having my poor dumb pets made the object of revenge," he went on to +say, soberly. "Limpy, this is certainly news you've brought me. I'm a +thousand times obliged to you for taking the trouble." + +"Oh! not at all, Hugh. Why, there's nothing I wouldn't do to help pay +back all your kindness to me in the past. Some people think a lame boy +has no feelings, but you've never considered it so; you've always acted +as if you felt mighty sorry for a boy so badly afflicted. And I can +never forget how you shamed Pete Garinger into begging my pardon for +something mean he threw at me. All I hope is that you catch those curs +in the act, and give them what they deserve, if they really try to hurt +your poor little pets." + +"Make your mind easy on that score, Limpy," asserted Thad, with his +accustomed show of confidence, "we'll fix a trap to get the sneaks, +should they call in the dead of night. They'll think they've run up +against a threshing machine, all right, when Hugh and myself start in +to maul them." + +"Suppose you come over later in the afternoon, Thad," suggested Hugh, +as they arrived at their customary parting spot. "Meanwhile, I'll take +a look at my rabbit hutch, and try to figure just how we can turn the +tables on Nick and Leon, if they should pay me a visit tonight." + +"Make it as severe as you can, Hugh," begged Thad; "nothing could be +too hard for a pair of miserable schemers who, to get even with a +fellow they dare not face openly any longer, would creep into his +rabbit house like thieves in the night, and either steal his property, +or injure it so that there'd be no chance to exhibit the hares in a +show." + +"See you later on, and we can tell better then," was all Hugh said, for +if he had any idea simmering in his brain just then, he did not care to +mention it until he had found a chance to "look around," as he termed +it. + +"I'll be across inside of half an hour, you can bet on that!" called +out Thad, as he hurried away. + +He was as good as his word. Indeed, Hugh had hardly started to make +his investigation of the premises before he heard his chum come through +the gate, slamming it after him. + +There was an outbuilding back of the barn, which had been intended for +a storage house of some sort, but not used by the present occupants of +the premises. This Hugh had commandeered, and fitted to his purpose. +The upper part he had made into a pretty fine loft for his fancy homing +pigeons. When the first of his pedigreed youngsters arrived at the +flying stage, he meant to have considerable fun taking them ten or +twenty miles away, and then letting them loose, in the expectation of +finding them at home when he got back. After that, it would be longer +flights until he could learn whether he had any record breakers in his +flock. + +In the lower part of the building, Hugh had his long-eared Belgian +hares. There was now quite a family of them, what with the old ones, +and seven strapping youngsters. Hugh took great pleasure in watching +his pets, and figuring out how he could improve on their quarters, so +as to make them more comfortable in every way. + +"Well, have you struck any promising scheme yet, Hugh?" demanded Thad, +as he breezed into the hutch, seeming to guess that he would find his +chum there, and not in the house. + +"I've just been fixing things in my mind," returned Hugh, quietly, "and +trying to determine how any intruder would expect to get in here. Why, +up to now such a thing as having my hares stolen never once occurred to +me. Really I'm surprised to find what confidence I've been placing in +all Scranton; when there have been bad eggs among the boys from away +back. Do you know I've never had a fastening on this window here, not +even a stick to hold the lower sash down. It's about time I woke up +and insured the safety of the poor things." + +"But you do lock the door every night," interjected Thad; "because +I've seen you do that same thing." + +"Oh! just as a matter of form," confessed the other, "for I've never +dreamed it was necessary. Any fellow could have climbed in by that +window of a night, if he'd chosen to." + +"Do you suppose, Hugh, that Nick Lang knows about that unguarded +window'?" + +"I was figuring that out," mused Hugh, "and, really, I believe he does. +I'll tell you what I base that supposition on. Some time ago, a fellow +came to see me, and tried to buy a pair of my hares; but his figures +and mine didn't agree, and so we failed to make a bargain. But I +showed him my place here, and he examined it all through. I even can +remember that he gave the window a little upward push, speaking at the +time of the necessity for all pets to have plenty of pure air, or their +dens would become foul smelling. That boy was Tip Slavin, and I +understand that he's pretty thick with Nick and Leon. They must have +heard about his visit here, and pumped him dry. So if they do make me +a night visit, depend on it this window will figure big in their +calculations." + +Thad chuckled as though pleased. + +"That makes it simple, then, Hugh," he went on to say, exultantly, "for +with such a thing settled, it ought to be easy for us to hatch up some +scheme to play hob with their plan of campaign. It'd just about serve +the sneaks right if we set a spring-gun trap that'd give them a dose of +fine bird-shot; but then I don't suppose you'd want to go quite as far +as that. Look here, Hugh, I believe right now, you've already settled +on some sort of surprise for those fellows when they come snooping +around here. If that's a fact, you're going to up and explain its +workings to your best chum, ain't you?" + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +THE TRAP + +Hugh heard his chum through, and then quietly went on to say: + +"Yes, I have got a little plan that ought to teach them a lesson, and +cool off their ardor a bit. In the first place, we can easily rig up a +small platform just above this window here. I've got several +stanchions and a board. It wouldn't take us more than half an hour to +complete it, I reckon. But we must make it extra strong, you know." + +"But I don't know," pleaded Thad, helplessly. "Why should this lovely +little shelf up there be so strong? Are we going to perch on it, and +drop down on top of the night birds after they let themselves in? Is +that the game, Hugh?" + +"Not quite, Thad. It's the tub that must balance up there!" + +"Tub! Great Scott! are you figuring on giving Nick and Leon their +usual Saturday night bath?" gasped the other, still groping in the dark. + +"Something like that," chuckled Hugh, "only it will be _such_ a +surprise to those chaps, and cold, too, ugh! as cold as ice can make +it." + +"Go ahead and explain a lot more," Thad demanded. "I'm beginning to +get just an inkling of the game. Whew! I believe you've been reading +of the pranks the fellows play in the boarding schools, with a tub of +water suspended over a door, so that when an unlucky boy opens it he is +drenched to the skin." + +"That's about the idea," Hugh acknowledged. "Nothing particularly +brilliant or original about it, I own up, but the best we can do under +the circumstances." + +Then he went on to explain the particulars, showing Thad how the tub +could be balanced nicely, so that when a cord attached to it was +jerked, it would tilt over beautifully, discharging its full contents +without itself falling down. + +Thad listened, and grunted. Plainly he was a bit disappointed. + +"It sounds pretty good, Hugh," he admitted, finally, "and will of +course give the rascals a great scare; but seems to me as if it's +hardly vigorous enough. According to my mind, we ought to make the +punishment fit the crime. When a couple of low-down scamps try to kill +the dumb pets of a fellow who has never gone out of his way to harm +them, and are caught with the goods on, they ought to be treated to a +dozen good wipes with a cowhide whip, something that'll make 'em yell +bloody murder. But just as you say, we can try this dodge, and +discourage them from any more funny business around your coop." + +"Then the sooner we start in and get busy, the better," suggested Hugh, +whose motto had always been that of "strike while the iron is hot." + +Thad was ready to do his share in any labor, so that presently the +sound of much sawing and hammering oozed out from the rabbit hutch, +where the chums continued to work for nearly an hour. + +At the end of that time they had completed the job so far as the +platform over the window was concerned. Hugh had done more than this, +for by cleverly arranged boards he constructed a regular trap; so that +when the boys managed to climb through the window, they would naturally +crouch down directly in range of the coming water-spout. + +"There," said Hugh, finally, "that is all done, and I think fills the +bill. I'll go after the galvanized iron wash-tub now." + +"Be sure and fetch the biggest one you can," suggested the greedy Thad, +with a sly grin. "You see, we ought to deal generously with our +guests, even if they're uninvited ones. I believe in going the whole +hog when about it." + +"Depend on me to do the right thing by Nick and Leon," Hugh assured +him. "When I have visitors drop in on me in this off-hand way, I +always want to be ready to treat them well. But I'm afraid they'll +think our reception committee rather frigid, eh, Thad?" + +He soon came back bearing a massive tub that aroused the admiration of +Thad. + +"That certainly is a jim-dandy wash-tub!" he declared. "I'm glad now +we made the shelf big enough. I reckon you had the dimensions of this +thing in your mind when doing your measurements, Hugh." + +Next they lifted the tub on to the platform above. It could be readily +balanced on the edge so that a very slight pull from the cord would +tilt it forward, when the propensity for water to seek its own level +would do the rest. + +They tested it a number of times, and it worked splendidly. "When +filled with water, it would only add to the gaiety of things," Thad +said, fervently. + +"But where will we be all the time, Hugh?" he now asked. + +"I've arranged all that," he was assured. "One of the objects of these +upright boards is to act as a cover for us, as well as to form a trap +for our guests. You see, I happen to know that Leon Disney owns a hand +electric torch like the one you showed me the other day that your uncle +in the city sent out, and which I want you to fetch over when you come +after supper. Just as like as not, he'll use it through the window +before they try to enter, so as to make sure the coast is clear. +That's why I've been so careful not to leave anything around that might +excite suspicion." + +"Just so," laughed Thad, merrily, for as he was not going to get an icy +ducking, he felt as though he could afford to be happy; "after fellows +have worked so hard to jimmy their way into the premises of another, +it'd be a shame to discourage their efforts in the beginning. We might +paint a sign 'welcome,' and put it over the window, Hugh, just to let +them know everything is lovely, and the goose hangs high." + +"I'll step outside, and take a peep in through the window to find out +how things look," suggested Hugh, which he proceeded to do. + +"Nothing to excite anybody's suspicion that I can see," he announced. +"The tub is completely out of sight, just as I expected it would be, +and even the cord connecting it with our hiding place couldn't be +noticed unless you knew all about it beforehand. I guess our work is +done, all but filling the reservoir." + +Procuring a bucket, they set to work. One carried and the other +poured, standing on the short step-ladder in order to better reach the +elevated tub. + +"There, it's as full as I dare make it," Hugh finally announced. + +"And for one, I'm not half sorry," Thad added, "because toting water +isn't altogether fun. That bucket is heavy enough to nearly pull your +arms out of their elbow sockets. You said something about _ice_, +didn't you, Hugh?" + +"Yes, I had that in mind. After supper, when we come out here to take +up our vigil, I'll get a lot of small chunks from the ice-house and put +it in the water. It'll make it lovely and cold, I warrant you, unless +our guests delay their coming too long." + +Nothing more being necessary, the boys adjourned to the house, where in +Hugh's den they talked various matters over with the customary +enthusiasm of live boys. Naturally, these affairs, as a rule, +concerned the athletic happenings just then on the carpet, and +particularly the baseball rivalry about to break out in a series of +hotly contested games between Scranton, Belleville and the formerly +victorious Allandale High team. + +Later on, Thad went home to his supper, though Hugh had pressed him to +stay and share his meal, for they were often at each other's table. + +"Like to," said Thad, shaking his head, "but it happens I've got a few +things I ought to attend to. Then again there's that hand-torch you +asked me to fetch over with me. Another time will have to do, Hugh." + +Hugh laughed scornfully. + +"Tell all that to your grandmother, Thad, will you?" he exclaimed. +"Just as if I didn't know that your folks religiously have corned beef +and cabbage every Thursday night, which is a favorite dish with your +dad, likewise with a certain fellow of my acquaintance. Now, _we're_ +only going to have chicken pot-pie at our house, and of course that +doesn't appeal to you like your pet fare. Oh I well, I understand how +things go, and I'll let you off this time. I don't believe you've ever +taken a meal at my house on a Thursday since I've known you." + +Thad laughed as though not at all abashed. + +"I guess you're on to my weak spot, all right, partner," he hastened to +say in the boldest manner possible. "But really and truly, I have got +some things I want to do, though of course they could be postponed if +absolutely necessary. Some time perhaps you'll be having my plebeian +dish over at your house; then try asking me if you dare." + +He turned up about seven o'clock, just after darkness had set in, for +the moon was getting very old now, and a late riser. The two boys sat +in Hugh's den for considerably more than an hour, talking and planning. +Both showed vague signs of nervousness, however. Thad in particular +frequently walked over to a window and looked out. Doubtless he was +thinking what a joke on them it would be if the marauders came much +earlier than expected, when all their fine work with that tub of icy +water would go for naught. + +"Hadn't we better be making a start, Hugh?" he finally asked. "Don't +forget we have to handle that ice first, and get things ready." + +"All right," the other replied. "We'll make for the rabbit hutch, and +here's hoping that we don't have a long watch all for nothing." + +The ice was soon procured. Hugh cracked it in rather small pieces. He +did this for two good reasons. First it would chill the water more +speedily when in this condition; then again the chances of knocking one +of the interlopers on the head with a heavy lump of ice falling quite +some distance would be obviated. Hugh did not intend that this prank +should end in a tragedy, if he could help it. + +When everything had been arranged to suit Hugh, the boys retired within +the rabbit hutch, and the door was fastened with the padlock, which +Hugh could undo when the time came by leaning far out of the open +window. + +They took up their positions in the place already selected, and wrapped +in complete darkness awaited coming events. The time passed very +slowly, but since they had dressed warmly, they did not suffer from the +chilly air, for it was only April, and the warmth of summer still far +distant. + +Nine o'clock struck. Bless that town clock, by means of which they +could tell the hour; for Thad was beginning to believe it much later +than it really was. He yawned, and stretched a bit, shifting his +position. Then Hugh touched him on the arm, and his low whisper came +in Thad's very ear. + +"Sh! something stirring outside!" + +Thad had heard it, too. Either the night wind had arisen; and was +sighing through the branches of the big oak that hung partly over the +rabbit hutch, or else some living object had moved; for what the boys +heard as they crouched there quivering with suspense and anticipated +victory was certainly in the nature of a creeping sound. + +Yes, now there came to the ears of Thad what must be low whispers. +Nick and his fellow conspirator had undoubtedly arrived and were +scanning their contemplated field of operations! + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +A COLD RECEPTION + +Then the boys in hiding saw a strange glow around them. Undoubtedly +Leon was making use of his electric hand-torch, and both of the +intended raiders must be pressing their noses against the glass of the +small window, trying to form some sort of idea as to what awaited them. + +Neither Hugh nor Thad more than breathed. The latter clutched the +stout cord in a firm hand, ready to give the quick jerk when he +believed the proper moment had arrived. + +Apparently, the fellows outside must have concluded that everything was +just lovely, for they could now be heard softly opening the window, and +pushing the sash carefully back out of the way. While climbing in +through the opening thus made, they did not wish to thrust a foot +against the glass, and cause a smash that might be their undoing; oh! +trust that shrewd general, Nick Lang, for looking out against any such +accidents; he had been in this business a long time now, and understood +all the ins and outs of it. + +More low whispering followed. Evidently, Nick was trying to coax Leon +to climb in first, so that he could light the way with his torch; but +that sly fox held back. It was Nick's special game, and consequently +he should be the one to do the honors of the occasion. + +After a little grumbling beyond the open window, Thad and Hugh heard +the soft pad of shoes scraping against the boards. Nick had started to +enter. The yawning aperture, and the apparent lack of any signs of +danger lured him on. Ah! if he had only dimly suspected what a +wonderful reception awaited him in that same rabbit hutch, undoubtedly +Nick could not have been tempted to take that important step; indeed, +he would have turned and run for it with all speed. + +But "when ignorance is bliss, 'tis folly to be wise," the old saying +runs; and Nick was happy in not having a glimmer of the truth. + +He should not be long in making his entrance. The window was only five +feet from the ground, and within easy reach. Besides, Nick was an +unusually strong boy, which fact in itself had been one reason for his +having been able to play the part of town bully as long as he did. + +The sounds changed their nature. Evidently, Nick had managed to pull +himself over the window-sill. He was now inside the hutch, perhaps +kneeling on the floor, and directly under the tilted tub that stood on +the shelf above! + +Hugh gripped his cord still more firmly. It was almost time for +something to happen. Perhaps before another minute had passed the +avalanche would descend, and give two startled fellows the surprise of +their lives. + +Now Nick was lending his companion a helping hand. It may not have +been through generosity that Nick acted thus; perhaps he dimly +suspected that the cowardly Leon might wish to draw back, and allow him +to carry out the nefarious business alone and unaided; and Nick was +bent on making his crony share in the act, so that he could not turn on +him and betray him in the future. + +Yes, Leon was coming along. He made more noise than the other, for +Nick could be heard growling, and telling him to be careful if he +didn't want to fetch the owner of the rabbit hutch down on them with +blood in his eye, and perhaps a stout baseball bat for a weapon. + +Thad softly chuckled on hearing this. No doubt, in his mind he was +saying that something in the way of a reception far less warm was +hovering over the heads of the two "innocents abroad." That made Thad +think of Mark Twain, and he wondered whether the illustrious Tom Sawyer +and his chum, Huckleberry Finn, had ever arranged a more fetching +reception committee than this one of Hugh's. + +Leon seemed quite clumsy about climbing up; the fact of the matter was, +he came rather unwillingly, and might have held back only that the +determined Nick had taken a firm grip on his coat collar, and held on +tenaciously, bent on making sure of having company in his dark deed of +slaughter, or robbery, whichever he had in mind. + +Thad would have given almost anything for the privilege of taking a sly +peep; but he had been sternly enjoined against doing this same thing by +Hugh. The other, however, found it necessary to put his head beyond +the corner of the upright boards, so as to make sure that both boys +were there, and ready for their bath. + +One brief look was enough for Hugh. Leon had depressed his hand-torch +so that its glow only fell on the floor; but enough light was diffused +throughout the place to disclose two kneeling figures directly under +the tub. + +Hugh waited no longer, but gave the cord a strong pull. + +There was a sudden surge, and down came a terrific Niagara of icy water +that completely deluged Nick and Leon. They let out involuntary yells +that were of a piercing intensity. Nor was this all, for Hugh must +have given the cord an extra hard pull, or else the fastenings of the +tub had not proved stanch enough; for down it came with an infernal +jangling that must have completed the fright of the precious pair of +intruders. + +Indeed, it even gave Thad a start, with all that racket, and the cries +of the terrified boys adding to the volume of sound. + +"Now give us some light, Thad!" called Hugh, wishing to glimpse the +drenched culprits before they could scramble through the opening again, +and make their escape. + +Thad was so excited he could hardly remember what he had done with his +new electric hand-torch. So he ran his fingers around on the floor, +feeling here and there in eagerness, all the while strange sounds +coming to their ears from the other end of the rabbit hutch. + +Then he managed by accident, or great good luck, to touch what he was +searching for, and instantly Thad flooded the place with its +illumination, after which both of them stepped forward. + +They were just in time to glimpse a pair of legs vanishing through the +opening. Then came a heavy crash accompanied by dismal groans, after +which they heard the sounds of footsteps as the two boys scurried +around the building, wishing to keep from being seen. When Hugh and +Thad looked out of the window there was no one in sight. + +They turned and stared at each other. Then Thad doubled up like a +closed hinge, and shook with boisterous laughter. + +"Oh! what a circus that was, Hugh!" he cried. "Why, I don't know what +I'd have given just for a chance to watch those two chaps swimming +around. And, say, that big tub falling must have nearly scared Leon to +death. I wonder now, did it happen to hit either of them when it came +tumbling down after emptying out all the iced water? Oh! I'll laugh +myself nearly sick every time I think of this dandy trap of yours." + +Of course, the interior of the Belgian hares' quarters was a sight to +behold, after all that downpour; but anticipating this, the careful +Hugh had placed his pets where they could not be injured by the flood. + +"See here what they left behind them," remarked Hugh, picking up what +turned out to be a stout gunny-sack. "Well, I'm glad to find this, +because it seems to prove that they meant to steal my hares, and not +kill them." + +"Just about as bad in the long run!" declared Thad, scornfully. "Like +as not that Nick would have thrown them into the river, with a stone +tied to the bag, in order to hide all traces. Then, no matter how much +you might suspect them, you couldn't prove a thing. But Hugh, they +made a terrible slip if they figured on that, because, see here what +I've found." + +He held something up. + +"Leon's hand-torch, for a certainty!" exclaimed Hugh. "In his sudden +fright he lost it, and was in too great a hurry to think of trying to +find his property again." + +"You've got him where you want him, all right, Hugh," snapped Thad, +suddenly. "All you have to do is to leave this here and fetch Chief +Wambold around to notice that it lies in your rabbit hutch. Then Leon +will have to explain how he came to leave it here." + +"Oh! I sort of feel that those fellows have been punished enough as it +is," the other went on to say, slowly. + +"You're too easy on the skunks, Hugh, take my word for it," said Thad, +with a trace of disappointment in his voice. "A fellow like Nick Lang +never can appreciate such a thing as leniency. You've got to give him +what he believes in, and that's brute force. Well, then, if you won't +have Leon arrested, at least you can keep this hand-torch as a trophy +of the momentous occasion. It'll serve to remind you of this pleasant +night's entertainment. While not so fine a torch as mine, still it +seems to be O. K. You'll do that, I hope, Hugh?" + +But the other shook his head. + +"I don't want the thing, Thad, I assure you I don't," he said. "I'll +send it to Leon with a little satirical note, telling him that while I +thank him very much for leaving me his torch, I have always made it a +rule not to accept presents from those who were not my intimate +friends; and that, therefore, I'm returning it with the hope that in +the future he may put it to better use than in the past." + +Thad laughed. + +"Oh! well, you must have your way, Hugh, I reckon; and really, that +will set the pair guessing. They'll understand we're on to their +identity, and of course will be more or less anxious to know just what +you mean to do about it." + +"One thing I'm sure of," added Hugh, "which is, that Nick Lang can +never be made to change his habits by harsh measures. Some of these +fine days I may find a chance to do him a great favor; and by heaping +coals of fire on his head, force him to see a light." + +Thad heard his chum say this with more or less astonishment. +Apparently, while he had the utmost faith in Hugh's ability to do most +things, at the same time he considered that this would be in the form +of a miracle. He smiled, and again shook his head in the negative. + +"Well, you don't believe they'll come again tonight at any rate, do +you, Hugh?" he asked, as they prepared to leave the rabbit hutch. + +"Not one chance in ten," the other told him. "I mean to fix this +window so it can't be easily opened. Besides, my window is on this +side of the house, and I've got a cord arranged whereby a weight will +fall on the floor of my room if anybody tried to get in here, after +I've fixed the little jigger. I own a shotgun, you know, Thad, and can +fire up in the air out of my window if there's any alarm. Tomorrow +I'll put heavy wire netting over the window, that will insure the +safety of my pet Belgian hares, and my homing pigeons. Now let's be +heading toward the house, and going to bed; for you promised to sleep +with me, you know." + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +NICK AS A GAP-STOPPER + +On Saturday afternoon the field was the scene of another gathering. +Almost every boy in town had come out to see what success the Scranton +High fellows were making with their new team. Besides, there were many +little knots of high-school girls present, all eager to watch some +fellow in whom they felt especial interest. Then, from time to time, +older folks began to show up, until quite a gathering could be seen in +the grandstand and on some sections of the bleachers. + +Perhaps Scranton did not possess as fine buildings as Allandale, for +instance, because the spirit of sport had long been rampant in the +other town, while Scranton seemed to have been half asleep until +latterly; but they were good enough, and commodious in the bargain. +The field itself could hardly have been surpassed. It was unusually +level, and stretched away to such a distance that it must needs be +quite a slugger who could make a home-run hit on those grounds. + +Still it had been done. There was at least one member of the team who +had shown an ability to send the ball out over the head of a fielder, +and to such an astonishing distance that by the time it was recovered +and returned to the diamond, he had raced completely around the circuit +for a home run. + +Mr. Leonard had by now completed his choice of the team. He had +watched the play of the boys, and decided on just who best seemed +fitted to fill the various positions. Of course, as time passed, this +schedule of players was subject to possible changes, but on the whole +the physical instructor believed he had built up the strongest team +Scranton could put in the field that season. + +Much must depend on the pitching staff. It remained to be seen how the +twirlers would "pan out" under fire. At present Mr. Leonard was +working strenuously, trying to put more "ginger" into their work; and +also teaching them some of the wrinkles of the game, as known to +semi-professionals like himself. + +Greatly to the surprise as well as delight of Owen Dugdale, he had been +notified that he was to cover short. Indeed, others were not as much +astonished as Owen himself, because they had been admiring the splendid +way in which he fielded his difficult position there, accepting chances +that many fellows would have allowed to let get by them for fear of +making an error, and with wonderful success. + +Once Owen got his hands on the ball, and he could shoot it across to +first like a rifle bullet. His accuracy and speed were simply grand; +everybody cheered when he sent the ball "screaming" across to the man +guarding the initial sack; or on occasion hurled it to Hugh on third +for a double. + +Then again, Owen was improving in his batting. Hugh had gone to great +pains to give him many pointers, and the fruit of this was seen by the +clever way in which Owen could lay down a pretty bunt, the ball rolling +along just inside the line in a tantalizing fashion, and headed for +first or third, as the occasion might require. The player who can be +depended on to bunt successfully two times out of three attempts is +always a valuable accessory to a club; since he is thus able to push a +runner along; and perhaps get his own base in the bargain, when the +others are busily engaged in trying to catch the fellow on the bases. + +Short-stop must always be an agile chap, who is especially quick both +at decisions and throwing. Even though he snatch up the ball, and thus +make a fine stop, if his judgment is poor or his throwing arm lame, he +can often bungle his work, and prove of little help to his team. + +There would still be another full week before the first game with +Belleville. If fair weather favored them the Scranton boys hoped to +put in daily practice, and speed up in their team work, as well as +signals. The pitchers, too, needed considerable more practice before +they could be said to be at their best; in fact, they would all be +better off for two more weeks of hard work, which, however, could not +be obtained. + +Two teams were made up for this afternoon, one of them the regulars, +and the other a "scrub," though with some fair players aboard, mostly +substitutes. Mr. Leonard himself meant to play at various positions +for the latter team. He chanced to be one of those remarkable +all-round handy men, capable of filling a job as catcher, first +baseman, second, short-stop or fielder. He even astonished the boys +during the afternoon play by taking his place as a slab-artist in the +pitcher's box; and some of his shoots and drops puzzled the hard +hitters on the regular team, so that they whiffed at thin air, and thus +passed out on strikes. + +The pitchers had been evenly divided, and all showed considerable +ability after their caliber. Some seemed to have considerable "stuff" +with them, and mystified the batters with their delivery. Others were +hit freely, and runs were either earned or else made with the +assistance of errors more or less glaring. + +The weak places in the team's play were being noted by Mr. Leonard, who +would take measures to stop the leaks after a fashion of his own; +through advice and practical instructions, if he could; and should +these means fail, then by a radical change in the line-up. + +As Hugh had been made field captain, he would have charge of the +playing to a considerable extent. On this account, he took an +especially keen interest in all that went on. When Nick Lang, who +played centre field, made a difficult catch of a great fly from Mr. +Leonard's bat, no one applauded more than did Hugh; while Thad behind +the bat stood and scowled, for somehow he disliked the idea of the town +bully having any part in the team's work. + +When he took occasion to speak of this during their turn at bat, as he +and Hugh sat by themselves on the lower bleacher seats, watching the +game, the other took him to task for his way of thinking. + +"You've got to get over that personal way of thinking, Thad, when you +belong to a ball club like Scranton High," he said, earnestly. "Now we +all know what Nick is, and few fellows like to play in a game where he +has any part; but remember that he is one of the high-school students, +and on that account has just as much right to aspire to a place on the +representative team as you or I." + +"But he always makes trouble wherever he goes," expostulated Thad, +still unconvinced, it seemed; "and mark my words, he'll do something to +try and break up this team, if things don't go just to suit his ideas." + +"Please don't forget Mr. Leonard when you say that, Thad. Depend on +it, he's going to keep his eye on Nick right along. If the fellow +shows any insubordination, he'll get his walking papers like a flash, +and perhaps be booted off the grounds in the bargain, if he gets too +fresh." + +"Well, perhaps you're right, Hugh," grumbled Thad. "Mr. Leonard must +know a heap more than a boy like me, who sees everything on the +surface. And I admit that was a cracking good catch Nick made, after +such a hard run. He can field, all right, and he is a gap-stopper in +center field, for a fact." + +"There, look at him send out a screamer right now, that ought to be +good for a double!" exclaimed Hugh. "You see, we need Nick on the +team. He is one of our mainstays at bat and in the field. If only Mr. +Leonard can control him, he's apt to be of great assistance to us in +winning games. The boy who would take his place isn't really in the +same class with Nick as a player. So let's try to forget all about our +natural aversion while we're playing ball. If we act that way, the +other fellows are apt to follow suit. And, Thad, conquering your +feelings may be the means of bringing a glorious victory to Scranton +High. Wouldn't you think yourself well repaid for just repressing your +antipathy toward Nick Lang?" + +"Of course you're right, Hugh, as you nearly always are. I'm so +quick-tempered I make all sorts of silly blunders. But look there, I +can see a cloud of dust up the road yonder. Now I wouldn't be at all +surprised if we had another friendly visit from that Belleville fellow, +O. K. He's taking quite an interest in Scranton, it seems, and has run +over again this Saturday to find out how we're improving. We must +jolly him along, Hugh, and never let him see we're feeling a bit of +anxiety over our pitchers." + +Sure enough, the rider of the motorcycle proved to be Oliver Kramer, +the same boy who had been over before to take a look at the Scranton +players. He came alongside the two chums sitting on the bleachers, and +deposited his machine so that it would be safely out of the way. + +"Hello! fellows!" he remarked, cheerily, as he held out his hand to +Hugh. "Here I am again, right side up with care, as the clown in the +circus always says. Glad to meet you again, Captain Morgan, and you +also, Thad Stevens. Mr. Leonard was over to dinner at our house +Sunday, and he invited me to drop in any old time, and see how your +crowd was making out. I hope now you don't object to my being here, +Hugh?" + +"Not in the least, O. K.," Hugh told him, smilingly. "We're pushing +along pretty fairly, and ironing out some of the wrinkles as we go. +Lots still to be done before we're ready to try conclusions with your +team at Belleville; but with such a capable coach as Mr. Leonard, we +believe we'll get there in time." + +They watched the play go on. There were some really clever stunts done +that called for loud cheers on the part of the small crowd present. O. +K. added his strident voice to the shouts. + +"Great work that, old top!" he shouted at Sandy Dowd, who had made a +magnificent steal to second, after getting first on a single, his slide +amidst a cloud of dust being the grand climax of the feat; for though +the catcher sent the ball down in a direct line to the baseman, still +the red-headed Sandy had his hand on the bag at the time he was +touched, and there was no disputing the "safe on second" of the umpire. + +For three innings did O. K. sit there and enjoy the game. He was a +baseball enthusiast of the first water, and never could get quite +enough of his favorite sport. Of course he preferred taking part in a +game, but the next best thing was to watch others play, and comment on +their mistakes; just as most people can play the critic while watching +a game of billiards and always feel they could have improved on the +shot that missed connections. + +"Well, what do you think now, O. K.?" asked Hugh later on, when the +Belleville boy made preparations as though about to start homeward. +"Do you notice any improvement in our work? Have we gone up or down, +in your judgment?" + +"Yes, be honest, now, O. K., and say," asked Thad. "We can take +criticism without flinching. You know what your team can do; have we +any show against Belleville, or that strong aggregation at Allandale?" + +"Honestly, between man and man, fellows," said the other, earnestly, "I +can see the greatest sort of improvement in your play. When you get +your team work down a bit better and closer to scientific principles, +you're going to make both the other clubs in the Three-Town League +hustle some to hold their own. I'm glad to see it, too, because it +means we'll have to do our level best if we hope to win. And that +insures some mighty lively ball games during the short season while +we're playing against each other." + +Hugh felt satisfied, for he believed O. K. to be quite honest in what +he said. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +PRETTY POLLY UNDER SUSPICION + +"Hello! Thad, that you?" + +"Nobody else, Hugh. I rather thought I'd hear your voice when I +stepped over to the 'phone. What's doing this fine Sunday afternoon?" + +"Are you in for a little walk with me, Thad?" + +"Just what would please me a heap, Hugh. Anything particular moving?" + +"There you go suspecting that I've got something on tap just because I +call up and invite you to cover a few miles, when the weather is so +fine. But for once you've hit the nail on the head, my boy." + +"That settles it, then. I'll rush right over, and join you, Hugh." + +"Be careful and don't break your neck in your hurry, Thad. My news can +keep; and what would poor Scranton High do for a catcher in the game +next Saturday if you fractured your collar-bone?" + +Whether Thad took the advice to heart or not, he certainly made his +appearance at the home of his best chum in an incredibly brief space of +time, flushed in the bargain, and with an eager light lurking in his +eyes. + +"Nothing doing until we get safely out of town," said Hugh, firmly; "so +you'll have to put the brake on your impatience." + +"Huh!" grumbled Thad, "that sounds as if what you had to tell me was of +vast importance, so that you didn't want to run any risk of others +cribbing the news. Now you have got me guessing to beat the band, +Hugh. I wonder if those Belleville fellows have been up to any dodge +to learn our signals, and how our pitchers are practicing certain pet +balls?" + +"Oh! I'll relieve your mind that far by telling you it has nothing +whatever to do with the game next Saturday; for that matter it's not +about baseball at all. You're doing those fine chaps at Belleville a +gross injustice to even hint at their thinking of spying on us." + +Thad grinned as though he had won a point. + +"Well, I take it all back, then, Hugh," he hastened to say, contritely. +"And now that point's settled, there's only one more thing it could be +about." + +"Notice that shrub bursting into bloom, will you?" remarked Hugh. "No +one ever saw a prettier sight than that is right now." + +"Have you learned anything more about----" + +"We'll take a turn here, and walk along the canal toward the big +mill-pond," interrupted Hugh. "That's always a favorite walk of mine; +and, to tell the truth, I haven't been out to the mill-pond for a long +time. The fishing there hasn't been very good this season, some of the +boys told me. Besides, I've been kept so busy with my studies, +baseball matters, and several other things I'm interested in, that I +haven't had much time for fishing this spring. Nobody loves it more +than I do, either, as you happen to know." + +Thad heaved a sigh, and shook his head. + +"No use trying to coax you, Hugh, when you've made up your mind not to +let out even a little peep. A fellow might wheedle until he fell over, +and you'd still be as hard as adamant. Yet it's right. Makes me think +of the old saying that a single man can lead a mule to water, but a +dozen can't make him drink--not comparing you to a mule, of course." + +They chatted as they walked, until presently the town had been left +behind them. + +"Now I'll open up and tell you what's been worrying me," announced +Hugh, suddenly. "The fact of the matter is, I was called over to +Madame Pangborn's this morning after getting home from church. She +told me a third spoon has disappeared!" + +"Great guns! is that so, Hugh? And, say, was Owen there on the day it +went glimmering?" demanded Thad, frowning. + +"I'm sorry to have to say yes to that," returned Hugh, slowly. "It was +yesterday it happened. She persisted in leaving the spoons just where +I saw them. I advised her to do that, for if they were hidden away we +might never discover the thief. As on the other occasions, Owen came +in with a bundle for the Red Cross, sent by the same lady who had +intrusted him with a package twice before." + +"All I can say is, it's getting a heap serious for our new friend, +Owen. Hugh, do you think the poor chap might be what they call a +kleptomaniac; that is a person who has an irresistible inclination to +take things that don't belong to him, or her, and generally has no use +for them after stealing the same? It's really a disease, I've read. +Some very rich people are affected by it, particularly queer old +ladies." + +"You're jumping ahead too fast, Thad," remonstrated Hugh, chidingly. +"I haven't admitted yet that I suspect Owen more than I did before. In +fact, these occurrences, such as his being in the house each time a +spoon vanishes, may turn out to simply be coincidences." + +"That sounds just like you, Hugh. You're the best kind of a friend +anybody ever could have. Perhaps now you've got a clue of some sort +that you wouldn't mind telling me about?" + +"I've been wondering whether the culprit is a human being after all," +remarked Hugh, to the utter astonishment of his comrade, who burst out +with: + +"Whew! you're aiming high, I must say, old chap. If not a human being, +what sort of a creature could the clever thief be? I've heard of +monkeys stealing things and hiding the same away in a spirit of +covetousness; but then the old lady doesn't happen to have a simian for +a household pet, that I know of." + +"No, but she has got a poll-parrot, as I told you, Thad!" observed +Hugh, calmly. + +"Oh! do you suspect that a silly bird could go and carry off not only +one spoon but three of them?" gasped the other boy. "What would a +parrot want of such objects, and where would she hide them?" + +"Remember, this is only guess work on my part, because, so far, I +haven't any positive evidence that it's so. But I remembered once +reading an article about some birds having a weakness that way. +Generally it was a raven that did it, and hidden away in a dark corner +they would find trinkets and spoons and all sorts of things that were +of no possible use to any bird. In every instance they seemed to be +bright and tempting, as if the bird had no eye for dingy things. Well, +these spoons have recently been scoured and cleaned so that they shine +splendidly!" + +"Oh! now that you mention it, Hugh," broke out Thad, "I remember that +several years ago, before I knew you, with another boy I climbed a tall +tree to peek in at the nest of a pair of crows. Well, sir, besides the +young ones, what did we find but three strange things. One was a key, +pretty rusty at that; another seemed to be a piece of metal that might +have fallen off a motor car on the road; it was made of brass, and +still shone fairly well. The third I've forgotten about, though I've +still got them all at home somewhere. At the time, Dick Saunders and I +laughed, and said the old mother crow had fetched her babies some +playthings to keep them amused while she and her mate were off hunting +grubs and corn and such crow food." + +"Well, all of which goes to prove that my little theory mightn't be so +far fetched as you seemed to think in the beginning," said Hugh. "I +mean to look around closely the next time I drop in to see the Madame. +Perhaps if I picked up a tiny green feather that must have come from +Pretty Poll, and on the table close to the case that holds the spoons, +it might clinch matters." + +"Whew! I only hope you do!" declared Thad. "I'd hate to learn that +Owen had any hand in taking those spoons. The sooner we find out the +truth, the better for all concerned. It'll not only relieve our minds, +as well as that of the old lady; but either prove or disprove the +suspicions we're right now entertaining toward that poor boy." + +He looked very determined when saying this, just as though he had made +up his own mind to hasten the dénouement; but of that he did not say +anything to Hugh. + +"My plan at present is to find a chance to hide in the room, and have +the old lady let her parrot free to fly around," continued Hugh, +reflectively. "You see, as a rule, the bird is held by a fine chain, +and made to stay by her perch; but the lady as much as admitted, when +scolding her pet, that every now and then Polly managed to get loose by +pecking at the ring about her leg; and had a great time flying +squawking in and out of the rooms before anybody could catch her again." + +Thad clapped his hand in glee. He had changed his mind considerably +after hearing all these things in the line of a convincing argument, as +mentioned by Hugh. + +"Why, if it should turn out that way, Hugh, it'd make a story well +worth writing up for the magazines, or a big New York daily paper. I +hope now you'll get busy on this scheme right away, so we'll know the +truth. Parrots are mighty cunning birds, for a fact. I knew one once +that used to mock everybody going by. What fun we boys used to have +trying to teach him to say things that mebbe his mistress wouldn't +exactly approve of, though, honestly, Hugh, they weren't very tough, +just boys' slang, you know. I'm glad now you asked me to take this +walk with you. For all we can tell, it may have some influence in +solving this puzzle that's got both of us guessing." + +When Thad said this, he of course could have no idea how near he was +hewing to the truth. That walk was fated to have a very considerable +influence on the course of events, and also upon the solving of the +riddle; but we must not anticipate. + +The two lads continued to saunter along. They chatted on other +subjects besides the mystery of the old lady's lost souvenir spoons. +The matter of outdoor sports was much in their minds those days, when +sleepy old Scranton was waking from her Rip Van Winkle nap of twenty +years, and girding herself to accomplish a few things on the diamond +and the gridiron. + +So they drew gradually nearer to the famous Hobson mill-pond, where for +generations the boys of Scranton had been accustomed to swim and fish +in the good old summer time, and skate in the winter, the canal leading +close to its location. + +The old mill was no longer in use, but with its moss-covered wheel made +a very picturesque sight that artists often painted with delight. The +pond itself was of fair size, and surrounded with trees and bushes. In +fact, it was quite a lake. On one side there stood a large ice-house, +and when the surface of the pond was covered with a foot of clear firm +ice, many of the residents of the town had their supply cut and stored +in places built partly underground, in order that they might have all +the ice they wanted through the dog days. + +Hugh and Thad had almost arrived at the mill-pond when they suddenly +heard loud voices. There was screaming in shrill tones that would +indicate the presence of children near by. + +"What does all that row mean, Hugh?" snapped Thad, looking suddenly +interested. + +"They're playing around the pond, those kids, and like as not one of +them may have fallen in! Let's get a move on us and see!" + +Hugh seemed to be of the same opinion, for he started on a rapid +gallop. Louder rang out the shrill cries. There could be no doubt now +as to some one being frightened; and considering the loneliness of the +mill-pond region, it was easy to guess Thad had hit the truth when he +surmised that a child must be in danger of drowning. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +THE RESCUE AT HOBSON'S MILL-POND + +The two boys covered the short distance in an incredibly brief space of +time. As they rounded the bend just beside the mill-pond and saw the +whole scene spread out before them, their eyes were immediately +fastened on a stirring picture close by. + +Two little colored girls were running up and down the shore doing most +of the screaming, and acting as though half frightened to death. The +reason for their alarm was not hard to see, for at some little distance +out from the bank a small boy, as black as the ace of spades, was +having a terrible time trying to keep his footing on a plank that had +been a part of a rude raft, doubtless fashioned by his own hands. + +He had wished to "show-off" before his little playmates, and after +rudely fastening several boards taken from the tumble-down old mill +into a crude attempt at a raft, had boldly launched the same. With a +pole he had stepped aboard, and then proceeded to "cut capers." +Encouraged by the admiration of the other children, he must have become +more and more reckless, so that he soon reached a point far enough +distant from land to prevent him from touching bottom with his pole. + +This sudden discovery may have alarmed him, and in his endeavor to +paddle, he had caused his raft to part in sections. So there he was +now clinging to one plank, and in immediate danger of falling into the +water, which out there was doubtless many times over his head. + +"Keep steady, there, boy!" shouted Thad. "Stick to your plank, and +we'll get you ashore all right! Don't be scared, whatever you do! +Thad, how can we reach him?" + +"There's an old boat pulled up on the shore a little ways above here," +said the other quickly, for he had the faculty of thinking of +everything when an emergency arose, an admirable trait in any boy. + +So they started on a run, heading for the spot, and hoping the tragedy +would hold off until they could launch the old craft, which leaked more +or less, but was likely to hold long enough for them to accomplish the +rescue. + +Passing the two small girls, Thad shot out words of encouragement to +them. + +"Stop that screaming!" he told them, with an air of authority. "You +only rattle the boy, don't you know? We're going after a boat so as to +get out to him. It's close by, and much safer than swimming. Tell him +to keep still, and we'll get him in a jiffy!" + +Of course he did not slacken his pace any while jerking out these +words. They at least seemed to have some effect on the two children, +for they stopped shrieking. + +Just as the boys reached the boat, however, the cries broke out again +with redoubled energy. Thad glanced back, and immediately exclaimed: + +"He's fallen in, Hugh! We've got to hurry, you know!" + +"Here's one of the paddles; do you see anything of the other?" demanded +Hugh. + +Luckily Thad discovered it immediately. The "paddles" were crude +affairs chopped out of boards by some of the boys who used the boat +while swimming; but all the same they answered a purpose. + +With a rush the old boat was pushed down the sloping sandy shore and +into the mill-pond. Hugh and Thad sprang aboard and each snatching up +a paddle, they commenced to urge the unwieldy craft along as best they +might. + +As they worked, they could see what was going on ahead of them. The +little chap evidently had considerable pluck about him, for he was +making a really gallant fight for his life, trying to cling to the +board, which was wobbling about in the water at a great rate. Twice +his frantic hold seemed lost, but on each occasion he managed to regain +it. Nature urges every human being or animal to struggle to the utmost +when threatened with death by drowning. Some boys have even discovered +that they could swim when they had to, or go down; though it is a risky +experiment which should never be resorted to. + +Hugh's heart seemed to be almost in his throat as he watched the +struggles of the poor little chap. Black or white, it made not the +least difference to him just then; that child's life was as precious in +his mother's sight as if he were the pink and white darling of a +wealthy family. + +Nearer they came to the scene. Oh! if only he might manage somehow to +retain his grip just twenty seconds longer, they would be on hand, and +ready to drag him over the side of the old boat to safety. Hugh, deep +down in his heart prayed that it might be so. He also figured how he +would plunge overboard at the last second, if necessary, and dive after +the sinking child, for he must be saved. + +They both worked as never before in their lives. Possibly that old +boat swept through the water of the mill-pond at a faster rate than it +had ever indulged in, even with twice the number of paddlers aboard. A +precious human life was at stake, and this fact brought out every atom +of energy those two gallant lads could summon to the fore. + +Fortune was kind, and the plucky little colored boy continued to show +wonderful tenacity of purpose; for he managed to retain his slipping +grip on the turning plank until Hugh could bend over and take a grip of +his kinky wool. It may not have been the most pleasant way to effect a +rescue, but there was no time for being particular. + +While he thus held the child above water, Thad bent down and got hold +of the boy's arms. That settled it, for they speedily hauled him +aboard. The two little girl companions of the rescued child, whose +admiration for his boldness had undoubtedly been the main cause for his +taking such great risks, stopped screaming when they saw that he was +safe in the boat. + +The boys now made for the shore, as the boat was taking in water very +fast, and already their feet were soaking wet. Besides, the sooner +they reached land the better, because the boy had fainted from excess +of fright, and also on account of the desperate endeavor he had made to +keep from sinking. + +A minute later and Hugh lifted him from the boat. + +"We've got to get a fire started right away, Thad!" he exclaimed. "The +air isn't as warm as it might be, and he'll be shivering soon. +Besides, it's a long walk to town. Later on perhaps we may be able to +stop some car or vehicle going in on the road, and take them all home. +Here's my match-safe, so speed up a blaze, please." + +It was fortunate that Hugh always made it a practice to have matches +with him. There could be no telling when they might come in very +handy, as on the present occasion; for there was no house near by at +which they could seek assistance. + +Thad was always a good hand at making a fire, and he quickly found +plenty of fine tinder which flashed up when a match was applied. Then +more wood was carefully placed on the little blaze, until in a brief +time he had a cheery fire roaring. + +Hugh laid the boy down where he could feel the comfortable heat. He +understood that the child could not have swallowed any water to speak +of, because he managed to keep his head above the surface, save in the +very end of his struggle. It was only a swoon or faint, and likely the +child would come out of it quickly. He rubbed the little hands, and +waited to see signs of returning animation. + +Two minutes afterwards the boy's eyes opened. He looked puzzled to see +Hugh bending over him, and to hear the crackling of the fire. + +"It's all right, my boy," said Hugh, encouragingly; "you fell into the +water after your raft went to pieces, and we pulled you out. Now we +mean to dry your clothes by the aid of this nice fire, and after that +we'll see you get home. Here are your little playmates, you see. You +can thank them for screaming, because only for that we might not have +come up in time." + +The boy allowed his hand to run up and down his other wet sleeve. + +"Dem's my Sunday-best clo's, too. Mebbe mommy she won't whale me fo' +gettin' dem all soaked like this," he muttered to himself +disconsolately. + +"Don't you worry about that," chuckled Thad, who had overheard the +childish complaint. "Your mother, whoever she may be, will be so +thankful that she hasn't lost her boy she'll forgive you anything. And +you're a brave little chap in the bargain, because you did put up a +nervy fight for your life, that's certain." + +They succeeded in drying his clothes, and then, as a large car was seen +coming along the road with only a single man in the same, Hugh ran over +to hail the driver and beg him to take them all into town. + +Luck favored them again. The man in the big car turned out to be Major +McGrew's chauffeur, whom Hugh knew to speak to, as he was a baseball +enthusiast of the first water. When he heard what had happened, he +told Hugh to fetch the boy along; and also the two other kids; he'd +have them home in a jiffy, for it was less than a mile to town. + +The colored people, as so often happens, lived in a certain section of +Scranton, being very clannish in their habits. Hugh did not doubt but +that he could easily learn just where the boy lived. He looked at him +several times trying to remember where he could have seen the little +fellow before, because there seemed to be something familiar about his +face; but somehow he failed to connect him with any family he knew. + +When presently they entered the district where the colored folks had +their homes, their coming created quite a flutter. To have a fine big +car fetching a trio of colored children home was an event of importance. + +Boys and girls, and a sprinkling of older persons as well, hurried to +ascertain what it could mean. Doubtless they were quick to sense the +fact that something out of the common run must have occurred to cause +such a happening. + +Hugh recognized an old man he knew as a preacher, and addressing +himself to this person he hastened to explain. + +"These children were up at the old mill-pond, and the boy had made a +raft on which he was having the time of his life, when the thing +separated, and left him clinging to one plank where the water was quite +deep. We chanced to hear the girls' screams and got to the spot in +time to push out in an old boat and get hold of him just as he was +sinking. He's a plucky little chap, I want to tell you. Only for the +way he held on to that plank, he must have drowned before we could +reach him. We dried his clothes at a fire we made, and have brought +him home. I wish you would send for his mother, and tell her not to +punish him. He's been very close to death, and has had a lesson he'll +never forget." + +The old man took a look at the boy. + +"Why, it's sure enough little Brutus!" he exclaimed, as though just +discovering this fact, for the boy had kept his face partly hidden, +through shame and fear; then turning to some of the wide-eyed +youngsters clustering around, the parson went on to say; "Here, you +Adolphus Smith, run like the wind over to Madame Pangborn's and tell +Sarah her boy needs her, because he's been in the pond; but be sure to +let her know Brutus is all right!" + +The boy shot away like a flash, while Hugh turned and looked at Brutus +again; for now he knew that he had seen him over at the Pangborn +mansion. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +LITTLE BRUTUS AND HIS "COLLECTION" + +It was not long before they discovered a woman running like mad toward +the spot. Of course this was no other than Sarah, whose heart had been +chilled by the news fetched by Adolphus Smith, the truth being +considerably garbled, it is to be feared. + +She arrived panting, and with her eyes full of horror, as though she +fully expected to find her darling Brutus lying there all wet and cold. + +Upon discovering the shrinking little form, she seized him in her arms, +and dropping to the ground began rocking back and forth as she hugged +him tight, meanwhile covering his ebony little face with motherly +kisses. + +"Hebben be praised, I ain't done lost my Brutus after all. Dat +'Dolphus he skeered me nigh to death wif his stuttering story as how my +chile be'n in de mill-pond. What's all dis row about, anyhow? I hopes +none o' you folks done play a joke on me, dat's right. It'd be de +wustest thing yuh eber done, let me tells yuh." + +The parson thereupon proceeded to tell her the real facts. Sarah +hugged the rescued boy some more, and then on hearing how his life had +been saved by the actions of two white boys, she looked up at Hugh and +Thad. + +"Why, it am de young Morgan boy, glory, if it ain't!" she ejaculated, +and Hugh was a little afraid the good woman, in her gratitude, might +want to transfer her embraces from Brutus to him, so he held out his +hand, with one of his smiles, saying: + +"We were only too glad to be on the spot and give the boy a helping +hand, Sarah. I didn't know at the time he was your child, though that +wouldn't have made any difference. We dried his clothes at a fire we +made, and he's all right." + +Sarah, even as she squeezed Hugh's hand, was looking at Brutus out of +the tail of her eye, as though an awful thought had just then burst +upon her. + +"An' he hab on his bestest Sunday-go-to-meetin' clothes, too. I done +hopes dey ain't shrunk on him, so he cain't git in 'em agin. Dat clerk +he nebber guarantee dat dey wouldn't creep up if de boy he done falls +in de pond. But how did it happen, I'd like to know." + +Hugh thereupon took it upon himself to explain just how Brutus in +trying to "show-off" before his little girl companions had ventured out +too far, and managed to cause his raft to go to pieces. Sarah looked +threatening, so Hugh hastened to "pour oil on troubled waters." + +"Brutus has suffered enough for punishment, I should think, Sarah," he +told her. "He's had his lesson, and will never try anything like that +again. You should be thankful it's no worse. Besides, let me tell +you, he's a little hero. He fought like everything to save himself, +and never let out so much as a cry. The girls did all the yelling. +You ought to be proud of his grit." + +"That's right, you had, Sarah," added Thad, thinking it his duty to +"put in an oar" so as to save Brutus from the "smacking" he seemed to +be dreading. + +This sort of talk mollified the mother. She even looked proudly around +at the clustering neighbors, for by now every denizen of Darktown had +apparently been drawn to the spot, all wild to hear what had happened. +Her look was in the shape of a challenge. It seemed to say: "Dere now, +what do yuh good-for-nothin' coons think of my Brutus, after hearin' +dese white boys say as how he's a real hero? Don't any ob yuh ebber +ag'in ask me why I gives him dat name. Guess I knows my history, an' +didn't I see it in him when he was a little baby? Dar ain't another +hero in dis whole place, dat's right!" + +She turned to Hugh again. Brutus took advantage of his opportunity to +creep over to another woman, who also petted him, and who the boys +afterwards learned was his aunt, a washerwoman of the town. + +"Dat boy he ain't like de rest of de kids, I wants yuh to know, Marse +Morgan," she was saying, eagerly. "All de boys 'round heah dey spends +dere time aplayin' in de street, or agittin' into trouble. My Brutus +he's different. Jest yuh come wif me an' see how he done play all by +hisself. I'd like yuh to know he ain't a wuthless little rascal, dat +chile." + +Hugh seemed about to beg Sarah to let them off, but Thad, for some +reason, perhaps just through mere curiosity, hastened to say: + +"Come on, let's take a peek, Hugh. I've got an engagement in a short +time, but this'll only take a few minutes. We're some interested in +Brutus, you know. I guess he's bound to make a name for himself some +day." + +So they followed Sarah as she led the way to a nearby cottage. + +"Dat's whar we libs, me an' Brutus and my sister, Nancy, her as takes +in washin' six days in de week, an' teaches de infant class in Sunday +school on de seventh day. Yuh see we done got a cabin in de rear where +Nancy she washes. So we fits up one end fo' Brutus' playhouse, same as +de white chillun dey hab playhouses in de yard. He sets dar most ob de +day a havin' de time o' his life playin' sojer with de buttons, and +settin' out his Noah's Ark animals. I allers knowed dat boy was +different from de rest o' de kids. Parson Brown, he say he sure enough +hab de makin' o' a good preacher in him, fo' he talks by de hour to his +toys." + +So Hugh and Thad had a look-in. They found everything in order, +showing that Nancy was not slovenly about her work. The tubs were hung +on the wall, and a basket of soiled clothes standing ready for the next +day's washing. + +Over at the far end of the cabin was the special precinct devoted to +Brutus and his toys. Hugh glanced at the accumulation. He saw that +the boy was one of those who love to accumulate things. He had +numerous little assortments of curious articles, picked up here and +there, all of which had excited his love for collecting. + +Thad was heard to chuckle as though he found it quite amusing; but he +turned this off with a cough as Sarah glanced inquiringly toward him. + +"Yuh see how dat boy he spend his time," the proud mother went on to +say. "Right here he play and play de whole blessed day long. He ain't +nebber done tired o' talkin' to his toys, and asettin' o' 'em in lines +like dey was in school. I always hab an idea in my head Brutus, he +either make a good parson or else he bound to be a school teacher, I +ain't zactly made up my mind yet which it'll be." + +"It's plain to be seen, Sarah," said Hugh, as he turned away, "that +your boy is different. I certainly hope he'll grow up to be a man +you'll be proud of. You won't punish him for what happened today, will +you? We promised him we'd ask you to go easy with him; he was +dreadfully alarmed about his clothes, and seemed to think more about +them than that his life had been in deadly peril." + +"Bless yuh, honey, I ain't meanin' to do the leastest thing to dat +sweet chile. Clothes kin be boughten agin, but I never'd be able to +git anudder Brutus. But if he goes out to dat drefful mill-pond agin, +I'm feared I'll have to skin him, and dat's a fact." + +So the two chums strolled on, heading for another part of the town. +Both of them had been highly edified by what they saw and heard in the +colored settlement. + +"I'd like to ask you one thing, though, Thad; what were you chuckling +at while we were in that cabin that shares the honors of a wash-house +with Brutus and his wonderful collection of toys?" + +"Oh! something struck me as funny, that's all, Hugh. The fact is, just +when Sarah was prophesying all those wonderful things that might be in +store for Brutus, from being a great soldier, or an eloquent parson who +could frighten people into repenting of their sins, I took stock of all +that junk the boy's gone and collected, and do you know, I was thinking +that the chances were he'd make a successful hustler in the 'rags, old +iron, old clothes' line, when he grew up." + +Hugh also laughed on hearing that. + +"Nobody can tell," he went on to say. "The veil of the future hides +such things from our mortal eyes, as Dominie Pettigrew said the other +Sunday. Brutus may turn out to be a wonder; and again there's a chance +of his being only an ordinary day laborer." + +"Well, if he keeps on taking risks just to show off before the girls," +observed Thad, drily, "I rather guess he won't grow up at all, but die +young. But I'll leave you here, Hugh, as I have a date with some one +for half-past four this afternoon." + +"Oh! is that so?" chuckled the other; "well, go along, and don't bother +making excuses. I wouldn't have you break an appointment with Ivy for +anything." + +"You're away off this time, Hugh, for it happens that it isn't Ivy +Middleton, or any other slip of a girl," Thad hastened to say. + +He did not offer to explain, and the other thought he looked somewhat +mysterious; but while his curiosity may have been slightly aroused, +Hugh did not feel justified in making any further inquiries. If Thad +did not wish to tell him, it was all right; even between chums there +may be little secrets. + +"I may see you later on, though," Thad added, as he was turning away; +"that is, if I'm successful in my errand." + +Which remark further aroused the wonder of his comrade, who could not +imagine what Thad had in mind. Hugh went home, and picking up a book +he was reading, proceeded to renew his interest in the story. Half an +hour slipped away in this fashion. Then he heard a jolly whistle down +on the street, which he knew full well. Sure enough, it was Thad +coming hurriedly toward the Morgan home. + +He discovered Hugh at the window and waved his hand. Even at that +distance Hugh saw his face was flushed, just as his manner was buoyant. + +"Now I wonder what that boy has been up to," Hugh said to himself, as +he awaited the coming of Thad; but cudgel his brain as he might, Hugh +never once suspected the errand of his chum could have anything to do +with the solving of the puzzle that was assuming all the +characteristics of a heavy burden on his, Hugh's, shoulders. + +Thad presently burst in upon him, for he knew the way to Hugh's den, +and thought nothing of going in and out of the Morgan house as though +he belonged there. Hugh motioned to a chair. + +"Sit down and cool off," he told Thad. "You look all heated up, as if +you'd been running fast." + +"Well, so I have, part of the way," gasped the other; "and it's quite +some distance out to the Rookery, you must remember." + +"What's that?" exclaimed Hugh; "do you mean to say your appointment was +with Owen Dugdale after all?" + +"Shucks! no, but with his old grandfather," snickered Thad. "Owen's +gone off for the afternoon with Mr. Leonard in the athletic +instructor's flivver, and paying a visit to Barton. I knew about that +when I called Mr. Dugdale up around noon today, for he has a telephone, +it happens, and told him I'd accept his invitation to drop in again to +chat with him, and would be over by about four. Well, in the language +of Alexander, or some other old worthy of ancient times, it was _veni, +vidi, vici_ with me; I came, I saw, I conquered! What do you think of +that, Hugh?" + +With the words he suddenly drew something from a pocket and held it in +front of his companion's nose. It was a souvenir spoon, one of unique +pattern, Hugh saw, and he had a thrill as he comprehended just what it +might mean. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +A STRAIGHT DRIVE FOR THE TRUTH + +"So, you stole Owen's spoon, did you?" Hugh said, reprovingly. + +Thad made a gesture as though he thought his chum was putting it hard. + +"I simply borrowed it, that's all, Hugh," he hastened to explain. "Of +course I haven't any use for souvenir spoons, or any other kind of +spoons, either, for that matter. I was tired of all this beating +around the bush, and made a straight drive to find out the truth. +Either that boy is innocent, or else he's guilty, and now we can learn +which it is." + +"What do you plan to do, now you have the spoon?" demanded Hugh. + +"Why," explained Thad, "I thought perhaps you'd agree to take me over +to call on Madame Pangborn, even if it is Sunday. The better the day +the better the deed; and our main object would be to solve the horrible +mystery that's been hanging over poor Owen's head all this while, even +if he doesn't know about it. What do you say to that, Hugh?" + +The other boy seemed to consider, while Thad watched his face eagerly. +It was just like Thad to go directly at the heart of the matter, for +his was rather an impetuous nature. After all, perhaps it might be the +easiest way in which to settle the question. Hugh at least would be +glad to lay his burden down, for it had been an uphill fight all the +way. Besides, there was so much need of his being able to pay full +attention to baseball matters, with the first game only six days off, +that he would welcome any means for winding up his self-appointed task. + +"Well, it might be best to drop in on the old lady and have her +identify that spoon as one of her set," he finally observed. "Once +that fact was established, we would have some solid foundation to build +on. As it is now, we're just groping in the dark." + +"Then you agree, do you, Hugh?" + +"Call it a bargain, Thad. I'll take you around to call on the old +lady. She's a nice soul, and will be glad to see us. In fact, when we +were talking about a number of things the last time I was in her house, +and I chanced to mention your name, she asked me to fetch you around +sometime. Of course she knows who you are, but I guess you've never +really met her. She's a wonderful old woman, and heart and soul bent +on getting all sorts of comforts for the wounded soldiers of her +beloved la belle France." + +Thad looked greatly pleased. + +"Then let's be starting out right away," he suggested. "It might be, +Owen would get home before he expected to, and I'd a heap sooner he +wasn't around when we were on our way to the Pangborn house. Somehow, +I'd hate to look the boy in the face after doing what I did; though you +understand it was done in the hope of clearing up this awful puzzle." + +"No need of saying that, Thad, because I know what your feelings are. +My plan would have been to pick up the spoon incidentally, and admire +it. Then it would be easy to tell from the manner of Mr. Dugdale +whether he knew where it came from. I don't suppose you thought to do +anything like that, now?" + +"Why, no," came the reply; "for you see, I'd laid out my plan of +campaign, and wanted to hew close to the line. The quickest way to +settle the whole matter, according to my calculations, was to just show +the old lady the spoon, and ask her if it was one of the missing ones. +But please get a move on you, Hugh. I'm fairly quivering with +suspense, because I somehow feel that we're on the verge of making a +big discovery." + +"Perhaps we are," his chum told him, without any show of elation, "but +if it convicts Owen Dugdale of this thing, I'll be mighty sorry." + +He led the way downstairs, and secured his cap from the rack. Then the +two lads hurried out of the front door, heading in the direction of the +big house where the old French lady lived, and which had lately been +turned into a sort of general headquarters for the Red Cross workers. +There some of the ladies of Scranton could be found day after day, +sewing and packing such garments as had been brought in, so that they +might be sent across the sea to the country where the brave poilus were +in the trenches defending their native land against the aggressor, and +slowly but surely pressing the Teutonic hosts back toward the border. + +"I'm going to ask you a favor, Hugh," remarked Thad, presently, as they +drew near their intended destination. + +"Go ahead and ask it, then," he was told. + +"Let me run this little game, won't you, please--that is, I mean, allow +me to introduce the subject of souvenir spoons, and then show the old +lady the one I've got in my pocket right now?" + +"That seems only fair," Hugh assured him. "Since you've taken it on +yourself to crib that spoon from Owen's den, it's up to you to do the +honors. I'll only be too glad to have you do most of the talking. +Yes, and about the time you flash that thing in front of her eyes I'll +be shivering for fear we learn the worst." + +"Nothing like heroic treatment when you've got a cancer gnawing at your +vitals, as surgeons all say," remarked Thad, rather pompously. "I'm +aiming at the bull's-eye now, you understand. It's going to win or +lose, and no more tom-foolery about it." + +When Hugh rang the door-bell, it was Sarah who answered, showing that +she had not lingered very long at home after the boys left, but had +returned to her duties with the madame, who doubtless paid extravagant +wages for her services. + +She smiled broadly at sight of them. + +"I sure is glad to see yuh agin, bofe ob yous," she said. "I done +tells de missus all 'bout hit, and she says as how it was on'y what +she'd spect of dat young Mistah Morgan." + +"Thank you for telling me that, Sarah," Hugh went on to say; "it's +pleasant to know some one thinks well of you. Is Mrs. Pangborn at +leisure? I hope she isn't taking a nap just now?" + +"Deedy she ain't dat, suh; she's on'y readin' in de library. An' she +be mighty glad tuh see yous bofe." + +So she led the way along the wide hall, to usher the boys into the +commodious library. Bookcases lined the walls, and it seemed to be an +ideal place, where a student might enjoy himself very much indeed. +Just then, however, there were several sewing machines shoved aside, +and much evidence to the effect that on weekdays this same library +might be a beehive of industry, with women chattering as they sewed. + +The old lady looked surprised at seeing them, but the welcoming smile +and the extended hand were evidence that she was not displeased. + +"I've taken the liberty of fetching my chum, Thad Stevens, around to +see you, Mrs. Pangborn," Hugh was saying as he sat down. "You've heard +me talk of him more than a few times; and even expressed the wish that +I might introduce him to you. He's interested in nearly everything +that concerns me, and we seem to work together like a well-ordered +team, even if we do have an occasional little spat, which is to be +expected." + +Madame Pangborn loved boys, as has been said before. She understood +them wonderfully well, too, considering that she had never had one of +her own. So she laughed at what Hugh said. + +"I'm doubly glad you have dropped in to see me today, Hugh," she told +him, "for more reasons than one. In the first place, I want to hear at +first hand just what did happen out there at that terrible mill-pond; +and how you managed to save that little boy of my Sarah from drowning. +He sometimes comes here with her to spend a part of a day, and I like +to talk with him, he seems so original, so bright, and so curious about +everything I possess, too." + +"Oh! it didn't amount to very much, so far as we were concerned, I +mean," Hugh expostulated; "but since Sarah has told you about it, I +suppose I might as well spin the whole story. We consider that we were +lucky to be around, that's all, for I guess little Brutus would have +been with the angels before now if we hadn't happened along, and heard +all that shrieking from the colored children." + +Then he went on to tell about it, even to what had happened after +Brutus arrived home in the big car, the object of attention in +Darktown, with Sarah running like mad to find out what the garbled +account brought by Adolphus Smith might really mean. + +The old lady was highly interested in the story, which really Hugh +managed to tell quite cleverly, even injecting some humor in his +narrative. + +"So that is how Sarah comes to be calling her Brutus a hero, is it?" +Mrs. Pangborn went on to say, with a smile. "I had never heard her say +such a word before, and considered it rather queer in a mother whose +child had been close to drowning. According to my mind, you and your +chum are really the ones most deserving of that title; but I'll spare +your blushes, young men. Now tell me what you are doing in the line of +outdoor sports; because I hear there are great goings on around this +section of country; and I suppose I must give up next Saturday +afternoon to journeying over to Belleville, in order to encourage our +valiant Scranton High boys." + +Both of them started telling of the things that were being done in a +baseball way; and as they were enthusiasts, they found it easy to +enlarge upon such a favorite theme. Thad, however, had begun to show +signs of nervousness, and Hugh suddenly remembering that they had come +there with a particular motive in view, drew out of the conversation, +leaving it to his chum to carry it on with the old lady. + +Thad only waited for a favorable opening, when he was ready to "sail +in." This came when the Madame chanced to mention her travels in many +lands, and the fond memories she had of all her visits. + +"But when I shall eventually return to my beloved France," she remarked +sadly, "I anticipate many a heartache to see the terrible condition of +the fair country that has been turned into a howling wilderness by the +vandal German armies. Ah! I almost dread the day, much as I yearn to +tread my native soil again." + +"My chum was telling me that you had quite a collection of queer +souvenir spoons," Thad remarked just then, thinking he had found just +such an opening as he wished. + +Madame Pangborn shot Hugh a suggestive look, as if wondering how far he +had confided in his chum. + +"Yes, it is true, I have taken considerable pleasure collecting spoons +in some of the many cities I visited, all of them wonderfully unique," +she went on to say, with a sigh; "but perhaps, after all, it is a +useless and pernicious habit, since it may tempt some weak one, and +cause trouble." + +Then Thad brought out what he had in his pocket. Hugh held his breath. + +"Please take a look at this spoon, will you, Mrs. Pangborn," said Thad, +"and tell me if you have ever seen one like it before!" + +She gave the speaker a quick, suspicious look, and eagerly took the +little object. For a minute or so she turned it over and over, while +the two boys were quivering with suspense. Then she spoke. + +"Ah! quite a charming specimen of Old English silver workmanship, and I +must say it is exceedingly handsome; but it represents a city in which +I never happened to set foot," with which she handed the spoon back to +Thad, who almost dropped it to the floor, such was his sudden sensation +of intense relief. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +HUGH REACHES HIS GOAL + +Thad Stevens looked as though any one could knock him down with a +feather. The astonishing fact that the old lady who made a fad of +collecting souvenir spoons, had failed to recognize the one which he +had purloined from Owen's den "struck him all in a heap," as he +afterwards expressed it. Why, that would seem to indicate Owen must be +entirely innocent, so far as proof went. + +Hugh, on his part, was quicker to recover. Although he felt a spasm of +sincere satisfaction pass through him at the result of his chum's test, +at the same time he realized that there was no necessity for making +"mountains out of molehills." + +Madame Pangborn had instantly surmised that there was more connected +with that odd little silver spoon than she had as yet grasped. Indeed, +having good eyesight, she could hardly have failed to notice the +strange actions of Thad. + +"Tell me what it all means, please, Thad," she besought him; "for I am +certain you must have some deeper motive in fetching that souvenir +spoon to show me than appears on the surface. Don't you think I am +entitled to your full confidence?" + +"Indeed you are," said Hugh, quickly, "and you shall hear the whole +story. Both of us are right now tingling with satisfaction and delight +because our worst fears have proved ungrounded." + +Then he went on to explain just how Thad had by accident become a +temporary guest under the roof of the Rookery, after having helped old +Mr. Dugdale to the house when he was seized with a sudden attack of +sciatica in one of his lower limbs. It did not take Hugh, with an +occasional sentence of explanation from his eager chum, who wanted to +be set right in the eyes of the good madame, long to tell how Thad +chanced to discover the spoon among many other things in Owen's "den," +and what a host of fears its presence there had aroused in their +breasts. + +Then he reached the point in his narrative where Thad conceived the +bold idea of appropriating the spoon during Owen's absence, and letting +the old lady see the same, knowing full well that if she recognized it +as one of her missing souvenir mementoes, the case would look +exceedingly dark for Owen. + +Madame Pangborn's face took on a radiant look after she had learned all. + +"I have never been able to believe that boy could be guilty of such an +atrocious deed," she hastened to say, emphatically. "I flatter myself +that I can read boys as well as any one, and in his eyes there lies +only truth, and an ardent desire to accomplish great things that have +long been burning in his soul. But, nevertheless, the circumstantial +evidence was so strong that it has caused me some sleepless nights. +Now I know Owen is innocent, I shall be satisfied. I would sooner lose +all my spoons ten times over than find that he had yielded to a sudden +and irresistible temptation." + +"But," said Thad, in sore perplexity, "the three spoons are gone, +there's no doubt about that; and if Owen didn't take them who did?" + +"Please let the matter drop," expostulated the old lady, hastily. "I +am satisfied to know the boy is innocent. I shall immediately put the +rest of my spoons away, so that they may not tempt any one again." + +"But it wouldn't be right to give the hunt up so easily as that, you +know, lady," complained Thad. "We've started in to find the thief, and +our motto is never to turn back once we've put our hands to the plough. +Hugh, don't you say the same?" + +"I certainly do," affirmed the other boy. "And while about it, perhaps +I ought to tell Mrs. Pangborn how I at one time even began to imagine +the thief was a thing of green and yellow feathers, and a hooked bill, +otherwise known as Pretty Polly." + +At that, the old lady seemed highly interested. + +"Oh! such a thought never occurred to me, Hugh!" she hastily exclaimed. +"Could it be possible, do you think?" and she glanced apprehensively +toward the corner of the library, where the handsome and intelligent +parrot sat on her perch, chained by the leg, and with her +yellow-crowned head turned on one side as though she might be listening +to all that was being said. + +"It is a bare possibility," Hugh went on to say. "A whole lot would +depend on whether Polly chanced to get free during those particular +days when the spoons disappeared. As to whether a bird like that would +carry away such things, and hide them, there's lots of accounts of such +things happening. I'll tell you of a few instances I've read about, +and every one was vouched for as absolutely true in the bargain." + +So for some little time he amused and interested the old lady with +accounts of strange things various species of pet birds, from rooks and +ravens, all the way to talking parrots, had been guilty, in the way of +stealing bright articles of jewelry, and trinkets that seemed to have +caught their fancy, hiding them away in some cranny or nook, where the +whole collection was afterwards found. + +"I may have read something along those lines myself at some time or +other, Hugh," she told him, as he concluded, "but it slipped my mind. +Whether Polly is guilty of petty larceny or not, after this, I shall be +more careful than ever about keeping her fast to her perch by that long +chain. There is no telling what a wise old bird of her nature might +not attempt, given freedom. I sometimes think she has a little devil +in her, when she says something wonderful, and looks so droll. But you +have given me a very happy half hour, for which I thank you both." + +Thad kept glancing toward Hugh as though he was puzzled as to what +further action his chum meant to take in the case. For accustomed to +reading the expression on Hugh's face, he seemed to realize that the +other had some "card up his sleeve" which he meant to play. + +"Hadn't we better be going, Hugh?" he now asked. + +"Right away," came the reply, "for it's getting near six o'clock, and +Mrs. Pangborn will be having her tea soon." + +"I do have it a little earlier on Sunday, because I allow Sarah to go +home," admitted the old lady. "She is a great hand to attend church, +you know, and I believe sings in the choir like a lark. I often hear +her practicing down in the kitchen while cooking dinner. But I'd be +delighted if you boys could stay and take a bite with me." + +"Thank you, ma'am," said Hugh, "another time we'd be only too glad to +accept your invitation; but I must be home tonight. What time do you +suppose Sarah would be at her house? I want to see her about her +little shaver Brutus, and find out if his ducking did him any harm, and +thought I'd walk around later in the evening." + +"You are apt to find Sarah at home up to a quarter of eight. After +that she will be in her place in the colored church," he was told. + +Then the boys took their leave. On the way home, Thad expressed some +curiosity concerning the visit Hugh proposed making to Sarah's home. + +"Do you really think that boy might come down with pneumonia, or +something like that on account of being in the water, Hugh?" he asked, +at which the other smiled mysteriously and replied: + +"Oh! the water is still pretty chilly, you know, Thad; and the child +was so terribly frightened that he might feel the result of his +immersion, even if we did make a fire, and dry his clothes well. +Besides, I've dropped my pocket knife, and I've a little idea it was +while we looked through that playhouse of Brutus'. But suppose you +stop asking questions, and agree to accompany me when I make my little +call on Sarah this evening?" + +"Oh! all right, Hugh, I'll go with you," complained Thad, "but I know +as well as anything you've got some queer notion back of it all, which +you don't mean to share with me. But remember that Madame Pangborn +told you she would trust Sarah with her purse or her life, she has such +confidence in the woman." + +"I haven't forgotten," said Hugh, quietly. "I know what I'm doing. +You show up around seven or a quarter after, and we'll take a little +walk. Perhaps we might pick up a few facts worth while before we come +back; stranger things have happened than that, Thad." + +"You are the limit," laughed the other, as he swung aside and headed +for his own house, doubtless to ponder over the mysterious words of +Hugh many times while eating his supper on that Sunday evening. + +It was just dark as he started across lots toward Hugh's home; for +there was a short-cut which they frequently made use of--trust boys for +cutting off corners whenever it is possible, even if they have to vault +fences in order to reduce distances. + +All the way out to the colored settlement, Hugh kept up an unusually +lively flow of talk. He knew Thad was fairly itching to ask questions, +and apparently Hugh did not mean to let him have a chance. + +So they finally entered among the humble cottages and cabins where +Scranton's colored population lived. Children were running about the +streets shouting in play, even as the first peal of the cracked bell in +the little church near by began to sound. + +Sarah was at home. She seemed surprised to see the two white boys. + +"How's little Brutus, Sarah?" asked Hugh. + +"Oh! he's all hunky-dory, suh, 'deed an' he is," she replied with a +smile. "I done jest gib him his supper, and chucked de chile in his +bed. An' I ain't put a hand on him neither. Jes' as yuh sez he done +hab a lesson; but I tells him if he ebber goes to dat ere mill-pond +agin I lays fo' him, and makes him smart like fun." + +"I'm sorry to trouble you, Sarah, but I've dropped my knife somewhere, +and remembered having taken it out of my pocket when you were showing +us Brutus' playhouse. Would you mind getting a lamp, and going back +there just to take a look around. I value that knife a lot, and would +hate to lose it. We won't keep you from church more than a few minutes +at most." + +"Sure I will, suh. I'd do a thousand times as much fo' de white boys +as sabed my baby fo' me dis berry day." + +She quickly secured a lamp, and led the way back in the yard. Thad was +beginning to show signs of nervousness. He realized that Hugh must be +playing some sort of a game, and yet strange to say he was unable to +fathom it. + +Arriving at the old cabin used partly as a wash-house, and with the +rear devoted to Brutus' "playthings," they entered. Sarah held the +lamp while Hugh started to scan the floor earnestly, moving around as +he looked. + +All at once he stooped and picked something up. + +"Well, I was right in believing I dropped my knife in here, for you +see, I've found it again. Why, what's this?" + +He bent over again, and from a receptacle in a queer old fragment of a +desk that had a number of pigeon-holes in it, Hugh plucked something +and held it before the eyes of the others. Then he made another +movement, and _three_ shining objects lay there in his hand. + +Thad gasped and stared. He was looking on the missing souvenir spoons! +As for the amazed Sarah, it was a blessing that she did not let the +lamp fall from her nerveless hand as she burst forth with: + +"Fo' de lands sake, if dem ain't some oh de old missis' spoons; dat +good-fo'-nothin' brack imp must a' snuck one ebbery time I takes him to +visit de lady. Oh! he kotch it fo' dis, you better belieb me!" + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +LOOKING FORWARD--CONCLUSION + +There could be no doubt about the genuine nature of the horror and +indignation, as well as shame, that struggled for the mastery in the +mind of the astonished colored woman. To learn that her little boy had +abused her confidence whenever she took him visiting her good mistress +was a shocking revelation. She also looked furiously angry, and it was +evident that the said Brutus would receive due punishment on account of +his propensity for purloining things that belonged to others, just to +add to his "collection." The thing that struck Hugh as bordering on +the comical was that even a small colored boy might have the same mania +for gathering "trophies" of his visits that possessed Madame Pangborn. +He felt that the good lady would herself be amused at the coincidence, +and be ready to forgive little Brutus. + +He proceeded to show Sarah that it would be entirely unnecessary to let +any one know what had happened. There would be no exposure, and she +need not be "disgraced" in the eyes of her neighbors. Hugh would +simply return the spoons to their owner, who certainly would never hold +it against Sarah. But after that, should Brutus be invited to the old +lady's house, his actions would be carefully watched lest his +acquisitive propensities again get the better of his honesty. + +Thad was highly delighted with the result of their "raid" on Brutus' +playhouse. On the way to Madame Pangborn's, he boldly accused his chum +of having set up a little game. + +"Now I wouldn't be at all surprised, Hugh," he went on to say, "if you +dropped your knife in that cabin on purpose when we were looking around +this afternoon; own up and tell me if that isn't true." + +"Yes, I did," admitted the other, laughingly. "Now that the thing has +turned out even better than I dared hope, I'm willing to confess that a +sudden suspicion gripped me about that time. When I saw what an +astonishing assortment of old junk that boy had collected, I knew he +had a mania for picking up things. And the idea struck me that since +he sometimes was allowed to stay for an afternoon with his mother at +Madame Pangborn's house, what if the temptation came to him to take one +of those pretty spoons to add to his assortment? Why, the more I +thought of the idea the stronger it hit me. On the impulse of the +moment I dropped my knife, so as to have a good excuse for getting out +there again, and prowling around a bit. I didn't want to mention a +thing even to you until I had proved whether there was any truth in my +new suspicion. And it turned out splendidly." + +"Oh! I'm so glad, for Owen's sake particularly!" declared Thad. "Now +I must manage to get this spoon back in his den without his ever +suspecting I took it; but that ought to be easy. I hope he never knows +he was under suspicion, because he's very proud, and it would hurt him +terribly." + +"What makes me think a near-miracle has been performed," added Hugh, +soberly, "is the way all this came about. Only for our taking that +walk we wouldn't have been near Hobson's mill-pond at just the minute +little Brutus was struggling in the water, and so been able to pull him +out. That in turn took us to his home; and his mother had to dip in by +wanting us to see how her precious pickaninny played with his toys back +in the old cabin. It's wonderful, that's all I can say." + +"But, Hugh, you deserve all the credit," affirmed Thad. "In the first +place, you took this heavy task on your shoulders, and started to find +out who was guilty of robbing your good old friend, Madame Pangborn. +It's been an uphill fight from the start, but here we've reached the +finish in a blaze of glory. But won't the old lady be astonished when +we show her the spoons, and tell her just how they were found." + +She certainly was, and made them go into the most particular details +concerning the matter. Just as wise Hugh had believed would be the +case, she did not blame Sarah in the least; nor did she declare the +little chap would surely grow up to be a disgrace to his mother. Her +kindly heart knew the failings of small boys better than to condemn a +child for a weakness. She did say she would have a good talk with +Sarah, and advise her as to how she should try to train Brutus so that +this very trait might serve to his credit instead of being always a +weakness. + +"And as for Owen," she concluded, "I am more than ever satisfied that +his is a sterling character. I want to see more of that boy; and I'm +determined to make the acquaintance of his grandfather. I feel +absolutely certain that the old gentleman has been misunderstood by +thoughtless people in Scranton; and from little hints Owen has dropped, +I fully believe it will turn out that Mr. Dugdale is a man of some +consequence, perhaps even renown, in his own country; though just why +he left it, and has been living in retirement here these two years, is +a matter that concerns only himself. But you boys have acquitted +yourselves handsomely in this affair, and brought me much happiness. +Come and see me often; you will always find my latch-string out to Hugh +Morgan and Thad Stevens." + +So they went home with hearts that beat high in the exuberance of their +joy. The puzzling enigma had been fully solved, and just as they would +have wished it to come out. Now Hugh could put all other matters aside +and devote his spare time to his work as field captain of the newly +organized Scranton High Baseball Team. + +Only a few days remained before their first grand game would be played +with the Belleville nine, and well they knew that they must acquit +themselves handsomely on the diamond if they hoped to bring a victory +home with them, and to cause Scranton, so long drowsing in a Rip Van +Winkle sleep, to awaken and whoop for joy. + +Other problems would possibly present themselves to Hugh Morgan for +solution from time to time, as he pursued his onward way; but it can be +set down as certain that a lad of his sagacity and determination was +bound to attain his goal, once he started out. + +And with that ambitious programme of outdoor sports ahead of them, it +can be safely assumed there would be glorious doings in and around the +town of Scranton, starting on the following Saturday, when, packing +their kits, and donning their new uniforms, the high-school team set +out to invade the lair of the tiger in neighboring Belleville. Just +what they accomplished in the good old summer time will be found +narrated between the covers of the next volume in this series of books, +now on sale under the suggestive title of "The Chums of Scranton High +in the Three-Town League; or, Out for a Baseball Pennant." + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CHUMS OF SCRANTON HIGH*** + + +******* This file should be named 18587-8.txt or 18587-8.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/8/5/8/18587 + + + +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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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 <a href = "http://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a></pre> +<p>Title: The Chums of Scranton High</p> +<p> Hugh Morgan's Uphill Fight</p> +<p>Author: Donald Ferguson</p> +<p>Release Date: June 14, 2006 [eBook #18587]</p> +<p>Language: English</p> +<p>Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1</p> +<p>***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CHUMS OF SCRANTON HIGH***</p> +<br><br><center><h3>E-text prepared by Al Haines</h3></center><br><br> +<hr class="full" noshade> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<A NAME="img-front"></A> +<CENTER> +<IMG SRC="images/img-front.jpg" ALT=""Are you through?" demanded, Hugh sternly." BORDER="2" WIDTH="361" HEIGHT="557"> +<H3> +[Frontispiece: "Are you through?" demanded, Hugh sternly.] +</H3> +</CENTER> + +<BR><BR> + +<H1 ALIGN="center"> +THE CHUMS OF SCRANTON HIGH +</H1> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +OR +</H3> + +<H2 ALIGN="center"> +Hugh Morgan's Uphill Fight +</H2> + +<BR><BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +BY +<BR><BR> +DONALD FERGUSON +</H3> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +THE GOLDSMITH PUBLISHING CO. +<BR> +CLEVELAND +<BR> +MADE IN U. S. A. +</H4> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<H5 ALIGN="center"> +COPYRIGHT, 1919 +</H5> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<H2 ALIGN="center"> +CONTENTS +</H2> + +<BR> + +<CENTER> + +<TABLE WIDTH="80%"> +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">CHAPTER</TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> </TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">I. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap01">A FENCE WITH A HISTORY</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">II. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap02">THE BOYS OF OLD SCRANTON</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">III. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap03">HUGH SHOULDERS A HEAVY TASK</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">IV. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap04">IN FOR A FROLIC</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">V. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap05">THE TRAGIC AFFAIR ON THE ROAD</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">VI. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap06">MAKING A GOOD JOB OF IT</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">VII. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap07">CALLED OUT FOR PRACTICE</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">VIII. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap08">THAD MAKES A DISCOVERY</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">IX. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap09">JUST BETWEEN CHUMS</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">X. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap10">A VISITOR FROM BELLEVILLE HIGH</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XI. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap11">HUGH'S PETS IN DANGER</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XII. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap12">THE TRAP</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XIII. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap13">A COLD RECEPTION</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XIV. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap14">NICK AS A GAP-STOPPER</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XV. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap15">PRETTY POLLY UNDER SUSPICION</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XVI. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap16">THE RESCUE AT HOBSON'S MILL-POND</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XVII. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap17">LITTLE BRUTUS AND HIS "COLLECTION"</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XVIII. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap18">A STRAIGHT DRIVE FOR THE TRUTH</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XIX. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap19">HUGH REACHES HIS GOAL</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XX. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap20">LOOKING FORWARD--CONCLUSION</A></TD> +</TR> + +</TABLE> + +</CENTER> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap01"></A> +<H1 ALIGN="center"> +THE CHUMS OF SCRANTON HIGH +</H1> + +<BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER I +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +A FENCE WITH A HISTORY +</H3> + +<P> +"The best day so far this spring, fellows!" +</P> + +<P> +"It feels mighty much like baseball weather, for a fact, Otto!" +</P> + +<P> +"True for you, K. K., though there's still just a little tang to this +April air." +</P> + +<P> +"What of that, Eli? The big leagues have opened shop all over the +land, and the city papers are already full of baseball scores, and +diamond lore. We ought to be getting busy ourselves in little old +Scranton." +</P> + +<P> +"Allandale High is practicing. Sandy Dowd and I saw a bunch of the +boys out on their field after school yesterday, didn't we, Sandy?" +</P> + +<P> +"That's right, we did. And I understand Belleville expects to put an +extra hard-hitting nine in the game this season. They're still sore +over the terrible drubbing Allandale gave them last summer." +</P> + +<P> +"Since Scranton has now become a member of the Three-Town League, +taking the place of Lawrence when that nine dropped out, seems to me we +ought to lose no time if we expect to commence practicing. That same +Allandale team swept the circuit, you remember, like a hurricane." +</P> + +<P> +"We've plenty of good material, fellows, believe me, right here in +Scranton High. And somehow I've got a hunch that we're going to make +even mighty Allandale take a tumble before the season gets old." +</P> + +<P> +"Don't boast too soon, Eli Griffin. That's a wee Yankee trick you must +have inherited from your forebears." +</P> + +<P> +"Easy for you to say that, Andy McGuffey. Why, you're a regular old +pessimist, like all your canny Scotch ancestors were. You love to look +at the world through smoked glasses. On my part, I prefer to use +rose-colored ones, and expect the best sort of things to happen, even +if I do get fooled lots of times." +</P> + +<P> +A number of well-grown lads were perched in all sorts of grotesque +attitudes along the top rail of the campus fence. That same fence of +Scranton High was almost as famous, in its modest way, as the one at +Yale known throughout the length and breadth of the whole land. +</P> + +<P> +It had stood there, repaired at stated and frequent intervals, for at +least two score of years. Hundreds upon hundreds of Scranton lads, +long since grown to manhood, and many of them gone forth to take their +appointed places in the busy marts of the world, kept a warm corner in +their hearts for sacred memories of that dear old fence. Many a +glorious campaign of sport or mischief had been talked over by a line +of students perched along the flat rail at the summit of that same +fence. More than one contemplated school mutiny had been hatched in +excited whispers amidst those never-to-be-forgotten historic +surroundings. +</P> + +<P> +Why, when a few years back the unthinking and officious School +Directors voted to have that fence demolished, simply because it seemed +to be out of keeping with the grand new building that had been erected, +a storm of angry protest arose from students and parents; while letters +arrived from a score and more of eminent men who were proud to call +Scranton their birthplace. So overwhelming was the flood, that a hurry +call for an extra meeting of the Board went out, at which their former +ill-advised decision was rescinded. +</P> + +<P> +And so there that fence remained, beloved of every boy in Scranton, the +younger fry only longing for the day to come when passing for the high +school they, too, might have the proud privilege of "roosting" on its +well-worn rails. Possibly it will still be in existence when some of +their sons also reach the dignity of wearing the freshman class colors, +and of battling on gridiron and diamond for the honor of Old Scranton. +</P> + +<P> +As to the identity of the boys in question, from whom those remarks +proceeded, they might just as well be briefly introduced here as later, +as all of them are destined to take part in the lively doings that will +be recorded in this and in other volumes of this series. +</P> + +<P> +Otto was Otto Brand; Eli Griffin came of New England parentage, and had +some of the traits that distinguish Yankees the world over, though a +pretty fine fellow, all told; Andy McGuffey, as his name would +indicate, could look back to a Scotch ancestry, and occasionally a +touch of the brogue might be detected in his speech; Sandy Dowd had red +hair, blue eyes and a host of very noticeable freckles; but could be +good-natured in spite of any drawbacks; while the lad called "K. K." +was in reality Kenneth Kinkaid; but since boys generally have little +use for a name that makes a mouthful, he was known far and wide under +that singularly abbreviated cognomen. +</P> + +<P> +The Committee on Sports connected with Scranton High was a body of +seniors appointed by the students themselves, and given authority to +handle all questions connected with athletics. As a rule, they carried +out their duties in a broad-minded fashion, and not only merited the +confidence of the entire school but also the respect of the faculty as +well. +</P> + +<P> +There was considerable anxiety abroad just at present, because it was +well known that the committee had been discussing the possible make-up +of the baseball team to which would be given the proud privilege of +representing the school that season in the Three-Town League. No one +knew absolutely just who would be selected among the numerous +candidates, though, of course, it was only natural that many +entertained wild hopes, which were only doomed to disappointment. +</P> + +<P> +Two more boys came sauntering along, and found places on the "roost." +One of these was a burly fellow with a pugnacious face and a bold eye. +He seemed to be no favorite among the boys, though they treated him +with a certain amount of respect. Well, there is never a town or a +village but has its particular bully; and for several years now Nick +Lang had ably filled that role in Scranton. +</P> + +<P> +He was a born "scrapper," and never so happy as when annoying others. +A fight appeared to be the acme of pleasure with him, and it was seldom +that he could be seen without some trace of a mix-up on his face in the +shape of scratches, or a suspicious hue about one of his eyes. +</P> + +<P> +The other boy was Leon Disney, the "under-study" of Nick. While just +as tough as the other, Leon never displayed the same amount of +boldness. He would rather attain his revenge through some petty means, +being a born sneak. The boys only tolerated Leon because Nick chose to +stand up for him; and every one disliked to anger the Lang fellow, on +account of his way of making things unpleasant for others. +</P> + +<P> +The general talk continued, with Nick taking part in it, for he at +least was known to be a smart hand at athletics, and had often led in +such things as hammer-throwing and wrestling. +</P> + +<P> +During the course of the conversation, which had become general, Eli +chanced to mention the name of Owen Dugdale. +</P> + +<P> +"Why, they say that even he aspires to get a place on the substitute +list, just to think of his nerve. Perhaps a few other fellows might +feel they'd been slighted if the committee turned them down for Owen +Dugdale." +</P> + +<P> +"Hold up there a bit, Eli," said K. K., reprovingly. "If I were you +I'd go a little slow about running a fellow down, just because he +happens to be called Owen Dugdale, and live with a queer old gentleman +he calls his grandfather, but who chooses to keep aloof from Scranton +folks as if he were a hermit. I happen to know that two of our most +respected chums, Hugh Morgan and Thad Stevens, seem to have taken a +great liking for that dark-faced chap. I've seen Owen in their company +considerably of late." +</P> + +<P> +Eli gave a snort of disdain. He was one of those impulsive boys who +often say disagreeable things on the spur of the moment, and then +perhaps afterwards feel sorry for having done so. Evidently, he had +taken a notion to dislike the said Owen, and did not care who knew it. +</P> + +<P> +"That fellow had been a mystery ever since he and his ancient +granddaddy came to Scranton, and started to live in that old house +called The Rookery, and which used to be thought a haunted place. I've +always had a hunch they must be some relation to the notorious Luther +Dugdale who has had a bad reputation as a dishonest operator down in +the Wall Street district in New York. Why, lately I even asked my +cousin in a letter about that man, and he wrote me the old chap had +strangely disappeared some years ago, carrying off a big bunch of +boodle dishonestly gained. Well, I'm not saying it's the same old +rascal who's living in our midst right now, but, fellows, you can draw +your own conclusions, for they came here just two years ago this +summer!" +</P> + +<P> +"Wow! that's something new you're telling us, Eli!" +</P> + +<P> +"It takes <I>you</I> to pick up clues, and you'll miss your vocation if you +don't look for a job with the Government Secret Service, believe me, +Eli!" +</P> + +<P> +"So Hugh Morgan has taken up with that gloomy looking chap Owen, has +he?" remarked Nick Lang, with a suggestive wink at his crony, Leon. +"Mebbe, now, I might badger him into having a friendly little bout with +fists through that kid. As the rest of you happen to know I've tried +about every other way to make the coward fight, and he only gives me +one of his smiles, and says he's opposed to scrapping. That wise +mother of his has tied little Hughy to her apron strings, seems like; +but I'll get him yet, see if I don't." +</P> + +<P> +The other fellows exchanged significant looks and nods. Hugh Morgan +had apparently always been more or less of an enigma to them. They +knew he was no coward, for only the last winter he had leaped boldly +into the river at the risk of his own life, and saved little Tommy +Crabbe just when the unfortunate child was about to be drawn by the +fierce current under the ice. Still, no one had even known Hugh to be +engaged in a fight. There was some deep object back of his reluctance +so to demean himself, most of the fellows believed, and as he was so +well liked, they respected his motives. +</P> + +<P> +Just then keen-eyed Andy McGuffey was heard to cry out: +</P> + +<P> +"Speak of an angel and you'll hear the rustle of his wings, and there +comes our Hugh right now. See, he's waving his hand to us, and is +hurrying along at almost a run. Say, it may be he's fetching some news +from the committee, because he told me he had an idea they'd reach an +understanding this afternoon. Yes, he's looking mighty wise, so I +reckon we're going to hear something drop." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap02"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER II +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +THE BOYS OF OLD SCRANTON +</H3> + + +<P> +The boy advancing toward the comrades perched on the campus fence was +bright of face, and with laughing eyes that made him hosts of friends. +Few had ever seen Hugh Morgan angry, though there was a report that on +a certain occasion he had stopped to give old Garry Owen the truckman a +piece of his mind, and threaten to have him arrested if he was ever +seen beating his poor horse when the animal was stalled with a load too +heavy for his strength. Yes, and although Garry was known to have a +fiery Irish tongue, he had been subdued by the arguments which Hugh +hurled at him, and meekly promised to go easy with his stinging whip +after that. +</P> + +<P> +Hugh seemed to be a trimly built lad, who evidently believed in keeping +not only his mind but his body also well trained, since so much +depended on good health. He lived with his mother and smaller sister. +His father had been dead some years now, but apparently the widow had +plenty of means to afford them a good living. They resided in a nice +house and kept one servant. +</P> + +<P> +Most of the boys of Scranton High thought Hugh a fine fellow, and +envied Thad Stevens the privilege of being his closest chum. A few, +however, had no use for Hugh, and among them were such fellows as Nick +Lang and Leon Disney. They pretended to dislike him because he had no +"nerve," which was only another method of saying that he absolutely +declined to be egged into a dispute, and had a wonderful way of cooling +off all would-be fighters who dared him to a fist test. +</P> + +<P> +Those who knew Hugh best felt certain there must be some good and valid +reason for his action in this respect. He had taken none of them into +his confidence, however, and they could only surmise what it might be. +The general consensus of opinion was that possibly at some time in his +younger years, Hugh may have shown signs of an ungovernable temper, and +his wise mother had made him solemnly promise never to allow himself to +be drawn into a fight unless it was to protect some one weaker than +himself who was being rudely treated by a bully. +</P> + +<P> +He nodded his head as he drew near the group, for by now the eager boys +had left their lofty perch, and gathered in an excited bunch to learn +what was in the wind. +</P> + +<P> +"News, fellows!" exclaimed the latest addition to the group, "great +news for the Scranton lovers of baseball!" +</P> + +<P> +"Then the committee have finished making out their programme, and mebbe +even decided on the lucky candidates who'll have a chance to show what +they've got in them to put the school on the map this year?" +</P> + +<P> +"A pretty good guess for you, Eli, so go up head," laughed Hugh; "for +I've just been told that is what has come about. Their deliberations +have closed, and presently there will be a general call issued for a +full meeting, at which their report is to be read. Then everybody will +know whether or not they have been deemed worthy of making a try for +honors in the diamond this season." +</P> + +<P> +"We'll all be mighty glad when it's over, and those of us who are +unfortunate enough to get left high and dry can know the worst," said +K. K. +</P> + +<P> +"Huh! you needn't lose any sleep over that, K. K.!" exclaimed Sandy +Dowd. "Everybody knows you're a jim-dandy at the bat, and a clever +fielder in the bargain. Wish I had as much chance as you and Hugh here +of making the nine. But then we must put faith in our committee, and +believe they'll select the ones they firmly believe are best fitted for +the job of holding down those heavy sluggers of Allandale. The rest of +us can root for the glory of old Scranton, and even that counts." +</P> + +<P> +"But the committee, it seems, have gone even further," continued Hugh, +looking around at the eager faces of his chums, and also some who could +hardly be classed under that head. +</P> + +<P> +"Go on and tell us the news, Hugh! Don't ye see we're just dying to +know?" pleaded Andy McGuffey. +</P> + +<P> +"Have they been in touch with Allandale and Belleville?" asked the +sagacious Eli. +</P> + +<P> +"It seems that last night they went over to Allandale to meet the +committee of that place, as well as the one representing Belleville," +continued Hugh. "Matters of every kind were taken up and discussed. +The meeting ended with a programme being laid out that is to be rigidly +adhered to. Two weeks from tomorrow, Saturday, we will find ourselves +up against Belleville; and on the following Saturday it's to be +Allandale. Those two clubs have found a way of having their meetings +come off on Wednesday afternoons at three, a special favor granted by +the directors of the respective schools on account of there being but +three clubs in the league." +</P> + +<P> +"Two weeks, and as yet we don't even know who's going to be on our +team!" burst out Eli. "Seems to me that's an awful short time to get +settled down into our best stride. Allandale will have a terrible +bulge on us, Hugh, because I hear they've kept almost the same team +that carried off the honors last year." +</P> + +<P> +"If anything it's said to be some stronger," added Sandy Dowd, +ponderously, for he had a habit of looking solemn at times, in spite of +his blue eyes, red hair and mottled face. "An Allandale fellow told me +they expected to wipe up the earth with both Belleville and Scranton +this term." +</P> + +<P> +"Huh! better spell able first," grunted Eli. "I hope there's no more +delay than is necessary about notifying the candidates who've been +selected to appear on the athletic field after school every day, and +keep hustling till supper time. We've just <I>got</I> to make the sand fly, +if we expect to catch up with those older teams." +</P> + +<P> +"Well," Hugh assured him, "you'll know all about it by tomorrow night, +because the last knot will have been untied by then, and everybody +notified to come out to the meeting. Then beginning on next Monday +afternoon, hard practice for the lucky ones, to be continued every +decent day during the week, with a game against a picked nine on +Saturday." +</P> + +<P> +"Will Mr. Leonard coach the team as he promised, Hugh?" asked K. K. +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Leonard was the assistant of the head of the Scranton schools, a +pretty fine sort of a young man, who had gained quite some fame as an +athlete while at Princeton, and was well fitted for the task of +athletic instructor, which post he filled in addition to other duties. +</P> + +<P> +"He told me he would take the greatest pleasure in trying to build up a +winning team for Scranton," Hugh informed them. +</P> + +<P> +"Good for Mr. Leonard, he's a dandy!" exclaimed Eli; and that seemed to +be the consensus of opinion; though Nick was seen to allow his upper +lip to curl a bit at mention of the athletic instructor's name. +</P> + +<P> +There was a reason back of that, as the other boys well knew, for they +remembered the time when Nick had been handled pretty briskly by Mr. +Leonard, and made to apologize for some rude remark he had thrown out +heedlessly in his rough way. It could hardly be expected that Nick +would ever have a very good opinion of the young man who had humbled +his swollen pride in the presence of the same fellows whom he had so +long ridden rough-shod over. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, the afternoon is getting on, and supper-time will be around +before long; so, for one, I'm going to head for home," observed K. K. +</P> + +<P> +There was a general exodus, and the famous fence was soon abandoned by +the entire group of boys. They started off by twos and threes, with +the general drift of conversation circling around the one great +subject—the meeting to be called for Saturday night in the school, at +which the report of the committee would be made, together with an +announcement as to their choice as to candidates to be tried out for +the various positions on the season's team. +</P> + +<P> +Hugh and K. K. walked along in company. Hugh always fancied the +Kinkaid boy, for there was something dependable about him that won the +confidence of almost all his mates. K. K. was one of the most +remarkable chaps, who, while engaging in the customary rough and tumble +sports of boys with red blood in their veins, still seemed able to keep +himself always tidy and neat. No one ever knew how he did it, and a +few were wont to call him a "sissy," but K. K. was far from that. Only +one boy attending Scranton High could really come under such a name, +and he was Reggie Van Alstyne, who had always been a veritable dude. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh! I had nearly forgotten an errand my mother commissioned me to do +for her," Hugh suddenly exclaimed. "I'll have to leave you here, K. +K., and turn back." +</P> + +<P> +The other laughed. +</P> + +<P> +"Too much baseball on the brain, I reckon, Hugh," he went on to say; +"but then, with your fetching us that good news, it wasn't to be +wondered that you let such a little thing as an errand for your mother +slip out of your mind. If I can help any, tell me, Hugh." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh! no, I've just got to step in at Madame Pangborn's and ask her +something. My mother is interested in Red Cross work, you know, and +the old Madame has a connection with the French branch of that service. +Most of the material the ladies of Scranton have been getting ready is +sent abroad through the queer old lady, who, they say, once used to +queen it at the court of Louis Napoleon. She's over eighty years of +age now, but quite rich, I've been told. And if you've never been in +her house you'd be interested in seeing how she lives. That wonderful +green parrot of hers can rattle off a whole string of songs and +sayings. It almost gives you the creeps to hear Jocko performing, for +it strikes you as what Andy McGuffey would call uncanny. Well, so +long, K. K. I hope you make the team, all right." +</P> + +<P> +"Same to you, Hugh; but nobody doubts that, for we all think you're +away above all the rest of the Scranton boys as an all-round athlete, +barring none. Some may be able to outdo you in their specialty, but +they're weak in other stunts." +</P> + +<P> +So they parted, K. K. continuing on his way home, while Hugh turned +into a side street, and went whistling along after the manner of a boy +whose mind knew no care. Presently he came to a large house. It was +rather dingy on the outside, but Hugh, who had often been indoors, knew +there was some elegant old mahogany furniture, as well as other +mementoes of the former life of the Madame when she filled a high niche +at the French court, before the republic was inaugurated. +</P> + +<P> +His knock at the door—for instead of an electric bell the lady +insisted on using one of those enormous old silver-plated knockers, +that used to be the fashion fifty or sixty years back—was answered by +a colored woman, who seemed to know the boy, for she smiled pleasantly. +</P> + +<P> +"Yassir, de missus is in," she told him in answer to his question. +"Jes' yo' walk on back to de library, honey, an' dar you'll find her, +sewin' like she always does dese amazin' times. You knows de way, I +reckons, sah." +</P> + +<P> +"I certainly do, Sarah," he assured her as he started along the wide +hall. +</P> + +<P> +When he knocked gently at the library door, he was told to enter, which +Hugh proceeded to do. A very wrinkled and old woman sat in a big +chair. The table was covered with material for all sorts of bandages, +and such things as are urgently needed wherever hideous war is raging. +Hugh noticed that at sight of him Madame Pangborn seemed pleased. He +wondered why, but was not long in learning. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh! I am glad you've dropped in to see me, Hugh," she told him; +"because something very strange has happened, and perhaps you might be +able to advise me. In fact, Hugh, I fear I am being systematically +robbed!" +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap03"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER III +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +HUGH SHOULDERS A HEAVY TASK +</H3> + + +<P> +Hugh hardly knew how to take that astonishing declaration on the part +of the old lady. He remembered that she was very peculiar in some +ways, and the very first thought that flashed into the boy's mind was +to the effect that Madame Pangborn might be getting what some fellows +would, impolitely of course, have called "daffy." +</P> + +<P> +Still her black eyes flashed with all their old-time vigor, and she +appeared to be very much in earnest. More to humor her than anything +else Hugh remarked in a sympathetic voice: +</P> + +<P> +"I'm sorry to hear that, ma'am. Of course if I can do anything for you +I'll be only too glad of the chance. Would you mind telling me about +it?" +</P> + +<P> +"Thank you for your kindness, my son," she went on, eagerly. "You see, +a woman of my age, who has studied human nature for a long time, comes +to know the weaknesses of boys, even while believing in them to the +utmost. At times the temptation may be more than their powers of +resistance can stand, and they are irresistibly impelled to take +something that excites their cupidity. I am prone to believe most of +them find it possible to resist such an inclination. Still, alas! I +have known of occasions where the temptation carried the day. This +seems to be one of them. My heart is feeling very sore over it, too. +I thought at first to speak to Chief Wambold, but somehow I hesitated. +And then it happened precisely as before." +</P> + +<P> +"Do you mean to say you have missed something on two separate +occasions, ma'am?" Hugh hastened to ask, beginning to realize now that +"where there was smoke there must be a fire," and that after all there +was something more in this affair than a mere specter brought into +being through an old lady's whim. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, it has occurred twice, and on each occasion that same boy chanced +to be in my house. Oh! it is too bad, too bad! And he such a quiet +and respectful young chap in the bargain." +</P> + +<P> +"Please tell me more about it, for I can't possibly be of any +assistance to you, Mrs. Pangborn, unless I know the facts," Hugh +continued, his curiosity beginning to rise by jumps. +</P> + +<P> +"The first time," the old lady went on to say, consulting what seemed +to be a diary which she picked up from her overloaded table, "was just +a week ago today. I had been busy as usual, for an additional number +of pieces came in from those kind ladies of Scranton who are helping me +sew for the brave wounded poilus of my country, valiant France. This +lad brought in a package which Mrs. Ackerman had given into his charge. +I remember I chatted with him quite a while, and was interested in all +he said so respectfully; for it happened I had heard a number of +peculiar things in the way of town gossip concerning him and his aged +grandfather." +</P> + +<P> +She paused as if to recover her breath. Hugh, on his part, had started +as though he might have received a sudden shock. Possibly his thoughts +flew instantly toward one particular boy who happened to have an old +grandfather, and about whom there had always been more or less +mysterious comment in the town. +</P> + +<P> +"After he had gone away, letting himself out at my request, so as to +save Sarah from coming up from the kitchen, I had occasion to pass into +the other room, which also opens into the front hall. Something +impelled me to idly count over some souvenir spoons that I have +personally collected from various parts of the world, and each one of +which has a peculiar value for me far, far beyond its pecuniary worth. +</P> + +<P> +"To my surprise and dismay I found that there were only eleven, when +there should have been twelve. I keep them there on a table so as to +show them to some of my kind lady friends, for I am particularly proud +of my collection, and Sarah had only that morning brightened them all +superbly until they glistened. +</P> + +<P> +"So I called her up and asked her if she could remember counting the +spoons at the time she cleaned them. She assured me solemnly that the +entire twelve were in the open case when she placed them on the table +at my orders. +</P> + +<P> +"It remained a puzzle to me for a whole week. I believed, of course, +that Sarah must have unconsciously mislaid a spoon, which would be +found sooner or later. At the same time I remembered the visit of that +lad, who had never been in my house before, and how he might have +glanced into the drawing-room through accident, and seeing my souvenir +spoons, been tempted to purloin one. But every time that terrible +thought flashed into my mind I indignantly refused to harbor it, I love +all boys so much. +</P> + +<P> +"Then again today he came with more work turned in by Mrs. Ackerman, +who had for some reason of her own selected him as her messenger. I +actually forgot all my ugly suspicions in the charm of his manly +conversation, until some time after he had gone, again, at my +suggestion, letting himself out. I hurried into the drawing-room, and +with trembling fingers proceeded to count my spoons. There were but +ten of them left in the open box. Another had strangely vanished!" +</P> + +<P> +Hugh almost gasped, he was so tremendously interested in this thrilling +recital. +</P> + +<P> +"You are certain you did not make any mistake, Mrs. Pangborn?" he +asked, for want of something better to say. +</P> + +<P> +"Please step into the other room and count them for yourself, Hugh," +she quickly told him. "You can use the connecting door if you wish, +instead of passing around by way of the hall." +</P> + +<P> +Hugh came back a minute later. His face was very grave. +</P> + +<P> +"It is just as you told me, ma'am," he remarked, softly, at the same +time shaking his head, as though he could not bring himself to believe +it was as bad as the old lady suspected; that there must be some other +and reasonable explanation for the vanishing of the spoons; surely Owen +Dugdale could not be guilty of such a base theft! +</P> + +<P> +"What can I believe, Hugh?" she almost wailed. "I do not walk in my +sleep, and that colored girl is as honest as your own mother, I feel +positive. Please tell me you will try and find out the answer to this +distressing puzzle." +</P> + +<P> +"I can easily promise you that I will at least do my level best to +learn where your property went, Mrs. Pangborn; and if possible recover +it for you," he hastened to assure her. +</P> + +<P> +"Thank you very much, my son. As soon as I saw you I seemed to feel an +inspiration that Providence had sent you to me in my distress. For it +would break my heart if I were compelled to have that poor, weak boy +arrested, and charged with so grievous a breach of the law. You being +a boy may be able to have a certain amount of influence over him. You +may even induce him to own up to his act, and send me back my precious +spoons. The ones taken by some accident are the very ones I value +most." +</P> + +<P> +"While I give you my promise willingly enough, ma'am," Hugh went on to +say deliberately, "I want to add that I can't believe it possible Owen +Dugdale could be so small and mean as to yield to an impulse, and take +anything that belonged to another." +</P> + +<P> +"That is splendid of you, Hugh!" she cried, her black eyes sparkling +with genuine admiration. "I love a boy who has faith in his fellows, +and thinks the best of them, no matter how circumstantial evidence may +seem to blacken their characters. And my son, if only you can find an +explanation of this puzzle that will exonerate your young companion, I +shall be very happy indeed. A great load will have been removed from +my poor old heart. I would rather lose the entire twelve spoons than +learn that Owen Dugdale were guilty." +</P> + +<P> +"Then you will not say a word of this to any one," he continued, +"particularly Chief Wambold, who everybody knows has a great itching to +shine as a wonderful sleuth, but makes himself only ridiculous whenever +he tries to unearth any uncommon happening?" +</P> + +<P> +"I gladly give you my promise to keep silent, Hugh," she assured him, +holding out her withered hand, resplendant with lovely gems, diamonds, +rubies and pearls, for like most French women, the Madame was more than +commonly fond of jewelry. "And from what you say, as well as your +mentioning the boy's name before I spoke it, I assume that you know +Owen Dugdale?" +</P> + +<P> +"I have latterly become greatly interested in him, ma'am, and we have +been much together," he told her simply. "Since I pride myself on +being something of a reader of human nature, I feel almost certain that +there must be a great mistake somewhere; and that when the truth is +discovered, you and I will laugh, and say it was ridiculous for us to +even think Owen could have taken the spoons!" +</P> + +<P> +The old lady's eyes glistened as she heard these brave words. Standing +up for a friend was one of Hugh Morgan's leading traits; and yet, if +the truth were known, he did not feel <I>quite</I> so positive as his words +would indicate. Things certainly looked dark for the Dugdale boy. +Hugh, when he came to think over the whole matter, was bound to be +smitten with a grave fear lest the worst come to pass. +</P> + +<P> +"Somehow I seem to have unbounded confidence in your ability to +accomplish the impossible, Hugh Morgan," she told him, which words of +praise thrilled him to the heart, for he was, after all, human and a +boy. "Only good words have come to me about you from all those with +whom I converse; for though you may think it odd in an old woman who +never had a son of her own, I have all my life been interested in other +people's children, particularly boys, seven of whom I have had educated +at my expense. Ah! they are either fighting bravely for the life of +France just now, or else filling patriots' graves in the battle +country." +</P> + +<P> +Hugh asked a few more questions that chanced to occur to him. Then he +prepared to take his leave. +</P> + +<P> +"I will think it all over, ma'am," he remarked, as she gave him her +dainty if wrinkled hand to press, "and like as not I'll conjure up some +scheme by which we can prove whether Owen is innocent or guilty. You +see I could be hidden in that room and a trap set, you sending him word +to call for a package you wished him to deliver. Then if he went out +without even looking into the drawing-room, and yet another of your +spoons disappeared, we'd know to a certainty that the trouble lay +inside this house." +</P> + +<P> +"Hugh, you give me fresh hope!" she cried, with her eyes glistening as +though the tears were trying to flow. "Oh! I would almost pray that +something of the sort turned out to be the case, for somehow I have +taken a great interest in Owen Dugdale. I mean later on to find an +opportunity to meet that wonderful grandfather of his, for somehow I +suspect he may turn out to be an exile of note who has taken this means +for hiding his identity. I have known eminent Russians to do that from +fear of the Czar's secret agents." +</P> + +<P> +Hugh could not but remember how some of the people chose to believe old +Mr. Dugdale was keeping in hiding from some far less honorable cause; +but of course he did not say anything about that. He went out of +Madame Pangborn's big house with a sense of having undertaken a great +responsibility; and realizing that an up-hill task lay upon his young +shoulders which might test his utmost abilities to carry through. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap04"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER IV +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +IN FOR A FROLIC +</H3> + + +<P> +The high-school boys and girls of Scranton, like those of most other +communities, delighted in getting up occasional entertainments so dear +to the hearts of young people. A straw-ride late in the summer; it +might be a class-spread under difficult conditions on account of the +envy of the other grades at school; and once in a while a jolly barn +dance was engineered by a committee composed of both sexes. +</P> + +<P> +There was just such a pleasant outing arranged for this same Friday +night. Some of the fellows had made up a party to go out several miles +to where a big barn, as yet empty of the anticipated crop of hay, +offered them excellent facilities for a merry hop. +</P> + +<P> +A trio of darky players had been engaged. The leader was quite famous +through that section of country and had played at such affairs for +years. Everybody for miles around knew Daddy Whitehead and the fiddle +from which he could extract the most enticing music boys and girls had +ever danced to; while his assistants, Mose Coffin and Abe Skinner were +fairly good with the violoncello and oboe, making a good combination +capable of playing up-to-date dances, as well as others known to the +fathers and mothers of the present generation. +</P> + +<P> +These affairs were conducted with a due respect to the proprieties. A +middle-aged lady invariably went along in the carryall to chaperone the +young people, although there was a deal of fun going and coming back +home, as well as on the floor of the great barn, with its many lanterns +to serve in lieu of electric lights. +</P> + +<P> +Hugh was going, of course. He and his best chum, Thad Stevens, had a +pretty fair car in which to transport the two girls whom they had +invited as their partners. These same girls were co-eds with Hugh and +Thad on the weekly paper which Scranton High issued, just as many other +schools do. They were named Sue Barnes and Ivy Middleton. Sue was +Hugh's company, while the dark-haired vivacious Ivy seemed to have a +particular attraction for Thad. +</P> + +<P> +By the way, since Thad has thus far not been introduced to the reader, +it might be a good idea to say a few words about him before going any +further with the exciting events that happened on the Friday night of +the barn hop. +</P> + +<P> +Thad was a quick-tempered lad, in which respect he seemed to differ +radically from Hugh, who somehow managed to keep his under wonderful +control, as though he had long practiced holding it in subjection. +Strangely enough, Thad's folks came of Quaker stock, and "thee" and +"thou" had been familiar words to his young ears. But Thad apparently +had not inherited the peaceful ways of his ancestors, for he had been +in more than a few battles with some of his more pugnacious school +companions, nor did he always come out from these encounters first best. +</P> + +<P> +All the same, Thad was a pretty clever chap, and Hugh had always been +very fond of his chum. They got on wonderfully well together, and +seldom had the least "tiff." +</P> + +<P> +It was Thad who had secured his father's old car for the special +occasion. He turned up at Hugh's house about half-past seven that +evening. It was a calm night, and the moon was just rising in the +east, being a little past her full period. +</P> + +<P> +"Say, this couldn't be improved on any, according to my notion, Thad," +Hugh remarked, as, attracted by the call of the klaxon outside, he +hurried forth, wearing his overcoat, for the night air was quite +chilly, it being still only April. +</P> + +<P> +"A bang-up night for a dance," echoed the enthusiastic Thad; "just cool +enough to keep us from getting overheated. The farmer's wife will make +the coffee, and spread a table for us in her big kitchen, she promised; +and the girls are to provide lots of good things. We're mighty lucky +for once, Hugh." +</P> + +<P> +"How many do you think will be on hand?" asked the other, settling down +alongside the driver. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, ten couple have solemnly promised to attend, barring some +accident; and I reckon there may be several more show up, because we've +done lots of talking about the jolly time we expected to have. I only +hope that Nick Lang and his crowd will have the decency to stay away. +If they show up there's bound to be trouble brewing." +</P> + +<P> +"I'm afraid so," acceded Hugh, seriously, "for Nick is never so happy +as when he's making other folks miserable. But the farmer has a stout +hired man, who will be on deck to keep an eye on our cars, and other +conveyances; so there'll hardly be any tricks attempted with the lines, +taking wheels off buggies, and all such practical jokes, such as those +fellows dearly love to play." +</P> + +<P> +"I heard Owen Dugdale was coming," Thad went on to say, as they started +off, "which is something unusual for him, because up to now we've never +seen him at a hop." +</P> + +<P> +"Now how did you learn that?" laughed Hugh. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh! a little bird told me," replied the other. "Fact is, Hugh, pretty +Peggy Noland told my sister Grace Owen had asked her to be his company +to this hop, and she had accepted, because somehow she always liked +Owen." +</P> + +<P> +"Whew! I wonder now how Nick Lang will feel about that?" ventured +Hugh. "You know Peggy used to have him for her company a number of +times. But I remember how annoyed she looked at the class spread when +he acted so rudely, and made everybody present wish he had stayed at +home." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh! Peggy says she will never, never go anywhere again with that +terrible Nick Lang. She never did like him any too well, and now she +detests him. I only hope Nick isn't mean enough to try to pick on Owen +because Peggy's accepted his offer to take her to the barn hop." +</P> + +<P> +There were so many other things pressing on Hugh's mind just then that +he did not give the matter much attention. Later on, perhaps he might +have it brought forcibly before him, and in a manner bordering on +tragedy in the bargain. +</P> + +<P> +Hugh meant to take Thad into his confidence at the first favorable +opportunity. He knew his chum would never breathe a syllable of what +he told him; and possibly two heads might prove better than one in +solving what promised to be a great enigma. But the time was too short +now to even mention the matter. Perhaps later on as they chanced to +come together between the dances he would find the opening he sought to +confide in Thad. He did excite the other's curiosity, however, by +saying just before they drew up in front of the Barnes' home: +</P> + +<P> +"I've got something queer to tell you, Thad, when I get the chance. +Perhaps it'll come while we're resting between dances. I've undertaken +a pretty big proposition, and I'd like to have you share it with me." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, now, you <I>have</I> got me guessing," chuckled Thad. "What a fellow +you are for undertaking big things. Nothing seems to faize you, Hugh, +Can't you just give me a little clue to feed on till you explain it +all? It's mean to stir me up like that, you know, old fellow." +</P> + +<P> +"All I can tell you now," said Hugh, who had discovered some one +peeping out through the lace curtains at the parlor window, and knew +how anxious Sue must be for him to run up the steps and ring the door +bell, "is that it concerns Owen Dugdale. So just let your +curiosity-mill work on that until I can spin the whole odd yarn." +</P> + +<P> +"Whew! you've twisted me up worse than ever now," he heard Thad +muttering, as he hastened to make for the door, where the eager Sue +awaited him, having seen the car stopping at the curb. +</P> + +<P> +As Ivy lived only a short block away, they speedily had her installed +alongside the chattering Sue in the back seat; though possibly on the +way home the girls might prefer to change partners, as Ivy was heard to +say she just dearly loved to be alongside the chauffeur when out in a +car, because the view was so much better. +</P> + +<P> +On the road they passed several vehicles, all bound in the same +direction. Now it was a slow car that managed to roll along "like an +ice-wagon," as Thad laughingly called out on going ahead. Then again +it was a buggy pulled by a horse; for there were actually a few of +these almost extinct quadrupeds still to be found in some of the family +stables of Scranton. +</P> + +<P> +"Listen! that must be the carryall ahead of us," called out Thad, not +venturing to turn his head when he spoke, because the road was rather +poor, with ditches on either side, while the moon gave rather a poor +light, since it had not yet risen above the haze near the horizon. +</P> + +<P> +Some one aboard was noisily tooting the horn, for some boys seem to be +up to all manner of mischief every hour of the day, and dearly love to +make a noise in the world, even though it rasps on other people's ears +distressingly. +</P> + +<P> +Once they arrived at their destination, they found it a very gay scene. +The barn had been quite prettily decorated by some of the girls who had +come out during the last two afternoons after school to sweep the +floor, and instruct the farmer and his helper just where to hang the +many lanterns they had fetched along. +</P> + +<P> +There was Daddy Whitehead, with his famous fiddle, which he was already +tuning up, so as to be ready to commence operations; while his "band," +consisting of Abe Skinner and Mose Coffin, sat there with huge grins on +their faces, and also an expectant look. They had undoubtedly noted +the huge hampers of eatables that came with each party, and could +anticipate a delightful break in the monotony of sawing away, or +blowing steadily into that oboe instrument. +</P> + +<P> +Chattering girls and boys were soon strewn all about the place. The +farmer and his good wife seemed to be enjoying the picture, since it +must have reminded them of somewhat similar episodes in their own +younger years, when life seemed buoyant, and without any trouble such +as time always brings in its train. +</P> + +<P> +Soon the first dance started, and immediately the floor was covered +with happy couples whirling in the maze of a waltz. More vehicles +arrived, and others joined in the festivities. This continued for two +solid hours, with brief respites to allow both musicians and dancers a +chance to "rest up." +</P> + +<P> +Then some of the girls were called upon to pass into the kitchen of the +farmhouse to start work at getting supper ready; though none of the +boys were allowed to accompany them, being told that they would only +interfere with the work. +</P> + +<P> +It happened that among those who took this duty on themselves were both +Ivy and Sue, so that Hugh and Thad found they were without partners. +They were feeling a bit fatigued in the bargain, and following the +example of several other fellows who were in the same fix, they +strolled outside for a breath of cool air, taking care to pick up their +overcoats, as they were flushed from exercise. +</P> + +<P> +Here Thad demanded that Hugh explain what his strange words meant with +reference to Owen Dugdale. He listened while the other told the story +in low tones; for while they believed themselves alone in the +moonlight, it was always possible that some other fellow might be +loitering close by, and thus overhear what was not intended for his +ears. +</P> + +<P> +Thad of course was deeply interested by what he heard. He, too, +declared that it seemed preposterous to think that Owen could demean +himself so much as to deliberately steal what belonged to the queer old +French madame. At the same time Thad admitted he considered the +circumstantial evidence fairly strong. +</P> + +<P> +"My father's a lawyer, you know, Hugh," he went on to say, "and I've +heard him say circumstantial evidence has hanged many an innocent man. +We ought to go mighty slow about believing Owen guilty without better +proof than his having been in the house on both occasions." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap05"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER V +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +THE TRAGIC AFFAIR ON THE ROAD +</H3> + + +<P> +"Let's walk up the road a bit," suggested Hugh. "It's too cool to sit +here after getting so heated up inside the barn. And Sue told me +they'd be all of a quarter of an hour laying the supper out." +</P> + +<P> +"I'm with you, Hugh. After those cranky dances, it'll do both of us +good to step out in some other way than that silly tango, and monkey +climb. Have you thought up any scheme yet for learning the truth about +Owen?" +</P> + +<P> +"Not yet," came the reply, "though I've several ideas on tap, and may +settle on one soon. It's such a serious affair that I'm afraid to +hurry too fast. Why, if the boy is innocent, as we both seem to +believe, he'd be terribly humiliated if he learned that he had been +under suspicion. I've found out he's quite proud, and that's one +reason he hasn't mingled with the young folks much since coming to our +town. He knows there are strange rumors about his grandfather, and +that some people are even talking about Mr. Dugdale as if they +suspected him of being a notorious crook in hiding." +</P> + +<P> +"Listen! what's all that loud talking ahead there mean?" suddenly +exclaimed Thad. +</P> + +<P> +They both stopped short, and held their breath while listening. +</P> + +<P> +"Would you believe it!" cried Thad, "that was certainly Nick Lang's +gruff voice I heard just then. If that chap's around this region, he's +come out on purpose to kick up some sort of a shindy. It would be just +like his way." +</P> + +<P> +Hugh felt a thrill pass over him. It was as though some innate warning +told him he would sooner or later be mixed up in the mess Nick meant to +start. Somehow, his thoughts instinctively flew to Owen Dugdale, and +he remembered what Thad had remarked earlier in the evening about the +possibility of Nick picking on Owen simply because Peggy Noland chose +to accompany the other to the hop, in preference to accepting Nick for +a partner. +</P> + +<P> +The voices were growing even more boisterous. +</P> + +<P> +"Let's get a move on us, and sprint up that way, Hugh," suggested Thad, +unable to restrain his impatience. +</P> + +<P> +"Might as well," the other grimly told him. +</P> + +<P> +Accordingly, they started to run. All the while they could hear +disputing voices raised in anger and excitement. Apparently, Nick was +aroused, and looking for trouble; when he allowed himself to jump into +this aggressive mood, somebody was liable to feel the weight of his +heavy fist before the end of the affair came. At least such had always +been the case in the past. +</P> + +<P> +Nick was not the only one doing the talking. Hugh thought he several +times caught the sound of a voice that might belong to Owen. Then +there were also others in the heated argument, some of them apparently +egging the pugnacious Nick on, while yet a few more seemed to be trying +to cast oil on troubled waters. +</P> + +<P> +At least Owen was not alone with Nick and his ugly cronies, Hugh +realized, though, after all, that would not count for much. Fellows +like Leon Disney and several others of the same stripe would be only +too well pleased to pair off and attack any other boy who might show a +disposition to interfere with the designs of their leader, the bully of +the town, big blustering Nick Lang. +</P> + +<P> +Faster still did Hugh and Thad run along. They feared lest something +happen before they could arrive on the spot. Both of them were grimly +resolved that they would never stand by and see that overgrown fellow +abuse a smaller boy like Owen. +</P> + +<P> +As they drew nearer, they discovered that Owen was trying to stand up +for his action. He seemed to be declaring that any fellow had a +perfect right to ask a girl to accompany him to a dance, and if she did +not wish to accept she would say so. He was not trying to cut anybody +out, and if Peggy Noland would rather go home with another fellow, +Nick, for instance, she had only to say so. But so long as she gave +him to understand that she preferred to have him for an escort, he did +not mean to be driven away by anybody, no matter if they were twice his +size. +</P> + +<P> +Somehow, when Hugh caught the drift of what Owen was saying, his heart +burned within him, for he realized that the boy was made of the right +kind of stuff. In build and muscular ability he was no match for Nick +Lang; but evidently his courage was equal to any test; and it is that +makes the man, not his physique alone. +</P> + +<P> +"Bully for Owen!" Thad could be heard muttering between his pants as he +raced along; "if that big coward strikes him, he's going to answer to +me for it, no matter what happens." +</P> + +<P> +Now that was just what was passing through Hugh's mind at the same +moment. True, a social hop might be one of the last places in the wide +world for a boy to allow himself to be drawn into a brutal fight; but +if his hand were forced by Nick Lang everything else must be forgotten, +Hugh decided. +</P> + +<P> +Somehow, he felt better after that. He could even think of his mother +without any burning regret and shame, for had she not impressed it upon +his mind years back that no matter how averse a boy may be to entering +a fist fight, when it is in defense of a girl, or a smaller lad, he is +perfectly justified in so doing, putting aside all his scruples, even +his sacred promise to his mother. +</P> + +<P> +Matters were now getting pretty close to the breaking point. They +could hear Nick ranting as to what he ought to do to a fellow who +played him such a trick as to come between him and the girl he had +always taken to hops and singing school. +</P> + +<P> +"Do you know what I got a good mind to do to you, sonny?" he roared, +and doubtless added emphasis to his words by shaking that big fist of +his under Owen's nose. +</P> + +<P> +"I haven't the least idea," replied Owen, steadily enough, considering +that he must surely know sufficient concerning Nick's ways to +understand the danger he was in. "All I say is that I had a perfect +right to ask any girl to come to the hop with me. Since she accepted, +you must look for an explanation from Peggy. I'm sure I don't feel +obliged to ask you whether I can breathe the same air as you do or not. +The country is big enough for both of us, Nick Lang. You go your way, +and I'll go mine." +</P> + +<P> +"I'll go when I'm done with you, and not a minute before," snarled the +other. "So get ready to take your medicine. Mebbe when Peggy sees +your nose all bloody, and one eye closed up, with a black circle coming +around the other, she won't think you so pretty a sight." +</P> + +<P> +"What's going on here?" +</P> + +<P> +It was Hugh who asked this as he and Thad managed to arrive on the +scene, to discover a group of boys standing there on the moonlit road +surrounding the two principals in the heated argument, who were facing +each other so threateningly. +</P> + +<P> +Nick turned his head to take a look. Even in the moonlight, the sudden +grin that came upon his red face was noticeable. Apparently it pleased +him to know that the boy whom he had never thus far been able to coax +into a row with him had arrived on the spot. He must have judged that +this was a piece of double luck, in that he might take revenge upon the +one who had interfered with his pleasure, and at the same time force +Hugh Morgan, who had never been known to engage in any rowdy practices, +to enter into a rough-and-tumble scrap with him. +</P> + +<P> +"Hello! so you're there, are you, Hugh Morgan?" he called out, with a +ring of savage delight in his heavy voice. "Glad you've dropped in +just in time to see me give a good friend of yours a little lesson in +politeness. Here's Owen saying how he thinks it good taste to step in +between a fellow and his best girl. I'm meaning to knock a different +notion into his silly head. Sometimes you have to pound things into +some people, you understand." +</P> + +<P> +"I'd advise you to try nothing of the sort, Nick," said Hugh, steadily. +</P> + +<P> +At that the other laughed aloud. +</P> + +<P> +"Why, you don't mean to tell me you'd stick in your little oar, Hugh, +and try to teach me a few tricks, do you? I could put you on your back +with one hand behind me. Fellers that are tied to their mother's apron +strings ain't apt to know a heap about how to take care of themselves +in a stand-up fight. Mebbe now you're meaning all of you to pick on +me? Well, I've got a few nervy pals hangin' around who'd like nothing +better than to have you try that game." +</P> + +<P> +Owen had not attempted to escape while Nick's attention was thus taken +up with the newcomers, though possibly he might have been forgiven had +he done so, considering all the conditions. But evidently Owen had +plenty of nerve, even though he might be lacking in brawn equal to the +bully's larger figure. +</P> + +<P> +Nick now turned again upon the other. His gestures became even more +offensive, as though despite Hugh's grave warning, he meant to attack +Owen, come what might, and give him the drubbing which according to +his, Nick's light, was long overdue. +</P> + +<P> +Suddenly, without the least warning, his fist shot out. Owen +apparently was not expecting such a cowardly blow, and hence must have +been taken unawares. The consequence was that the blow landed on the +side of his head when he tried instinctively to duck. It sounded +horribly suggestive, and made Hugh's blood fairly boil as anger swept +over him in a wild wave. +</P> + +<P> +Owen staggered and fell. Gamely, he attempted to scramble to his +knees, and before Nick could prevent him had even done this, trying to +strike back in return. The boy was furious because of having been +dealt such a foul blow; he would have leaped at the giant just then if +the necessity arose. +</P> + +<P> +Nick was in his element. Scenes like this were so frequent in his life +that he fairly delighted in them, just as another boy less pugilistic +in his nature might glory in taking snap-shot pictures, catching fish, +or camping in the woods. Fighting and Nick Lang were synonymous terms, +it might almost be said. +</P> + +<P> +Sweeping the threatening hand of Owen aside almost contemptuously, Nick +suddenly sent in another swift jolt, such as he knew so well how to +deliver, having taken a few lessons from some reformed prize fighter. +Poor Owen went down again in a pitiful heap. He did not have the +slightest chance against such a master in the art of delivering heavy +blows that could not be parried. As one of the boys who looked on with +staring eyes, too much afraid of the bully to interfere, was heard to +say, it was "like taking candy from the baby for Nick to strike that +boy, unacquainted with the art of self-defense." +</P> + +<P> +This time the boy was really unable to do more than struggle to his +knees. There he knelt trying to recover his breath, and not yet wholly +conquered, though unable to make any further threatening gestures +toward his cruel oppressor. +</P> + +<P> +Hugh had already started to quietly remove both his overcoat and the +under one. These he handed over to Thad for safe-keeping. Nick saw +his actions with keen delight. Apparently, the hope he had entertained +of forcing Hugh Morgan into meeting him in a clean-cut issue, to see +which would prove the better man, was about to be realized. +</P> + +<P> +"It's just got to be done, I see," Hugh was saying, as he faced the +leering victor in the unequal affair just concluded. "You big coward, +I'm going to teach you that there's danger in picking on a boy smaller +than yourself. In other words, you're due for a thrashing you'll never +forget. Now look out for yourself!" +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap06"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER VI +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +MAKING A GOOD JOB OF IT +</H3> + + +<P> +A fight between two boys is not a very pleasant subject with which to +deal. In this particular circumstance there were, however, mitigating +conditions that would almost make it a pleasure to describe the battle. +Hugh was standing up for the rights of the weak, and had only plunged +into the scrimmage when he saw that Nick had treated Owen in a most +cruel manner. +</P> + +<P> +Once he started in and he meant business. There could be no half-way +measures in handling so crafty and unprincipled a customer as the town +bully. He must be carried off his feet with the impetuosity of the +attack; and while still bewildered thoroughly punished. As Hugh had +well said he needed a lasting lesson. Perhaps after this Nick would +think twice before attacking a weaker boy, who might have a friend +capable and willing to take up cudgels in his behalf. +</P> + +<P> +Nick flourished those big fists of his, and commenced to dance +tauntingly around as though meaning to enlist the admiration of his +cronies, who had never yet seen him come out of a battle second-best, +and therefore deemed him invincible. +</P> + +<P> +Hugh leaped at him with fury glowing in his eyes. Some powerful fever +seemed to have utterly overwhelmed the boy. Thad and those others +stared as though they could not believe their vision. Was this +impetuous boy who struck down Nick's guard as though nothing could +restrain his attack, the same Hugh Morgan who on numerous occasions had +been known to arbitrate a dispute, and declare that it was not worth +getting into a temper over? A miracle seemed to have happened. The +sight of Nick's brutal treatment of Owen Dugdale must have transformed +Hugh into a merciless avenger. In that supreme moment he had +constituted himself the champion of all those lads in Scranton who, in +times past, had suffered cruel wrongs at the hands of the sneering +bully. +</P> + +<P> +There was a furious exchange of blows. Nick knew how to fight, but on +this occasion something seemed to go wrong with his customary +programme. Why, when he hit out his hardest, and expected to see his +antagonist reeling back before the blow, to his consternation, it was +cleverly warded off, and the next instant something crashed against his +own face that made a myriad of luminous stars, never indexed in the +galaxy of the heavens, flash before his eyes. +</P> + +<P> +Then Nick was seen to stagger, and fall down. That was perhaps the +first time he had ever taken a dose of his own medicine. How often had +he stood jeeringly over some wretched fellow whom he had sent to grass, +counting him out with monotonous chant, in which the joy of brutal +victory was prominent? +</P> + +<P> +"Get up and try it again!" said a stern voice. "That is only a taste +of what is due you! I hope you have not had enough yet, you cowardly +brute!" +</P> + +<P> +Leon Disney and those two other cronies of Nick's were holding their +breath with dismay. They had never expected to see the time when any +one could knock their boastful leader out in this easy fashion. What +previous opinions they had entertained concerning Hugh Morgan's prowess +must now be reversed. +</P> + +<P> +Stung by this taunt, Nick immediately scrambled to his feet. He seemed +a bit what he himself would have termed "groggy," being familiar with +the slang of the prize ring, but in spite of this he leaped wildly at +his enemy. +</P> + +<P> +Thad Stevens feared for his chum when he saw the fury of this attack; +but he need not have worried. Hugh was able to look out for himself. +Although those boys had never known him to take part in a single +encounter, Hugh had apparently made a study of the art of self-defense. +There can be no harm in knowing <I>how</I> to fight, if one is resolved +never to indulge in the game save as a very last resort. And whatever +reason it was by which Hugh had bound himself up to the present, +apparently the time had arrived when he could break his promise with +honor. +</P> + +<P> +There was another brief struggle, exceedingly brief, to tell the truth. +Then, for the second time, Nick, the boss of all juvenile Scranton up +to this amazing hour, was thrown heavily to the ground, on which he +landed with a terrible crash. +</P> + +<P> +"That's two for you!" said Hugh, in a hissing voice, as though he might +be speaking between his set teeth. "Now, if you're able get up again, +and give me a chance to finish my job, of which I'm already sick." +</P> + +<P> +Nick was not yet defeated, though it took him longer to rise this time +than before. He was wary, too, and plainly disliked the idea of coming +in contact with those sturdy arms of Hugh Morgan. Seeing that Nick did +not mean to attack him, but had commenced to say harsh things in the +endeavor to force his rival to assume the aggressive, in hopes that the +advantage would fall to his share, Hugh lost no time in obliging him. +</P> + +<P> +Vain were Nick's most desperate efforts to ward off the inevitable. +Hugh had decided to finish the bout with this third round, and the way +he pummeled staggering Nick almost dazed Leon Disney and those other +fellows, staring as though in the throes of a nightmare. +</P> + +<P> +When for the third time clumsy Nick went down heavily before the attack +of the aroused Hugh, he refused to make the least effort to get on his +feet. Evidently Nick was a wise boy in one sense; he knew when he had +had enough of an unpleasant thing. +</P> + +<P> +"Are you through?" demanded Hugh, sternly. "If you say the word I'll +have some of your crowd stand you up on your pegs again, so I may knock +you down. While I'm at it I want to make it a thorough job. Have you +had all you want for tonight?" +</P> + +<P> +In deadly fear lest Hugh be tempted to put his threat into execution, +Nick managed to swallow his pride, and mumble that he guessed he must +be out of condition just then, a fact so evident that Thad had to laugh +aloud. +</P> + +<P> +"All right, then," said Hugh, stepping back, for he had been standing +over the fallen boy in a threatening attitude, like a Roman gladiator +who had thrown his rival, and was waiting to see what signal the +emperor gave so as to decide the vanquished man's fate. +</P> + +<P> +He took one look around at Leon and those two other fellows. They +quailed before his fierce glance. +</P> + +<P> +"If any of the rest of you feel like having a try with me while I'm in +the humor, now's your chance! Don't all speak at once, please," said +Hugh, grimly. +</P> + +<P> +When they saw him take a step in their direction, they shrank back. +Although not averse to having a little entertainment of the sort at +times, none of them seemed to particularly fancy being made a scapegoat. +</P> + +<P> +"We're satisfied, Hugh," said Leon, hurriedly. "Nick got trimmed neat +and good. It's been coming to him for a long time, I guess." +</P> + +<P> +There is a saying to the effect that "rats desert a sinking ship"; and +when Nick's hour for defeat arrived, even these hitherto admiring +cronies threatened to turn their backs on him. +</P> + +<P> +Aroused by this taunt, he scrambled to his feet. Nick was a sight +indeed with his face bloody, and one of his eyes giving evidence of +going into mourning. He snarled something at Leon with a degree of his +one-time ferocity, and the other turned back to assist him off the +field. Nick stopped to look back. He made no threat, but the +malevolence in that stare toward Hugh told better than words would have +done what bitterness was in his heart. No town bully is dethroned +without his hating the object of his humiliation. Hugh had better be +on his guard, for every one knew that Nick Lang would never rest until +he had at least tried to even up the score. +</P> + +<P> +Hugh calmly put on his garments again. Thad and the others were +voicing their admiration for his recent gallant deed, but somehow their +praise seemed to grate on the boy's nerves. +</P> + +<P> +"Please don't keep on saying those things, fellows," he begged them, +presently. "I know you mean it in kindness, but I'd rather try and +forget this unpleasant business. I had to break a promise tonight, and +it hurts ten times worse than any of the few cracks Nick got in at me. +But then my mother always told me she would not for worlds have me +stand by and see a bully injure one weaker than himself. I just had to +do it, that's all there is to it. And, Owen, old chap, I'm mighty glad +I happened to be around to give you a helping hand." +</P> + +<P> +Owen Dugdale had watched all this exciting happening with varied +emotions. Each time his detested oppressor had gone crashing to the +earth, he seemed to feel his own injuries less and less. When the +fight was over, and Nick had received such a decided thrashing, Owen +felt like dancing around. He was a boy, every inch of him, with all a +boy's feelings; and Nick had humiliated him dreadfully, as well as +taken a mean advantage over him on account of his superior strength. +</P> + +<P> +"I'm a thousand times obliged to you, Hugh!" cried the grateful Owen, +wringing the other's hand vigorously; "of course this winds up my +evening's pleasure, and I was enjoying myself more than any time in my +whole life." +</P> + +<P> +"Why should it put a stop to your fun?" demanded Hugh. "What if you +have got a bloody nose, and a lump on your forehead. See here how my +knuckles are badly skinned, will you; and I fancy I've something of a +scratch on my right cheek, where he got to me. We'll wash up back of +the farmhouse, you and I, Owen. Of course all the folks will have to +know what's happened; but then we needn't be ashamed of the part we +took in the little circus." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, be a sport, Owen," said Thad, encouragingly. "There isn't a +single girl at the hop but who will sing out 'good!' when they hear +that Nick Lang met his match tonight. And say, Owen, Peggy Noland will +likely clap her hands with joy when she learns of what's happened, and +then be extra nice when she sees how that brute marked you. Sympathy +is akin to love you know, they say, Owen." +</P> + +<P> +Owen had to laugh at this good-natured "joshing," but he allowed +himself to be persuaded to accompany Hugh to the rear of the farmhouse. +Here Thad soon secured a basin, and some warm water, as well as soap +and a towel. The boys performed their ablusions, and in the end made +quite a respectable appearance. +</P> + +<P> +"Why, both of you are all right," said Thad, gaily, after the job had +been completed. "Just think how Nick will look when he shows his face +again. Chances are he'll stick to his house all day Saturday and +Sunday; and when school opens on Monday prepare to listen to a tough +story of how he got up in the night and in the dark ran plumb up +against a half-open door, which would account for his black eye and +swollen face. Oh! I know, because I've spun that yarn myself once." +</P> + +<P> +Supper was announced just then, and the boys trooped in to enjoy the +bountiful spread that had been provided for them. A buzz ran around +the room, and all eyes were fastened on Hugh and Owen in eager +curiosity. Thad thought it up to him to explain what had happened, so +that no one might rest under a misapprehension. And when he briefly +described how Hugh had so thoroughly whipped the hitherto invincible +town bully, every one applauded. It might be noticed also that pretty +Peggy Noland looked at her company with unshed tears in her eyes; and +she was unusually good to Owen the balance of the evening, so that he +had a jolly time of it, taken in all. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap07"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER VII +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CALLED OUT FOR PRACTICE +</H3> + + +<P> +When Monday saw the gathering of boys and girls at school, there were +two subjects that seemed to engross their conversation. One of these +concerned the royally good time enjoyed by those who had been at the +barn hop on Friday evening; and of course the other was connected with +the meeting held in the schoolhouse Saturday night, at which almost +every boy in town had been present, to hear the report of the Athletic +Committee, and learn who the lucky ones were. +</P> + +<P> +Of course four-fifths of the aspirants entertained hopes that lightning +might be so kind as to strike the little rod which each had modestly +erected. There were doubtless burning regrets when the long list had +been finished, many disappointed fellows trying to laugh, and appear as +though they had never wanted the job anyway. +</P> + +<P> +The call had gone forth for every boy selected to appear on the field +immediately after school that same Monday afternoon, for initial +practice. There was considerable speculation as to who would finally +bear off the honors, and make the first string of players. Being a +substitute was as much as some of them had any desire for, for as such +they might share in the glory, and have only a small measure of the +actual work. +</P> + +<P> +When just before school took up, Nick Lang came along, he was the +"cynosure of every eye," as Reggie Van Alstyne was heard to remark in +his elegant way. +</P> + +<P> +Nick had evidently made up his mind to just "grin and stand it." He +could scowl in his old fashion, and thus restrain others from being +"too fresh." These fellows need not begin to imagine themselves all +Hugh Morgans, and they had better leave him alone unless they were +seeking trouble. +</P> + +<P> +Dr. Carmack thought it his duty that morning, at general exercises, to +speak of the meeting which he had attended on Saturday night. +</P> + +<P> +"It was a thoroughly representative meeting of Scranton young people," +he went on to say in his cordial way, which always endeared him to the +students of all the schools under his jurisdiction. "The committee +carried out their business in a commendable manner, and submitted a +list of names of acceptable candidates that in my opinion could not be +excelled. Let every one who is given the opportunity to contest for +the prizes, do his level best; and when later on the nine has been +selected we all hope and believe they will bring great honor to Old +Scranton High." +</P> + +<P> +Of course the good doctor had been told about the little affair on the +road at the time the barn hop was in progress; but he was a wise +pedagogue, and made no mention of it in his address. Nick writhed in +his seat every time he saw the principal look his way, his guilty +conscience causing his fears to rise, with the thought that he might be +further humiliated before the entire school. +</P> + +<P> +But the encounter had taken place far beyond the jurisdiction of the +school rules; and Dr. Carmack was usually satisfied to let his boys +settle these things among themselves. Besides, doubtless, he grimly +concluded that Nick, whose reputation as a universal bully of course he +knew full well, had been pretty well punished already, since his +bruised face and dark-rimmed eye spoke eloquently. +</P> + +<P> +Later on that morning, when Hugh had occasion to go to the office of +the Head on some errand, he met with an unusually warm reception. +</P> + +<P> +"Pardon me for speaking about what I know must be a sore subject with +you, Hugh," remarked the principal, as the boy was about to depart +after concluding his errand. "But I have had a graphic account of that +miserable affair Friday night. Permit me to say that you acted quite +right, and I commend you for it. The boys of Scranton are deeply +indebted to you for punishing a brutal bully. I understand that it has +always been much against your principles to engage in a fight; which +makes your championing the cause of a weaker boy all the more +justifiable." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh! you are giving me far too much credit, Doctor Carmack," said Hugh, +reddening with confusion. "I could hardly claim I had any great +scruples about not engaging in such things that are almost universal +among boys. But years ago I promised my mother never to let my temper +get the better of me; and under no conditions to strike a companion in +anger, unless it was to save myself from a beating, or to whip a bully +who was abusing some one weaker than himself." +</P> + +<P> +"Then you have a very wise mother, Hugh, let me tell you!" declared the +gentleman, who knew boys "like a book," from long association with +thousands of them. "She doubtless had her reasons for asking you to +take that pledge." +</P> + +<P> +"I have never told even my chum, Thad Stevens, what it meant, sir," +said the boy, eagerly, "but I do not mind speaking of it to you." +</P> + +<P> +"Please don't do it, Hugh, if it brings up any memories that you would +rather forget," exclaimed the principal, "though I feel honored by what +you say." +</P> + +<P> +"But I do not mind telling you, sir; indeed, I would rather do so, for +it must seem strange to you that when I can use my fists so well, +apparently, I should all this while have avoided every chance for +trouble with others. The fact of the matter is, Doctor Carmack, that I +am constituted very like my father was; and once upon a time his temper +got the better of him, so that he attacked a man who had insulted him, +and seriously injured him. That man always had a limp through the +remainder of his life. He and my father became good friends, but my +dad could never forgive himself for what he did. He used to say that +it was a mercy he had not actually killed the man in his blind passion. +And after he died, my good mother, seeing that I had just the same +Morgan temper, once I was thoroughly aroused, feared that it might get +me into some dreadful trouble. And so she told me about my father, and +I made her that solemn promise which, until Friday night, had never +been broken." +</P> + +<P> +There was a suspicious moisture in the eyes of the doctor. He squeezed +the hand of Hugh vigorously, as though he could easily love such a +manly boy. +</P> + +<P> +"Of course you told your good mother all about it, Hugh, when you got +home?" he went on to say, with a trace of huskiness in his voice. +</P> + +<P> +"I could not have slept a wink, sir, if I had not gone to her room, and +kneeling beside her bed poured out the whole story. She cried a +little, because, I suppose, it brought back some old memories that had +often saddened her; but she told me again and again I had done exactly +as she would have wished me to. Oh! she is the most sensible mother +any fellow ever had, I assure you, sir." +</P> + +<P> +"And I also believe that you are supremely blessed in that respect, +Hugh," said the gentleman, solemnly. "Be very careful that you never +in all your life do anything to bruise the heart of that noble mother. +I thought it best not to mention anything in connection with the +matter. For one thing I could see you had done your work thoroughly, +and that Nick had already received sufficient punishment. That is all, +Hugh, and I thank you for taking me into your confidence." +</P> + +<P> +When afternoon finally came around, and school was over early, there +was a scramble among the boys, and a great hurrying home to get a bite +to eat, after which, of course, every fellow who had any sort of +baseball uniform would don the same, and show up at the grounds to take +part in the practice. The air seemed surcharged with some electrical +influence. All the talk was along the line of baseball slang. Even +many of the girls were drawn to the spot to watch what went on, for +they had become enthusiasts, and were in prime condition to "root" for +Scranton High when the time came for the first contest on the diamond. +</P> + +<P> +The scene was a busy one, with scores of boys doing various +stunts—knocking flies to those in the field, passing balls with the +vigor of veterans, and chattering like a lot of magpies all the while. +Out of this throng, Mr. Leonard, the athletic instructor, once a +Princeton player of some note, was expecting to bring order, and get +some kind of game started. +</P> + +<P> +Baseball is quite unlike football. In the latter instance, every boy +has to receive an education before he is at all fitted to fill the +position assigned to him. There must be long arduous drills in a dozen +particulars, from bucking the line, and carrying the ball, to making a +flying tackle, or punting. Then the intricate system of signals must +be thoroughly learned, so that instinct takes the place of reason in +the carrying out the play. +</P> + +<P> +But every kid plays baseball from the time he can toddle. By degrees +they keep on improving their game, so that when they arrive at the +dignity of high school freshmen honor, it is only a question of +ability, rather than any necessity as to education in the art of +driving home a runner, or snatching a liner hot from the bat. +</P> + +<P> +So Mr. Leonard anticipated having only to inoculate his bunch with the +proper virus and ambition, after which he could let the drilling do the +rest. +</P> + +<P> +Among others who were out was Nick Lang. There was nothing really +strange about that fact, because Nick would almost rather play ball +than eat; and any boy about whom this can be said must be pretty fond +of the National sport. Nick had always shown considerable knack in +playing, though he was apt to make himself disagreeable, and want to +run things. Possibly this trait might not show so prominently, now +that his conceit had been so heavily bumped in his encounter with Hugh. +Then again, Mr. Leonard was not the only one to let a boy take +advantage of him. He would make sure, if Nick were to get on the nine +through his superior playing, to have a substitute handy capable of +taking his place; and at the first sign of insubordination, it would be +good-by to Nick and farewell to his hopes of playing on the team. +</P> + +<P> +Hugh was surprised not to see Thad Stevens among those present. Thad +had received a summons along with thirty other boys. Hugh guessed it +must be something pretty serious that could keep his chum from turning +up. Perhaps, when he ran home to change his clothes, his mother had +given him an errand to do. Thad was an obedient boy, and although he +may have begrudged the afternoon lost, still there would be plenty of +time to train for his position, if he had the luck to be selected in +the end. +</P> + +<P> +All the time they worked, and afterwards with picked nines played a +short game, Hugh kept on the lookout, but no Thad showed up. This was +so queer that Hugh made up his mind he must drop in at the Stevens +domicile on his way home to supper, and find out what had happened to +keep his chum, who was as enthusiastic as himself over baseball +matters, from coming around for the first test. +</P> + +<P> +More than once that afternoon Hugh received warning words from some of +the other boys concerning Nick Lang. +</P> + +<P> +"He isn't the kind of a fellow to forget and forgive, Hugh, remember," +K. K. went on to say, with a shake of his head. "I've studied the +beast, and I know how he's made up. Right now he glares at you every +time he happens to come near. And if looks could kill, they'd be +conducting your funeral tomorrow, Hugh. He's a tough one, all right, +and you knocked the conceit out of his head when you gave him that +dandy black eye. Be on your guard, Hugh, and never trust Nick Lang; +for he's not only a brute but a treacherous one in the bargain." +</P> + +<P> +But Hugh only laughed on hearing this warning. +</P> + +<P> +"Thank you for what you say, K. K." he told the other. "You make the +fourth fellow to tell me about the same thing. But really, I don't +believe there's as much danger as you seem to believe. Fellows like +Nick are careful not to get struck by lightning twice. The burnt child +dreads the fire, they say. Nick's bark is worse than his bite; and I +think I've drawn the fangs of the wolf, K. K. Thank you again." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap08"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER VIII +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +THAD MAKES A DISCOVERY +</H3> + + +<P> +When Hugh, on his way home, came in sight of the Stevens place, he was +quite surprised to discover his chum Thad seated on one of the low gate +posts, and apparently waiting for him to pass along. +</P> + +<P> +"Why, hello! what does this mean, I'd like to know?" burst out Hugh. +"After being honored with summons to come out and start practice at +baseball, you run home to get on your togs and then forget all about +it. But, joking aside, what really did happen to you, Thad, tell me?" +</P> + +<P> +Thad was looking unusually serious, Hugh thought. Evidently something +quite out of the usual line must have occurred to detain him; and Hugh, +on his part, would not have been a natural boy had he not felt more or +less curiosity concerning its nature. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh! that was only an accident," the other commenced saying. "I +begrudged losing my first chance to get limbered up; but so far as that +goes, there'll be plenty of occasions later on. You see, I had to go +on an important errand for my mother." +</P> + +<P> +"It must have taken you out of town, then," remarked Hugh; "or else +you'd have showed up at the athletic grounds later on." +</P> + +<P> +"The fact of the matter is, I had to run over to Chestnut Hill, which +you know is some ten miles away," explained Thad, as he made room +alongside for his chum. "It was a matter that could not be delayed, so +I didn't even bother running to the field to report to Mr. Leonard. At +that I hoped to breeze along fast enough to fetch me back in time to +have a little turn with the boys; but I counted without considering +that I was dealing with an old car; and sure enough one of the back +tires had to take on a puncture." +</P> + +<P> +"And as you didn't carry an extra tire along, you just had to lay off +and mend the same," chuckled Hugh. "I was afraid that might happen the +other night when on our way to the hop; but we were lucky enough to +escape it. Of course, on the road home, I wouldn't have cared much, +because all the fun was over by then; and the girls would consider it +something of a joke for us to bump along on a flat tire. But I see the +old flivver in by the barn, so you did manage to get it home after all, +eh, Thad?" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh! yes, though I made a beastly mess of my tire-mending, I'm afraid. +I ought to take a few more lessons in that art, because I've always +been weak there. And when I found how late it was after getting here I +concluded not to hustle around to the grounds. I guessed you'd be +cropping up to find out what had become of a certain baseball crank who +had played hookey. So I've been sitting here about ten minutes, I +should judge." +</P> + +<P> +"Is that all?" asked Hugh. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, no, it isn't," snapped Thad, "though I wonder how your sharp +eyes noticed anything peculiar about my manner. There is a lot more to +tell you, Hugh." +</P> + +<P> +"Suppose you get started then, and let's hear of your adventures," the +other went on to say, with kindling interest. "Did any tramp try to +hold you up on the road; or was it necessary for you to stop and help +put out a fire in some farmhouse; like the time both of us had that +pleasure, and received the biggest dinner we ever got away with as a +reward?" +</P> + +<P> +Thad shook his head in the negative. +</P> + +<P> +"If you kept on guessing all day long I don't believe you'd hit the +mark, Hugh. Still, in one sense you're right when you call it an +adventure; though a pretty mild one. I'll tell you about it." +</P> + +<P> +"Wish you would, Thad," grumbled Hugh, pretending to look anxious to +hurry along on his way home. "Playing ball for three hours gives a +fellow a ferocious appetite, you know; and we have chicken pot pie at +our house tonight, which is one of my favorite dishes. So please get a +move on you." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, after I managed to mend my tire, being set on accomplishing the +job if it took me till dark, I started along the road, and presently +drew near town. That was about half an hour ago, I should imagine. I +had just stopped to take another look at the tire, which seemed to be +flattening more or less, when I heard some one calling weakly. When I +turned to look I found that by some accident I had stopped exactly in +front of that queer old place which we've always called the Rookery, +because it looks as if spooks might live there." +</P> + +<P> +As Thad paused to catch his breath, Hugh elevated his eyebrows. +Apparently his interest no longer flagged, for he instinctively guessed +that something unusual must come out of Thad's mention of the strange +old place, where, as he well knew, Owen Dugdale and his eccentric +grandfather lived by themselves. +</P> + +<P> +"When I caught the sound of a voice again," continued Thad, "I was +interested, because I had heard the one word 'help' uttered. Some one +must be in trouble, I told myself; and then all of a sudden I +remembered who lived there. So I started my machine and moved off the +road, to leave it clear for other cars to pass by if any came along. +After that I jumped out and hurried over to the stone wall that, as you +know, surrounds the wild-looking grounds of the place. +</P> + +<P> +"The voice still sounded, and I could see somebody lying on the ground +there. I vaulted the low stone wall, and soon found that it was old +Mr. Dugdale. He seemed glad to see me, though really he didn't know me +from Adam, because I had never had a word with him before. +</P> + +<P> +"While out taking exercise in the grounds he had been suddenly seized +with an acute attack of rheumatism or sciatica in one of his legs, and +had been unable to get back to the house alone. Then seeing me stop +and step out to look at my mended tire, he had called as loud as he +could, to attract my attention, hoping that I'd be kind and neighborly +enough to help him to the house; for as he explained to me his grandson +Owen was off playing ball just then." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," Hugh broke in with, "Owen was on deck, and did splendidly. He +may be able to make the team if he continues to improve. So you, of +course, assisted the old gentleman, as he asked, and got him safely to +his house?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, that's what I did," replied Thad, "and it seemed that his pains +began to leave him once he got to walking. He said it was +characteristic of the disease to come and go suddenly and mysteriously. +When we arrived I had to help him up the steps, for he insisted on my +coming in. Well, to tell you the honest truth, Hugh, I was a little +curious to see what that queer old house did look like inside, and so I +didn't hold back at all. Now, you've likely never been there yourself, +even though you've been getting pretty intimate with Owen lately?" +</P> + +<P> +"Once he asked me to step in, but it happened that I was in a hurry to +get home. I supposed some time or other he would renew the invitation, +but I also remembered that his grandfather was said to be queer, and +averse to meeting strangers; so I've thought nothing about it. Well, +is there anything more coming, or does that end your adventure?" +</P> + +<P> +Thad drew a long breath, and looked sober. +</P> + +<P> +"I only wish it did, that's right, Hugh," he continued, mysteriously. +"Up to then the whole thing hadn't amounted to a row of beans, so far +as giving me a thrill went. But the worst was yet to come." +</P> + +<P> +"Go on, and don't stop so often, Thad," urged Hugh. "I believe you do +it just to tantalize me. What wonderful secret did you discover there? +Is that old house the rendezvous of a nest of counterfeiters, or might +it be where they manufacture moonshine whiskey, like those mountaineers +do down in Georgia?" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh! come, it's nothing like that, Hugh, so don't allow your +imagination to carry you away. I did get something of a shock, though, +and I guess you'll feel the same way when you learn about it. Well, +the old gentleman asked me who I was, and if I knew his grandson Owen, +as well as a lot of other questions. Fact is, Hugh, I rather guess he +must have taken a violent liking for me right on, the spot, for when I +said I must be going two different times, he begged me to stay with him +just a little while longer. +</P> + +<P> +"I knew I would be too late for the ball practice anyhow, and besides I +didn't have on my old suit, because mother had asked me not to wait to +change my clothes. So I sat down again each time, and answered some +more questions. The old gentleman interested me a whole lot in the +bargain, and I soon made up my mind that those silly people who had +been hinting that Old Mr. Dugdale might be that notorious Wall Street +speculator who had such a bad name, and who'd disappeared several years +ago, didn't know what they were talking about. Why, he is a polished +gentleman, and a foreigner at that, I tell you, Hugh. +</P> + +<P> +"He started talking about his grandson. How his wrinkled face lighted +up when I said my chum, Hugh Morgan, had taken a great fancy for Owen, +and that I shared in the same feeling. You could see easily enough +that Mr. Dugdale believes the sun rises and sets in that boy of his. +Nothing would do, finally, but that he should take me to seen the den +Owen had fitted up for himself, because there was plenty of room in the +big house, and every fellow he knew had some kind of a den in which he +could keep his boyish treasures, in the way of foreign postage stamp +albums, photos taken by himself connected with outings he had been on, +college flags and burgees, and well, just such traps as the average boy +liked to see around him when he's out of school, and settling down to +read a favorite book. +</P> + +<P> +"Of course, Hugh, I told him it would be too much for his aching leg, +but he assured me the pain had now all left him; and he wanted to know +if there was anything I could suggest that Owen might have to add to +his comfort while at home studying his lessons or reading. So I went +with him upstairs. Say, it's a real queer house, and must look a whole +lot spooky at night time; because they only burn lamps and candles, for +there's no electricity connection at all, or any gas either, I suppose. +</P> + +<P> +"At the end of a long hall we came to where three steps led down into a +room. It was a bully place, I will say that, with plenty of light from +a lot of small dinky windows that faced on three sides of the room. +Owen had fixed it up in good taste in the bargain. He must have plenty +of spending money, because there were lots of traps around, from a pair +of expensive snow shoes hanging on the wall to a splendid toboggan +tilted up in a corner. +</P> + +<P> +"In fact, Hugh, the place was pretty well filled with boy truck. It +looked cozy to me, and I ought to know something about a boy's den; +haven't I arranged mine seven separate times, until now it's back where +I started? Well, of course, to please the old gentleman, I walked +around, and peeked at things and told him Owen had as fine a loafing +place as any boy in Scranton; which sort of talk seemed to tickle Mr. +Dugdale a heap. +</P> + +<P> +"Then, Hugh, I got my shock, all right. It seemed to grip my heart +just as if an ice-cold hand had been laid on it. You see, in nosing +around I chanced to set eyes on something that lay half hidden among +some papers on a side table. Hugh, you could have knocked me down with +a feather when I saw that it was a souvenir tea spoon, an ornate one at +that, representing some foreign city, I don't know which, for I was too +flustered by my terrible discovery to look close. Now, what do you +think of that?" +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap09"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER IX +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +JUST BETWEEN CHUMS +</H3> + + +<P> +"Oh! I'm sorry to hear that, Thad!" exclaimed Hugh. "Are you dead +certain it was a souvenir spoon you glimpsed? Couldn't you have been +mistaken?" +</P> + +<P> +The other boy shook his head in the negative. +</P> + +<P> +"I sure wish I could say so, Hugh, and that's a fact," he replied; "but +I've got pretty good eyes, and I ought to know what such things look +like, for hasn't my mother been collecting the same for ten years now. +Of course, ours are all of this country, representative of cities and +places she and dad have visited. But this one was different. I'm as +certain as anything that it must have come from some foreign place, +because the style and marking stamped is of no American workmanship." +</P> + +<P> +Evidently, what he had just heard caused Hugh considerable anxiety. It +seemed as though things were getting darker for Owen Dugdale with every +passing day. Even stout-hearted Hugh felt his doubts rising. He +wondered if, after all, he had made a mistake in his judgment of Owen, +and his belief in the boy's honesty. Hugh remembered some of the +things that were being said around town concerning the old man of the +dismal place called the "Rookery." His aversion to meeting people, as +well as other odd traits about him, had caused no end of talk. Some +even said they were not Americans, but foreigners, English possibly. +</P> + +<P> +Altogether Hugh felt considerably exercised. He shut his teeth hard +together, however, and told himself that no matter how many suspicious +circumstances seemed to surround Owen, he would still continue to have +faith in the boy. +</P> + +<P> +"Whenever I think of Owen's clear eyes," he told Thad, "and the way +they look you fair and square in the face, I feel positive that boy +can't be a sneak and a thief. No one with such honest eyes could do +mean things. Such fellows are patterned on a different model nearly +always." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I've believed a good deal as you do myself, Hugh," admitted +Thad. "Just take that Leon Disney, for instance. There's a chap who +never could look straight at any one he was talking to." +</P> + +<P> +"You're right, Thad. He keeps on shifting his eyes up and down all the +while. I've often noticed it about Leon, and made up my mind it was an +uneasy conscience that made him act so." +</P> + +<P> +"Then, after all I've told you, Hugh, you still believe in Owen?" +</P> + +<P> +"I'm going to hold firm until the evidence is all in," said the other. +</P> + +<P> +"You're a good friend, I must say," Thad hastened to observe, a gleam +of honest admiration showing in his eyes. "I only hope you'll stand by +me as well, in case I ever get into any trouble, that's all." +</P> + +<P> +"I'd stand by you to the last ditch, and then some," Hugh told him, +with an affectionate smile; "for we're chums, and what's the use of +having a pal unless he '11 go through thick and thin for you. But I'm +a little surprised about one thing, Thad." +</P> + +<P> +"Do you mean about my actions in that house, Hugh?" +</P> + +<P> +"I should have thought you'd been quick to say something about the +spoon, so as to draw the old gentleman out," continued the other. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh! I didn't dare do such a thing as that, Hugh. It would have been +pretty bold in me, you know." +</P> + +<P> +"There might be ways to do it without seeming rude, Thad. For +instance, what was to hinder you from picking it up and expressing your +admiration for such a thing. Then by using your eyes, you could have +told whether Mr. Dugdale was surprised at seeing the spoon there, or +not. His actions more than anything he might say would have given you +a pointer, don't you see?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, I can understand that all right, now you've mentioned it, Hugh," +chuckled the other. "It's so easy to grip a thing after some one has +shown you how. Remember those envious Spanish courtiers who tried to +take Columbus down a peg by saying it was a simple thing to discover +America, since all you had to do was to set sail, and heading into the +west keep going on till you bumped up against the islands that at that +time they thought were the East Indies. Then, you remember, Columbus +asked them to stand an egg on end, which they tried and tried without +success, until he gently cracked one end, and it stood up all right. +Oh! yes, I can see now I might have done a lot of things that didn't +happen to occur to me just then." +</P> + +<P> +"I'm sorry you let such a good chance slip by without nailing it," said +Hugh. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, it might happen," added Thad, as though an idea had come into +his brain like an electric flash, "that another opportunity will come +along, and if it does, I give you my word I'll learn something worth +while." +</P> + +<P> +"How did you like the old gentleman," continued Hugh; "and after +meeting him, do you take any stock in the stories that have been +floating around town about his being the clever rascal who disappeared +from Wall Street two years ago?" +</P> + +<P> +"Why, he seemed very pleasant, so far as I could see," replied Thad, +slowly. "Course I don't pretend to be a smart enough reader of human +nature to say positively that old Mr. Dugdale is all to the good; but +he is well read, and I seemed to see what looked like a twinkle in the +corners of his eyes as though he might have a fair sense of humor in +his make-up." +</P> + +<P> +"He liked you, too, didn't he, Thad?" continued Hugh. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, to be honest with you, I really believe the old gentleman did +act a little that way. Perhaps, it was because he'd heard Owen mention +my name as one of his few friends; and Mr. Dugdale was wanting to show +how pleased he felt to know me. Yes, he acted as if he would like to +see me again; in fact, he asked me to come in some time, and visit Owen +in his den, for the boy often seemed lonely, he told me." +</P> + +<P> +"Poor Owen! let's hope this will all come out right in the end, then," +Hugh finally said, as though his own mind was made up not to allow the +latest discovery to influence him against the Dugdale boy. +</P> + +<P> +"But we've got to admit," added the other, seriously, "that it adds to +the tangle a heap, and makes it look worse than before. However, I'll +try and learn a thing or two. Give me a little, time to get my slow +wits working, Hugh; and I may have more news for you. All the same, it +wouldn't surprise me if you took a spurt and came in across the line +ahead of me." +</P> + +<P> +"Whatever makes you say that?" demanded Hugh. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh! I know you so well, that's all," laughed his chum, giving him a +nudge in the side with his elbow. "I wager the chances are ten to one +you're beginning to turn over a little scheme in your mind right now. +How about that, Hugh?" +</P> + +<P> +"If I am," retorted the other, "I don't intend telling you the first +thing about it until there's some solid foundation for the theory to +rest on." +</P> + +<P> +"Same here," chuckled Thad, with a wink that had a deal of significance +about it, Hugh could see. "Mebbe I've got a whiff of an idea myself +that might turn out worth while; but wild horses couldn't drag a hint +of the same from me so early in the game. So we're quits on that +score, you see, Hugh." +</P> + +<P> +The other jumped down off the wide-topped post, as though he thought he +should be continuing on his way home. +</P> + +<P> +"I must be going, Thad," he remarked. "Supper-time, almost, you know; +and besides I have some chores to do. When a fellow will keep pets the +way I do, he's got to expect to spend some little time looking after +them. I wouldn't want to let any of mine suffer for lack of attention." +</P> + +<P> +"And I wager they never do, Hugh!" declared the other, with his +customary stanch faith in his chum. "You have it fixed so that your +homing pigeons can always get feed from a trough that allows only a +scant ration to come down at a time, your 'lazy boy's self-feeder,' +I've heard you call it. And as for those fine Belgian hares that would +take first prize at any rabbit show, they live on the fat of the land. +Right now you're cultivating a bed of lettuce for them, as well as a +lot of cabbages, and such truck. Oh! no fear of any dumb beast, or +bird going hungry when it has Hugh Morgan for an owner." +</P> + +<P> +"Thank you for the neat compliment, Thad," said Hugh, the glow in his +eyes telling how much he appreciated such honest praise. "I may have +my faults, like every boy has, but being cruel to or neglectful of +little creatures that are in my keeping isn't one of them. I'd hate to +think I could let a poor rabbit go hungry. I'd get out of bed in the +middle of the night, cold as it might be, and go out to my hutch, if I +got an idea in my head that I'd left a window open that might allow a +draught to blow in on the poor things." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I don't take to pets the same as you do, Hugh, but all the same +I can understand how you feel about them. It's the right way, to, and +no boy with any heart in him could be mean to helpless little animals. +I warrant you I know one fellow in Scranton who wouldn't get out of his +warm bed for any pet that ever lived." +</P> + +<P> +"I suppose you're meaning Nick Lang," remarked Hugh. "Well, I don't +know. To tell you the truth, that boy is a mystery to me. Sometimes I +think that, bad as he seems to be, Nick isn't quite all yellow; that +there's a little streak of white in his make-up." +</P> + +<P> +"Why, you surprise me, Hugh, when I hear you say that, and after all +you've seen of his mean ways, too. Think how he started to beat poor +Owen up that night; yes, and for years back he's been a big bully, +trying to have things his own way, and ruling by might of his fists. +Why, nearly everybody in Scranton believes him to be utterly +irreclaimable. What makes you say such a queer thing?" +</P> + +<P> +"I may be mistaken after all," said Hugh, slowly, "but here's a +singular thing I saw only yesterday. I haven't mentioned it to a +living soul, but it set me to thinking, and wondering whether, after +all, if a big hulking fellow like Nick were given a fair chance to make +good, he mightn't change and astonish the neighborhood. +</P> + +<P> +"I was going along a side street when I got a thrill. There was a +buggy with a frisky horse attached standing in front of a house. The +man had gone inside and very imprudently left his child, a little +fellow of some five years of age, to sit there in the vehicle, not even +bothering to hitch the beast. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, the boy, like most kids would do, had started playing with the +whip; and I saw him give the horse quite a blow. No doubt he was +imitating his father in doing that. The spirited beast started +rearing, and then acted as if about to make a dash down the street. It +would have been putting the child's life in danger, you can easily see. +</P> + +<P> +"I started to run, but never could have made it. Then I saw some one +jump for the horse's head, and have a little tussle with the animal. +It was Nick Lang. He hadn't stopped to think of any danger to himself. +I drew up and watched him. He conquered the beast, fastened him to a +hitching post, and then started to scold the white-faced little boy for +having touched the whip. The bully was showing in his nature, after +all, that splendid exhibition of nerve and quick wit. +</P> + +<P> +"Nick noticed me then, for the first time, and acted confused, as if +caught doing something he would not like folks to know. He shook his +finger in the boy's face again threateningly, gave me a sneering look, +and then stalked along down the street whistling like anything. And, +Thad, the boy who could do a thing like that off-hand can't be quite +<I>all</I> bad, though people oughtn't to be blamed for thinking he is. +So-long, Thad!" +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap10"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER X +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +A VISITOR FROM BELLEVILLE HIGH +</H3> + + +<P> +On the following afternoon, which chanced to be Tuesday, more boys than +before appeared at the recreation grounds for practice. Mr. Leonard +had sent out an urgent call for every one of the numerous candidates to +be on hand, since they expected to organize two nines. They would have +a fierce game, in order that he might have an opportunity to watch the +actions of every aspirant, and get pointers as to his capacity for +filling a gap. +</P> + +<P> +The boys appeared in all sorts of suits, some even hunting up football +togs because they had no others handy, and felt that they must make +some sort of a show at appearing in uniform. +</P> + +<P> +But the suits would be ready on time, for a local tailor had agreed to +make as many as were needed of various sizes, and to have them done +with a rush. Already Mr. Leonard, being furnished with ample funds, +had ordered bats and balls, bases, and all manner of necessary adjuncts +that go with a well-organized baseball team. Meanwhile, they must make +a virtue of necessity, and do the best they could with the stock in +hand. +</P> + +<P> +After some knocking of balls, and catching of flies, the boys were +tooled off in two fairly matched nines, and a game was started. They +had just got well along in this, when Thad, who was sitting on a bench +alongside Hugh, it being their turn at bat, suddenly remarked: +</P> + +<P> +"Hello! we're going to be spied on, it seems, Hugh; for notice that +chap coming along on his motorcycle, will you? Don't you know who he +is, just because he's wearing a pair of big goggles, and has his cap +pulled down over his forehead? Why, that's a Belleville boy named +Oliver Kramer. They call him O. K. for short; and I kind of guess it +stands for his character pretty well, because he's straight. I'm a +little surprised to see <I>him</I> nosing around here today, trying to find +out what sort of crowd Scranton High can put in the field." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh! there's nothing queer about that, Thad," Hugh remonstrated, +quickly. "You can easily see it stands to reason those fellows over in +Belleville are anxious to get a line on what we expect to do, so as to +know just how much push they ought to put in their own work. He isn't +trying to spy things out, or he wouldn't come up so boldly. See, +there, he's starting to speak to Mr. Leonard now, and the old Princeton +athlete is shaking hands with him. Like as not O. K. has a dad who +used to be a college-mate of Mr. Leonard." +</P> + +<P> +Hugh himself, followed by Thad, walked that way. Hugh had been told by +Mr. Leonard that he was to be the field captain of the Scranton High +team. In fact, that seemed to be taken for granted by all the boys, +who were very well satisfied to have such a general favorite and +all-round good athlete for a leader. Consequently, Mr. Leonard had +caught Hugh's eye, and made a beckoning motion with his hand, evidently +wishing him to meet the Belleville boy. +</P> + +<P> +But the two had run across one another on several previous occasions, +it happened. Hugh shook hands with O. K. cordially, as did also Thad. +The latter was already ashamed of having entertained such thoughts in +connection with this friendly visit of the owner of the motorcycle, +whom he had always known to be a fine chap. +</P> + +<P> +"Our fellows are practicing this afternoon, just as your crowd is, +Captain Morgan," O. K. was saying. "I would have been with them, only +yesterday I happened to hurt a finger a bit, for you see I'm the +catcher of our nine, and it was thought best for me to lay off a few +days so as to let it mend." +</P> + +<P> +"And you dropped over to see if we were making any headway, I suppose?" +remarked Hugh, while Mr. Leonard went off to resume his duties, anxious +to see every play that came along; for he would not have much time to +decide on the line-up of the team, which must afterwards get all the +practice possible, in order to do Scranton High justice. +</P> + +<P> +O. K. laughed good-naturedly. +</P> + +<P> +"I hope, now, you won't suspect me of being a spy, and trying to pick +up pointers which might serve us later on in a hotly contested game," +he went on to say. "Fact is, I'm so much of a baseball crank that I +live and move and have my being in the great game. I came over hoping +to find you'd made a bully good start, because we Belleville boys want +your strongest team to face us a week from next Saturday. We expect to +win the game, that goes without saying, but none of us will be +satisfied to have a regular walkover of it." +</P> + +<P> +"Make your mind easy on that score, O. K.," snapped Thad, aggressively. +"We expect to have a lot of hard-hitting and splendid fielding boys on +the diamond, who will be out for blood. If you get the better of +Scranton High, you'll deserve all the praise you receive; and we'll be +the first to give you a cheer." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I'm beginning to believe a little that way myself," admitted O. +K. in his frank way, as Nick Lang knocked out a screamer that went far +over the head of the center fielder. "That chap is a born batter. I +reckon, now, he must be your best card in the pack." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh! we've got a few others who can meet the ball," advised Thad, +proudly. "Watch that throwin', will you? Mighty few fellows could +send the ball all the way from deep center to the home plate, as +straight as a die. That kid's name is Sandy Dowd. You may not be so +glad to see him work later on, O. K. Just warn your sluggers they +needn't expect any home-runs if they put the ball out in center." +</P> + +<P> +They stood there and watched for some little time. Occasionally the +boy from Belleville would make some remark. His eyes sought the agile +figure of the athletic instructor from time to time. +</P> + +<P> +"One thing you Scranton fellows are lucky in, which is, having such a +splendid coach as Mr. Leonard. Why, he used to go to Princeton with my +dad, as I only learned a day or so ago. He's coming over to take +dinner with us next Sunday. Let me tell you, he's some peach of a +physical director. Dad says he was one of the most popular fellows in +college, and that as a half-back on the gridiron, he made a reputation +second to none." +</P> + +<P> +Hugh and Thad looked especially pleased to hear this outside praise of +the man for whom they themselves had come to entertain the utmost +respect and admiration. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," said Hugh, warmly, "we expect that if Scranton has any show in +the games that are to be played in the Three-town League this season, +most of the credit will lie at the door of Mr. Leonard. He seems to be +a wonder at getting a boy to bring out every atom of energy and vim +that lies in him. Only Nick Lang acts surly under him. That's the big +fellow who made that three-bagger a while ago. He's the bully of the +town." +</P> + +<P> +"Used to be, you mean, Hugh, up to the time—" began Thad, when the +other shook his head at him discouragingly. +</P> + +<P> +"None of that now, if you please, Thad. We want to forget bygones, and +only remember that we're in the baseball world these days. There, Eli +hit the ball a good hard smack, but it went straight at the short-stop, +who handled it neatly for an out. Our turn out in the field now, Thad. +Glad to have seen you, O. K. Carry a message back home to Belleville +for me, will you? Tell your fellows Scranton High has found herself at +last, in the world of sports, and is primed to give both Belleville and +Allandale a hard tussle for the prize." +</P> + +<P> +"I'll tell them that with pleasure, Captain Morgan," replied the other, +"and add a few remarks of my own about what I have seen of your +hustling crowd over here. May the best nine win, and the contests +leave no after bitter sting. If we can't get the prize, we'd be glad +to see you fellows beat Allandale, because they'd be unbearable if they +won two years running." +</P> + +<P> +O. K. soon afterwards mounted his motorcycle and went spinning along +the road like a streak, leaving a cloud of dust behind him, also an +odor of gasoline. The practice game continued with varying fortunes. +In fact, it mattered very little which side won, as various pitchers +were being tried out under the eagle eye of Mr. Lawrence; his principal +object being to form an opinion as to the respective merits of the many +players. +</P> + +<P> +When another afternoon they met again, doubtless Mr. Lawrence would +have decided to eliminate several of the players as utterly beyond hope +of ever making the regular nine. So by degrees he would decide who was +best fitted for each and every position, with a number of able +substitutes, who could be called on should there be any change +necessary during a game, from injury, or because a certain player +failed to do what was expected of him. +</P> + +<P> +After the game had come to an end, and the crowd commenced to separate, +as usual, Hugh and Thad started to walk home together. They overtook +Owen Dugdale and hastened to join him. Both boys doubtless had a +little thrill just then, remembering how often the other had been in +their thoughts lately. +</P> + +<P> +Owen seemed to be in great spirits. +</P> + +<P> +"I never knew that I had it in me to become so fond of baseball as I +seem to be doing right now," he told them. "Of course I played a +little at several kinds of games like cricket, and since coming here to +Scranton I've been knocking flies for some of the boys, and playing in +scrub games. But now I enjoy it ever so much, though, of course, I +don't dream that I'll have the good luck to be selected for the team, +when there are so many who know more about the game than I do." +</P> + +<P> +"You can safely leave all that to Mr. Leonard, Owen," said Hugh. "I've +been keeping tabs on your play at short, and honestly, I want to say, +you're doing mighty well. I heard Mr. Leonard say so, too. While you +may not be picked for that position, there's a likelihood that you will +be held as a substitute. Only practice your batting all you can, Owen; +that's your weakest point. I'll show you a wrinkle about bunting that +may help you a lot." +</P> + +<P> +"Thank you, Hugh, ever so much!" exclaimed the other, his fine eyes +glowing with gratitude. "You've always been mighty kind to me, for a +fact. Was that boy on the motorcycle one of the Belleville fellows? I +thought I heard Otto Brand say so." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," replied Hugh, "his name is Oliver Kramer, thought they call him +just O. K., as we dubbed our comrade K. K. for short. He hurt his +hand, and is laid off for a spell, because he is the catcher of the +Belleville High team, you see. O. K. is a fine chap. He ran over here +to see what we were doing, and to warn us we'd have to get a hustle on +if we hoped to have even a look-in, because Allandale is working like +anything, while Belleville means to do her best this year." +</P> + +<P> +"Belleville had better get a move on," suggested Thad, caustically, +"unless she wants to share the fate of poor old Lawrence. Both teams +beat Lawrence so badly last season that her club disbanded, for the +fellows started to squabbling among themselves, which of course ruins +any organization going." +</P> + +<P> +So, chatting as they walked along, the three boys finally parted at a +corner where their several ways led in different directions. Hugh +glanced back over his shoulder once in the direction of the receding +figure of Owen Dugdale. What was in his mind just then it might be +hard to say; but at least the expression on his face would indicate +that his former confidence in the Dugdale boy had not yet been +extinguished. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap11"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XI +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +HUGH'S PETS IN DANGER +</H3> + + +<P> +"Rotten luck, Hugh, to have that practice game called off this +afternoon just because it rained a little. The ground wasn't drenched +very much, and we could have done some work, anyhow. But it's too late +now." +</P> + +<P> +Thad was on the way home from school on Wednesday afternoon when he +said this. He had hastened and overtaken the other a block or so away +from the campus. Already the rain had stopped. Mr. Leonard, however, +had sent word around that there would be no baseball practice that day; +but for every one to be on hand Thursday P. M., as no excuses would be +taken for absence, when every day counted so much now. +</P> + +<P> +"Hold on, please, Hugh and Thad!" called some one from the rear; and +looking back they discovered a lame boy called Limpy Wallace, who +always carried a crutch and had to twist his body in a curious fashion +when he wished to make speed. +</P> + +<P> +Limpy could get over ground wonderfully well, considering the +difficulties under which he labored. More than once he had been held +up by Doctor Carmack to the other boys at Scranton High as a rebuke for +their laziness. If a fellow who had so much to contend with could +always appear so satisfied, and manage to get along as well as he did, +they ought to be ashamed to dawdle, and waste time when they had all +their faculties intact. +</P> + +<P> +Limpy Wallace was a constant and consistent admirer of Hugh Morgan. In +fact, he might be said to fairly worship the other boy, who had always +treated him most kindly, and seemed to sympathize with his having been +cheated by a cruel Fate out of the ordinary pleasures connected with +the average boy's life. Limpy Wallace would have gone far out of his +way to do Hugh a favor. He now came bounding along, with his crutch +making rapid jumps, and apparently every muscle in his poor distorted +body in action. +</P> + +<P> +But his thin face was lighted up with eagerness. Evidently, it was no +ordinary motive that had caused the lame boy to exert himself so +earnestly in order to overtake the two chums. +</P> + +<P> +"I've got something to tell you, Hugh," he panted, for he was almost +out of breath, owing to his exertions; an ordinary boy might have run +over that same stretch without showing it much, but it must have been a +strenuous undertaking for the cripple. +</P> + +<P> +"Glad to hear it," laughed Hugh. "I'm waiting to have some one tell me +that our team is going to wipe up the ground with both Allandale and +Belleville when we come to grips. Is your news of that sort, Limpy?" +</P> + +<P> +Of course he was only joking when he said this. Every one called the +other Limpy, nor did he seem to mind it a particle; indeed, only from +the teachers at school and his folks at home was it likely that he ever +heard his name of Osmond spoken. +</P> + +<P> +"Shucks! it hasn't a thing to do with baseball, or any other outdoor +sport, Hugh," the cripple hastened to say. "Because I heard your name +mentioned plainly I felt that you ought to know what little I managed +to pick up." +</P> + +<P> +"All right, then, Limpy, start ahead, and spin the yarn," said Hugh. +"Has some one been remarking what a poor excuse of an athlete Hugh +Morgan is; and that he ought never to have been given his job as field +captain of the Scranton High baseball team? It's no more than I +expected, Limpy, and my feelings can't be hurt a bit; so don't try to +spare me." +</P> + +<P> +"Listen, then, please, and you, too, Thad, seeing that you're his +chum," began the other, eagerly. "It was just an accident, you +understand, because I never yet was intentionally guilty of trying to +overhear what other fellows were saying. I had been tired out at +recess, and was lying down on that bench, you remember, that stands in +the corner of the grounds. It happens to have a back to it, and I +guess no one could notice me there. The other fellows were walking +around in bunches, and talking to beat the band. All at once I heard +your name spoken, and in an angry voice; so I just raised my head a +little to take a peep. Who should I see standing near by but that big +bully, Nick Lang, and his faithful shadow, Leon Disney." +</P> + +<P> +Thad dug his elbow into Hugh's short ribs as if to emphasize the remark +just made by Limpy Wallace. When two such arch schemers as Nick and +Leon got off by themselves, and were seen to have their heads together, +the chances were there must be some mischief afloat. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, after that I just lay still and listened, because I felt sure +they must be getting up some sort of a game to play even with you, +Hugh, because you gave Nick such a beautiful trouncing the other night, +so I was told. It was hard luck that I could only catch a word now and +then, for some of the boys were calling out to each other; and that +silly clown, Claude Hastings, had begun to sing one of his comic songs, +while he capered around like a baboon. But I did hear Nick say the +words: 'Get even,' 'show him who's who in this burgh,' and 'Belgian +hares.' Do they put you wise to anything, Hugh?" +</P> + +<P> +"I should say they did, Limpy!" ejaculated the impetuous Thad, even +before Hugh could speak the first word in reply. "Why, who's got prize +Belgian hares in Scranton but Hugh Morgan? Now, that cunning old +schemer, Nick Lang, knows how much Hugh thinks of his pets, and the +chances are ten to one he's hatched up a scheme to steal or kill every +lasting one of the rabbits. It would be just like him. Hugh, of +course you'll be forewarned, and take the necessary precautions to nip +his little plot in the bud." +</P> + +<P> +Hugh himself looked serious. A slight frown could be seen on his +usually calm and reposeful face. +</P> + +<P> +"I could stand almost any attempted injury to myself a lot better than +having my poor dumb pets made the object of revenge," he went on to +say, soberly. "Limpy, this is certainly news you've brought me. I'm a +thousand times obliged to you for taking the trouble." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh! not at all, Hugh. Why, there's nothing I wouldn't do to help pay +back all your kindness to me in the past. Some people think a lame boy +has no feelings, but you've never considered it so; you've always acted +as if you felt mighty sorry for a boy so badly afflicted. And I can +never forget how you shamed Pete Garinger into begging my pardon for +something mean he threw at me. All I hope is that you catch those curs +in the act, and give them what they deserve, if they really try to hurt +your poor little pets." +</P> + +<P> +"Make your mind easy on that score, Limpy," asserted Thad, with his +accustomed show of confidence, "we'll fix a trap to get the sneaks, +should they call in the dead of night. They'll think they've run up +against a threshing machine, all right, when Hugh and myself start in +to maul them." +</P> + +<P> +"Suppose you come over later in the afternoon, Thad," suggested Hugh, +as they arrived at their customary parting spot. "Meanwhile, I'll take +a look at my rabbit hutch, and try to figure just how we can turn the +tables on Nick and Leon, if they should pay me a visit tonight." +</P> + +<P> +"Make it as severe as you can, Hugh," begged Thad; "nothing could be +too hard for a pair of miserable schemers who, to get even with a +fellow they dare not face openly any longer, would creep into his +rabbit house like thieves in the night, and either steal his property, +or injure it so that there'd be no chance to exhibit the hares in a +show." +</P> + +<P> +"See you later on, and we can tell better then," was all Hugh said, for +if he had any idea simmering in his brain just then, he did not care to +mention it until he had found a chance to "look around," as he termed +it. +</P> + +<P> +"I'll be across inside of half an hour, you can bet on that!" called +out Thad, as he hurried away. +</P> + +<P> +He was as good as his word. Indeed, Hugh had hardly started to make +his investigation of the premises before he heard his chum come through +the gate, slamming it after him. +</P> + +<P> +There was an outbuilding back of the barn, which had been intended for +a storage house of some sort, but not used by the present occupants of +the premises. This Hugh had commandeered, and fitted to his purpose. +The upper part he had made into a pretty fine loft for his fancy homing +pigeons. When the first of his pedigreed youngsters arrived at the +flying stage, he meant to have considerable fun taking them ten or +twenty miles away, and then letting them loose, in the expectation of +finding them at home when he got back. After that, it would be longer +flights until he could learn whether he had any record breakers in his +flock. +</P> + +<P> +In the lower part of the building, Hugh had his long-eared Belgian +hares. There was now quite a family of them, what with the old ones, +and seven strapping youngsters. Hugh took great pleasure in watching +his pets, and figuring out how he could improve on their quarters, so +as to make them more comfortable in every way. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, have you struck any promising scheme yet, Hugh?" demanded Thad, +as he breezed into the hutch, seeming to guess that he would find his +chum there, and not in the house. +</P> + +<P> +"I've just been fixing things in my mind," returned Hugh, quietly, "and +trying to determine how any intruder would expect to get in here. Why, +up to now such a thing as having my hares stolen never once occurred to +me. Really I'm surprised to find what confidence I've been placing in +all Scranton; when there have been bad eggs among the boys from away +back. Do you know I've never had a fastening on this window here, not +even a stick to hold the lower sash down. It's about time I woke up +and insured the safety of the poor things." +</P> + +<P> +"But you do lock the door every night," interjected Thad; "because +I've seen you do that same thing." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh! just as a matter of form," confessed the other, "for I've never +dreamed it was necessary. Any fellow could have climbed in by that +window of a night, if he'd chosen to." +</P> + +<P> +"Do you suppose, Hugh, that Nick Lang knows about that unguarded +window'?" +</P> + +<P> +"I was figuring that out," mused Hugh, "and, really, I believe he does. +I'll tell you what I base that supposition on. Some time ago, a fellow +came to see me, and tried to buy a pair of my hares; but his figures +and mine didn't agree, and so we failed to make a bargain. But I +showed him my place here, and he examined it all through. I even can +remember that he gave the window a little upward push, speaking at the +time of the necessity for all pets to have plenty of pure air, or their +dens would become foul smelling. That boy was Tip Slavin, and I +understand that he's pretty thick with Nick and Leon. They must have +heard about his visit here, and pumped him dry. So if they do make me +a night visit, depend on it this window will figure big in their +calculations." +</P> + +<P> +Thad chuckled as though pleased. +</P> + +<P> +"That makes it simple, then, Hugh," he went on to say, exultantly, "for +with such a thing settled, it ought to be easy for us to hatch up some +scheme to play hob with their plan of campaign. It'd just about serve +the sneaks right if we set a spring-gun trap that'd give them a dose of +fine bird-shot; but then I don't suppose you'd want to go quite as far +as that. Look here, Hugh, I believe right now, you've already settled +on some sort of surprise for those fellows when they come snooping +around here. If that's a fact, you're going to up and explain its +workings to your best chum, ain't you?" +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap12"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XII +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +THE TRAP +</H3> + + +<P> +Hugh heard his chum through, and then quietly went on to say: +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, I have got a little plan that ought to teach them a lesson, and +cool off their ardor a bit. In the first place, we can easily rig up a +small platform just above this window here. I've got several +stanchions and a board. It wouldn't take us more than half an hour to +complete it, I reckon. But we must make it extra strong, you know." +</P> + +<P> +"But I don't know," pleaded Thad, helplessly. "Why should this lovely +little shelf up there be so strong? Are we going to perch on it, and +drop down on top of the night birds after they let themselves in? Is +that the game, Hugh?" +</P> + +<P> +"Not quite, Thad. It's the tub that must balance up there!" +</P> + +<P> +"Tub! Great Scott! are you figuring on giving Nick and Leon their +usual Saturday night bath?" gasped the other, still groping in the dark. +</P> + +<P> +"Something like that," chuckled Hugh, "only it will be <I>such</I> a +surprise to those chaps, and cold, too, ugh! as cold as ice can make +it." +</P> + +<P> +"Go ahead and explain a lot more," Thad demanded. "I'm beginning to +get just an inkling of the game. Whew! I believe you've been reading +of the pranks the fellows play in the boarding schools, with a tub of +water suspended over a door, so that when an unlucky boy opens it he is +drenched to the skin." +</P> + +<P> +"That's about the idea," Hugh acknowledged. "Nothing particularly +brilliant or original about it, I own up, but the best we can do under +the circumstances." +</P> + +<P> +Then he went on to explain the particulars, showing Thad how the tub +could be balanced nicely, so that when a cord attached to it was +jerked, it would tilt over beautifully, discharging its full contents +without itself falling down. +</P> + +<P> +Thad listened, and grunted. Plainly he was a bit disappointed. +</P> + +<P> +"It sounds pretty good, Hugh," he admitted, finally, "and will of +course give the rascals a great scare; but seems to me as if it's +hardly vigorous enough. According to my mind, we ought to make the +punishment fit the crime. When a couple of low-down scamps try to kill +the dumb pets of a fellow who has never gone out of his way to harm +them, and are caught with the goods on, they ought to be treated to a +dozen good wipes with a cowhide whip, something that'll make 'em yell +bloody murder. But just as you say, we can try this dodge, and +discourage them from any more funny business around your coop." +</P> + +<P> +"Then the sooner we start in and get busy, the better," suggested Hugh, +whose motto had always been that of "strike while the iron is hot." +</P> + +<P> +Thad was ready to do his share in any labor, so that presently the +sound of much sawing and hammering oozed out from the rabbit hutch, +where the chums continued to work for nearly an hour. +</P> + +<P> +At the end of that time they had completed the job so far as the +platform over the window was concerned. Hugh had done more than this, +for by cleverly arranged boards he constructed a regular trap; so that +when the boys managed to climb through the window, they would naturally +crouch down directly in range of the coming water-spout. +</P> + +<P> +"There," said Hugh, finally, "that is all done, and I think fills the +bill. I'll go after the galvanized iron wash-tub now." +</P> + +<P> +"Be sure and fetch the biggest one you can," suggested the greedy Thad, +with a sly grin. "You see, we ought to deal generously with our +guests, even if they're uninvited ones. I believe in going the whole +hog when about it." +</P> + +<P> +"Depend on me to do the right thing by Nick and Leon," Hugh assured +him. "When I have visitors drop in on me in this off-hand way, I +always want to be ready to treat them well. But I'm afraid they'll +think our reception committee rather frigid, eh, Thad?" +</P> + +<P> +He soon came back bearing a massive tub that aroused the admiration of +Thad. +</P> + +<P> +"That certainly is a jim-dandy wash-tub!" he declared. "I'm glad now +we made the shelf big enough. I reckon you had the dimensions of this +thing in your mind when doing your measurements, Hugh." +</P> + +<P> +Next they lifted the tub on to the platform above. It could be readily +balanced on the edge so that a very slight pull from the cord would +tilt it forward, when the propensity for water to seek its own level +would do the rest. +</P> + +<P> +They tested it a number of times, and it worked splendidly. "When +filled with water, it would only add to the gaiety of things," Thad +said, fervently. +</P> + +<P> +"But where will we be all the time, Hugh?" he now asked. +</P> + +<P> +"I've arranged all that," he was assured. "One of the objects of these +upright boards is to act as a cover for us, as well as to form a trap +for our guests. You see, I happen to know that Leon Disney owns a hand +electric torch like the one you showed me the other day that your uncle +in the city sent out, and which I want you to fetch over when you come +after supper. Just as like as not, he'll use it through the window +before they try to enter, so as to make sure the coast is clear. +That's why I've been so careful not to leave anything around that might +excite suspicion." +</P> + +<P> +"Just so," laughed Thad, merrily, for as he was not going to get an icy +ducking, he felt as though he could afford to be happy; "after fellows +have worked so hard to jimmy their way into the premises of another, +it'd be a shame to discourage their efforts in the beginning. We might +paint a sign 'welcome,' and put it over the window, Hugh, just to let +them know everything is lovely, and the goose hangs high." +</P> + +<P> +"I'll step outside, and take a peep in through the window to find out +how things look," suggested Hugh, which he proceeded to do. +</P> + +<P> +"Nothing to excite anybody's suspicion that I can see," he announced. +"The tub is completely out of sight, just as I expected it would be, +and even the cord connecting it with our hiding place couldn't be +noticed unless you knew all about it beforehand. I guess our work is +done, all but filling the reservoir." +</P> + +<P> +Procuring a bucket, they set to work. One carried and the other +poured, standing on the short step-ladder in order to better reach the +elevated tub. +</P> + +<P> +"There, it's as full as I dare make it," Hugh finally announced. +</P> + +<P> +"And for one, I'm not half sorry," Thad added, "because toting water +isn't altogether fun. That bucket is heavy enough to nearly pull your +arms out of their elbow sockets. You said something about <I>ice</I>, +didn't you, Hugh?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, I had that in mind. After supper, when we come out here to take +up our vigil, I'll get a lot of small chunks from the ice-house and put +it in the water. It'll make it lovely and cold, I warrant you, unless +our guests delay their coming too long." +</P> + +<P> +Nothing more being necessary, the boys adjourned to the house, where in +Hugh's den they talked various matters over with the customary +enthusiasm of live boys. Naturally, these affairs, as a rule, +concerned the athletic happenings just then on the carpet, and +particularly the baseball rivalry about to break out in a series of +hotly contested games between Scranton, Belleville and the formerly +victorious Allandale High team. +</P> + +<P> +Later on, Thad went home to his supper, though Hugh had pressed him to +stay and share his meal, for they were often at each other's table. +</P> + +<P> +"Like to," said Thad, shaking his head, "but it happens I've got a few +things I ought to attend to. Then again there's that hand-torch you +asked me to fetch over with me. Another time will have to do, Hugh." +</P> + +<P> +Hugh laughed scornfully. +</P> + +<P> +"Tell all that to your grandmother, Thad, will you?" he exclaimed. +"Just as if I didn't know that your folks religiously have corned beef +and cabbage every Thursday night, which is a favorite dish with your +dad, likewise with a certain fellow of my acquaintance. Now, <I>we're</I> +only going to have chicken pot-pie at our house, and of course that +doesn't appeal to you like your pet fare. Oh I well, I understand how +things go, and I'll let you off this time. I don't believe you've ever +taken a meal at my house on a Thursday since I've known you." +</P> + +<P> +Thad laughed as though not at all abashed. +</P> + +<P> +"I guess you're on to my weak spot, all right, partner," he hastened to +say in the boldest manner possible. "But really and truly, I have got +some things I want to do, though of course they could be postponed if +absolutely necessary. Some time perhaps you'll be having my plebeian +dish over at your house; then try asking me if you dare." +</P> + +<P> +He turned up about seven o'clock, just after darkness had set in, for +the moon was getting very old now, and a late riser. The two boys sat +in Hugh's den for considerably more than an hour, talking and planning. +Both showed vague signs of nervousness, however. Thad in particular +frequently walked over to a window and looked out. Doubtless he was +thinking what a joke on them it would be if the marauders came much +earlier than expected, when all their fine work with that tub of icy +water would go for naught. +</P> + +<P> +"Hadn't we better be making a start, Hugh?" he finally asked. "Don't +forget we have to handle that ice first, and get things ready." +</P> + +<P> +"All right," the other replied. "We'll make for the rabbit hutch, and +here's hoping that we don't have a long watch all for nothing." +</P> + +<P> +The ice was soon procured. Hugh cracked it in rather small pieces. He +did this for two good reasons. First it would chill the water more +speedily when in this condition; then again the chances of knocking one +of the interlopers on the head with a heavy lump of ice falling quite +some distance would be obviated. Hugh did not intend that this prank +should end in a tragedy, if he could help it. +</P> + +<P> +When everything had been arranged to suit Hugh, the boys retired within +the rabbit hutch, and the door was fastened with the padlock, which +Hugh could undo when the time came by leaning far out of the open +window. +</P> + +<P> +They took up their positions in the place already selected, and wrapped +in complete darkness awaited coming events. The time passed very +slowly, but since they had dressed warmly, they did not suffer from the +chilly air, for it was only April, and the warmth of summer still far +distant. +</P> + +<P> +Nine o'clock struck. Bless that town clock, by means of which they +could tell the hour; for Thad was beginning to believe it much later +than it really was. He yawned, and stretched a bit, shifting his +position. Then Hugh touched him on the arm, and his low whisper came +in Thad's very ear. +</P> + +<P> +"Sh! something stirring outside!" +</P> + +<P> +Thad had heard it, too. Either the night wind had arisen; and was +sighing through the branches of the big oak that hung partly over the +rabbit hutch, or else some living object had moved; for what the boys +heard as they crouched there quivering with suspense and anticipated +victory was certainly in the nature of a creeping sound. +</P> + +<P> +Yes, now there came to the ears of Thad what must be low whispers. +Nick and his fellow conspirator had undoubtedly arrived and were +scanning their contemplated field of operations! +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap13"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XIII +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +A COLD RECEPTION +</H3> + + +<P> +Then the boys in hiding saw a strange glow around them. Undoubtedly +Leon was making use of his electric hand-torch, and both of the +intended raiders must be pressing their noses against the glass of the +small window, trying to form some sort of idea as to what awaited them. +</P> + +<P> +Neither Hugh nor Thad more than breathed. The latter clutched the +stout cord in a firm hand, ready to give the quick jerk when he +believed the proper moment had arrived. +</P> + +<P> +Apparently, the fellows outside must have concluded that everything was +just lovely, for they could now be heard softly opening the window, and +pushing the sash carefully back out of the way. While climbing in +through the opening thus made, they did not wish to thrust a foot +against the glass, and cause a smash that might be their undoing; oh! +trust that shrewd general, Nick Lang, for looking out against any such +accidents; he had been in this business a long time now, and understood +all the ins and outs of it. +</P> + +<P> +More low whispering followed. Evidently, Nick was trying to coax Leon +to climb in first, so that he could light the way with his torch; but +that sly fox held back. It was Nick's special game, and consequently +he should be the one to do the honors of the occasion. +</P> + +<P> +After a little grumbling beyond the open window, Thad and Hugh heard +the soft pad of shoes scraping against the boards. Nick had started to +enter. The yawning aperture, and the apparent lack of any signs of +danger lured him on. Ah! if he had only dimly suspected what a +wonderful reception awaited him in that same rabbit hutch, undoubtedly +Nick could not have been tempted to take that important step; indeed, +he would have turned and run for it with all speed. +</P> + +<P> +But "when ignorance is bliss, 'tis folly to be wise," the old saying +runs; and Nick was happy in not having a glimmer of the truth. +</P> + +<P> +He should not be long in making his entrance. The window was only five +feet from the ground, and within easy reach. Besides, Nick was an +unusually strong boy, which fact in itself had been one reason for his +having been able to play the part of town bully as long as he did. +</P> + +<P> +The sounds changed their nature. Evidently, Nick had managed to pull +himself over the window-sill. He was now inside the hutch, perhaps +kneeling on the floor, and directly under the tilted tub that stood on +the shelf above! +</P> + +<P> +Hugh gripped his cord still more firmly. It was almost time for +something to happen. Perhaps before another minute had passed the +avalanche would descend, and give two startled fellows the surprise of +their lives. +</P> + +<P> +Now Nick was lending his companion a helping hand. It may not have +been through generosity that Nick acted thus; perhaps he dimly +suspected that the cowardly Leon might wish to draw back, and allow him +to carry out the nefarious business alone and unaided; and Nick was +bent on making his crony share in the act, so that he could not turn on +him and betray him in the future. +</P> + +<P> +Yes, Leon was coming along. He made more noise than the other, for +Nick could be heard growling, and telling him to be careful if he +didn't want to fetch the owner of the rabbit hutch down on them with +blood in his eye, and perhaps a stout baseball bat for a weapon. +</P> + +<P> +Thad softly chuckled on hearing this. No doubt, in his mind he was +saying that something in the way of a reception far less warm was +hovering over the heads of the two "innocents abroad." That made Thad +think of Mark Twain, and he wondered whether the illustrious Tom Sawyer +and his chum, Huckleberry Finn, had ever arranged a more fetching +reception committee than this one of Hugh's. +</P> + +<P> +Leon seemed quite clumsy about climbing up; the fact of the matter was, +he came rather unwillingly, and might have held back only that the +determined Nick had taken a firm grip on his coat collar, and held on +tenaciously, bent on making sure of having company in his dark deed of +slaughter, or robbery, whichever he had in mind. +</P> + +<P> +Thad would have given almost anything for the privilege of taking a sly +peep; but he had been sternly enjoined against doing this same thing by +Hugh. The other, however, found it necessary to put his head beyond +the corner of the upright boards, so as to make sure that both boys +were there, and ready for their bath. +</P> + +<P> +One brief look was enough for Hugh. Leon had depressed his hand-torch +so that its glow only fell on the floor; but enough light was diffused +throughout the place to disclose two kneeling figures directly under +the tub. +</P> + +<P> +Hugh waited no longer, but gave the cord a strong pull. +</P> + +<P> +There was a sudden surge, and down came a terrific Niagara of icy water +that completely deluged Nick and Leon. They let out involuntary yells +that were of a piercing intensity. Nor was this all, for Hugh must +have given the cord an extra hard pull, or else the fastenings of the +tub had not proved stanch enough; for down it came with an infernal +jangling that must have completed the fright of the precious pair of +intruders. +</P> + +<P> +Indeed, it even gave Thad a start, with all that racket, and the cries +of the terrified boys adding to the volume of sound. +</P> + +<P> +"Now give us some light, Thad!" called Hugh, wishing to glimpse the +drenched culprits before they could scramble through the opening again, +and make their escape. +</P> + +<P> +Thad was so excited he could hardly remember what he had done with his +new electric hand-torch. So he ran his fingers around on the floor, +feeling here and there in eagerness, all the while strange sounds +coming to their ears from the other end of the rabbit hutch. +</P> + +<P> +Then he managed by accident, or great good luck, to touch what he was +searching for, and instantly Thad flooded the place with its +illumination, after which both of them stepped forward. +</P> + +<P> +They were just in time to glimpse a pair of legs vanishing through the +opening. Then came a heavy crash accompanied by dismal groans, after +which they heard the sounds of footsteps as the two boys scurried +around the building, wishing to keep from being seen. When Hugh and +Thad looked out of the window there was no one in sight. +</P> + +<P> +They turned and stared at each other. Then Thad doubled up like a +closed hinge, and shook with boisterous laughter. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh! what a circus that was, Hugh!" he cried. "Why, I don't know what +I'd have given just for a chance to watch those two chaps swimming +around. And, say, that big tub falling must have nearly scared Leon to +death. I wonder now, did it happen to hit either of them when it came +tumbling down after emptying out all the iced water? Oh! I'll laugh +myself nearly sick every time I think of this dandy trap of yours." +</P> + +<P> +Of course, the interior of the Belgian hares' quarters was a sight to +behold, after all that downpour; but anticipating this, the careful +Hugh had placed his pets where they could not be injured by the flood. +</P> + +<P> +"See here what they left behind them," remarked Hugh, picking up what +turned out to be a stout gunny-sack. "Well, I'm glad to find this, +because it seems to prove that they meant to steal my hares, and not +kill them." +</P> + +<P> +"Just about as bad in the long run!" declared Thad, scornfully. "Like +as not that Nick would have thrown them into the river, with a stone +tied to the bag, in order to hide all traces. Then, no matter how much +you might suspect them, you couldn't prove a thing. But Hugh, they +made a terrible slip if they figured on that, because, see here what +I've found." +</P> + +<P> +He held something up. +</P> + +<P> +"Leon's hand-torch, for a certainty!" exclaimed Hugh. "In his sudden +fright he lost it, and was in too great a hurry to think of trying to +find his property again." +</P> + +<P> +"You've got him where you want him, all right, Hugh," snapped Thad, +suddenly. "All you have to do is to leave this here and fetch Chief +Wambold around to notice that it lies in your rabbit hutch. Then Leon +will have to explain how he came to leave it here." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh! I sort of feel that those fellows have been punished enough as it +is," the other went on to say, slowly. +</P> + +<P> +"You're too easy on the skunks, Hugh, take my word for it," said Thad, +with a trace of disappointment in his voice. "A fellow like Nick Lang +never can appreciate such a thing as leniency. You've got to give him +what he believes in, and that's brute force. Well, then, if you won't +have Leon arrested, at least you can keep this hand-torch as a trophy +of the momentous occasion. It'll serve to remind you of this pleasant +night's entertainment. While not so fine a torch as mine, still it +seems to be O. K. You'll do that, I hope, Hugh?" +</P> + +<P> +But the other shook his head. +</P> + +<P> +"I don't want the thing, Thad, I assure you I don't," he said. "I'll +send it to Leon with a little satirical note, telling him that while I +thank him very much for leaving me his torch, I have always made it a +rule not to accept presents from those who were not my intimate +friends; and that, therefore, I'm returning it with the hope that in +the future he may put it to better use than in the past." +</P> + +<P> +Thad laughed. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh! well, you must have your way, Hugh, I reckon; and really, that +will set the pair guessing. They'll understand we're on to their +identity, and of course will be more or less anxious to know just what +you mean to do about it." +</P> + +<P> +"One thing I'm sure of," added Hugh, "which is, that Nick Lang can +never be made to change his habits by harsh measures. Some of these +fine days I may find a chance to do him a great favor; and by heaping +coals of fire on his head, force him to see a light." +</P> + +<P> +Thad heard his chum say this with more or less astonishment. +Apparently, while he had the utmost faith in Hugh's ability to do most +things, at the same time he considered that this would be in the form +of a miracle. He smiled, and again shook his head in the negative. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, you don't believe they'll come again tonight at any rate, do +you, Hugh?" he asked, as they prepared to leave the rabbit hutch. +</P> + +<P> +"Not one chance in ten," the other told him. "I mean to fix this +window so it can't be easily opened. Besides, my window is on this +side of the house, and I've got a cord arranged whereby a weight will +fall on the floor of my room if anybody tried to get in here, after +I've fixed the little jigger. I own a shotgun, you know, Thad, and can +fire up in the air out of my window if there's any alarm. Tomorrow +I'll put heavy wire netting over the window, that will insure the +safety of my pet Belgian hares, and my homing pigeons. Now let's be +heading toward the house, and going to bed; for you promised to sleep +with me, you know." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap14"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XIV +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +NICK AS A GAP-STOPPER +</H3> + + +<P> +On Saturday afternoon the field was the scene of another gathering. +Almost every boy in town had come out to see what success the Scranton +High fellows were making with their new team. Besides, there were many +little knots of high-school girls present, all eager to watch some +fellow in whom they felt especial interest. Then, from time to time, +older folks began to show up, until quite a gathering could be seen in +the grandstand and on some sections of the bleachers. +</P> + +<P> +Perhaps Scranton did not possess as fine buildings as Allandale, for +instance, because the spirit of sport had long been rampant in the +other town, while Scranton seemed to have been half asleep until +latterly; but they were good enough, and commodious in the bargain. +The field itself could hardly have been surpassed. It was unusually +level, and stretched away to such a distance that it must needs be +quite a slugger who could make a home-run hit on those grounds. +</P> + +<P> +Still it had been done. There was at least one member of the team who +had shown an ability to send the ball out over the head of a fielder, +and to such an astonishing distance that by the time it was recovered +and returned to the diamond, he had raced completely around the circuit +for a home run. +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Leonard had by now completed his choice of the team. He had +watched the play of the boys, and decided on just who best seemed +fitted to fill the various positions. Of course, as time passed, this +schedule of players was subject to possible changes, but on the whole +the physical instructor believed he had built up the strongest team +Scranton could put in the field that season. +</P> + +<P> +Much must depend on the pitching staff. It remained to be seen how the +twirlers would "pan out" under fire. At present Mr. Leonard was +working strenuously, trying to put more "ginger" into their work; and +also teaching them some of the wrinkles of the game, as known to +semi-professionals like himself. +</P> + +<P> +Greatly to the surprise as well as delight of Owen Dugdale, he had been +notified that he was to cover short. Indeed, others were not as much +astonished as Owen himself, because they had been admiring the splendid +way in which he fielded his difficult position there, accepting chances +that many fellows would have allowed to let get by them for fear of +making an error, and with wonderful success. +</P> + +<P> +Once Owen got his hands on the ball, and he could shoot it across to +first like a rifle bullet. His accuracy and speed were simply grand; +everybody cheered when he sent the ball "screaming" across to the man +guarding the initial sack; or on occasion hurled it to Hugh on third +for a double. +</P> + +<P> +Then again, Owen was improving in his batting. Hugh had gone to great +pains to give him many pointers, and the fruit of this was seen by the +clever way in which Owen could lay down a pretty bunt, the ball rolling +along just inside the line in a tantalizing fashion, and headed for +first or third, as the occasion might require. The player who can be +depended on to bunt successfully two times out of three attempts is +always a valuable accessory to a club; since he is thus able to push a +runner along; and perhaps get his own base in the bargain, when the +others are busily engaged in trying to catch the fellow on the bases. +</P> + +<P> +Short-stop must always be an agile chap, who is especially quick both +at decisions and throwing. Even though he snatch up the ball, and thus +make a fine stop, if his judgment is poor or his throwing arm lame, he +can often bungle his work, and prove of little help to his team. +</P> + +<P> +There would still be another full week before the first game with +Belleville. If fair weather favored them the Scranton boys hoped to +put in daily practice, and speed up in their team work, as well as +signals. The pitchers, too, needed considerable more practice before +they could be said to be at their best; in fact, they would all be +better off for two more weeks of hard work, which, however, could not +be obtained. +</P> + +<P> +Two teams were made up for this afternoon, one of them the regulars, +and the other a "scrub," though with some fair players aboard, mostly +substitutes. Mr. Leonard himself meant to play at various positions +for the latter team. He chanced to be one of those remarkable +all-round handy men, capable of filling a job as catcher, first +baseman, second, short-stop or fielder. He even astonished the boys +during the afternoon play by taking his place as a slab-artist in the +pitcher's box; and some of his shoots and drops puzzled the hard +hitters on the regular team, so that they whiffed at thin air, and thus +passed out on strikes. +</P> + +<P> +The pitchers had been evenly divided, and all showed considerable +ability after their caliber. Some seemed to have considerable "stuff" +with them, and mystified the batters with their delivery. Others were +hit freely, and runs were either earned or else made with the +assistance of errors more or less glaring. +</P> + +<P> +The weak places in the team's play were being noted by Mr. Leonard, who +would take measures to stop the leaks after a fashion of his own; +through advice and practical instructions, if he could; and should +these means fail, then by a radical change in the line-up. +</P> + +<P> +As Hugh had been made field captain, he would have charge of the +playing to a considerable extent. On this account, he took an +especially keen interest in all that went on. When Nick Lang, who +played centre field, made a difficult catch of a great fly from Mr. +Leonard's bat, no one applauded more than did Hugh; while Thad behind +the bat stood and scowled, for somehow he disliked the idea of the town +bully having any part in the team's work. +</P> + +<P> +When he took occasion to speak of this during their turn at bat, as he +and Hugh sat by themselves on the lower bleacher seats, watching the +game, the other took him to task for his way of thinking. +</P> + +<P> +"You've got to get over that personal way of thinking, Thad, when you +belong to a ball club like Scranton High," he said, earnestly. "Now we +all know what Nick is, and few fellows like to play in a game where he +has any part; but remember that he is one of the high-school students, +and on that account has just as much right to aspire to a place on the +representative team as you or I." +</P> + +<P> +"But he always makes trouble wherever he goes," expostulated Thad, +still unconvinced, it seemed; "and mark my words, he'll do something to +try and break up this team, if things don't go just to suit his ideas." +</P> + +<P> +"Please don't forget Mr. Leonard when you say that, Thad. Depend on +it, he's going to keep his eye on Nick right along. If the fellow +shows any insubordination, he'll get his walking papers like a flash, +and perhaps be booted off the grounds in the bargain, if he gets too +fresh." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, perhaps you're right, Hugh," grumbled Thad. "Mr. Leonard must +know a heap more than a boy like me, who sees everything on the +surface. And I admit that was a cracking good catch Nick made, after +such a hard run. He can field, all right, and he is a gap-stopper in +center field, for a fact." +</P> + +<P> +"There, look at him send out a screamer right now, that ought to be +good for a double!" exclaimed Hugh. "You see, we need Nick on the +team. He is one of our mainstays at bat and in the field. If only Mr. +Leonard can control him, he's apt to be of great assistance to us in +winning games. The boy who would take his place isn't really in the +same class with Nick as a player. So let's try to forget all about our +natural aversion while we're playing ball. If we act that way, the +other fellows are apt to follow suit. And, Thad, conquering your +feelings may be the means of bringing a glorious victory to Scranton +High. Wouldn't you think yourself well repaid for just repressing your +antipathy toward Nick Lang?" +</P> + +<P> +"Of course you're right, Hugh, as you nearly always are. I'm so +quick-tempered I make all sorts of silly blunders. But look there, I +can see a cloud of dust up the road yonder. Now I wouldn't be at all +surprised if we had another friendly visit from that Belleville fellow, +O. K. He's taking quite an interest in Scranton, it seems, and has run +over again this Saturday to find out how we're improving. We must +jolly him along, Hugh, and never let him see we're feeling a bit of +anxiety over our pitchers." +</P> + +<P> +Sure enough, the rider of the motorcycle proved to be Oliver Kramer, +the same boy who had been over before to take a look at the Scranton +players. He came alongside the two chums sitting on the bleachers, and +deposited his machine so that it would be safely out of the way. +</P> + +<P> +"Hello! fellows!" he remarked, cheerily, as he held out his hand to +Hugh. "Here I am again, right side up with care, as the clown in the +circus always says. Glad to meet you again, Captain Morgan, and you +also, Thad Stevens. Mr. Leonard was over to dinner at our house +Sunday, and he invited me to drop in any old time, and see how your +crowd was making out. I hope now you don't object to my being here, +Hugh?" +</P> + +<P> +"Not in the least, O. K.," Hugh told him, smilingly. "We're pushing +along pretty fairly, and ironing out some of the wrinkles as we go. +Lots still to be done before we're ready to try conclusions with your +team at Belleville; but with such a capable coach as Mr. Leonard, we +believe we'll get there in time." +</P> + +<P> +They watched the play go on. There were some really clever stunts done +that called for loud cheers on the part of the small crowd present. O. +K. added his strident voice to the shouts. +</P> + +<P> +"Great work that, old top!" he shouted at Sandy Dowd, who had made a +magnificent steal to second, after getting first on a single, his slide +amidst a cloud of dust being the grand climax of the feat; for though +the catcher sent the ball down in a direct line to the baseman, still +the red-headed Sandy had his hand on the bag at the time he was +touched, and there was no disputing the "safe on second" of the umpire. +</P> + +<P> +For three innings did O. K. sit there and enjoy the game. He was a +baseball enthusiast of the first water, and never could get quite +enough of his favorite sport. Of course he preferred taking part in a +game, but the next best thing was to watch others play, and comment on +their mistakes; just as most people can play the critic while watching +a game of billiards and always feel they could have improved on the +shot that missed connections. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, what do you think now, O. K.?" asked Hugh later on, when the +Belleville boy made preparations as though about to start homeward. +"Do you notice any improvement in our work? Have we gone up or down, +in your judgment?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, be honest, now, O. K., and say," asked Thad. "We can take +criticism without flinching. You know what your team can do; have we +any show against Belleville, or that strong aggregation at Allandale?" +</P> + +<P> +"Honestly, between man and man, fellows," said the other, earnestly, "I +can see the greatest sort of improvement in your play. When you get +your team work down a bit better and closer to scientific principles, +you're going to make both the other clubs in the Three-Town League +hustle some to hold their own. I'm glad to see it, too, because it +means we'll have to do our level best if we hope to win. And that +insures some mighty lively ball games during the short season while +we're playing against each other." +</P> + +<P> +Hugh felt satisfied, for he believed O. K. to be quite honest in what +he said. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap15"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XV +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +PRETTY POLLY UNDER SUSPICION +</H3> + + +<P> +"Hello! Thad, that you?" +</P> + +<P> +"Nobody else, Hugh. I rather thought I'd hear your voice when I +stepped over to the 'phone. What's doing this fine Sunday afternoon?" +</P> + +<P> +"Are you in for a little walk with me, Thad?" +</P> + +<P> +"Just what would please me a heap, Hugh. Anything particular moving?" +</P> + +<P> +"There you go suspecting that I've got something on tap just because I +call up and invite you to cover a few miles, when the weather is so +fine. But for once you've hit the nail on the head, my boy." +</P> + +<P> +"That settles it, then. I'll rush right over, and join you, Hugh." +</P> + +<P> +"Be careful and don't break your neck in your hurry, Thad. My news can +keep; and what would poor Scranton High do for a catcher in the game +next Saturday if you fractured your collar-bone?" +</P> + +<P> +Whether Thad took the advice to heart or not, he certainly made his +appearance at the home of his best chum in an incredibly brief space of +time, flushed in the bargain, and with an eager light lurking in his +eyes. +</P> + +<P> +"Nothing doing until we get safely out of town," said Hugh, firmly; "so +you'll have to put the brake on your impatience." +</P> + +<P> +"Huh!" grumbled Thad, "that sounds as if what you had to tell me was of +vast importance, so that you didn't want to run any risk of others +cribbing the news. Now you have got me guessing to beat the band, +Hugh. I wonder if those Belleville fellows have been up to any dodge +to learn our signals, and how our pitchers are practicing certain pet +balls?" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh! I'll relieve your mind that far by telling you it has nothing +whatever to do with the game next Saturday; for that matter it's not +about baseball at all. You're doing those fine chaps at Belleville a +gross injustice to even hint at their thinking of spying on us." +</P> + +<P> +Thad grinned as though he had won a point. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I take it all back, then, Hugh," he hastened to say, contritely. +"And now that point's settled, there's only one more thing it could be +about." +</P> + +<P> +"Notice that shrub bursting into bloom, will you?" remarked Hugh. "No +one ever saw a prettier sight than that is right now." +</P> + +<P> +"Have you learned anything more about——" +</P> + +<P> +"We'll take a turn here, and walk along the canal toward the big +mill-pond," interrupted Hugh. "That's always a favorite walk of mine; +and, to tell the truth, I haven't been out to the mill-pond for a long +time. The fishing there hasn't been very good this season, some of the +boys told me. Besides, I've been kept so busy with my studies, +baseball matters, and several other things I'm interested in, that I +haven't had much time for fishing this spring. Nobody loves it more +than I do, either, as you happen to know." +</P> + +<P> +Thad heaved a sigh, and shook his head. +</P> + +<P> +"No use trying to coax you, Hugh, when you've made up your mind not to +let out even a little peep. A fellow might wheedle until he fell over, +and you'd still be as hard as adamant. Yet it's right. Makes me think +of the old saying that a single man can lead a mule to water, but a +dozen can't make him drink—not comparing you to a mule, of course." +</P> + +<P> +They chatted as they walked, until presently the town had been left +behind them. +</P> + +<P> +"Now I'll open up and tell you what's been worrying me," announced +Hugh, suddenly. "The fact of the matter is, I was called over to +Madame Pangborn's this morning after getting home from church. She +told me a third spoon has disappeared!" +</P> + +<P> +"Great guns! is that so, Hugh? And, say, was Owen there on the day it +went glimmering?" demanded Thad, frowning. +</P> + +<P> +"I'm sorry to have to say yes to that," returned Hugh, slowly. "It was +yesterday it happened. She persisted in leaving the spoons just where +I saw them. I advised her to do that, for if they were hidden away we +might never discover the thief. As on the other occasions, Owen came +in with a bundle for the Red Cross, sent by the same lady who had +intrusted him with a package twice before." +</P> + +<P> +"All I can say is, it's getting a heap serious for our new friend, +Owen. Hugh, do you think the poor chap might be what they call a +kleptomaniac; that is a person who has an irresistible inclination to +take things that don't belong to him, or her, and generally has no use +for them after stealing the same? It's really a disease, I've read. +Some very rich people are affected by it, particularly queer old +ladies." +</P> + +<P> +"You're jumping ahead too fast, Thad," remonstrated Hugh, chidingly. +"I haven't admitted yet that I suspect Owen more than I did before. In +fact, these occurrences, such as his being in the house each time a +spoon vanishes, may turn out to simply be coincidences." +</P> + +<P> +"That sounds just like you, Hugh. You're the best kind of a friend +anybody ever could have. Perhaps now you've got a clue of some sort +that you wouldn't mind telling me about?" +</P> + +<P> +"I've been wondering whether the culprit is a human being after all," +remarked Hugh, to the utter astonishment of his comrade, who burst out +with: +</P> + +<P> +"Whew! you're aiming high, I must say, old chap. If not a human being, +what sort of a creature could the clever thief be? I've heard of +monkeys stealing things and hiding the same away in a spirit of +covetousness; but then the old lady doesn't happen to have a simian for +a household pet, that I know of." +</P> + +<P> +"No, but she has got a poll-parrot, as I told you, Thad!" observed +Hugh, calmly. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh! do you suspect that a silly bird could go and carry off not only +one spoon but three of them?" gasped the other boy. "What would a +parrot want of such objects, and where would she hide them?" +</P> + +<P> +"Remember, this is only guess work on my part, because, so far, I +haven't any positive evidence that it's so. But I remembered once +reading an article about some birds having a weakness that way. +Generally it was a raven that did it, and hidden away in a dark corner +they would find trinkets and spoons and all sorts of things that were +of no possible use to any bird. In every instance they seemed to be +bright and tempting, as if the bird had no eye for dingy things. Well, +these spoons have recently been scoured and cleaned so that they shine +splendidly!" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh! now that you mention it, Hugh," broke out Thad, "I remember that +several years ago, before I knew you, with another boy I climbed a tall +tree to peek in at the nest of a pair of crows. Well, sir, besides the +young ones, what did we find but three strange things. One was a key, +pretty rusty at that; another seemed to be a piece of metal that might +have fallen off a motor car on the road; it was made of brass, and +still shone fairly well. The third I've forgotten about, though I've +still got them all at home somewhere. At the time, Dick Saunders and I +laughed, and said the old mother crow had fetched her babies some +playthings to keep them amused while she and her mate were off hunting +grubs and corn and such crow food." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, all of which goes to prove that my little theory mightn't be so +far fetched as you seemed to think in the beginning," said Hugh. "I +mean to look around closely the next time I drop in to see the Madame. +Perhaps if I picked up a tiny green feather that must have come from +Pretty Poll, and on the table close to the case that holds the spoons, +it might clinch matters." +</P> + +<P> +"Whew! I only hope you do!" declared Thad. "I'd hate to learn that +Owen had any hand in taking those spoons. The sooner we find out the +truth, the better for all concerned. It'll not only relieve our minds, +as well as that of the old lady; but either prove or disprove the +suspicions we're right now entertaining toward that poor boy." +</P> + +<P> +He looked very determined when saying this, just as though he had made +up his own mind to hasten the dénouement; but of that he did not say +anything to Hugh. +</P> + +<P> +"My plan at present is to find a chance to hide in the room, and have +the old lady let her parrot free to fly around," continued Hugh, +reflectively. "You see, as a rule, the bird is held by a fine chain, +and made to stay by her perch; but the lady as much as admitted, when +scolding her pet, that every now and then Polly managed to get loose by +pecking at the ring about her leg; and had a great time flying +squawking in and out of the rooms before anybody could catch her again." +</P> + +<P> +Thad clapped his hand in glee. He had changed his mind considerably +after hearing all these things in the line of a convincing argument, as +mentioned by Hugh. +</P> + +<P> +"Why, if it should turn out that way, Hugh, it'd make a story well +worth writing up for the magazines, or a big New York daily paper. I +hope now you'll get busy on this scheme right away, so we'll know the +truth. Parrots are mighty cunning birds, for a fact. I knew one once +that used to mock everybody going by. What fun we boys used to have +trying to teach him to say things that mebbe his mistress wouldn't +exactly approve of, though, honestly, Hugh, they weren't very tough, +just boys' slang, you know. I'm glad now you asked me to take this +walk with you. For all we can tell, it may have some influence in +solving this puzzle that's got both of us guessing." +</P> + +<P> +When Thad said this, he of course could have no idea how near he was +hewing to the truth. That walk was fated to have a very considerable +influence on the course of events, and also upon the solving of the +riddle; but we must not anticipate. +</P> + +<P> +The two lads continued to saunter along. They chatted on other +subjects besides the mystery of the old lady's lost souvenir spoons. +The matter of outdoor sports was much in their minds those days, when +sleepy old Scranton was waking from her Rip Van Winkle nap of twenty +years, and girding herself to accomplish a few things on the diamond +and the gridiron. +</P> + +<P> +So they drew gradually nearer to the famous Hobson mill-pond, where for +generations the boys of Scranton had been accustomed to swim and fish +in the good old summer time, and skate in the winter, the canal leading +close to its location. +</P> + +<P> +The old mill was no longer in use, but with its moss-covered wheel made +a very picturesque sight that artists often painted with delight. The +pond itself was of fair size, and surrounded with trees and bushes. In +fact, it was quite a lake. On one side there stood a large ice-house, +and when the surface of the pond was covered with a foot of clear firm +ice, many of the residents of the town had their supply cut and stored +in places built partly underground, in order that they might have all +the ice they wanted through the dog days. +</P> + +<P> +Hugh and Thad had almost arrived at the mill-pond when they suddenly +heard loud voices. There was screaming in shrill tones that would +indicate the presence of children near by. +</P> + +<P> +"What does all that row mean, Hugh?" snapped Thad, looking suddenly +interested. +</P> + +<P> +"They're playing around the pond, those kids, and like as not one of +them may have fallen in! Let's get a move on us and see!" +</P> + +<P> +Hugh seemed to be of the same opinion, for he started on a rapid +gallop. Louder rang out the shrill cries. There could be no doubt now +as to some one being frightened; and considering the loneliness of the +mill-pond region, it was easy to guess Thad had hit the truth when he +surmised that a child must be in danger of drowning. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap16"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XVI +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +THE RESCUE AT HOBSON'S MILL-POND +</H3> + + +<P> +The two boys covered the short distance in an incredibly brief space of +time. As they rounded the bend just beside the mill-pond and saw the +whole scene spread out before them, their eyes were immediately +fastened on a stirring picture close by. +</P> + +<P> +Two little colored girls were running up and down the shore doing most +of the screaming, and acting as though half frightened to death. The +reason for their alarm was not hard to see, for at some little distance +out from the bank a small boy, as black as the ace of spades, was +having a terrible time trying to keep his footing on a plank that had +been a part of a rude raft, doubtless fashioned by his own hands. +</P> + +<P> +He had wished to "show-off" before his little playmates, and after +rudely fastening several boards taken from the tumble-down old mill +into a crude attempt at a raft, had boldly launched the same. With a +pole he had stepped aboard, and then proceeded to "cut capers." +Encouraged by the admiration of the other children, he must have become +more and more reckless, so that he soon reached a point far enough +distant from land to prevent him from touching bottom with his pole. +</P> + +<P> +This sudden discovery may have alarmed him, and in his endeavor to +paddle, he had caused his raft to part in sections. So there he was +now clinging to one plank, and in immediate danger of falling into the +water, which out there was doubtless many times over his head. +</P> + +<P> +"Keep steady, there, boy!" shouted Thad. "Stick to your plank, and +we'll get you ashore all right! Don't be scared, whatever you do! +Thad, how can we reach him?" +</P> + +<P> +"There's an old boat pulled up on the shore a little ways above here," +said the other quickly, for he had the faculty of thinking of +everything when an emergency arose, an admirable trait in any boy. +</P> + +<P> +So they started on a run, heading for the spot, and hoping the tragedy +would hold off until they could launch the old craft, which leaked more +or less, but was likely to hold long enough for them to accomplish the +rescue. +</P> + +<P> +Passing the two small girls, Thad shot out words of encouragement to +them. +</P> + +<P> +"Stop that screaming!" he told them, with an air of authority. "You +only rattle the boy, don't you know? We're going after a boat so as to +get out to him. It's close by, and much safer than swimming. Tell him +to keep still, and we'll get him in a jiffy!" +</P> + +<P> +Of course he did not slacken his pace any while jerking out these +words. They at least seemed to have some effect on the two children, +for they stopped shrieking. +</P> + +<P> +Just as the boys reached the boat, however, the cries broke out again +with redoubled energy. Thad glanced back, and immediately exclaimed: +</P> + +<P> +"He's fallen in, Hugh! We've got to hurry, you know!" +</P> + +<P> +"Here's one of the paddles; do you see anything of the other?" demanded +Hugh. +</P> + +<P> +Luckily Thad discovered it immediately. The "paddles" were crude +affairs chopped out of boards by some of the boys who used the boat +while swimming; but all the same they answered a purpose. +</P> + +<P> +With a rush the old boat was pushed down the sloping sandy shore and +into the mill-pond. Hugh and Thad sprang aboard and each snatching up +a paddle, they commenced to urge the unwieldy craft along as best they +might. +</P> + +<P> +As they worked, they could see what was going on ahead of them. The +little chap evidently had considerable pluck about him, for he was +making a really gallant fight for his life, trying to cling to the +board, which was wobbling about in the water at a great rate. Twice +his frantic hold seemed lost, but on each occasion he managed to regain +it. Nature urges every human being or animal to struggle to the utmost +when threatened with death by drowning. Some boys have even discovered +that they could swim when they had to, or go down; though it is a risky +experiment which should never be resorted to. +</P> + +<P> +Hugh's heart seemed to be almost in his throat as he watched the +struggles of the poor little chap. Black or white, it made not the +least difference to him just then; that child's life was as precious in +his mother's sight as if he were the pink and white darling of a +wealthy family. +</P> + +<P> +Nearer they came to the scene. Oh! if only he might manage somehow to +retain his grip just twenty seconds longer, they would be on hand, and +ready to drag him over the side of the old boat to safety. Hugh, deep +down in his heart prayed that it might be so. He also figured how he +would plunge overboard at the last second, if necessary, and dive after +the sinking child, for he must be saved. +</P> + +<P> +They both worked as never before in their lives. Possibly that old +boat swept through the water of the mill-pond at a faster rate than it +had ever indulged in, even with twice the number of paddlers aboard. A +precious human life was at stake, and this fact brought out every atom +of energy those two gallant lads could summon to the fore. +</P> + +<P> +Fortune was kind, and the plucky little colored boy continued to show +wonderful tenacity of purpose; for he managed to retain his slipping +grip on the turning plank until Hugh could bend over and take a grip of +his kinky wool. It may not have been the most pleasant way to effect a +rescue, but there was no time for being particular. +</P> + +<P> +While he thus held the child above water, Thad bent down and got hold +of the boy's arms. That settled it, for they speedily hauled him +aboard. The two little girl companions of the rescued child, whose +admiration for his boldness had undoubtedly been the main cause for his +taking such great risks, stopped screaming when they saw that he was +safe in the boat. +</P> + +<P> +The boys now made for the shore, as the boat was taking in water very +fast, and already their feet were soaking wet. Besides, the sooner +they reached land the better, because the boy had fainted from excess +of fright, and also on account of the desperate endeavor he had made to +keep from sinking. +</P> + +<P> +A minute later and Hugh lifted him from the boat. +</P> + +<P> +"We've got to get a fire started right away, Thad!" he exclaimed. "The +air isn't as warm as it might be, and he'll be shivering soon. +Besides, it's a long walk to town. Later on perhaps we may be able to +stop some car or vehicle going in on the road, and take them all home. +Here's my match-safe, so speed up a blaze, please." +</P> + +<P> +It was fortunate that Hugh always made it a practice to have matches +with him. There could be no telling when they might come in very +handy, as on the present occasion; for there was no house near by at +which they could seek assistance. +</P> + +<P> +Thad was always a good hand at making a fire, and he quickly found +plenty of fine tinder which flashed up when a match was applied. Then +more wood was carefully placed on the little blaze, until in a brief +time he had a cheery fire roaring. +</P> + +<P> +Hugh laid the boy down where he could feel the comfortable heat. He +understood that the child could not have swallowed any water to speak +of, because he managed to keep his head above the surface, save in the +very end of his struggle. It was only a swoon or faint, and likely the +child would come out of it quickly. He rubbed the little hands, and +waited to see signs of returning animation. +</P> + +<P> +Two minutes afterwards the boy's eyes opened. He looked puzzled to see +Hugh bending over him, and to hear the crackling of the fire. +</P> + +<P> +"It's all right, my boy," said Hugh, encouragingly; "you fell into the +water after your raft went to pieces, and we pulled you out. Now we +mean to dry your clothes by the aid of this nice fire, and after that +we'll see you get home. Here are your little playmates, you see. You +can thank them for screaming, because only for that we might not have +come up in time." +</P> + +<P> +The boy allowed his hand to run up and down his other wet sleeve. +</P> + +<P> +"Dem's my Sunday-best clo's, too. Mebbe mommy she won't whale me fo' +gettin' dem all soaked like this," he muttered to himself +disconsolately. +</P> + +<P> +"Don't you worry about that," chuckled Thad, who had overheard the +childish complaint. "Your mother, whoever she may be, will be so +thankful that she hasn't lost her boy she'll forgive you anything. And +you're a brave little chap in the bargain, because you did put up a +nervy fight for your life, that's certain." +</P> + +<P> +They succeeded in drying his clothes, and then, as a large car was seen +coming along the road with only a single man in the same, Hugh ran over +to hail the driver and beg him to take them all into town. +</P> + +<P> +Luck favored them again. The man in the big car turned out to be Major +McGrew's chauffeur, whom Hugh knew to speak to, as he was a baseball +enthusiast of the first water. When he heard what had happened, he +told Hugh to fetch the boy along; and also the two other kids; he'd +have them home in a jiffy, for it was less than a mile to town. +</P> + +<P> +The colored people, as so often happens, lived in a certain section of +Scranton, being very clannish in their habits. Hugh did not doubt but +that he could easily learn just where the boy lived. He looked at him +several times trying to remember where he could have seen the little +fellow before, because there seemed to be something familiar about his +face; but somehow he failed to connect him with any family he knew. +</P> + +<P> +When presently they entered the district where the colored folks had +their homes, their coming created quite a flutter. To have a fine big +car fetching a trio of colored children home was an event of importance. +</P> + +<P> +Boys and girls, and a sprinkling of older persons as well, hurried to +ascertain what it could mean. Doubtless they were quick to sense the +fact that something out of the common run must have occurred to cause +such a happening. +</P> + +<P> +Hugh recognized an old man he knew as a preacher, and addressing +himself to this person he hastened to explain. +</P> + +<P> +"These children were up at the old mill-pond, and the boy had made a +raft on which he was having the time of his life, when the thing +separated, and left him clinging to one plank where the water was quite +deep. We chanced to hear the girls' screams and got to the spot in +time to push out in an old boat and get hold of him just as he was +sinking. He's a plucky little chap, I want to tell you. Only for the +way he held on to that plank, he must have drowned before we could +reach him. We dried his clothes at a fire we made, and have brought +him home. I wish you would send for his mother, and tell her not to +punish him. He's been very close to death, and has had a lesson he'll +never forget." +</P> + +<P> +The old man took a look at the boy. +</P> + +<P> +"Why, it's sure enough little Brutus!" he exclaimed, as though just +discovering this fact, for the boy had kept his face partly hidden, +through shame and fear; then turning to some of the wide-eyed +youngsters clustering around, the parson went on to say; "Here, you +Adolphus Smith, run like the wind over to Madame Pangborn's and tell +Sarah her boy needs her, because he's been in the pond; but be sure to +let her know Brutus is all right!" +</P> + +<P> +The boy shot away like a flash, while Hugh turned and looked at Brutus +again; for now he knew that he had seen him over at the Pangborn +mansion. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap17"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XVII +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +LITTLE BRUTUS AND HIS "COLLECTION" +</H3> + + +<P> +It was not long before they discovered a woman running like mad toward +the spot. Of course this was no other than Sarah, whose heart had been +chilled by the news fetched by Adolphus Smith, the truth being +considerably garbled, it is to be feared. +</P> + +<P> +She arrived panting, and with her eyes full of horror, as though she +fully expected to find her darling Brutus lying there all wet and cold. +</P> + +<P> +Upon discovering the shrinking little form, she seized him in her arms, +and dropping to the ground began rocking back and forth as she hugged +him tight, meanwhile covering his ebony little face with motherly +kisses. +</P> + +<P> +"Hebben be praised, I ain't done lost my Brutus after all. Dat +'Dolphus he skeered me nigh to death wif his stuttering story as how my +chile be'n in de mill-pond. What's all dis row about, anyhow? I hopes +none o' you folks done play a joke on me, dat's right. It'd be de +wustest thing yuh eber done, let me tells yuh." +</P> + +<P> +The parson thereupon proceeded to tell her the real facts. Sarah +hugged the rescued boy some more, and then on hearing how his life had +been saved by the actions of two white boys, she looked up at Hugh and +Thad. +</P> + +<P> +"Why, it am de young Morgan boy, glory, if it ain't!" she ejaculated, +and Hugh was a little afraid the good woman, in her gratitude, might +want to transfer her embraces from Brutus to him, so he held out his +hand, with one of his smiles, saying: +</P> + +<P> +"We were only too glad to be on the spot and give the boy a helping +hand, Sarah. I didn't know at the time he was your child, though that +wouldn't have made any difference. We dried his clothes at a fire we +made, and he's all right." +</P> + +<P> +Sarah, even as she squeezed Hugh's hand, was looking at Brutus out of +the tail of her eye, as though an awful thought had just then burst +upon her. +</P> + +<P> +"An' he hab on his bestest Sunday-go-to-meetin' clothes, too. I done +hopes dey ain't shrunk on him, so he cain't git in 'em agin. Dat clerk +he nebber guarantee dat dey wouldn't creep up if de boy he done falls +in de pond. But how did it happen, I'd like to know." +</P> + +<P> +Hugh thereupon took it upon himself to explain just how Brutus in +trying to "show-off" before his little girl companions had ventured out +too far, and managed to cause his raft to go to pieces. Sarah looked +threatening, so Hugh hastened to "pour oil on troubled waters." +</P> + +<P> +"Brutus has suffered enough for punishment, I should think, Sarah," he +told her. "He's had his lesson, and will never try anything like that +again. You should be thankful it's no worse. Besides, let me tell +you, he's a little hero. He fought like everything to save himself, +and never let out so much as a cry. The girls did all the yelling. +You ought to be proud of his grit." +</P> + +<P> +"That's right, you had, Sarah," added Thad, thinking it his duty to +"put in an oar" so as to save Brutus from the "smacking" he seemed to +be dreading. +</P> + +<P> +This sort of talk mollified the mother. She even looked proudly around +at the clustering neighbors, for by now every denizen of Darktown had +apparently been drawn to the spot, all wild to hear what had happened. +Her look was in the shape of a challenge. It seemed to say: "Dere now, +what do yuh good-for-nothin' coons think of my Brutus, after hearin' +dese white boys say as how he's a real hero? Don't any ob yuh ebber +ag'in ask me why I gives him dat name. Guess I knows my history, an' +didn't I see it in him when he was a little baby? Dar ain't another +hero in dis whole place, dat's right!" +</P> + +<P> +She turned to Hugh again. Brutus took advantage of his opportunity to +creep over to another woman, who also petted him, and who the boys +afterwards learned was his aunt, a washerwoman of the town. +</P> + +<P> +"Dat boy he ain't like de rest of de kids, I wants yuh to know, Marse +Morgan," she was saying, eagerly. "All de boys 'round heah dey spends +dere time aplayin' in de street, or agittin' into trouble. My Brutus +he's different. Jest yuh come wif me an' see how he done play all by +hisself. I'd like yuh to know he ain't a wuthless little rascal, dat +chile." +</P> + +<P> +Hugh seemed about to beg Sarah to let them off, but Thad, for some +reason, perhaps just through mere curiosity, hastened to say: +</P> + +<P> +"Come on, let's take a peek, Hugh. I've got an engagement in a short +time, but this'll only take a few minutes. We're some interested in +Brutus, you know. I guess he's bound to make a name for himself some +day." +</P> + +<P> +So they followed Sarah as she led the way to a nearby cottage. +</P> + +<P> +"Dat's whar we libs, me an' Brutus and my sister, Nancy, her as takes +in washin' six days in de week, an' teaches de infant class in Sunday +school on de seventh day. Yuh see we done got a cabin in de rear where +Nancy she washes. So we fits up one end fo' Brutus' playhouse, same as +de white chillun dey hab playhouses in de yard. He sets dar most ob de +day a havin' de time o' his life playin' sojer with de buttons, and +settin' out his Noah's Ark animals. I allers knowed dat boy was +different from de rest o' de kids. Parson Brown, he say he sure enough +hab de makin' o' a good preacher in him, fo' he talks by de hour to his +toys." +</P> + +<P> +So Hugh and Thad had a look-in. They found everything in order, +showing that Nancy was not slovenly about her work. The tubs were hung +on the wall, and a basket of soiled clothes standing ready for the next +day's washing. +</P> + +<P> +Over at the far end of the cabin was the special precinct devoted to +Brutus and his toys. Hugh glanced at the accumulation. He saw that +the boy was one of those who love to accumulate things. He had +numerous little assortments of curious articles, picked up here and +there, all of which had excited his love for collecting. +</P> + +<P> +Thad was heard to chuckle as though he found it quite amusing; but he +turned this off with a cough as Sarah glanced inquiringly toward him. +</P> + +<P> +"Yuh see how dat boy he spend his time," the proud mother went on to +say. "Right here he play and play de whole blessed day long. He ain't +nebber done tired o' talkin' to his toys, and asettin' o' 'em in lines +like dey was in school. I always hab an idea in my head Brutus, he +either make a good parson or else he bound to be a school teacher, I +ain't zactly made up my mind yet which it'll be." +</P> + +<P> +"It's plain to be seen, Sarah," said Hugh, as he turned away, "that +your boy is different. I certainly hope he'll grow up to be a man +you'll be proud of. You won't punish him for what happened today, will +you? We promised him we'd ask you to go easy with him; he was +dreadfully alarmed about his clothes, and seemed to think more about +them than that his life had been in deadly peril." +</P> + +<P> +"Bless yuh, honey, I ain't meanin' to do the leastest thing to dat +sweet chile. Clothes kin be boughten agin, but I never'd be able to +git anudder Brutus. But if he goes out to dat drefful mill-pond agin, +I'm feared I'll have to skin him, and dat's a fact." +</P> + +<P> +So the two chums strolled on, heading for another part of the town. +Both of them had been highly edified by what they saw and heard in the +colored settlement. +</P> + +<P> +"I'd like to ask you one thing, though, Thad; what were you chuckling +at while we were in that cabin that shares the honors of a wash-house +with Brutus and his wonderful collection of toys?" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh! something struck me as funny, that's all, Hugh. The fact is, just +when Sarah was prophesying all those wonderful things that might be in +store for Brutus, from being a great soldier, or an eloquent parson who +could frighten people into repenting of their sins, I took stock of all +that junk the boy's gone and collected, and do you know, I was thinking +that the chances were he'd make a successful hustler in the 'rags, old +iron, old clothes' line, when he grew up." +</P> + +<P> +Hugh also laughed on hearing that. +</P> + +<P> +"Nobody can tell," he went on to say. "The veil of the future hides +such things from our mortal eyes, as Dominie Pettigrew said the other +Sunday. Brutus may turn out to be a wonder; and again there's a chance +of his being only an ordinary day laborer." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, if he keeps on taking risks just to show off before the girls," +observed Thad, drily, "I rather guess he won't grow up at all, but die +young. But I'll leave you here, Hugh, as I have a date with some one +for half-past four this afternoon." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh! is that so?" chuckled the other; "well, go along, and don't bother +making excuses. I wouldn't have you break an appointment with Ivy for +anything." +</P> + +<P> +"You're away off this time, Hugh, for it happens that it isn't Ivy +Middleton, or any other slip of a girl," Thad hastened to say. +</P> + +<P> +He did not offer to explain, and the other thought he looked somewhat +mysterious; but while his curiosity may have been slightly aroused, +Hugh did not feel justified in making any further inquiries. If Thad +did not wish to tell him, it was all right; even between chums there +may be little secrets. +</P> + +<P> +"I may see you later on, though," Thad added, as he was turning away; +"that is, if I'm successful in my errand." +</P> + +<P> +Which remark further aroused the wonder of his comrade, who could not +imagine what Thad had in mind. Hugh went home, and picking up a book +he was reading, proceeded to renew his interest in the story. Half an +hour slipped away in this fashion. Then he heard a jolly whistle down +on the street, which he knew full well. Sure enough, it was Thad +coming hurriedly toward the Morgan home. +</P> + +<P> +He discovered Hugh at the window and waved his hand. Even at that +distance Hugh saw his face was flushed, just as his manner was buoyant. +</P> + +<P> +"Now I wonder what that boy has been up to," Hugh said to himself, as +he awaited the coming of Thad; but cudgel his brain as he might, Hugh +never once suspected the errand of his chum could have anything to do +with the solving of the puzzle that was assuming all the +characteristics of a heavy burden on his, Hugh's, shoulders. +</P> + +<P> +Thad presently burst in upon him, for he knew the way to Hugh's den, +and thought nothing of going in and out of the Morgan house as though +he belonged there. Hugh motioned to a chair. +</P> + +<P> +"Sit down and cool off," he told Thad. "You look all heated up, as if +you'd been running fast." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, so I have, part of the way," gasped the other; "and it's quite +some distance out to the Rookery, you must remember." +</P> + +<P> +"What's that?" exclaimed Hugh; "do you mean to say your appointment was +with Owen Dugdale after all?" +</P> + +<P> +"Shucks! no, but with his old grandfather," snickered Thad. "Owen's +gone off for the afternoon with Mr. Leonard in the athletic +instructor's flivver, and paying a visit to Barton. I knew about that +when I called Mr. Dugdale up around noon today, for he has a telephone, +it happens, and told him I'd accept his invitation to drop in again to +chat with him, and would be over by about four. Well, in the language +of Alexander, or some other old worthy of ancient times, it was <I>veni, +vidi, vici</I> with me; I came, I saw, I conquered! What do you think of +that, Hugh?" +</P> + +<P> +With the words he suddenly drew something from a pocket and held it in +front of his companion's nose. It was a souvenir spoon, one of unique +pattern, Hugh saw, and he had a thrill as he comprehended just what it +might mean. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap18"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XVIII +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +A STRAIGHT DRIVE FOR THE TRUTH +</H3> + + +<P> +"So, you stole Owen's spoon, did you?" Hugh said, reprovingly. +</P> + +<P> +Thad made a gesture as though he thought his chum was putting it hard. +</P> + +<P> +"I simply borrowed it, that's all, Hugh," he hastened to explain. "Of +course I haven't any use for souvenir spoons, or any other kind of +spoons, either, for that matter. I was tired of all this beating +around the bush, and made a straight drive to find out the truth. +Either that boy is innocent, or else he's guilty, and now we can learn +which it is." +</P> + +<P> +"What do you plan to do, now you have the spoon?" demanded Hugh. +</P> + +<P> +"Why," explained Thad, "I thought perhaps you'd agree to take me over +to call on Madame Pangborn, even if it is Sunday. The better the day +the better the deed; and our main object would be to solve the horrible +mystery that's been hanging over poor Owen's head all this while, even +if he doesn't know about it. What do you say to that, Hugh?" +</P> + +<P> +The other boy seemed to consider, while Thad watched his face eagerly. +It was just like Thad to go directly at the heart of the matter, for +his was rather an impetuous nature. After all, perhaps it might be the +easiest way in which to settle the question. Hugh at least would be +glad to lay his burden down, for it had been an uphill fight all the +way. Besides, there was so much need of his being able to pay full +attention to baseball matters, with the first game only six days off, +that he would welcome any means for winding up his self-appointed task. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, it might be best to drop in on the old lady and have her +identify that spoon as one of her set," he finally observed. "Once +that fact was established, we would have some solid foundation to build +on. As it is now, we're just groping in the dark." +</P> + +<P> +"Then you agree, do you, Hugh?" +</P> + +<P> +"Call it a bargain, Thad. I'll take you around to call on the old +lady. She's a nice soul, and will be glad to see us. In fact, when we +were talking about a number of things the last time I was in her house, +and I chanced to mention your name, she asked me to fetch you around +sometime. Of course she knows who you are, but I guess you've never +really met her. She's a wonderful old woman, and heart and soul bent +on getting all sorts of comforts for the wounded soldiers of her +beloved la belle France." +</P> + +<P> +Thad looked greatly pleased. +</P> + +<P> +"Then let's be starting out right away," he suggested. "It might be, +Owen would get home before he expected to, and I'd a heap sooner he +wasn't around when we were on our way to the Pangborn house. Somehow, +I'd hate to look the boy in the face after doing what I did; though you +understand it was done in the hope of clearing up this awful puzzle." +</P> + +<P> +"No need of saying that, Thad, because I know what your feelings are. +My plan would have been to pick up the spoon incidentally, and admire +it. Then it would be easy to tell from the manner of Mr. Dugdale +whether he knew where it came from. I don't suppose you thought to do +anything like that, now?" +</P> + +<P> +"Why, no," came the reply; "for you see, I'd laid out my plan of +campaign, and wanted to hew close to the line. The quickest way to +settle the whole matter, according to my calculations, was to just show +the old lady the spoon, and ask her if it was one of the missing ones. +But please get a move on you, Hugh. I'm fairly quivering with +suspense, because I somehow feel that we're on the verge of making a +big discovery." +</P> + +<P> +"Perhaps we are," his chum told him, without any show of elation, "but +if it convicts Owen Dugdale of this thing, I'll be mighty sorry." +</P> + +<P> +He led the way downstairs, and secured his cap from the rack. Then the +two lads hurried out of the front door, heading in the direction of the +big house where the old French lady lived, and which had lately been +turned into a sort of general headquarters for the Red Cross workers. +There some of the ladies of Scranton could be found day after day, +sewing and packing such garments as had been brought in, so that they +might be sent across the sea to the country where the brave poilus were +in the trenches defending their native land against the aggressor, and +slowly but surely pressing the Teutonic hosts back toward the border. +</P> + +<P> +"I'm going to ask you a favor, Hugh," remarked Thad, presently, as they +drew near their intended destination. +</P> + +<P> +"Go ahead and ask it, then," he was told. +</P> + +<P> +"Let me run this little game, won't you, please—that is, I mean, allow +me to introduce the subject of souvenir spoons, and then show the old +lady the one I've got in my pocket right now?" +</P> + +<P> +"That seems only fair," Hugh assured him. "Since you've taken it on +yourself to crib that spoon from Owen's den, it's up to you to do the +honors. I'll only be too glad to have you do most of the talking. +Yes, and about the time you flash that thing in front of her eyes I'll +be shivering for fear we learn the worst." +</P> + +<P> +"Nothing like heroic treatment when you've got a cancer gnawing at your +vitals, as surgeons all say," remarked Thad, rather pompously. "I'm +aiming at the bull's-eye now, you understand. It's going to win or +lose, and no more tom-foolery about it." +</P> + +<P> +When Hugh rang the door-bell, it was Sarah who answered, showing that +she had not lingered very long at home after the boys left, but had +returned to her duties with the madame, who doubtless paid extravagant +wages for her services. +</P> + +<P> +She smiled broadly at sight of them. +</P> + +<P> +"I sure is glad to see yuh agin, bofe ob yous," she said. "I done +tells de missus all 'bout hit, and she says as how it was on'y what +she'd spect of dat young Mistah Morgan." +</P> + +<P> +"Thank you for telling me that, Sarah," Hugh went on to say; "it's +pleasant to know some one thinks well of you. Is Mrs. Pangborn at +leisure? I hope she isn't taking a nap just now?" +</P> + +<P> +"Deedy she ain't dat, suh; she's on'y readin' in de library. An' she +be mighty glad tuh see yous bofe." +</P> + +<P> +So she led the way along the wide hall, to usher the boys into the +commodious library. Bookcases lined the walls, and it seemed to be an +ideal place, where a student might enjoy himself very much indeed. +Just then, however, there were several sewing machines shoved aside, +and much evidence to the effect that on weekdays this same library +might be a beehive of industry, with women chattering as they sewed. +</P> + +<P> +The old lady looked surprised at seeing them, but the welcoming smile +and the extended hand were evidence that she was not displeased. +</P> + +<P> +"I've taken the liberty of fetching my chum, Thad Stevens, around to +see you, Mrs. Pangborn," Hugh was saying as he sat down. "You've heard +me talk of him more than a few times; and even expressed the wish that +I might introduce him to you. He's interested in nearly everything +that concerns me, and we seem to work together like a well-ordered +team, even if we do have an occasional little spat, which is to be +expected." +</P> + +<P> +Madame Pangborn loved boys, as has been said before. She understood +them wonderfully well, too, considering that she had never had one of +her own. So she laughed at what Hugh said. +</P> + +<P> +"I'm doubly glad you have dropped in to see me today, Hugh," she told +him, "for more reasons than one. In the first place, I want to hear at +first hand just what did happen out there at that terrible mill-pond; +and how you managed to save that little boy of my Sarah from drowning. +He sometimes comes here with her to spend a part of a day, and I like +to talk with him, he seems so original, so bright, and so curious about +everything I possess, too." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh! it didn't amount to very much, so far as we were concerned, I +mean," Hugh expostulated; "but since Sarah has told you about it, I +suppose I might as well spin the whole story. We consider that we were +lucky to be around, that's all, for I guess little Brutus would have +been with the angels before now if we hadn't happened along, and heard +all that shrieking from the colored children." +</P> + +<P> +Then he went on to tell about it, even to what had happened after +Brutus arrived home in the big car, the object of attention in +Darktown, with Sarah running like mad to find out what the garbled +account brought by Adolphus Smith might really mean. +</P> + +<P> +The old lady was highly interested in the story, which really Hugh +managed to tell quite cleverly, even injecting some humor in his +narrative. +</P> + +<P> +"So that is how Sarah comes to be calling her Brutus a hero, is it?" +Mrs. Pangborn went on to say, with a smile. "I had never heard her say +such a word before, and considered it rather queer in a mother whose +child had been close to drowning. According to my mind, you and your +chum are really the ones most deserving of that title; but I'll spare +your blushes, young men. Now tell me what you are doing in the line of +outdoor sports; because I hear there are great goings on around this +section of country; and I suppose I must give up next Saturday +afternoon to journeying over to Belleville, in order to encourage our +valiant Scranton High boys." +</P> + +<P> +Both of them started telling of the things that were being done in a +baseball way; and as they were enthusiasts, they found it easy to +enlarge upon such a favorite theme. Thad, however, had begun to show +signs of nervousness, and Hugh suddenly remembering that they had come +there with a particular motive in view, drew out of the conversation, +leaving it to his chum to carry it on with the old lady. +</P> + +<P> +Thad only waited for a favorable opening, when he was ready to "sail +in." This came when the Madame chanced to mention her travels in many +lands, and the fond memories she had of all her visits. +</P> + +<P> +"But when I shall eventually return to my beloved France," she remarked +sadly, "I anticipate many a heartache to see the terrible condition of +the fair country that has been turned into a howling wilderness by the +vandal German armies. Ah! I almost dread the day, much as I yearn to +tread my native soil again." +</P> + +<P> +"My chum was telling me that you had quite a collection of queer +souvenir spoons," Thad remarked just then, thinking he had found just +such an opening as he wished. +</P> + +<P> +Madame Pangborn shot Hugh a suggestive look, as if wondering how far he +had confided in his chum. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, it is true, I have taken considerable pleasure collecting spoons +in some of the many cities I visited, all of them wonderfully unique," +she went on to say, with a sigh; "but perhaps, after all, it is a +useless and pernicious habit, since it may tempt some weak one, and +cause trouble." +</P> + +<P> +Then Thad brought out what he had in his pocket. Hugh held his breath. +</P> + +<P> +"Please take a look at this spoon, will you, Mrs. Pangborn," said Thad, +"and tell me if you have ever seen one like it before!" +</P> + +<P> +She gave the speaker a quick, suspicious look, and eagerly took the +little object. For a minute or so she turned it over and over, while +the two boys were quivering with suspense. Then she spoke. +</P> + +<P> +"Ah! quite a charming specimen of Old English silver workmanship, and I +must say it is exceedingly handsome; but it represents a city in which +I never happened to set foot," with which she handed the spoon back to +Thad, who almost dropped it to the floor, such was his sudden sensation +of intense relief. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap19"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XIX +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +HUGH REACHES HIS GOAL +</H3> + + +<P> +Thad Stevens looked as though any one could knock him down with a +feather. The astonishing fact that the old lady who made a fad of +collecting souvenir spoons, had failed to recognize the one which he +had purloined from Owen's den "struck him all in a heap," as he +afterwards expressed it. Why, that would seem to indicate Owen must be +entirely innocent, so far as proof went. +</P> + +<P> +Hugh, on his part, was quicker to recover. Although he felt a spasm of +sincere satisfaction pass through him at the result of his chum's test, +at the same time he realized that there was no necessity for making +"mountains out of molehills." +</P> + +<P> +Madame Pangborn had instantly surmised that there was more connected +with that odd little silver spoon than she had as yet grasped. Indeed, +having good eyesight, she could hardly have failed to notice the +strange actions of Thad. +</P> + +<P> +"Tell me what it all means, please, Thad," she besought him; "for I am +certain you must have some deeper motive in fetching that souvenir +spoon to show me than appears on the surface. Don't you think I am +entitled to your full confidence?" +</P> + +<P> +"Indeed you are," said Hugh, quickly, "and you shall hear the whole +story. Both of us are right now tingling with satisfaction and delight +because our worst fears have proved ungrounded." +</P> + +<P> +Then he went on to explain just how Thad had by accident become a +temporary guest under the roof of the Rookery, after having helped old +Mr. Dugdale to the house when he was seized with a sudden attack of +sciatica in one of his lower limbs. It did not take Hugh, with an +occasional sentence of explanation from his eager chum, who wanted to +be set right in the eyes of the good madame, long to tell how Thad +chanced to discover the spoon among many other things in Owen's "den," +and what a host of fears its presence there had aroused in their +breasts. +</P> + +<P> +Then he reached the point in his narrative where Thad conceived the +bold idea of appropriating the spoon during Owen's absence, and letting +the old lady see the same, knowing full well that if she recognized it +as one of her missing souvenir mementoes, the case would look +exceedingly dark for Owen. +</P> + +<P> +Madame Pangborn's face took on a radiant look after she had learned all. +</P> + +<P> +"I have never been able to believe that boy could be guilty of such an +atrocious deed," she hastened to say, emphatically. "I flatter myself +that I can read boys as well as any one, and in his eyes there lies +only truth, and an ardent desire to accomplish great things that have +long been burning in his soul. But, nevertheless, the circumstantial +evidence was so strong that it has caused me some sleepless nights. +Now I know Owen is innocent, I shall be satisfied. I would sooner lose +all my spoons ten times over than find that he had yielded to a sudden +and irresistible temptation." +</P> + +<P> +"But," said Thad, in sore perplexity, "the three spoons are gone, +there's no doubt about that; and if Owen didn't take them who did?" +</P> + +<P> +"Please let the matter drop," expostulated the old lady, hastily. "I +am satisfied to know the boy is innocent. I shall immediately put the +rest of my spoons away, so that they may not tempt any one again." +</P> + +<P> +"But it wouldn't be right to give the hunt up so easily as that, you +know, lady," complained Thad. "We've started in to find the thief, and +our motto is never to turn back once we've put our hands to the plough. +Hugh, don't you say the same?" +</P> + +<P> +"I certainly do," affirmed the other boy. "And while about it, perhaps +I ought to tell Mrs. Pangborn how I at one time even began to imagine +the thief was a thing of green and yellow feathers, and a hooked bill, +otherwise known as Pretty Polly." +</P> + +<P> +At that, the old lady seemed highly interested. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh! such a thought never occurred to me, Hugh!" she hastily exclaimed. +"Could it be possible, do you think?" and she glanced apprehensively +toward the corner of the library, where the handsome and intelligent +parrot sat on her perch, chained by the leg, and with her +yellow-crowned head turned on one side as though she might be listening +to all that was being said. +</P> + +<P> +"It is a bare possibility," Hugh went on to say. "A whole lot would +depend on whether Polly chanced to get free during those particular +days when the spoons disappeared. As to whether a bird like that would +carry away such things, and hide them, there's lots of accounts of such +things happening. I'll tell you of a few instances I've read about, +and every one was vouched for as absolutely true in the bargain." +</P> + +<P> +So for some little time he amused and interested the old lady with +accounts of strange things various species of pet birds, from rooks and +ravens, all the way to talking parrots, had been guilty, in the way of +stealing bright articles of jewelry, and trinkets that seemed to have +caught their fancy, hiding them away in some cranny or nook, where the +whole collection was afterwards found. +</P> + +<P> +"I may have read something along those lines myself at some time or +other, Hugh," she told him, as he concluded, "but it slipped my mind. +Whether Polly is guilty of petty larceny or not, after this, I shall be +more careful than ever about keeping her fast to her perch by that long +chain. There is no telling what a wise old bird of her nature might +not attempt, given freedom. I sometimes think she has a little devil +in her, when she says something wonderful, and looks so droll. But you +have given me a very happy half hour, for which I thank you both." +</P> + +<P> +Thad kept glancing toward Hugh as though he was puzzled as to what +further action his chum meant to take in the case. For accustomed to +reading the expression on Hugh's face, he seemed to realize that the +other had some "card up his sleeve" which he meant to play. +</P> + +<P> +"Hadn't we better be going, Hugh?" he now asked. +</P> + +<P> +"Right away," came the reply, "for it's getting near six o'clock, and +Mrs. Pangborn will be having her tea soon." +</P> + +<P> +"I do have it a little earlier on Sunday, because I allow Sarah to go +home," admitted the old lady. "She is a great hand to attend church, +you know, and I believe sings in the choir like a lark. I often hear +her practicing down in the kitchen while cooking dinner. But I'd be +delighted if you boys could stay and take a bite with me." +</P> + +<P> +"Thank you, ma'am," said Hugh, "another time we'd be only too glad to +accept your invitation; but I must be home tonight. What time do you +suppose Sarah would be at her house? I want to see her about her +little shaver Brutus, and find out if his ducking did him any harm, and +thought I'd walk around later in the evening." +</P> + +<P> +"You are apt to find Sarah at home up to a quarter of eight. After +that she will be in her place in the colored church," he was told. +</P> + +<P> +Then the boys took their leave. On the way home, Thad expressed some +curiosity concerning the visit Hugh proposed making to Sarah's home. +</P> + +<P> +"Do you really think that boy might come down with pneumonia, or +something like that on account of being in the water, Hugh?" he asked, +at which the other smiled mysteriously and replied: +</P> + +<P> +"Oh! the water is still pretty chilly, you know, Thad; and the child +was so terribly frightened that he might feel the result of his +immersion, even if we did make a fire, and dry his clothes well. +Besides, I've dropped my pocket knife, and I've a little idea it was +while we looked through that playhouse of Brutus'. But suppose you +stop asking questions, and agree to accompany me when I make my little +call on Sarah this evening?" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh! all right, Hugh, I'll go with you," complained Thad, "but I know +as well as anything you've got some queer notion back of it all, which +you don't mean to share with me. But remember that Madame Pangborn +told you she would trust Sarah with her purse or her life, she has such +confidence in the woman." +</P> + +<P> +"I haven't forgotten," said Hugh, quietly. "I know what I'm doing. +You show up around seven or a quarter after, and we'll take a little +walk. Perhaps we might pick up a few facts worth while before we come +back; stranger things have happened than that, Thad." +</P> + +<P> +"You are the limit," laughed the other, as he swung aside and headed +for his own house, doubtless to ponder over the mysterious words of +Hugh many times while eating his supper on that Sunday evening. +</P> + +<P> +It was just dark as he started across lots toward Hugh's home; for +there was a short-cut which they frequently made use of—trust boys for +cutting off corners whenever it is possible, even if they have to vault +fences in order to reduce distances. +</P> + +<P> +All the way out to the colored settlement, Hugh kept up an unusually +lively flow of talk. He knew Thad was fairly itching to ask questions, +and apparently Hugh did not mean to let him have a chance. +</P> + +<P> +So they finally entered among the humble cottages and cabins where +Scranton's colored population lived. Children were running about the +streets shouting in play, even as the first peal of the cracked bell in +the little church near by began to sound. +</P> + +<P> +Sarah was at home. She seemed surprised to see the two white boys. +</P> + +<P> +"How's little Brutus, Sarah?" asked Hugh. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh! he's all hunky-dory, suh, 'deed an' he is," she replied with a +smile. "I done jest gib him his supper, and chucked de chile in his +bed. An' I ain't put a hand on him neither. Jes' as yuh sez he done +hab a lesson; but I tells him if he ebber goes to dat ere mill-pond +agin I lays fo' him, and makes him smart like fun." +</P> + +<P> +"I'm sorry to trouble you, Sarah, but I've dropped my knife somewhere, +and remembered having taken it out of my pocket when you were showing +us Brutus' playhouse. Would you mind getting a lamp, and going back +there just to take a look around. I value that knife a lot, and would +hate to lose it. We won't keep you from church more than a few minutes +at most." +</P> + +<P> +"Sure I will, suh. I'd do a thousand times as much fo' de white boys +as sabed my baby fo' me dis berry day." +</P> + +<P> +She quickly secured a lamp, and led the way back in the yard. Thad was +beginning to show signs of nervousness. He realized that Hugh must be +playing some sort of a game, and yet strange to say he was unable to +fathom it. +</P> + +<P> +Arriving at the old cabin used partly as a wash-house, and with the +rear devoted to Brutus' "playthings," they entered. Sarah held the +lamp while Hugh started to scan the floor earnestly, moving around as +he looked. +</P> + +<P> +All at once he stooped and picked something up. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I was right in believing I dropped my knife in here, for you +see, I've found it again. Why, what's this?" +</P> + +<P> +He bent over again, and from a receptacle in a queer old fragment of a +desk that had a number of pigeon-holes in it, Hugh plucked something +and held it before the eyes of the others. Then he made another +movement, and <I>three</I> shining objects lay there in his hand. +</P> + +<P> +Thad gasped and stared. He was looking on the missing souvenir spoons! +As for the amazed Sarah, it was a blessing that she did not let the +lamp fall from her nerveless hand as she burst forth with: +</P> + +<P> +"Fo' de lands sake, if dem ain't some oh de old missis' spoons; dat +good-fo'-nothin' brack imp must a' snuck one ebbery time I takes him to +visit de lady. Oh! he kotch it fo' dis, you better belieb me!" +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap20"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XX +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +LOOKING FORWARD--CONCLUSION +</H3> + + +<P> +There could be no doubt about the genuine nature of the horror and +indignation, as well as shame, that struggled for the mastery in the +mind of the astonished colored woman. To learn that her little boy had +abused her confidence whenever she took him visiting her good mistress +was a shocking revelation. She also looked furiously angry, and it was +evident that the said Brutus would receive due punishment on account of +his propensity for purloining things that belonged to others, just to +add to his "collection." The thing that struck Hugh as bordering on +the comical was that even a small colored boy might have the same mania +for gathering "trophies" of his visits that possessed Madame Pangborn. +He felt that the good lady would herself be amused at the coincidence, +and be ready to forgive little Brutus. +</P> + +<P> +He proceeded to show Sarah that it would be entirely unnecessary to let +any one know what had happened. There would be no exposure, and she +need not be "disgraced" in the eyes of her neighbors. Hugh would +simply return the spoons to their owner, who certainly would never hold +it against Sarah. But after that, should Brutus be invited to the old +lady's house, his actions would be carefully watched lest his +acquisitive propensities again get the better of his honesty. +</P> + +<P> +Thad was highly delighted with the result of their "raid" on Brutus' +playhouse. On the way to Madame Pangborn's, he boldly accused his chum +of having set up a little game. +</P> + +<P> +"Now I wouldn't be at all surprised, Hugh," he went on to say, "if you +dropped your knife in that cabin on purpose when we were looking around +this afternoon; own up and tell me if that isn't true." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, I did," admitted the other, laughingly. "Now that the thing has +turned out even better than I dared hope, I'm willing to confess that a +sudden suspicion gripped me about that time. When I saw what an +astonishing assortment of old junk that boy had collected, I knew he +had a mania for picking up things. And the idea struck me that since +he sometimes was allowed to stay for an afternoon with his mother at +Madame Pangborn's house, what if the temptation came to him to take one +of those pretty spoons to add to his assortment? Why, the more I +thought of the idea the stronger it hit me. On the impulse of the +moment I dropped my knife, so as to have a good excuse for getting out +there again, and prowling around a bit. I didn't want to mention a +thing even to you until I had proved whether there was any truth in my +new suspicion. And it turned out splendidly." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh! I'm so glad, for Owen's sake particularly!" declared Thad. "Now +I must manage to get this spoon back in his den without his ever +suspecting I took it; but that ought to be easy. I hope he never knows +he was under suspicion, because he's very proud, and it would hurt him +terribly." +</P> + +<P> +"What makes me think a near-miracle has been performed," added Hugh, +soberly, "is the way all this came about. Only for our taking that +walk we wouldn't have been near Hobson's mill-pond at just the minute +little Brutus was struggling in the water, and so been able to pull him +out. That in turn took us to his home; and his mother had to dip in by +wanting us to see how her precious pickaninny played with his toys back +in the old cabin. It's wonderful, that's all I can say." +</P> + +<P> +"But, Hugh, you deserve all the credit," affirmed Thad. "In the first +place, you took this heavy task on your shoulders, and started to find +out who was guilty of robbing your good old friend, Madame Pangborn. +It's been an uphill fight from the start, but here we've reached the +finish in a blaze of glory. But won't the old lady be astonished when +we show her the spoons, and tell her just how they were found." +</P> + +<P> +She certainly was, and made them go into the most particular details +concerning the matter. Just as wise Hugh had believed would be the +case, she did not blame Sarah in the least; nor did she declare the +little chap would surely grow up to be a disgrace to his mother. Her +kindly heart knew the failings of small boys better than to condemn a +child for a weakness. She did say she would have a good talk with +Sarah, and advise her as to how she should try to train Brutus so that +this very trait might serve to his credit instead of being always a +weakness. +</P> + +<P> +"And as for Owen," she concluded, "I am more than ever satisfied that +his is a sterling character. I want to see more of that boy; and I'm +determined to make the acquaintance of his grandfather. I feel +absolutely certain that the old gentleman has been misunderstood by +thoughtless people in Scranton; and from little hints Owen has dropped, +I fully believe it will turn out that Mr. Dugdale is a man of some +consequence, perhaps even renown, in his own country; though just why +he left it, and has been living in retirement here these two years, is +a matter that concerns only himself. But you boys have acquitted +yourselves handsomely in this affair, and brought me much happiness. +Come and see me often; you will always find my latch-string out to Hugh +Morgan and Thad Stevens." +</P> + +<P> +So they went home with hearts that beat high in the exuberance of their +joy. The puzzling enigma had been fully solved, and just as they would +have wished it to come out. Now Hugh could put all other matters aside +and devote his spare time to his work as field captain of the newly +organized Scranton High Baseball Team. +</P> + +<P> +Only a few days remained before their first grand game would be played +with the Belleville nine, and well they knew that they must acquit +themselves handsomely on the diamond if they hoped to bring a victory +home with them, and to cause Scranton, so long drowsing in a Rip Van +Winkle sleep, to awaken and whoop for joy. +</P> + +<P> +Other problems would possibly present themselves to Hugh Morgan for +solution from time to time, as he pursued his onward way; but it can be +set down as certain that a lad of his sagacity and determination was +bound to attain his goal, once he started out. +</P> + +<P> +And with that ambitious programme of outdoor sports ahead of them, it +can be safely assumed there would be glorious doings in and around the +town of Scranton, starting on the following Saturday, when, packing +their kits, and donning their new uniforms, the high-school team set +out to invade the lair of the tiger in neighboring Belleville. Just +what they accomplished in the good old summer time will be found +narrated between the covers of the next volume in this series of books, +now on sale under the suggestive title of "The Chums of Scranton High +in the Three-Town League; or, Out for a Baseball Pennant." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR><BR> +<hr class="full" noshade> +<p>***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CHUMS OF SCRANTON HIGH***</p> +<p>******* This file should be named 18587-h.txt or 18587-h.zip *******</p> +<p>This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:<br /> +<a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/8/5/8/18587">http://www.gutenberg.org/1/8/5/8/18587</a></p> +<p>Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed.</p> + +<p>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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For +example an eBook of filename 10234 would be found at: + +http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/0/2/3/10234 + +or filename 24689 would be found at: +http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/4/6/8/24689 + +An alternative method of locating eBooks: +<a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/GUTINDEX.ALL">http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/GUTINDEX.ALL</a> + +*** END: FULL LICENSE *** +</pre> +</body> +</html> diff --git a/18587-h/images/img-front.jpg b/18587-h/images/img-front.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..7e6445e --- /dev/null +++ b/18587-h/images/img-front.jpg diff --git a/18587.txt b/18587.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..9cc2bdb --- /dev/null +++ b/18587.txt @@ -0,0 +1,4774 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Chums of Scranton High, 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 + Hugh Morgan's Uphill Fight + + +Author: Donald Ferguson + + + +Release Date: June 14, 2006 [eBook #18587] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CHUMS OF SCRANTON HIGH*** + + +E-text prepared by Al Haines + + + +Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this + file which includes the original illustration. + See 18587-h.htm or 18587-h.zip: + (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/8/5/8/18587/18587-h/18587-h.htm) + or + (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/8/5/8/18587/18587-h.zip) + + + + + +THE CHUMS OF SCRANTON HIGH + +Or + +Hugh Morgan's Uphill Fight + +by + +DONALD FERGUSON + + + + + + + +[Frontispiece: "Are you through?" demanded, Hugh sternly.] + + + + +The Goldsmith Publishing Co. +Cleveland +Made in U. S. A. +Copyright, 1919 + + + + +CONTENTS + + +CHAPTER + + I. A FENCE WITH A HISTORY + II. THE BOYS OF OLD SCRANTON + III. HUGH SHOULDERS A HEAVY TASK + IV. IN FOR A FROLIC + V. THE TRAGIC AFFAIR ON THE ROAD + VI. MAKING A GOOD JOB OF IT + VII. CALLED OUT FOR PRACTICE + VIII. THAD MAKES A DISCOVERY + IX. JUST BETWEEN CHUMS + X. A VISITOR FROM BELLEVILLE HIGH + XI. HUGH'S PETS IN DANGER + XII. THE TRAP + XIII. A COLD RECEPTION + XIV. NICK AS A GAP-STOPPER + XV. PRETTY POLLY UNDER SUSPICION + XVI. THE RESCUE AT HOBSON'S MILL-POND + XVII. LITTLE BRUTUS AND HIS "COLLECTION" + XVIII. A STRAIGHT DRIVE FOR THE TRUTH + XIX. HUGH REACHES HIS GOAL + XX. LOOKING FORWARD--CONCLUSION + + + + +THE CHUMS OF SCRANTON HIGH + + +CHAPTER I + +A FENCE WITH A HISTORY + +"The best day so far this spring, fellows!" + +"It feels mighty much like baseball weather, for a fact, Otto!" + +"True for you, K. K., though there's still just a little tang to this +April air." + +"What of that, Eli? The big leagues have opened shop all over the +land, and the city papers are already full of baseball scores, and +diamond lore. We ought to be getting busy ourselves in little old +Scranton." + +"Allandale High is practicing. Sandy Dowd and I saw a bunch of the +boys out on their field after school yesterday, didn't we, Sandy?" + +"That's right, we did. And I understand Belleville expects to put an +extra hard-hitting nine in the game this season. They're still sore +over the terrible drubbing Allandale gave them last summer." + +"Since Scranton has now become a member of the Three-Town League, +taking the place of Lawrence when that nine dropped out, seems to me we +ought to lose no time if we expect to commence practicing. That same +Allandale team swept the circuit, you remember, like a hurricane." + +"We've plenty of good material, fellows, believe me, right here in +Scranton High. And somehow I've got a hunch that we're going to make +even mighty Allandale take a tumble before the season gets old." + +"Don't boast too soon, Eli Griffin. That's a wee Yankee trick you must +have inherited from your forebears." + +"Easy for you to say that, Andy McGuffey. Why, you're a regular old +pessimist, like all your canny Scotch ancestors were. You love to look +at the world through smoked glasses. On my part, I prefer to use +rose-colored ones, and expect the best sort of things to happen, even +if I do get fooled lots of times." + +A number of well-grown lads were perched in all sorts of grotesque +attitudes along the top rail of the campus fence. That same fence of +Scranton High was almost as famous, in its modest way, as the one at +Yale known throughout the length and breadth of the whole land. + +It had stood there, repaired at stated and frequent intervals, for at +least two score of years. Hundreds upon hundreds of Scranton lads, +long since grown to manhood, and many of them gone forth to take their +appointed places in the busy marts of the world, kept a warm corner in +their hearts for sacred memories of that dear old fence. Many a +glorious campaign of sport or mischief had been talked over by a line +of students perched along the flat rail at the summit of that same +fence. More than one contemplated school mutiny had been hatched in +excited whispers amidst those never-to-be-forgotten historic +surroundings. + +Why, when a few years back the unthinking and officious School +Directors voted to have that fence demolished, simply because it seemed +to be out of keeping with the grand new building that had been erected, +a storm of angry protest arose from students and parents; while letters +arrived from a score and more of eminent men who were proud to call +Scranton their birthplace. So overwhelming was the flood, that a hurry +call for an extra meeting of the Board went out, at which their former +ill-advised decision was rescinded. + +And so there that fence remained, beloved of every boy in Scranton, the +younger fry only longing for the day to come when passing for the high +school they, too, might have the proud privilege of "roosting" on its +well-worn rails. Possibly it will still be in existence when some of +their sons also reach the dignity of wearing the freshman class colors, +and of battling on gridiron and diamond for the honor of Old Scranton. + +As to the identity of the boys in question, from whom those remarks +proceeded, they might just as well be briefly introduced here as later, +as all of them are destined to take part in the lively doings that will +be recorded in this and in other volumes of this series. + +Otto was Otto Brand; Eli Griffin came of New England parentage, and had +some of the traits that distinguish Yankees the world over, though a +pretty fine fellow, all told; Andy McGuffey, as his name would +indicate, could look back to a Scotch ancestry, and occasionally a +touch of the brogue might be detected in his speech; Sandy Dowd had red +hair, blue eyes and a host of very noticeable freckles; but could be +good-natured in spite of any drawbacks; while the lad called "K. K." +was in reality Kenneth Kinkaid; but since boys generally have little +use for a name that makes a mouthful, he was known far and wide under +that singularly abbreviated cognomen. + +The Committee on Sports connected with Scranton High was a body of +seniors appointed by the students themselves, and given authority to +handle all questions connected with athletics. As a rule, they carried +out their duties in a broad-minded fashion, and not only merited the +confidence of the entire school but also the respect of the faculty as +well. + +There was considerable anxiety abroad just at present, because it was +well known that the committee had been discussing the possible make-up +of the baseball team to which would be given the proud privilege of +representing the school that season in the Three-Town League. No one +knew absolutely just who would be selected among the numerous +candidates, though, of course, it was only natural that many +entertained wild hopes, which were only doomed to disappointment. + +Two more boys came sauntering along, and found places on the "roost." +One of these was a burly fellow with a pugnacious face and a bold eye. +He seemed to be no favorite among the boys, though they treated him +with a certain amount of respect. Well, there is never a town or a +village but has its particular bully; and for several years now Nick +Lang had ably filled that role in Scranton. + +He was a born "scrapper," and never so happy as when annoying others. +A fight appeared to be the acme of pleasure with him, and it was seldom +that he could be seen without some trace of a mix-up on his face in the +shape of scratches, or a suspicious hue about one of his eyes. + +The other boy was Leon Disney, the "under-study" of Nick. While just +as tough as the other, Leon never displayed the same amount of +boldness. He would rather attain his revenge through some petty means, +being a born sneak. The boys only tolerated Leon because Nick chose to +stand up for him; and every one disliked to anger the Lang fellow, on +account of his way of making things unpleasant for others. + +The general talk continued, with Nick taking part in it, for he at +least was known to be a smart hand at athletics, and had often led in +such things as hammer-throwing and wrestling. + +During the course of the conversation, which had become general, Eli +chanced to mention the name of Owen Dugdale. + +"Why, they say that even he aspires to get a place on the substitute +list, just to think of his nerve. Perhaps a few other fellows might +feel they'd been slighted if the committee turned them down for Owen +Dugdale." + +"Hold up there a bit, Eli," said K. K., reprovingly. "If I were you +I'd go a little slow about running a fellow down, just because he +happens to be called Owen Dugdale, and live with a queer old gentleman +he calls his grandfather, but who chooses to keep aloof from Scranton +folks as if he were a hermit. I happen to know that two of our most +respected chums, Hugh Morgan and Thad Stevens, seem to have taken a +great liking for that dark-faced chap. I've seen Owen in their company +considerably of late." + +Eli gave a snort of disdain. He was one of those impulsive boys who +often say disagreeable things on the spur of the moment, and then +perhaps afterwards feel sorry for having done so. Evidently, he had +taken a notion to dislike the said Owen, and did not care who knew it. + +"That fellow had been a mystery ever since he and his ancient +granddaddy came to Scranton, and started to live in that old house +called The Rookery, and which used to be thought a haunted place. I've +always had a hunch they must be some relation to the notorious Luther +Dugdale who has had a bad reputation as a dishonest operator down in +the Wall Street district in New York. Why, lately I even asked my +cousin in a letter about that man, and he wrote me the old chap had +strangely disappeared some years ago, carrying off a big bunch of +boodle dishonestly gained. Well, I'm not saying it's the same old +rascal who's living in our midst right now, but, fellows, you can draw +your own conclusions, for they came here just two years ago this +summer!" + +"Wow! that's something new you're telling us, Eli!" + +"It takes _you_ to pick up clues, and you'll miss your vocation if you +don't look for a job with the Government Secret Service, believe me, +Eli!" + +"So Hugh Morgan has taken up with that gloomy looking chap Owen, has +he?" remarked Nick Lang, with a suggestive wink at his crony, Leon. +"Mebbe, now, I might badger him into having a friendly little bout with +fists through that kid. As the rest of you happen to know I've tried +about every other way to make the coward fight, and he only gives me +one of his smiles, and says he's opposed to scrapping. That wise +mother of his has tied little Hughy to her apron strings, seems like; +but I'll get him yet, see if I don't." + +The other fellows exchanged significant looks and nods. Hugh Morgan +had apparently always been more or less of an enigma to them. They +knew he was no coward, for only the last winter he had leaped boldly +into the river at the risk of his own life, and saved little Tommy +Crabbe just when the unfortunate child was about to be drawn by the +fierce current under the ice. Still, no one had even known Hugh to be +engaged in a fight. There was some deep object back of his reluctance +so to demean himself, most of the fellows believed, and as he was so +well liked, they respected his motives. + +Just then keen-eyed Andy McGuffey was heard to cry out: + +"Speak of an angel and you'll hear the rustle of his wings, and there +comes our Hugh right now. See, he's waving his hand to us, and is +hurrying along at almost a run. Say, it may be he's fetching some news +from the committee, because he told me he had an idea they'd reach an +understanding this afternoon. Yes, he's looking mighty wise, so I +reckon we're going to hear something drop." + + + + +CHAPTER II + +THE BOYS OF OLD SCRANTON + +The boy advancing toward the comrades perched on the campus fence was +bright of face, and with laughing eyes that made him hosts of friends. +Few had ever seen Hugh Morgan angry, though there was a report that on +a certain occasion he had stopped to give old Garry Owen the truckman a +piece of his mind, and threaten to have him arrested if he was ever +seen beating his poor horse when the animal was stalled with a load too +heavy for his strength. Yes, and although Garry was known to have a +fiery Irish tongue, he had been subdued by the arguments which Hugh +hurled at him, and meekly promised to go easy with his stinging whip +after that. + +Hugh seemed to be a trimly built lad, who evidently believed in keeping +not only his mind but his body also well trained, since so much +depended on good health. He lived with his mother and smaller sister. +His father had been dead some years now, but apparently the widow had +plenty of means to afford them a good living. They resided in a nice +house and kept one servant. + +Most of the boys of Scranton High thought Hugh a fine fellow, and +envied Thad Stevens the privilege of being his closest chum. A few, +however, had no use for Hugh, and among them were such fellows as Nick +Lang and Leon Disney. They pretended to dislike him because he had no +"nerve," which was only another method of saying that he absolutely +declined to be egged into a dispute, and had a wonderful way of cooling +off all would-be fighters who dared him to a fist test. + +Those who knew Hugh best felt certain there must be some good and valid +reason for his action in this respect. He had taken none of them into +his confidence, however, and they could only surmise what it might be. +The general consensus of opinion was that possibly at some time in his +younger years, Hugh may have shown signs of an ungovernable temper, and +his wise mother had made him solemnly promise never to allow himself to +be drawn into a fight unless it was to protect some one weaker than +himself who was being rudely treated by a bully. + +He nodded his head as he drew near the group, for by now the eager boys +had left their lofty perch, and gathered in an excited bunch to learn +what was in the wind. + +"News, fellows!" exclaimed the latest addition to the group, "great +news for the Scranton lovers of baseball!" + +"Then the committee have finished making out their programme, and mebbe +even decided on the lucky candidates who'll have a chance to show what +they've got in them to put the school on the map this year?" + +"A pretty good guess for you, Eli, so go up head," laughed Hugh; "for +I've just been told that is what has come about. Their deliberations +have closed, and presently there will be a general call issued for a +full meeting, at which their report is to be read. Then everybody will +know whether or not they have been deemed worthy of making a try for +honors in the diamond this season." + +"We'll all be mighty glad when it's over, and those of us who are +unfortunate enough to get left high and dry can know the worst," said +K. K. + +"Huh! you needn't lose any sleep over that, K. K.!" exclaimed Sandy +Dowd. "Everybody knows you're a jim-dandy at the bat, and a clever +fielder in the bargain. Wish I had as much chance as you and Hugh here +of making the nine. But then we must put faith in our committee, and +believe they'll select the ones they firmly believe are best fitted for +the job of holding down those heavy sluggers of Allandale. The rest of +us can root for the glory of old Scranton, and even that counts." + +"But the committee, it seems, have gone even further," continued Hugh, +looking around at the eager faces of his chums, and also some who could +hardly be classed under that head. + +"Go on and tell us the news, Hugh! Don't ye see we're just dying to +know?" pleaded Andy McGuffey. + +"Have they been in touch with Allandale and Belleville?" asked the +sagacious Eli. + +"It seems that last night they went over to Allandale to meet the +committee of that place, as well as the one representing Belleville," +continued Hugh. "Matters of every kind were taken up and discussed. +The meeting ended with a programme being laid out that is to be rigidly +adhered to. Two weeks from tomorrow, Saturday, we will find ourselves +up against Belleville; and on the following Saturday it's to be +Allandale. Those two clubs have found a way of having their meetings +come off on Wednesday afternoons at three, a special favor granted by +the directors of the respective schools on account of there being but +three clubs in the league." + +"Two weeks, and as yet we don't even know who's going to be on our +team!" burst out Eli. "Seems to me that's an awful short time to get +settled down into our best stride. Allandale will have a terrible +bulge on us, Hugh, because I hear they've kept almost the same team +that carried off the honors last year." + +"If anything it's said to be some stronger," added Sandy Dowd, +ponderously, for he had a habit of looking solemn at times, in spite of +his blue eyes, red hair and mottled face. "An Allandale fellow told me +they expected to wipe up the earth with both Belleville and Scranton +this term." + +"Huh! better spell able first," grunted Eli. "I hope there's no more +delay than is necessary about notifying the candidates who've been +selected to appear on the athletic field after school every day, and +keep hustling till supper time. We've just _got_ to make the sand fly, +if we expect to catch up with those older teams." + +"Well," Hugh assured him, "you'll know all about it by tomorrow night, +because the last knot will have been untied by then, and everybody +notified to come out to the meeting. Then beginning on next Monday +afternoon, hard practice for the lucky ones, to be continued every +decent day during the week, with a game against a picked nine on +Saturday." + +"Will Mr. Leonard coach the team as he promised, Hugh?" asked K. K. + +Mr. Leonard was the assistant of the head of the Scranton schools, a +pretty fine sort of a young man, who had gained quite some fame as an +athlete while at Princeton, and was well fitted for the task of +athletic instructor, which post he filled in addition to other duties. + +"He told me he would take the greatest pleasure in trying to build up a +winning team for Scranton," Hugh informed them. + +"Good for Mr. Leonard, he's a dandy!" exclaimed Eli; and that seemed to +be the consensus of opinion; though Nick was seen to allow his upper +lip to curl a bit at mention of the athletic instructor's name. + +There was a reason back of that, as the other boys well knew, for they +remembered the time when Nick had been handled pretty briskly by Mr. +Leonard, and made to apologize for some rude remark he had thrown out +heedlessly in his rough way. It could hardly be expected that Nick +would ever have a very good opinion of the young man who had humbled +his swollen pride in the presence of the same fellows whom he had so +long ridden rough-shod over. + +"Well, the afternoon is getting on, and supper-time will be around +before long; so, for one, I'm going to head for home," observed K. K. + +There was a general exodus, and the famous fence was soon abandoned by +the entire group of boys. They started off by twos and threes, with +the general drift of conversation circling around the one great +subject--the meeting to be called for Saturday night in the school, at +which the report of the committee would be made, together with an +announcement as to their choice as to candidates to be tried out for +the various positions on the season's team. + +Hugh and K. K. walked along in company. Hugh always fancied the +Kinkaid boy, for there was something dependable about him that won the +confidence of almost all his mates. K. K. was one of the most +remarkable chaps, who, while engaging in the customary rough and tumble +sports of boys with red blood in their veins, still seemed able to keep +himself always tidy and neat. No one ever knew how he did it, and a +few were wont to call him a "sissy," but K. K. was far from that. Only +one boy attending Scranton High could really come under such a name, +and he was Reggie Van Alstyne, who had always been a veritable dude. + +"Oh! I had nearly forgotten an errand my mother commissioned me to do +for her," Hugh suddenly exclaimed. "I'll have to leave you here, K. +K., and turn back." + +The other laughed. + +"Too much baseball on the brain, I reckon, Hugh," he went on to say; +"but then, with your fetching us that good news, it wasn't to be +wondered that you let such a little thing as an errand for your mother +slip out of your mind. If I can help any, tell me, Hugh." + +"Oh! no, I've just got to step in at Madame Pangborn's and ask her +something. My mother is interested in Red Cross work, you know, and +the old Madame has a connection with the French branch of that service. +Most of the material the ladies of Scranton have been getting ready is +sent abroad through the queer old lady, who, they say, once used to +queen it at the court of Louis Napoleon. She's over eighty years of +age now, but quite rich, I've been told. And if you've never been in +her house you'd be interested in seeing how she lives. That wonderful +green parrot of hers can rattle off a whole string of songs and +sayings. It almost gives you the creeps to hear Jocko performing, for +it strikes you as what Andy McGuffey would call uncanny. Well, so +long, K. K. I hope you make the team, all right." + +"Same to you, Hugh; but nobody doubts that, for we all think you're +away above all the rest of the Scranton boys as an all-round athlete, +barring none. Some may be able to outdo you in their specialty, but +they're weak in other stunts." + +So they parted, K. K. continuing on his way home, while Hugh turned +into a side street, and went whistling along after the manner of a boy +whose mind knew no care. Presently he came to a large house. It was +rather dingy on the outside, but Hugh, who had often been indoors, knew +there was some elegant old mahogany furniture, as well as other +mementoes of the former life of the Madame when she filled a high niche +at the French court, before the republic was inaugurated. + +His knock at the door--for instead of an electric bell the lady +insisted on using one of those enormous old silver-plated knockers, +that used to be the fashion fifty or sixty years back--was answered by +a colored woman, who seemed to know the boy, for she smiled pleasantly. + +"Yassir, de missus is in," she told him in answer to his question. +"Jes' yo' walk on back to de library, honey, an' dar you'll find her, +sewin' like she always does dese amazin' times. You knows de way, I +reckons, sah." + +"I certainly do, Sarah," he assured her as he started along the wide +hall. + +When he knocked gently at the library door, he was told to enter, which +Hugh proceeded to do. A very wrinkled and old woman sat in a big +chair. The table was covered with material for all sorts of bandages, +and such things as are urgently needed wherever hideous war is raging. +Hugh noticed that at sight of him Madame Pangborn seemed pleased. He +wondered why, but was not long in learning. + +"Oh! I am glad you've dropped in to see me, Hugh," she told him; +"because something very strange has happened, and perhaps you might be +able to advise me. In fact, Hugh, I fear I am being systematically +robbed!" + + + + +CHAPTER III + +HUGH SHOULDERS A HEAVY TASK + +Hugh hardly knew how to take that astonishing declaration on the part +of the old lady. He remembered that she was very peculiar in some +ways, and the very first thought that flashed into the boy's mind was +to the effect that Madame Pangborn might be getting what some fellows +would, impolitely of course, have called "daffy." + +Still her black eyes flashed with all their old-time vigor, and she +appeared to be very much in earnest. More to humor her than anything +else Hugh remarked in a sympathetic voice: + +"I'm sorry to hear that, ma'am. Of course if I can do anything for you +I'll be only too glad of the chance. Would you mind telling me about +it?" + +"Thank you for your kindness, my son," she went on, eagerly. "You see, +a woman of my age, who has studied human nature for a long time, comes +to know the weaknesses of boys, even while believing in them to the +utmost. At times the temptation may be more than their powers of +resistance can stand, and they are irresistibly impelled to take +something that excites their cupidity. I am prone to believe most of +them find it possible to resist such an inclination. Still, alas! I +have known of occasions where the temptation carried the day. This +seems to be one of them. My heart is feeling very sore over it, too. +I thought at first to speak to Chief Wambold, but somehow I hesitated. +And then it happened precisely as before." + +"Do you mean to say you have missed something on two separate +occasions, ma'am?" Hugh hastened to ask, beginning to realize now that +"where there was smoke there must be a fire," and that after all there +was something more in this affair than a mere specter brought into +being through an old lady's whim. + +"Yes, it has occurred twice, and on each occasion that same boy chanced +to be in my house. Oh! it is too bad, too bad! And he such a quiet +and respectful young chap in the bargain." + +"Please tell me more about it, for I can't possibly be of any +assistance to you, Mrs. Pangborn, unless I know the facts," Hugh +continued, his curiosity beginning to rise by jumps. + +"The first time," the old lady went on to say, consulting what seemed +to be a diary which she picked up from her overloaded table, "was just +a week ago today. I had been busy as usual, for an additional number +of pieces came in from those kind ladies of Scranton who are helping me +sew for the brave wounded poilus of my country, valiant France. This +lad brought in a package which Mrs. Ackerman had given into his charge. +I remember I chatted with him quite a while, and was interested in all +he said so respectfully; for it happened I had heard a number of +peculiar things in the way of town gossip concerning him and his aged +grandfather." + +She paused as if to recover her breath. Hugh, on his part, had started +as though he might have received a sudden shock. Possibly his thoughts +flew instantly toward one particular boy who happened to have an old +grandfather, and about whom there had always been more or less +mysterious comment in the town. + +"After he had gone away, letting himself out at my request, so as to +save Sarah from coming up from the kitchen, I had occasion to pass into +the other room, which also opens into the front hall. Something +impelled me to idly count over some souvenir spoons that I have +personally collected from various parts of the world, and each one of +which has a peculiar value for me far, far beyond its pecuniary worth. + +"To my surprise and dismay I found that there were only eleven, when +there should have been twelve. I keep them there on a table so as to +show them to some of my kind lady friends, for I am particularly proud +of my collection, and Sarah had only that morning brightened them all +superbly until they glistened. + +"So I called her up and asked her if she could remember counting the +spoons at the time she cleaned them. She assured me solemnly that the +entire twelve were in the open case when she placed them on the table +at my orders. + +"It remained a puzzle to me for a whole week. I believed, of course, +that Sarah must have unconsciously mislaid a spoon, which would be +found sooner or later. At the same time I remembered the visit of that +lad, who had never been in my house before, and how he might have +glanced into the drawing-room through accident, and seeing my souvenir +spoons, been tempted to purloin one. But every time that terrible +thought flashed into my mind I indignantly refused to harbor it, I love +all boys so much. + +"Then again today he came with more work turned in by Mrs. Ackerman, +who had for some reason of her own selected him as her messenger. I +actually forgot all my ugly suspicions in the charm of his manly +conversation, until some time after he had gone, again, at my +suggestion, letting himself out. I hurried into the drawing-room, and +with trembling fingers proceeded to count my spoons. There were but +ten of them left in the open box. Another had strangely vanished!" + +Hugh almost gasped, he was so tremendously interested in this thrilling +recital. + +"You are certain you did not make any mistake, Mrs. Pangborn?" he +asked, for want of something better to say. + +"Please step into the other room and count them for yourself, Hugh," +she quickly told him. "You can use the connecting door if you wish, +instead of passing around by way of the hall." + +Hugh came back a minute later. His face was very grave. + +"It is just as you told me, ma'am," he remarked, softly, at the same +time shaking his head, as though he could not bring himself to believe +it was as bad as the old lady suspected; that there must be some other +and reasonable explanation for the vanishing of the spoons; surely Owen +Dugdale could not be guilty of such a base theft! + +"What can I believe, Hugh?" she almost wailed. "I do not walk in my +sleep, and that colored girl is as honest as your own mother, I feel +positive. Please tell me you will try and find out the answer to this +distressing puzzle." + +"I can easily promise you that I will at least do my level best to +learn where your property went, Mrs. Pangborn; and if possible recover +it for you," he hastened to assure her. + +"Thank you very much, my son. As soon as I saw you I seemed to feel an +inspiration that Providence had sent you to me in my distress. For it +would break my heart if I were compelled to have that poor, weak boy +arrested, and charged with so grievous a breach of the law. You being +a boy may be able to have a certain amount of influence over him. You +may even induce him to own up to his act, and send me back my precious +spoons. The ones taken by some accident are the very ones I value +most." + +"While I give you my promise willingly enough, ma'am," Hugh went on to +say deliberately, "I want to add that I can't believe it possible Owen +Dugdale could be so small and mean as to yield to an impulse, and take +anything that belonged to another." + +"That is splendid of you, Hugh!" she cried, her black eyes sparkling +with genuine admiration. "I love a boy who has faith in his fellows, +and thinks the best of them, no matter how circumstantial evidence may +seem to blacken their characters. And my son, if only you can find an +explanation of this puzzle that will exonerate your young companion, I +shall be very happy indeed. A great load will have been removed from +my poor old heart. I would rather lose the entire twelve spoons than +learn that Owen Dugdale were guilty." + +"Then you will not say a word of this to any one," he continued, +"particularly Chief Wambold, who everybody knows has a great itching to +shine as a wonderful sleuth, but makes himself only ridiculous whenever +he tries to unearth any uncommon happening?" + +"I gladly give you my promise to keep silent, Hugh," she assured him, +holding out her withered hand, resplendant with lovely gems, diamonds, +rubies and pearls, for like most French women, the Madame was more than +commonly fond of jewelry. "And from what you say, as well as your +mentioning the boy's name before I spoke it, I assume that you know +Owen Dugdale?" + +"I have latterly become greatly interested in him, ma'am, and we have +been much together," he told her simply. "Since I pride myself on +being something of a reader of human nature, I feel almost certain that +there must be a great mistake somewhere; and that when the truth is +discovered, you and I will laugh, and say it was ridiculous for us to +even think Owen could have taken the spoons!" + +The old lady's eyes glistened as she heard these brave words. Standing +up for a friend was one of Hugh Morgan's leading traits; and yet, if +the truth were known, he did not feel _quite_ so positive as his words +would indicate. Things certainly looked dark for the Dugdale boy. +Hugh, when he came to think over the whole matter, was bound to be +smitten with a grave fear lest the worst come to pass. + +"Somehow I seem to have unbounded confidence in your ability to +accomplish the impossible, Hugh Morgan," she told him, which words of +praise thrilled him to the heart, for he was, after all, human and a +boy. "Only good words have come to me about you from all those with +whom I converse; for though you may think it odd in an old woman who +never had a son of her own, I have all my life been interested in other +people's children, particularly boys, seven of whom I have had educated +at my expense. Ah! they are either fighting bravely for the life of +France just now, or else filling patriots' graves in the battle +country." + +Hugh asked a few more questions that chanced to occur to him. Then he +prepared to take his leave. + +"I will think it all over, ma'am," he remarked, as she gave him her +dainty if wrinkled hand to press, "and like as not I'll conjure up some +scheme by which we can prove whether Owen is innocent or guilty. You +see I could be hidden in that room and a trap set, you sending him word +to call for a package you wished him to deliver. Then if he went out +without even looking into the drawing-room, and yet another of your +spoons disappeared, we'd know to a certainty that the trouble lay +inside this house." + +"Hugh, you give me fresh hope!" she cried, with her eyes glistening as +though the tears were trying to flow. "Oh! I would almost pray that +something of the sort turned out to be the case, for somehow I have +taken a great interest in Owen Dugdale. I mean later on to find an +opportunity to meet that wonderful grandfather of his, for somehow I +suspect he may turn out to be an exile of note who has taken this means +for hiding his identity. I have known eminent Russians to do that from +fear of the Czar's secret agents." + +Hugh could not but remember how some of the people chose to believe old +Mr. Dugdale was keeping in hiding from some far less honorable cause; +but of course he did not say anything about that. He went out of +Madame Pangborn's big house with a sense of having undertaken a great +responsibility; and realizing that an up-hill task lay upon his young +shoulders which might test his utmost abilities to carry through. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +IN FOR A FROLIC + +The high-school boys and girls of Scranton, like those of most other +communities, delighted in getting up occasional entertainments so dear +to the hearts of young people. A straw-ride late in the summer; it +might be a class-spread under difficult conditions on account of the +envy of the other grades at school; and once in a while a jolly barn +dance was engineered by a committee composed of both sexes. + +There was just such a pleasant outing arranged for this same Friday +night. Some of the fellows had made up a party to go out several miles +to where a big barn, as yet empty of the anticipated crop of hay, +offered them excellent facilities for a merry hop. + +A trio of darky players had been engaged. The leader was quite famous +through that section of country and had played at such affairs for +years. Everybody for miles around knew Daddy Whitehead and the fiddle +from which he could extract the most enticing music boys and girls had +ever danced to; while his assistants, Mose Coffin and Abe Skinner were +fairly good with the violoncello and oboe, making a good combination +capable of playing up-to-date dances, as well as others known to the +fathers and mothers of the present generation. + +These affairs were conducted with a due respect to the proprieties. A +middle-aged lady invariably went along in the carryall to chaperone the +young people, although there was a deal of fun going and coming back +home, as well as on the floor of the great barn, with its many lanterns +to serve in lieu of electric lights. + +Hugh was going, of course. He and his best chum, Thad Stevens, had a +pretty fair car in which to transport the two girls whom they had +invited as their partners. These same girls were co-eds with Hugh and +Thad on the weekly paper which Scranton High issued, just as many other +schools do. They were named Sue Barnes and Ivy Middleton. Sue was +Hugh's company, while the dark-haired vivacious Ivy seemed to have a +particular attraction for Thad. + +By the way, since Thad has thus far not been introduced to the reader, +it might be a good idea to say a few words about him before going any +further with the exciting events that happened on the Friday night of +the barn hop. + +Thad was a quick-tempered lad, in which respect he seemed to differ +radically from Hugh, who somehow managed to keep his under wonderful +control, as though he had long practiced holding it in subjection. +Strangely enough, Thad's folks came of Quaker stock, and "thee" and +"thou" had been familiar words to his young ears. But Thad apparently +had not inherited the peaceful ways of his ancestors, for he had been +in more than a few battles with some of his more pugnacious school +companions, nor did he always come out from these encounters first best. + +All the same, Thad was a pretty clever chap, and Hugh had always been +very fond of his chum. They got on wonderfully well together, and +seldom had the least "tiff." + +It was Thad who had secured his father's old car for the special +occasion. He turned up at Hugh's house about half-past seven that +evening. It was a calm night, and the moon was just rising in the +east, being a little past her full period. + +"Say, this couldn't be improved on any, according to my notion, Thad," +Hugh remarked, as, attracted by the call of the klaxon outside, he +hurried forth, wearing his overcoat, for the night air was quite +chilly, it being still only April. + +"A bang-up night for a dance," echoed the enthusiastic Thad; "just cool +enough to keep us from getting overheated. The farmer's wife will make +the coffee, and spread a table for us in her big kitchen, she promised; +and the girls are to provide lots of good things. We're mighty lucky +for once, Hugh." + +"How many do you think will be on hand?" asked the other, settling down +alongside the driver. + +"Well, ten couple have solemnly promised to attend, barring some +accident; and I reckon there may be several more show up, because we've +done lots of talking about the jolly time we expected to have. I only +hope that Nick Lang and his crowd will have the decency to stay away. +If they show up there's bound to be trouble brewing." + +"I'm afraid so," acceded Hugh, seriously, "for Nick is never so happy +as when he's making other folks miserable. But the farmer has a stout +hired man, who will be on deck to keep an eye on our cars, and other +conveyances; so there'll hardly be any tricks attempted with the lines, +taking wheels off buggies, and all such practical jokes, such as those +fellows dearly love to play." + +"I heard Owen Dugdale was coming," Thad went on to say, as they started +off, "which is something unusual for him, because up to now we've never +seen him at a hop." + +"Now how did you learn that?" laughed Hugh. + +"Oh! a little bird told me," replied the other. "Fact is, Hugh, pretty +Peggy Noland told my sister Grace Owen had asked her to be his company +to this hop, and she had accepted, because somehow she always liked +Owen." + +"Whew! I wonder now how Nick Lang will feel about that?" ventured +Hugh. "You know Peggy used to have him for her company a number of +times. But I remember how annoyed she looked at the class spread when +he acted so rudely, and made everybody present wish he had stayed at +home." + +"Oh! Peggy says she will never, never go anywhere again with that +terrible Nick Lang. She never did like him any too well, and now she +detests him. I only hope Nick isn't mean enough to try to pick on Owen +because Peggy's accepted his offer to take her to the barn hop." + +There were so many other things pressing on Hugh's mind just then that +he did not give the matter much attention. Later on, perhaps he might +have it brought forcibly before him, and in a manner bordering on +tragedy in the bargain. + +Hugh meant to take Thad into his confidence at the first favorable +opportunity. He knew his chum would never breathe a syllable of what +he told him; and possibly two heads might prove better than one in +solving what promised to be a great enigma. But the time was too short +now to even mention the matter. Perhaps later on as they chanced to +come together between the dances he would find the opening he sought to +confide in Thad. He did excite the other's curiosity, however, by +saying just before they drew up in front of the Barnes' home: + +"I've got something queer to tell you, Thad, when I get the chance. +Perhaps it'll come while we're resting between dances. I've undertaken +a pretty big proposition, and I'd like to have you share it with me." + +"Well, now, you _have_ got me guessing," chuckled Thad. "What a fellow +you are for undertaking big things. Nothing seems to faize you, Hugh, +Can't you just give me a little clue to feed on till you explain it +all? It's mean to stir me up like that, you know, old fellow." + +"All I can tell you now," said Hugh, who had discovered some one +peeping out through the lace curtains at the parlor window, and knew +how anxious Sue must be for him to run up the steps and ring the door +bell, "is that it concerns Owen Dugdale. So just let your +curiosity-mill work on that until I can spin the whole odd yarn." + +"Whew! you've twisted me up worse than ever now," he heard Thad +muttering, as he hastened to make for the door, where the eager Sue +awaited him, having seen the car stopping at the curb. + +As Ivy lived only a short block away, they speedily had her installed +alongside the chattering Sue in the back seat; though possibly on the +way home the girls might prefer to change partners, as Ivy was heard to +say she just dearly loved to be alongside the chauffeur when out in a +car, because the view was so much better. + +On the road they passed several vehicles, all bound in the same +direction. Now it was a slow car that managed to roll along "like an +ice-wagon," as Thad laughingly called out on going ahead. Then again +it was a buggy pulled by a horse; for there were actually a few of +these almost extinct quadrupeds still to be found in some of the family +stables of Scranton. + +"Listen! that must be the carryall ahead of us," called out Thad, not +venturing to turn his head when he spoke, because the road was rather +poor, with ditches on either side, while the moon gave rather a poor +light, since it had not yet risen above the haze near the horizon. + +Some one aboard was noisily tooting the horn, for some boys seem to be +up to all manner of mischief every hour of the day, and dearly love to +make a noise in the world, even though it rasps on other people's ears +distressingly. + +Once they arrived at their destination, they found it a very gay scene. +The barn had been quite prettily decorated by some of the girls who had +come out during the last two afternoons after school to sweep the +floor, and instruct the farmer and his helper just where to hang the +many lanterns they had fetched along. + +There was Daddy Whitehead, with his famous fiddle, which he was already +tuning up, so as to be ready to commence operations; while his "band," +consisting of Abe Skinner and Mose Coffin, sat there with huge grins on +their faces, and also an expectant look. They had undoubtedly noted +the huge hampers of eatables that came with each party, and could +anticipate a delightful break in the monotony of sawing away, or +blowing steadily into that oboe instrument. + +Chattering girls and boys were soon strewn all about the place. The +farmer and his good wife seemed to be enjoying the picture, since it +must have reminded them of somewhat similar episodes in their own +younger years, when life seemed buoyant, and without any trouble such +as time always brings in its train. + +Soon the first dance started, and immediately the floor was covered +with happy couples whirling in the maze of a waltz. More vehicles +arrived, and others joined in the festivities. This continued for two +solid hours, with brief respites to allow both musicians and dancers a +chance to "rest up." + +Then some of the girls were called upon to pass into the kitchen of the +farmhouse to start work at getting supper ready; though none of the +boys were allowed to accompany them, being told that they would only +interfere with the work. + +It happened that among those who took this duty on themselves were both +Ivy and Sue, so that Hugh and Thad found they were without partners. +They were feeling a bit fatigued in the bargain, and following the +example of several other fellows who were in the same fix, they +strolled outside for a breath of cool air, taking care to pick up their +overcoats, as they were flushed from exercise. + +Here Thad demanded that Hugh explain what his strange words meant with +reference to Owen Dugdale. He listened while the other told the story +in low tones; for while they believed themselves alone in the +moonlight, it was always possible that some other fellow might be +loitering close by, and thus overhear what was not intended for his +ears. + +Thad of course was deeply interested by what he heard. He, too, +declared that it seemed preposterous to think that Owen could demean +himself so much as to deliberately steal what belonged to the queer old +French madame. At the same time Thad admitted he considered the +circumstantial evidence fairly strong. + +"My father's a lawyer, you know, Hugh," he went on to say, "and I've +heard him say circumstantial evidence has hanged many an innocent man. +We ought to go mighty slow about believing Owen guilty without better +proof than his having been in the house on both occasions." + + + + +CHAPTER V + +THE TRAGIC AFFAIR ON THE ROAD + +"Let's walk up the road a bit," suggested Hugh. "It's too cool to sit +here after getting so heated up inside the barn. And Sue told me +they'd be all of a quarter of an hour laying the supper out." + +"I'm with you, Hugh. After those cranky dances, it'll do both of us +good to step out in some other way than that silly tango, and monkey +climb. Have you thought up any scheme yet for learning the truth about +Owen?" + +"Not yet," came the reply, "though I've several ideas on tap, and may +settle on one soon. It's such a serious affair that I'm afraid to +hurry too fast. Why, if the boy is innocent, as we both seem to +believe, he'd be terribly humiliated if he learned that he had been +under suspicion. I've found out he's quite proud, and that's one +reason he hasn't mingled with the young folks much since coming to our +town. He knows there are strange rumors about his grandfather, and +that some people are even talking about Mr. Dugdale as if they +suspected him of being a notorious crook in hiding." + +"Listen! what's all that loud talking ahead there mean?" suddenly +exclaimed Thad. + +They both stopped short, and held their breath while listening. + +"Would you believe it!" cried Thad, "that was certainly Nick Lang's +gruff voice I heard just then. If that chap's around this region, he's +come out on purpose to kick up some sort of a shindy. It would be just +like his way." + +Hugh felt a thrill pass over him. It was as though some innate warning +told him he would sooner or later be mixed up in the mess Nick meant to +start. Somehow, his thoughts instinctively flew to Owen Dugdale, and +he remembered what Thad had remarked earlier in the evening about the +possibility of Nick picking on Owen simply because Peggy Noland chose +to accompany the other to the hop, in preference to accepting Nick for +a partner. + +The voices were growing even more boisterous. + +"Let's get a move on us, and sprint up that way, Hugh," suggested Thad, +unable to restrain his impatience. + +"Might as well," the other grimly told him. + +Accordingly, they started to run. All the while they could hear +disputing voices raised in anger and excitement. Apparently, Nick was +aroused, and looking for trouble; when he allowed himself to jump into +this aggressive mood, somebody was liable to feel the weight of his +heavy fist before the end of the affair came. At least such had always +been the case in the past. + +Nick was not the only one doing the talking. Hugh thought he several +times caught the sound of a voice that might belong to Owen. Then +there were also others in the heated argument, some of them apparently +egging the pugnacious Nick on, while yet a few more seemed to be trying +to cast oil on troubled waters. + +At least Owen was not alone with Nick and his ugly cronies, Hugh +realized, though, after all, that would not count for much. Fellows +like Leon Disney and several others of the same stripe would be only +too well pleased to pair off and attack any other boy who might show a +disposition to interfere with the designs of their leader, the bully of +the town, big blustering Nick Lang. + +Faster still did Hugh and Thad run along. They feared lest something +happen before they could arrive on the spot. Both of them were grimly +resolved that they would never stand by and see that overgrown fellow +abuse a smaller boy like Owen. + +As they drew nearer, they discovered that Owen was trying to stand up +for his action. He seemed to be declaring that any fellow had a +perfect right to ask a girl to accompany him to a dance, and if she did +not wish to accept she would say so. He was not trying to cut anybody +out, and if Peggy Noland would rather go home with another fellow, +Nick, for instance, she had only to say so. But so long as she gave +him to understand that she preferred to have him for an escort, he did +not mean to be driven away by anybody, no matter if they were twice his +size. + +Somehow, when Hugh caught the drift of what Owen was saying, his heart +burned within him, for he realized that the boy was made of the right +kind of stuff. In build and muscular ability he was no match for Nick +Lang; but evidently his courage was equal to any test; and it is that +makes the man, not his physique alone. + +"Bully for Owen!" Thad could be heard muttering between his pants as he +raced along; "if that big coward strikes him, he's going to answer to +me for it, no matter what happens." + +Now that was just what was passing through Hugh's mind at the same +moment. True, a social hop might be one of the last places in the wide +world for a boy to allow himself to be drawn into a brutal fight; but +if his hand were forced by Nick Lang everything else must be forgotten, +Hugh decided. + +Somehow, he felt better after that. He could even think of his mother +without any burning regret and shame, for had she not impressed it upon +his mind years back that no matter how averse a boy may be to entering +a fist fight, when it is in defense of a girl, or a smaller lad, he is +perfectly justified in so doing, putting aside all his scruples, even +his sacred promise to his mother. + +Matters were now getting pretty close to the breaking point. They +could hear Nick ranting as to what he ought to do to a fellow who +played him such a trick as to come between him and the girl he had +always taken to hops and singing school. + +"Do you know what I got a good mind to do to you, sonny?" he roared, +and doubtless added emphasis to his words by shaking that big fist of +his under Owen's nose. + +"I haven't the least idea," replied Owen, steadily enough, considering +that he must surely know sufficient concerning Nick's ways to +understand the danger he was in. "All I say is that I had a perfect +right to ask any girl to come to the hop with me. Since she accepted, +you must look for an explanation from Peggy. I'm sure I don't feel +obliged to ask you whether I can breathe the same air as you do or not. +The country is big enough for both of us, Nick Lang. You go your way, +and I'll go mine." + +"I'll go when I'm done with you, and not a minute before," snarled the +other. "So get ready to take your medicine. Mebbe when Peggy sees +your nose all bloody, and one eye closed up, with a black circle coming +around the other, she won't think you so pretty a sight." + +"What's going on here?" + +It was Hugh who asked this as he and Thad managed to arrive on the +scene, to discover a group of boys standing there on the moonlit road +surrounding the two principals in the heated argument, who were facing +each other so threateningly. + +Nick turned his head to take a look. Even in the moonlight, the sudden +grin that came upon his red face was noticeable. Apparently it pleased +him to know that the boy whom he had never thus far been able to coax +into a row with him had arrived on the spot. He must have judged that +this was a piece of double luck, in that he might take revenge upon the +one who had interfered with his pleasure, and at the same time force +Hugh Morgan, who had never been known to engage in any rowdy practices, +to enter into a rough-and-tumble scrap with him. + +"Hello! so you're there, are you, Hugh Morgan?" he called out, with a +ring of savage delight in his heavy voice. "Glad you've dropped in +just in time to see me give a good friend of yours a little lesson in +politeness. Here's Owen saying how he thinks it good taste to step in +between a fellow and his best girl. I'm meaning to knock a different +notion into his silly head. Sometimes you have to pound things into +some people, you understand." + +"I'd advise you to try nothing of the sort, Nick," said Hugh, steadily. + +At that the other laughed aloud. + +"Why, you don't mean to tell me you'd stick in your little oar, Hugh, +and try to teach me a few tricks, do you? I could put you on your back +with one hand behind me. Fellers that are tied to their mother's apron +strings ain't apt to know a heap about how to take care of themselves +in a stand-up fight. Mebbe now you're meaning all of you to pick on +me? Well, I've got a few nervy pals hangin' around who'd like nothing +better than to have you try that game." + +Owen had not attempted to escape while Nick's attention was thus taken +up with the newcomers, though possibly he might have been forgiven had +he done so, considering all the conditions. But evidently Owen had +plenty of nerve, even though he might be lacking in brawn equal to the +bully's larger figure. + +Nick now turned again upon the other. His gestures became even more +offensive, as though despite Hugh's grave warning, he meant to attack +Owen, come what might, and give him the drubbing which according to +his, Nick's light, was long overdue. + +Suddenly, without the least warning, his fist shot out. Owen +apparently was not expecting such a cowardly blow, and hence must have +been taken unawares. The consequence was that the blow landed on the +side of his head when he tried instinctively to duck. It sounded +horribly suggestive, and made Hugh's blood fairly boil as anger swept +over him in a wild wave. + +Owen staggered and fell. Gamely, he attempted to scramble to his +knees, and before Nick could prevent him had even done this, trying to +strike back in return. The boy was furious because of having been +dealt such a foul blow; he would have leaped at the giant just then if +the necessity arose. + +Nick was in his element. Scenes like this were so frequent in his life +that he fairly delighted in them, just as another boy less pugilistic +in his nature might glory in taking snap-shot pictures, catching fish, +or camping in the woods. Fighting and Nick Lang were synonymous terms, +it might almost be said. + +Sweeping the threatening hand of Owen aside almost contemptuously, Nick +suddenly sent in another swift jolt, such as he knew so well how to +deliver, having taken a few lessons from some reformed prize fighter. +Poor Owen went down again in a pitiful heap. He did not have the +slightest chance against such a master in the art of delivering heavy +blows that could not be parried. As one of the boys who looked on with +staring eyes, too much afraid of the bully to interfere, was heard to +say, it was "like taking candy from the baby for Nick to strike that +boy, unacquainted with the art of self-defense." + +This time the boy was really unable to do more than struggle to his +knees. There he knelt trying to recover his breath, and not yet wholly +conquered, though unable to make any further threatening gestures +toward his cruel oppressor. + +Hugh had already started to quietly remove both his overcoat and the +under one. These he handed over to Thad for safe-keeping. Nick saw +his actions with keen delight. Apparently, the hope he had entertained +of forcing Hugh Morgan into meeting him in a clean-cut issue, to see +which would prove the better man, was about to be realized. + +"It's just got to be done, I see," Hugh was saying, as he faced the +leering victor in the unequal affair just concluded. "You big coward, +I'm going to teach you that there's danger in picking on a boy smaller +than yourself. In other words, you're due for a thrashing you'll never +forget. Now look out for yourself!" + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +MAKING A GOOD JOB OF IT + +A fight between two boys is not a very pleasant subject with which to +deal. In this particular circumstance there were, however, mitigating +conditions that would almost make it a pleasure to describe the battle. +Hugh was standing up for the rights of the weak, and had only plunged +into the scrimmage when he saw that Nick had treated Owen in a most +cruel manner. + +Once he started in and he meant business. There could be no half-way +measures in handling so crafty and unprincipled a customer as the town +bully. He must be carried off his feet with the impetuosity of the +attack; and while still bewildered thoroughly punished. As Hugh had +well said he needed a lasting lesson. Perhaps after this Nick would +think twice before attacking a weaker boy, who might have a friend +capable and willing to take up cudgels in his behalf. + +Nick flourished those big fists of his, and commenced to dance +tauntingly around as though meaning to enlist the admiration of his +cronies, who had never yet seen him come out of a battle second-best, +and therefore deemed him invincible. + +Hugh leaped at him with fury glowing in his eyes. Some powerful fever +seemed to have utterly overwhelmed the boy. Thad and those others +stared as though they could not believe their vision. Was this +impetuous boy who struck down Nick's guard as though nothing could +restrain his attack, the same Hugh Morgan who on numerous occasions had +been known to arbitrate a dispute, and declare that it was not worth +getting into a temper over? A miracle seemed to have happened. The +sight of Nick's brutal treatment of Owen Dugdale must have transformed +Hugh into a merciless avenger. In that supreme moment he had +constituted himself the champion of all those lads in Scranton who, in +times past, had suffered cruel wrongs at the hands of the sneering +bully. + +There was a furious exchange of blows. Nick knew how to fight, but on +this occasion something seemed to go wrong with his customary +programme. Why, when he hit out his hardest, and expected to see his +antagonist reeling back before the blow, to his consternation, it was +cleverly warded off, and the next instant something crashed against his +own face that made a myriad of luminous stars, never indexed in the +galaxy of the heavens, flash before his eyes. + +Then Nick was seen to stagger, and fall down. That was perhaps the +first time he had ever taken a dose of his own medicine. How often had +he stood jeeringly over some wretched fellow whom he had sent to grass, +counting him out with monotonous chant, in which the joy of brutal +victory was prominent? + +"Get up and try it again!" said a stern voice. "That is only a taste +of what is due you! I hope you have not had enough yet, you cowardly +brute!" + +Leon Disney and those two other cronies of Nick's were holding their +breath with dismay. They had never expected to see the time when any +one could knock their boastful leader out in this easy fashion. What +previous opinions they had entertained concerning Hugh Morgan's prowess +must now be reversed. + +Stung by this taunt, Nick immediately scrambled to his feet. He seemed +a bit what he himself would have termed "groggy," being familiar with +the slang of the prize ring, but in spite of this he leaped wildly at +his enemy. + +Thad Stevens feared for his chum when he saw the fury of this attack; +but he need not have worried. Hugh was able to look out for himself. +Although those boys had never known him to take part in a single +encounter, Hugh had apparently made a study of the art of self-defense. +There can be no harm in knowing _how_ to fight, if one is resolved +never to indulge in the game save as a very last resort. And whatever +reason it was by which Hugh had bound himself up to the present, +apparently the time had arrived when he could break his promise with +honor. + +There was another brief struggle, exceedingly brief, to tell the truth. +Then, for the second time, Nick, the boss of all juvenile Scranton up +to this amazing hour, was thrown heavily to the ground, on which he +landed with a terrible crash. + +"That's two for you!" said Hugh, in a hissing voice, as though he might +be speaking between his set teeth. "Now, if you're able get up again, +and give me a chance to finish my job, of which I'm already sick." + +Nick was not yet defeated, though it took him longer to rise this time +than before. He was wary, too, and plainly disliked the idea of coming +in contact with those sturdy arms of Hugh Morgan. Seeing that Nick did +not mean to attack him, but had commenced to say harsh things in the +endeavor to force his rival to assume the aggressive, in hopes that the +advantage would fall to his share, Hugh lost no time in obliging him. + +Vain were Nick's most desperate efforts to ward off the inevitable. +Hugh had decided to finish the bout with this third round, and the way +he pummeled staggering Nick almost dazed Leon Disney and those other +fellows, staring as though in the throes of a nightmare. + +When for the third time clumsy Nick went down heavily before the attack +of the aroused Hugh, he refused to make the least effort to get on his +feet. Evidently Nick was a wise boy in one sense; he knew when he had +had enough of an unpleasant thing. + +"Are you through?" demanded Hugh, sternly. "If you say the word I'll +have some of your crowd stand you up on your pegs again, so I may knock +you down. While I'm at it I want to make it a thorough job. Have you +had all you want for tonight?" + +In deadly fear lest Hugh be tempted to put his threat into execution, +Nick managed to swallow his pride, and mumble that he guessed he must +be out of condition just then, a fact so evident that Thad had to laugh +aloud. + +"All right, then," said Hugh, stepping back, for he had been standing +over the fallen boy in a threatening attitude, like a Roman gladiator +who had thrown his rival, and was waiting to see what signal the +emperor gave so as to decide the vanquished man's fate. + +He took one look around at Leon and those two other fellows. They +quailed before his fierce glance. + +"If any of the rest of you feel like having a try with me while I'm in +the humor, now's your chance! Don't all speak at once, please," said +Hugh, grimly. + +When they saw him take a step in their direction, they shrank back. +Although not averse to having a little entertainment of the sort at +times, none of them seemed to particularly fancy being made a scapegoat. + +"We're satisfied, Hugh," said Leon, hurriedly. "Nick got trimmed neat +and good. It's been coming to him for a long time, I guess." + +There is a saying to the effect that "rats desert a sinking ship"; and +when Nick's hour for defeat arrived, even these hitherto admiring +cronies threatened to turn their backs on him. + +Aroused by this taunt, he scrambled to his feet. Nick was a sight +indeed with his face bloody, and one of his eyes giving evidence of +going into mourning. He snarled something at Leon with a degree of his +one-time ferocity, and the other turned back to assist him off the +field. Nick stopped to look back. He made no threat, but the +malevolence in that stare toward Hugh told better than words would have +done what bitterness was in his heart. No town bully is dethroned +without his hating the object of his humiliation. Hugh had better be +on his guard, for every one knew that Nick Lang would never rest until +he had at least tried to even up the score. + +Hugh calmly put on his garments again. Thad and the others were +voicing their admiration for his recent gallant deed, but somehow their +praise seemed to grate on the boy's nerves. + +"Please don't keep on saying those things, fellows," he begged them, +presently. "I know you mean it in kindness, but I'd rather try and +forget this unpleasant business. I had to break a promise tonight, and +it hurts ten times worse than any of the few cracks Nick got in at me. +But then my mother always told me she would not for worlds have me +stand by and see a bully injure one weaker than himself. I just had to +do it, that's all there is to it. And, Owen, old chap, I'm mighty glad +I happened to be around to give you a helping hand." + +Owen Dugdale had watched all this exciting happening with varied +emotions. Each time his detested oppressor had gone crashing to the +earth, he seemed to feel his own injuries less and less. When the +fight was over, and Nick had received such a decided thrashing, Owen +felt like dancing around. He was a boy, every inch of him, with all a +boy's feelings; and Nick had humiliated him dreadfully, as well as +taken a mean advantage over him on account of his superior strength. + +"I'm a thousand times obliged to you, Hugh!" cried the grateful Owen, +wringing the other's hand vigorously; "of course this winds up my +evening's pleasure, and I was enjoying myself more than any time in my +whole life." + +"Why should it put a stop to your fun?" demanded Hugh. "What if you +have got a bloody nose, and a lump on your forehead. See here how my +knuckles are badly skinned, will you; and I fancy I've something of a +scratch on my right cheek, where he got to me. We'll wash up back of +the farmhouse, you and I, Owen. Of course all the folks will have to +know what's happened; but then we needn't be ashamed of the part we +took in the little circus." + +"Yes, be a sport, Owen," said Thad, encouragingly. "There isn't a +single girl at the hop but who will sing out 'good!' when they hear +that Nick Lang met his match tonight. And say, Owen, Peggy Noland will +likely clap her hands with joy when she learns of what's happened, and +then be extra nice when she sees how that brute marked you. Sympathy +is akin to love you know, they say, Owen." + +Owen had to laugh at this good-natured "joshing," but he allowed +himself to be persuaded to accompany Hugh to the rear of the farmhouse. +Here Thad soon secured a basin, and some warm water, as well as soap +and a towel. The boys performed their ablusions, and in the end made +quite a respectable appearance. + +"Why, both of you are all right," said Thad, gaily, after the job had +been completed. "Just think how Nick will look when he shows his face +again. Chances are he'll stick to his house all day Saturday and +Sunday; and when school opens on Monday prepare to listen to a tough +story of how he got up in the night and in the dark ran plumb up +against a half-open door, which would account for his black eye and +swollen face. Oh! I know, because I've spun that yarn myself once." + +Supper was announced just then, and the boys trooped in to enjoy the +bountiful spread that had been provided for them. A buzz ran around +the room, and all eyes were fastened on Hugh and Owen in eager +curiosity. Thad thought it up to him to explain what had happened, so +that no one might rest under a misapprehension. And when he briefly +described how Hugh had so thoroughly whipped the hitherto invincible +town bully, every one applauded. It might be noticed also that pretty +Peggy Noland looked at her company with unshed tears in her eyes; and +she was unusually good to Owen the balance of the evening, so that he +had a jolly time of it, taken in all. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +CALLED OUT FOR PRACTICE + +When Monday saw the gathering of boys and girls at school, there were +two subjects that seemed to engross their conversation. One of these +concerned the royally good time enjoyed by those who had been at the +barn hop on Friday evening; and of course the other was connected with +the meeting held in the schoolhouse Saturday night, at which almost +every boy in town had been present, to hear the report of the Athletic +Committee, and learn who the lucky ones were. + +Of course four-fifths of the aspirants entertained hopes that lightning +might be so kind as to strike the little rod which each had modestly +erected. There were doubtless burning regrets when the long list had +been finished, many disappointed fellows trying to laugh, and appear as +though they had never wanted the job anyway. + +The call had gone forth for every boy selected to appear on the field +immediately after school that same Monday afternoon, for initial +practice. There was considerable speculation as to who would finally +bear off the honors, and make the first string of players. Being a +substitute was as much as some of them had any desire for, for as such +they might share in the glory, and have only a small measure of the +actual work. + +When just before school took up, Nick Lang came along, he was the +"cynosure of every eye," as Reggie Van Alstyne was heard to remark in +his elegant way. + +Nick had evidently made up his mind to just "grin and stand it." He +could scowl in his old fashion, and thus restrain others from being +"too fresh." These fellows need not begin to imagine themselves all +Hugh Morgans, and they had better leave him alone unless they were +seeking trouble. + +Dr. Carmack thought it his duty that morning, at general exercises, to +speak of the meeting which he had attended on Saturday night. + +"It was a thoroughly representative meeting of Scranton young people," +he went on to say in his cordial way, which always endeared him to the +students of all the schools under his jurisdiction. "The committee +carried out their business in a commendable manner, and submitted a +list of names of acceptable candidates that in my opinion could not be +excelled. Let every one who is given the opportunity to contest for +the prizes, do his level best; and when later on the nine has been +selected we all hope and believe they will bring great honor to Old +Scranton High." + +Of course the good doctor had been told about the little affair on the +road at the time the barn hop was in progress; but he was a wise +pedagogue, and made no mention of it in his address. Nick writhed in +his seat every time he saw the principal look his way, his guilty +conscience causing his fears to rise, with the thought that he might be +further humiliated before the entire school. + +But the encounter had taken place far beyond the jurisdiction of the +school rules; and Dr. Carmack was usually satisfied to let his boys +settle these things among themselves. Besides, doubtless, he grimly +concluded that Nick, whose reputation as a universal bully of course he +knew full well, had been pretty well punished already, since his +bruised face and dark-rimmed eye spoke eloquently. + +Later on that morning, when Hugh had occasion to go to the office of +the Head on some errand, he met with an unusually warm reception. + +"Pardon me for speaking about what I know must be a sore subject with +you, Hugh," remarked the principal, as the boy was about to depart +after concluding his errand. "But I have had a graphic account of that +miserable affair Friday night. Permit me to say that you acted quite +right, and I commend you for it. The boys of Scranton are deeply +indebted to you for punishing a brutal bully. I understand that it has +always been much against your principles to engage in a fight; which +makes your championing the cause of a weaker boy all the more +justifiable." + +"Oh! you are giving me far too much credit, Doctor Carmack," said Hugh, +reddening with confusion. "I could hardly claim I had any great +scruples about not engaging in such things that are almost universal +among boys. But years ago I promised my mother never to let my temper +get the better of me; and under no conditions to strike a companion in +anger, unless it was to save myself from a beating, or to whip a bully +who was abusing some one weaker than himself." + +"Then you have a very wise mother, Hugh, let me tell you!" declared the +gentleman, who knew boys "like a book," from long association with +thousands of them. "She doubtless had her reasons for asking you to +take that pledge." + +"I have never told even my chum, Thad Stevens, what it meant, sir," +said the boy, eagerly, "but I do not mind speaking of it to you." + +"Please don't do it, Hugh, if it brings up any memories that you would +rather forget," exclaimed the principal, "though I feel honored by what +you say." + +"But I do not mind telling you, sir; indeed, I would rather do so, for +it must seem strange to you that when I can use my fists so well, +apparently, I should all this while have avoided every chance for +trouble with others. The fact of the matter is, Doctor Carmack, that I +am constituted very like my father was; and once upon a time his temper +got the better of him, so that he attacked a man who had insulted him, +and seriously injured him. That man always had a limp through the +remainder of his life. He and my father became good friends, but my +dad could never forgive himself for what he did. He used to say that +it was a mercy he had not actually killed the man in his blind passion. +And after he died, my good mother, seeing that I had just the same +Morgan temper, once I was thoroughly aroused, feared that it might get +me into some dreadful trouble. And so she told me about my father, and +I made her that solemn promise which, until Friday night, had never +been broken." + +There was a suspicious moisture in the eyes of the doctor. He squeezed +the hand of Hugh vigorously, as though he could easily love such a +manly boy. + +"Of course you told your good mother all about it, Hugh, when you got +home?" he went on to say, with a trace of huskiness in his voice. + +"I could not have slept a wink, sir, if I had not gone to her room, and +kneeling beside her bed poured out the whole story. She cried a +little, because, I suppose, it brought back some old memories that had +often saddened her; but she told me again and again I had done exactly +as she would have wished me to. Oh! she is the most sensible mother +any fellow ever had, I assure you, sir." + +"And I also believe that you are supremely blessed in that respect, +Hugh," said the gentleman, solemnly. "Be very careful that you never +in all your life do anything to bruise the heart of that noble mother. +I thought it best not to mention anything in connection with the +matter. For one thing I could see you had done your work thoroughly, +and that Nick had already received sufficient punishment. That is all, +Hugh, and I thank you for taking me into your confidence." + +When afternoon finally came around, and school was over early, there +was a scramble among the boys, and a great hurrying home to get a bite +to eat, after which, of course, every fellow who had any sort of +baseball uniform would don the same, and show up at the grounds to take +part in the practice. The air seemed surcharged with some electrical +influence. All the talk was along the line of baseball slang. Even +many of the girls were drawn to the spot to watch what went on, for +they had become enthusiasts, and were in prime condition to "root" for +Scranton High when the time came for the first contest on the diamond. + +The scene was a busy one, with scores of boys doing various +stunts--knocking flies to those in the field, passing balls with the +vigor of veterans, and chattering like a lot of magpies all the while. +Out of this throng, Mr. Leonard, the athletic instructor, once a +Princeton player of some note, was expecting to bring order, and get +some kind of game started. + +Baseball is quite unlike football. In the latter instance, every boy +has to receive an education before he is at all fitted to fill the +position assigned to him. There must be long arduous drills in a dozen +particulars, from bucking the line, and carrying the ball, to making a +flying tackle, or punting. Then the intricate system of signals must +be thoroughly learned, so that instinct takes the place of reason in +the carrying out the play. + +But every kid plays baseball from the time he can toddle. By degrees +they keep on improving their game, so that when they arrive at the +dignity of high school freshmen honor, it is only a question of +ability, rather than any necessity as to education in the art of +driving home a runner, or snatching a liner hot from the bat. + +So Mr. Leonard anticipated having only to inoculate his bunch with the +proper virus and ambition, after which he could let the drilling do the +rest. + +Among others who were out was Nick Lang. There was nothing really +strange about that fact, because Nick would almost rather play ball +than eat; and any boy about whom this can be said must be pretty fond +of the National sport. Nick had always shown considerable knack in +playing, though he was apt to make himself disagreeable, and want to +run things. Possibly this trait might not show so prominently, now +that his conceit had been so heavily bumped in his encounter with Hugh. +Then again, Mr. Leonard was not the only one to let a boy take +advantage of him. He would make sure, if Nick were to get on the nine +through his superior playing, to have a substitute handy capable of +taking his place; and at the first sign of insubordination, it would be +good-by to Nick and farewell to his hopes of playing on the team. + +Hugh was surprised not to see Thad Stevens among those present. Thad +had received a summons along with thirty other boys. Hugh guessed it +must be something pretty serious that could keep his chum from turning +up. Perhaps, when he ran home to change his clothes, his mother had +given him an errand to do. Thad was an obedient boy, and although he +may have begrudged the afternoon lost, still there would be plenty of +time to train for his position, if he had the luck to be selected in +the end. + +All the time they worked, and afterwards with picked nines played a +short game, Hugh kept on the lookout, but no Thad showed up. This was +so queer that Hugh made up his mind he must drop in at the Stevens +domicile on his way home to supper, and find out what had happened to +keep his chum, who was as enthusiastic as himself over baseball +matters, from coming around for the first test. + +More than once that afternoon Hugh received warning words from some of +the other boys concerning Nick Lang. + +"He isn't the kind of a fellow to forget and forgive, Hugh, remember," +K. K. went on to say, with a shake of his head. "I've studied the +beast, and I know how he's made up. Right now he glares at you every +time he happens to come near. And if looks could kill, they'd be +conducting your funeral tomorrow, Hugh. He's a tough one, all right, +and you knocked the conceit out of his head when you gave him that +dandy black eye. Be on your guard, Hugh, and never trust Nick Lang; +for he's not only a brute but a treacherous one in the bargain." + +But Hugh only laughed on hearing this warning. + +"Thank you for what you say, K. K." he told the other. "You make the +fourth fellow to tell me about the same thing. But really, I don't +believe there's as much danger as you seem to believe. Fellows like +Nick are careful not to get struck by lightning twice. The burnt child +dreads the fire, they say. Nick's bark is worse than his bite; and I +think I've drawn the fangs of the wolf, K. K. Thank you again." + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +THAD MAKES A DISCOVERY + +When Hugh, on his way home, came in sight of the Stevens place, he was +quite surprised to discover his chum Thad seated on one of the low gate +posts, and apparently waiting for him to pass along. + +"Why, hello! what does this mean, I'd like to know?" burst out Hugh. +"After being honored with summons to come out and start practice at +baseball, you run home to get on your togs and then forget all about +it. But, joking aside, what really did happen to you, Thad, tell me?" + +Thad was looking unusually serious, Hugh thought. Evidently something +quite out of the usual line must have occurred to detain him; and Hugh, +on his part, would not have been a natural boy had he not felt more or +less curiosity concerning its nature. + +"Oh! that was only an accident," the other commenced saying. "I +begrudged losing my first chance to get limbered up; but so far as that +goes, there'll be plenty of occasions later on. You see, I had to go +on an important errand for my mother." + +"It must have taken you out of town, then," remarked Hugh; "or else +you'd have showed up at the athletic grounds later on." + +"The fact of the matter is, I had to run over to Chestnut Hill, which +you know is some ten miles away," explained Thad, as he made room +alongside for his chum. "It was a matter that could not be delayed, so +I didn't even bother running to the field to report to Mr. Leonard. At +that I hoped to breeze along fast enough to fetch me back in time to +have a little turn with the boys; but I counted without considering +that I was dealing with an old car; and sure enough one of the back +tires had to take on a puncture." + +"And as you didn't carry an extra tire along, you just had to lay off +and mend the same," chuckled Hugh. "I was afraid that might happen the +other night when on our way to the hop; but we were lucky enough to +escape it. Of course, on the road home, I wouldn't have cared much, +because all the fun was over by then; and the girls would consider it +something of a joke for us to bump along on a flat tire. But I see the +old flivver in by the barn, so you did manage to get it home after all, +eh, Thad?" + +"Oh! yes, though I made a beastly mess of my tire-mending, I'm afraid. +I ought to take a few more lessons in that art, because I've always +been weak there. And when I found how late it was after getting here I +concluded not to hustle around to the grounds. I guessed you'd be +cropping up to find out what had become of a certain baseball crank who +had played hookey. So I've been sitting here about ten minutes, I +should judge." + +"Is that all?" asked Hugh. + +"Well, no, it isn't," snapped Thad, "though I wonder how your sharp +eyes noticed anything peculiar about my manner. There is a lot more to +tell you, Hugh." + +"Suppose you get started then, and let's hear of your adventures," the +other went on to say, with kindling interest. "Did any tramp try to +hold you up on the road; or was it necessary for you to stop and help +put out a fire in some farmhouse; like the time both of us had that +pleasure, and received the biggest dinner we ever got away with as a +reward?" + +Thad shook his head in the negative. + +"If you kept on guessing all day long I don't believe you'd hit the +mark, Hugh. Still, in one sense you're right when you call it an +adventure; though a pretty mild one. I'll tell you about it." + +"Wish you would, Thad," grumbled Hugh, pretending to look anxious to +hurry along on his way home. "Playing ball for three hours gives a +fellow a ferocious appetite, you know; and we have chicken pot pie at +our house tonight, which is one of my favorite dishes. So please get a +move on you." + +"Well, after I managed to mend my tire, being set on accomplishing the +job if it took me till dark, I started along the road, and presently +drew near town. That was about half an hour ago, I should imagine. I +had just stopped to take another look at the tire, which seemed to be +flattening more or less, when I heard some one calling weakly. When I +turned to look I found that by some accident I had stopped exactly in +front of that queer old place which we've always called the Rookery, +because it looks as if spooks might live there." + +As Thad paused to catch his breath, Hugh elevated his eyebrows. +Apparently his interest no longer flagged, for he instinctively guessed +that something unusual must come out of Thad's mention of the strange +old place, where, as he well knew, Owen Dugdale and his eccentric +grandfather lived by themselves. + +"When I caught the sound of a voice again," continued Thad, "I was +interested, because I had heard the one word 'help' uttered. Some one +must be in trouble, I told myself; and then all of a sudden I +remembered who lived there. So I started my machine and moved off the +road, to leave it clear for other cars to pass by if any came along. +After that I jumped out and hurried over to the stone wall that, as you +know, surrounds the wild-looking grounds of the place. + +"The voice still sounded, and I could see somebody lying on the ground +there. I vaulted the low stone wall, and soon found that it was old +Mr. Dugdale. He seemed glad to see me, though really he didn't know me +from Adam, because I had never had a word with him before. + +"While out taking exercise in the grounds he had been suddenly seized +with an acute attack of rheumatism or sciatica in one of his legs, and +had been unable to get back to the house alone. Then seeing me stop +and step out to look at my mended tire, he had called as loud as he +could, to attract my attention, hoping that I'd be kind and neighborly +enough to help him to the house; for as he explained to me his grandson +Owen was off playing ball just then." + +"Yes," Hugh broke in with, "Owen was on deck, and did splendidly. He +may be able to make the team if he continues to improve. So you, of +course, assisted the old gentleman, as he asked, and got him safely to +his house?" + +"Yes, that's what I did," replied Thad, "and it seemed that his pains +began to leave him once he got to walking. He said it was +characteristic of the disease to come and go suddenly and mysteriously. +When we arrived I had to help him up the steps, for he insisted on my +coming in. Well, to tell you the honest truth, Hugh, I was a little +curious to see what that queer old house did look like inside, and so I +didn't hold back at all. Now, you've likely never been there yourself, +even though you've been getting pretty intimate with Owen lately?" + +"Once he asked me to step in, but it happened that I was in a hurry to +get home. I supposed some time or other he would renew the invitation, +but I also remembered that his grandfather was said to be queer, and +averse to meeting strangers; so I've thought nothing about it. Well, +is there anything more coming, or does that end your adventure?" + +Thad drew a long breath, and looked sober. + +"I only wish it did, that's right, Hugh," he continued, mysteriously. +"Up to then the whole thing hadn't amounted to a row of beans, so far +as giving me a thrill went. But the worst was yet to come." + +"Go on, and don't stop so often, Thad," urged Hugh. "I believe you do +it just to tantalize me. What wonderful secret did you discover there? +Is that old house the rendezvous of a nest of counterfeiters, or might +it be where they manufacture moonshine whiskey, like those mountaineers +do down in Georgia?" + +"Oh! come, it's nothing like that, Hugh, so don't allow your +imagination to carry you away. I did get something of a shock, though, +and I guess you'll feel the same way when you learn about it. Well, +the old gentleman asked me who I was, and if I knew his grandson Owen, +as well as a lot of other questions. Fact is, Hugh, I rather guess he +must have taken a violent liking for me right on, the spot, for when I +said I must be going two different times, he begged me to stay with him +just a little while longer. + +"I knew I would be too late for the ball practice anyhow, and besides I +didn't have on my old suit, because mother had asked me not to wait to +change my clothes. So I sat down again each time, and answered some +more questions. The old gentleman interested me a whole lot in the +bargain, and I soon made up my mind that those silly people who had +been hinting that Old Mr. Dugdale might be that notorious Wall Street +speculator who had such a bad name, and who'd disappeared several years +ago, didn't know what they were talking about. Why, he is a polished +gentleman, and a foreigner at that, I tell you, Hugh. + +"He started talking about his grandson. How his wrinkled face lighted +up when I said my chum, Hugh Morgan, had taken a great fancy for Owen, +and that I shared in the same feeling. You could see easily enough +that Mr. Dugdale believes the sun rises and sets in that boy of his. +Nothing would do, finally, but that he should take me to seen the den +Owen had fitted up for himself, because there was plenty of room in the +big house, and every fellow he knew had some kind of a den in which he +could keep his boyish treasures, in the way of foreign postage stamp +albums, photos taken by himself connected with outings he had been on, +college flags and burgees, and well, just such traps as the average boy +liked to see around him when he's out of school, and settling down to +read a favorite book. + +"Of course, Hugh, I told him it would be too much for his aching leg, +but he assured me the pain had now all left him; and he wanted to know +if there was anything I could suggest that Owen might have to add to +his comfort while at home studying his lessons or reading. So I went +with him upstairs. Say, it's a real queer house, and must look a whole +lot spooky at night time; because they only burn lamps and candles, for +there's no electricity connection at all, or any gas either, I suppose. + +"At the end of a long hall we came to where three steps led down into a +room. It was a bully place, I will say that, with plenty of light from +a lot of small dinky windows that faced on three sides of the room. +Owen had fixed it up in good taste in the bargain. He must have plenty +of spending money, because there were lots of traps around, from a pair +of expensive snow shoes hanging on the wall to a splendid toboggan +tilted up in a corner. + +"In fact, Hugh, the place was pretty well filled with boy truck. It +looked cozy to me, and I ought to know something about a boy's den; +haven't I arranged mine seven separate times, until now it's back where +I started? Well, of course, to please the old gentleman, I walked +around, and peeked at things and told him Owen had as fine a loafing +place as any boy in Scranton; which sort of talk seemed to tickle Mr. +Dugdale a heap. + +"Then, Hugh, I got my shock, all right. It seemed to grip my heart +just as if an ice-cold hand had been laid on it. You see, in nosing +around I chanced to set eyes on something that lay half hidden among +some papers on a side table. Hugh, you could have knocked me down with +a feather when I saw that it was a souvenir tea spoon, an ornate one at +that, representing some foreign city, I don't know which, for I was too +flustered by my terrible discovery to look close. Now, what do you +think of that?" + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +JUST BETWEEN CHUMS + +"Oh! I'm sorry to hear that, Thad!" exclaimed Hugh. "Are you dead +certain it was a souvenir spoon you glimpsed? Couldn't you have been +mistaken?" + +The other boy shook his head in the negative. + +"I sure wish I could say so, Hugh, and that's a fact," he replied; "but +I've got pretty good eyes, and I ought to know what such things look +like, for hasn't my mother been collecting the same for ten years now. +Of course, ours are all of this country, representative of cities and +places she and dad have visited. But this one was different. I'm as +certain as anything that it must have come from some foreign place, +because the style and marking stamped is of no American workmanship." + +Evidently, what he had just heard caused Hugh considerable anxiety. It +seemed as though things were getting darker for Owen Dugdale with every +passing day. Even stout-hearted Hugh felt his doubts rising. He +wondered if, after all, he had made a mistake in his judgment of Owen, +and his belief in the boy's honesty. Hugh remembered some of the +things that were being said around town concerning the old man of the +dismal place called the "Rookery." His aversion to meeting people, as +well as other odd traits about him, had caused no end of talk. Some +even said they were not Americans, but foreigners, English possibly. + +Altogether Hugh felt considerably exercised. He shut his teeth hard +together, however, and told himself that no matter how many suspicious +circumstances seemed to surround Owen, he would still continue to have +faith in the boy. + +"Whenever I think of Owen's clear eyes," he told Thad, "and the way +they look you fair and square in the face, I feel positive that boy +can't be a sneak and a thief. No one with such honest eyes could do +mean things. Such fellows are patterned on a different model nearly +always." + +"Well, I've believed a good deal as you do myself, Hugh," admitted +Thad. "Just take that Leon Disney, for instance. There's a chap who +never could look straight at any one he was talking to." + +"You're right, Thad. He keeps on shifting his eyes up and down all the +while. I've often noticed it about Leon, and made up my mind it was an +uneasy conscience that made him act so." + +"Then, after all I've told you, Hugh, you still believe in Owen?" + +"I'm going to hold firm until the evidence is all in," said the other. + +"You're a good friend, I must say," Thad hastened to observe, a gleam +of honest admiration showing in his eyes. "I only hope you'll stand by +me as well, in case I ever get into any trouble, that's all." + +"I'd stand by you to the last ditch, and then some," Hugh told him, +with an affectionate smile; "for we're chums, and what's the use of +having a pal unless he '11 go through thick and thin for you. But I'm +a little surprised about one thing, Thad." + +"Do you mean about my actions in that house, Hugh?" + +"I should have thought you'd been quick to say something about the +spoon, so as to draw the old gentleman out," continued the other. + +"Oh! I didn't dare do such a thing as that, Hugh. It would have been +pretty bold in me, you know." + +"There might be ways to do it without seeming rude, Thad. For +instance, what was to hinder you from picking it up and expressing your +admiration for such a thing. Then by using your eyes, you could have +told whether Mr. Dugdale was surprised at seeing the spoon there, or +not. His actions more than anything he might say would have given you +a pointer, don't you see?" + +"Yes, I can understand that all right, now you've mentioned it, Hugh," +chuckled the other. "It's so easy to grip a thing after some one has +shown you how. Remember those envious Spanish courtiers who tried to +take Columbus down a peg by saying it was a simple thing to discover +America, since all you had to do was to set sail, and heading into the +west keep going on till you bumped up against the islands that at that +time they thought were the East Indies. Then, you remember, Columbus +asked them to stand an egg on end, which they tried and tried without +success, until he gently cracked one end, and it stood up all right. +Oh! yes, I can see now I might have done a lot of things that didn't +happen to occur to me just then." + +"I'm sorry you let such a good chance slip by without nailing it," said +Hugh. + +"Well, it might happen," added Thad, as though an idea had come into +his brain like an electric flash, "that another opportunity will come +along, and if it does, I give you my word I'll learn something worth +while." + +"How did you like the old gentleman," continued Hugh; "and after +meeting him, do you take any stock in the stories that have been +floating around town about his being the clever rascal who disappeared +from Wall Street two years ago?" + +"Why, he seemed very pleasant, so far as I could see," replied Thad, +slowly. "Course I don't pretend to be a smart enough reader of human +nature to say positively that old Mr. Dugdale is all to the good; but +he is well read, and I seemed to see what looked like a twinkle in the +corners of his eyes as though he might have a fair sense of humor in +his make-up." + +"He liked you, too, didn't he, Thad?" continued Hugh. + +"Well, to be honest with you, I really believe the old gentleman did +act a little that way. Perhaps, it was because he'd heard Owen mention +my name as one of his few friends; and Mr. Dugdale was wanting to show +how pleased he felt to know me. Yes, he acted as if he would like to +see me again; in fact, he asked me to come in some time, and visit Owen +in his den, for the boy often seemed lonely, he told me." + +"Poor Owen! let's hope this will all come out right in the end, then," +Hugh finally said, as though his own mind was made up not to allow the +latest discovery to influence him against the Dugdale boy. + +"But we've got to admit," added the other, seriously, "that it adds to +the tangle a heap, and makes it look worse than before. However, I'll +try and learn a thing or two. Give me a little, time to get my slow +wits working, Hugh; and I may have more news for you. All the same, it +wouldn't surprise me if you took a spurt and came in across the line +ahead of me." + +"Whatever makes you say that?" demanded Hugh. + +"Oh! I know you so well, that's all," laughed his chum, giving him a +nudge in the side with his elbow. "I wager the chances are ten to one +you're beginning to turn over a little scheme in your mind right now. +How about that, Hugh?" + +"If I am," retorted the other, "I don't intend telling you the first +thing about it until there's some solid foundation for the theory to +rest on." + +"Same here," chuckled Thad, with a wink that had a deal of significance +about it, Hugh could see. "Mebbe I've got a whiff of an idea myself +that might turn out worth while; but wild horses couldn't drag a hint +of the same from me so early in the game. So we're quits on that +score, you see, Hugh." + +The other jumped down off the wide-topped post, as though he thought he +should be continuing on his way home. + +"I must be going, Thad," he remarked. "Supper-time, almost, you know; +and besides I have some chores to do. When a fellow will keep pets the +way I do, he's got to expect to spend some little time looking after +them. I wouldn't want to let any of mine suffer for lack of attention." + +"And I wager they never do, Hugh!" declared the other, with his +customary stanch faith in his chum. "You have it fixed so that your +homing pigeons can always get feed from a trough that allows only a +scant ration to come down at a time, your 'lazy boy's self-feeder,' +I've heard you call it. And as for those fine Belgian hares that would +take first prize at any rabbit show, they live on the fat of the land. +Right now you're cultivating a bed of lettuce for them, as well as a +lot of cabbages, and such truck. Oh! no fear of any dumb beast, or +bird going hungry when it has Hugh Morgan for an owner." + +"Thank you for the neat compliment, Thad," said Hugh, the glow in his +eyes telling how much he appreciated such honest praise. "I may have +my faults, like every boy has, but being cruel to or neglectful of +little creatures that are in my keeping isn't one of them. I'd hate to +think I could let a poor rabbit go hungry. I'd get out of bed in the +middle of the night, cold as it might be, and go out to my hutch, if I +got an idea in my head that I'd left a window open that might allow a +draught to blow in on the poor things." + +"Well, I don't take to pets the same as you do, Hugh, but all the same +I can understand how you feel about them. It's the right way, to, and +no boy with any heart in him could be mean to helpless little animals. +I warrant you I know one fellow in Scranton who wouldn't get out of his +warm bed for any pet that ever lived." + +"I suppose you're meaning Nick Lang," remarked Hugh. "Well, I don't +know. To tell you the truth, that boy is a mystery to me. Sometimes I +think that, bad as he seems to be, Nick isn't quite all yellow; that +there's a little streak of white in his make-up." + +"Why, you surprise me, Hugh, when I hear you say that, and after all +you've seen of his mean ways, too. Think how he started to beat poor +Owen up that night; yes, and for years back he's been a big bully, +trying to have things his own way, and ruling by might of his fists. +Why, nearly everybody in Scranton believes him to be utterly +irreclaimable. What makes you say such a queer thing?" + +"I may be mistaken after all," said Hugh, slowly, "but here's a +singular thing I saw only yesterday. I haven't mentioned it to a +living soul, but it set me to thinking, and wondering whether, after +all, if a big hulking fellow like Nick were given a fair chance to make +good, he mightn't change and astonish the neighborhood. + +"I was going along a side street when I got a thrill. There was a +buggy with a frisky horse attached standing in front of a house. The +man had gone inside and very imprudently left his child, a little +fellow of some five years of age, to sit there in the vehicle, not even +bothering to hitch the beast. + +"Well, the boy, like most kids would do, had started playing with the +whip; and I saw him give the horse quite a blow. No doubt he was +imitating his father in doing that. The spirited beast started +rearing, and then acted as if about to make a dash down the street. It +would have been putting the child's life in danger, you can easily see. + +"I started to run, but never could have made it. Then I saw some one +jump for the horse's head, and have a little tussle with the animal. +It was Nick Lang. He hadn't stopped to think of any danger to himself. +I drew up and watched him. He conquered the beast, fastened him to a +hitching post, and then started to scold the white-faced little boy for +having touched the whip. The bully was showing in his nature, after +all, that splendid exhibition of nerve and quick wit. + +"Nick noticed me then, for the first time, and acted confused, as if +caught doing something he would not like folks to know. He shook his +finger in the boy's face again threateningly, gave me a sneering look, +and then stalked along down the street whistling like anything. And, +Thad, the boy who could do a thing like that off-hand can't be quite +_all_ bad, though people oughtn't to be blamed for thinking he is. +So-long, Thad!" + + + + +CHAPTER X + +A VISITOR FROM BELLEVILLE HIGH + +On the following afternoon, which chanced to be Tuesday, more boys than +before appeared at the recreation grounds for practice. Mr. Leonard +had sent out an urgent call for every one of the numerous candidates to +be on hand, since they expected to organize two nines. They would have +a fierce game, in order that he might have an opportunity to watch the +actions of every aspirant, and get pointers as to his capacity for +filling a gap. + +The boys appeared in all sorts of suits, some even hunting up football +togs because they had no others handy, and felt that they must make +some sort of a show at appearing in uniform. + +But the suits would be ready on time, for a local tailor had agreed to +make as many as were needed of various sizes, and to have them done +with a rush. Already Mr. Leonard, being furnished with ample funds, +had ordered bats and balls, bases, and all manner of necessary adjuncts +that go with a well-organized baseball team. Meanwhile, they must make +a virtue of necessity, and do the best they could with the stock in +hand. + +After some knocking of balls, and catching of flies, the boys were +tooled off in two fairly matched nines, and a game was started. They +had just got well along in this, when Thad, who was sitting on a bench +alongside Hugh, it being their turn at bat, suddenly remarked: + +"Hello! we're going to be spied on, it seems, Hugh; for notice that +chap coming along on his motorcycle, will you? Don't you know who he +is, just because he's wearing a pair of big goggles, and has his cap +pulled down over his forehead? Why, that's a Belleville boy named +Oliver Kramer. They call him O. K. for short; and I kind of guess it +stands for his character pretty well, because he's straight. I'm a +little surprised to see _him_ nosing around here today, trying to find +out what sort of crowd Scranton High can put in the field." + +"Oh! there's nothing queer about that, Thad," Hugh remonstrated, +quickly. "You can easily see it stands to reason those fellows over in +Belleville are anxious to get a line on what we expect to do, so as to +know just how much push they ought to put in their own work. He isn't +trying to spy things out, or he wouldn't come up so boldly. See, +there, he's starting to speak to Mr. Leonard now, and the old Princeton +athlete is shaking hands with him. Like as not O. K. has a dad who +used to be a college-mate of Mr. Leonard." + +Hugh himself, followed by Thad, walked that way. Hugh had been told by +Mr. Leonard that he was to be the field captain of the Scranton High +team. In fact, that seemed to be taken for granted by all the boys, +who were very well satisfied to have such a general favorite and +all-round good athlete for a leader. Consequently, Mr. Leonard had +caught Hugh's eye, and made a beckoning motion with his hand, evidently +wishing him to meet the Belleville boy. + +But the two had run across one another on several previous occasions, +it happened. Hugh shook hands with O. K. cordially, as did also Thad. +The latter was already ashamed of having entertained such thoughts in +connection with this friendly visit of the owner of the motorcycle, +whom he had always known to be a fine chap. + +"Our fellows are practicing this afternoon, just as your crowd is, +Captain Morgan," O. K. was saying. "I would have been with them, only +yesterday I happened to hurt a finger a bit, for you see I'm the +catcher of our nine, and it was thought best for me to lay off a few +days so as to let it mend." + +"And you dropped over to see if we were making any headway, I suppose?" +remarked Hugh, while Mr. Leonard went off to resume his duties, anxious +to see every play that came along; for he would not have much time to +decide on the line-up of the team, which must afterwards get all the +practice possible, in order to do Scranton High justice. + +O. K. laughed good-naturedly. + +"I hope, now, you won't suspect me of being a spy, and trying to pick +up pointers which might serve us later on in a hotly contested game," +he went on to say. "Fact is, I'm so much of a baseball crank that I +live and move and have my being in the great game. I came over hoping +to find you'd made a bully good start, because we Belleville boys want +your strongest team to face us a week from next Saturday. We expect to +win the game, that goes without saying, but none of us will be +satisfied to have a regular walkover of it." + +"Make your mind easy on that score, O. K.," snapped Thad, aggressively. +"We expect to have a lot of hard-hitting and splendid fielding boys on +the diamond, who will be out for blood. If you get the better of +Scranton High, you'll deserve all the praise you receive; and we'll be +the first to give you a cheer." + +"Well, I'm beginning to believe a little that way myself," admitted O. +K. in his frank way, as Nick Lang knocked out a screamer that went far +over the head of the center fielder. "That chap is a born batter. I +reckon, now, he must be your best card in the pack." + +"Oh! we've got a few others who can meet the ball," advised Thad, +proudly. "Watch that throwin', will you? Mighty few fellows could +send the ball all the way from deep center to the home plate, as +straight as a die. That kid's name is Sandy Dowd. You may not be so +glad to see him work later on, O. K. Just warn your sluggers they +needn't expect any home-runs if they put the ball out in center." + +They stood there and watched for some little time. Occasionally the +boy from Belleville would make some remark. His eyes sought the agile +figure of the athletic instructor from time to time. + +"One thing you Scranton fellows are lucky in, which is, having such a +splendid coach as Mr. Leonard. Why, he used to go to Princeton with my +dad, as I only learned a day or so ago. He's coming over to take +dinner with us next Sunday. Let me tell you, he's some peach of a +physical director. Dad says he was one of the most popular fellows in +college, and that as a half-back on the gridiron, he made a reputation +second to none." + +Hugh and Thad looked especially pleased to hear this outside praise of +the man for whom they themselves had come to entertain the utmost +respect and admiration. + +"Yes," said Hugh, warmly, "we expect that if Scranton has any show in +the games that are to be played in the Three-town League this season, +most of the credit will lie at the door of Mr. Leonard. He seems to be +a wonder at getting a boy to bring out every atom of energy and vim +that lies in him. Only Nick Lang acts surly under him. That's the big +fellow who made that three-bagger a while ago. He's the bully of the +town." + +"Used to be, you mean, Hugh, up to the time--" began Thad, when the +other shook his head at him discouragingly. + +"None of that now, if you please, Thad. We want to forget bygones, and +only remember that we're in the baseball world these days. There, Eli +hit the ball a good hard smack, but it went straight at the short-stop, +who handled it neatly for an out. Our turn out in the field now, Thad. +Glad to have seen you, O. K. Carry a message back home to Belleville +for me, will you? Tell your fellows Scranton High has found herself at +last, in the world of sports, and is primed to give both Belleville and +Allandale a hard tussle for the prize." + +"I'll tell them that with pleasure, Captain Morgan," replied the other, +"and add a few remarks of my own about what I have seen of your +hustling crowd over here. May the best nine win, and the contests +leave no after bitter sting. If we can't get the prize, we'd be glad +to see you fellows beat Allandale, because they'd be unbearable if they +won two years running." + +O. K. soon afterwards mounted his motorcycle and went spinning along +the road like a streak, leaving a cloud of dust behind him, also an +odor of gasoline. The practice game continued with varying fortunes. +In fact, it mattered very little which side won, as various pitchers +were being tried out under the eagle eye of Mr. Lawrence; his principal +object being to form an opinion as to the respective merits of the many +players. + +When another afternoon they met again, doubtless Mr. Lawrence would +have decided to eliminate several of the players as utterly beyond hope +of ever making the regular nine. So by degrees he would decide who was +best fitted for each and every position, with a number of able +substitutes, who could be called on should there be any change +necessary during a game, from injury, or because a certain player +failed to do what was expected of him. + +After the game had come to an end, and the crowd commenced to separate, +as usual, Hugh and Thad started to walk home together. They overtook +Owen Dugdale and hastened to join him. Both boys doubtless had a +little thrill just then, remembering how often the other had been in +their thoughts lately. + +Owen seemed to be in great spirits. + +"I never knew that I had it in me to become so fond of baseball as I +seem to be doing right now," he told them. "Of course I played a +little at several kinds of games like cricket, and since coming here to +Scranton I've been knocking flies for some of the boys, and playing in +scrub games. But now I enjoy it ever so much, though, of course, I +don't dream that I'll have the good luck to be selected for the team, +when there are so many who know more about the game than I do." + +"You can safely leave all that to Mr. Leonard, Owen," said Hugh. "I've +been keeping tabs on your play at short, and honestly, I want to say, +you're doing mighty well. I heard Mr. Leonard say so, too. While you +may not be picked for that position, there's a likelihood that you will +be held as a substitute. Only practice your batting all you can, Owen; +that's your weakest point. I'll show you a wrinkle about bunting that +may help you a lot." + +"Thank you, Hugh, ever so much!" exclaimed the other, his fine eyes +glowing with gratitude. "You've always been mighty kind to me, for a +fact. Was that boy on the motorcycle one of the Belleville fellows? I +thought I heard Otto Brand say so." + +"Yes," replied Hugh, "his name is Oliver Kramer, thought they call him +just O. K., as we dubbed our comrade K. K. for short. He hurt his +hand, and is laid off for a spell, because he is the catcher of the +Belleville High team, you see. O. K. is a fine chap. He ran over here +to see what we were doing, and to warn us we'd have to get a hustle on +if we hoped to have even a look-in, because Allandale is working like +anything, while Belleville means to do her best this year." + +"Belleville had better get a move on," suggested Thad, caustically, +"unless she wants to share the fate of poor old Lawrence. Both teams +beat Lawrence so badly last season that her club disbanded, for the +fellows started to squabbling among themselves, which of course ruins +any organization going." + +So, chatting as they walked along, the three boys finally parted at a +corner where their several ways led in different directions. Hugh +glanced back over his shoulder once in the direction of the receding +figure of Owen Dugdale. What was in his mind just then it might be +hard to say; but at least the expression on his face would indicate +that his former confidence in the Dugdale boy had not yet been +extinguished. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +HUGH'S PETS IN DANGER + +"Rotten luck, Hugh, to have that practice game called off this +afternoon just because it rained a little. The ground wasn't drenched +very much, and we could have done some work, anyhow. But it's too late +now." + +Thad was on the way home from school on Wednesday afternoon when he +said this. He had hastened and overtaken the other a block or so away +from the campus. Already the rain had stopped. Mr. Leonard, however, +had sent word around that there would be no baseball practice that day; +but for every one to be on hand Thursday P. M., as no excuses would be +taken for absence, when every day counted so much now. + +"Hold on, please, Hugh and Thad!" called some one from the rear; and +looking back they discovered a lame boy called Limpy Wallace, who +always carried a crutch and had to twist his body in a curious fashion +when he wished to make speed. + +Limpy could get over ground wonderfully well, considering the +difficulties under which he labored. More than once he had been held +up by Doctor Carmack to the other boys at Scranton High as a rebuke for +their laziness. If a fellow who had so much to contend with could +always appear so satisfied, and manage to get along as well as he did, +they ought to be ashamed to dawdle, and waste time when they had all +their faculties intact. + +Limpy Wallace was a constant and consistent admirer of Hugh Morgan. In +fact, he might be said to fairly worship the other boy, who had always +treated him most kindly, and seemed to sympathize with his having been +cheated by a cruel Fate out of the ordinary pleasures connected with +the average boy's life. Limpy Wallace would have gone far out of his +way to do Hugh a favor. He now came bounding along, with his crutch +making rapid jumps, and apparently every muscle in his poor distorted +body in action. + +But his thin face was lighted up with eagerness. Evidently, it was no +ordinary motive that had caused the lame boy to exert himself so +earnestly in order to overtake the two chums. + +"I've got something to tell you, Hugh," he panted, for he was almost +out of breath, owing to his exertions; an ordinary boy might have run +over that same stretch without showing it much, but it must have been a +strenuous undertaking for the cripple. + +"Glad to hear it," laughed Hugh. "I'm waiting to have some one tell me +that our team is going to wipe up the ground with both Allandale and +Belleville when we come to grips. Is your news of that sort, Limpy?" + +Of course he was only joking when he said this. Every one called the +other Limpy, nor did he seem to mind it a particle; indeed, only from +the teachers at school and his folks at home was it likely that he ever +heard his name of Osmond spoken. + +"Shucks! it hasn't a thing to do with baseball, or any other outdoor +sport, Hugh," the cripple hastened to say. "Because I heard your name +mentioned plainly I felt that you ought to know what little I managed +to pick up." + +"All right, then, Limpy, start ahead, and spin the yarn," said Hugh. +"Has some one been remarking what a poor excuse of an athlete Hugh +Morgan is; and that he ought never to have been given his job as field +captain of the Scranton High baseball team? It's no more than I +expected, Limpy, and my feelings can't be hurt a bit; so don't try to +spare me." + +"Listen, then, please, and you, too, Thad, seeing that you're his +chum," began the other, eagerly. "It was just an accident, you +understand, because I never yet was intentionally guilty of trying to +overhear what other fellows were saying. I had been tired out at +recess, and was lying down on that bench, you remember, that stands in +the corner of the grounds. It happens to have a back to it, and I +guess no one could notice me there. The other fellows were walking +around in bunches, and talking to beat the band. All at once I heard +your name spoken, and in an angry voice; so I just raised my head a +little to take a peep. Who should I see standing near by but that big +bully, Nick Lang, and his faithful shadow, Leon Disney." + +Thad dug his elbow into Hugh's short ribs as if to emphasize the remark +just made by Limpy Wallace. When two such arch schemers as Nick and +Leon got off by themselves, and were seen to have their heads together, +the chances were there must be some mischief afloat. + +"Well, after that I just lay still and listened, because I felt sure +they must be getting up some sort of a game to play even with you, +Hugh, because you gave Nick such a beautiful trouncing the other night, +so I was told. It was hard luck that I could only catch a word now and +then, for some of the boys were calling out to each other; and that +silly clown, Claude Hastings, had begun to sing one of his comic songs, +while he capered around like a baboon. But I did hear Nick say the +words: 'Get even,' 'show him who's who in this burgh,' and 'Belgian +hares.' Do they put you wise to anything, Hugh?" + +"I should say they did, Limpy!" ejaculated the impetuous Thad, even +before Hugh could speak the first word in reply. "Why, who's got prize +Belgian hares in Scranton but Hugh Morgan? Now, that cunning old +schemer, Nick Lang, knows how much Hugh thinks of his pets, and the +chances are ten to one he's hatched up a scheme to steal or kill every +lasting one of the rabbits. It would be just like him. Hugh, of +course you'll be forewarned, and take the necessary precautions to nip +his little plot in the bud." + +Hugh himself looked serious. A slight frown could be seen on his +usually calm and reposeful face. + +"I could stand almost any attempted injury to myself a lot better than +having my poor dumb pets made the object of revenge," he went on to +say, soberly. "Limpy, this is certainly news you've brought me. I'm a +thousand times obliged to you for taking the trouble." + +"Oh! not at all, Hugh. Why, there's nothing I wouldn't do to help pay +back all your kindness to me in the past. Some people think a lame boy +has no feelings, but you've never considered it so; you've always acted +as if you felt mighty sorry for a boy so badly afflicted. And I can +never forget how you shamed Pete Garinger into begging my pardon for +something mean he threw at me. All I hope is that you catch those curs +in the act, and give them what they deserve, if they really try to hurt +your poor little pets." + +"Make your mind easy on that score, Limpy," asserted Thad, with his +accustomed show of confidence, "we'll fix a trap to get the sneaks, +should they call in the dead of night. They'll think they've run up +against a threshing machine, all right, when Hugh and myself start in +to maul them." + +"Suppose you come over later in the afternoon, Thad," suggested Hugh, +as they arrived at their customary parting spot. "Meanwhile, I'll take +a look at my rabbit hutch, and try to figure just how we can turn the +tables on Nick and Leon, if they should pay me a visit tonight." + +"Make it as severe as you can, Hugh," begged Thad; "nothing could be +too hard for a pair of miserable schemers who, to get even with a +fellow they dare not face openly any longer, would creep into his +rabbit house like thieves in the night, and either steal his property, +or injure it so that there'd be no chance to exhibit the hares in a +show." + +"See you later on, and we can tell better then," was all Hugh said, for +if he had any idea simmering in his brain just then, he did not care to +mention it until he had found a chance to "look around," as he termed +it. + +"I'll be across inside of half an hour, you can bet on that!" called +out Thad, as he hurried away. + +He was as good as his word. Indeed, Hugh had hardly started to make +his investigation of the premises before he heard his chum come through +the gate, slamming it after him. + +There was an outbuilding back of the barn, which had been intended for +a storage house of some sort, but not used by the present occupants of +the premises. This Hugh had commandeered, and fitted to his purpose. +The upper part he had made into a pretty fine loft for his fancy homing +pigeons. When the first of his pedigreed youngsters arrived at the +flying stage, he meant to have considerable fun taking them ten or +twenty miles away, and then letting them loose, in the expectation of +finding them at home when he got back. After that, it would be longer +flights until he could learn whether he had any record breakers in his +flock. + +In the lower part of the building, Hugh had his long-eared Belgian +hares. There was now quite a family of them, what with the old ones, +and seven strapping youngsters. Hugh took great pleasure in watching +his pets, and figuring out how he could improve on their quarters, so +as to make them more comfortable in every way. + +"Well, have you struck any promising scheme yet, Hugh?" demanded Thad, +as he breezed into the hutch, seeming to guess that he would find his +chum there, and not in the house. + +"I've just been fixing things in my mind," returned Hugh, quietly, "and +trying to determine how any intruder would expect to get in here. Why, +up to now such a thing as having my hares stolen never once occurred to +me. Really I'm surprised to find what confidence I've been placing in +all Scranton; when there have been bad eggs among the boys from away +back. Do you know I've never had a fastening on this window here, not +even a stick to hold the lower sash down. It's about time I woke up +and insured the safety of the poor things." + +"But you do lock the door every night," interjected Thad; "because +I've seen you do that same thing." + +"Oh! just as a matter of form," confessed the other, "for I've never +dreamed it was necessary. Any fellow could have climbed in by that +window of a night, if he'd chosen to." + +"Do you suppose, Hugh, that Nick Lang knows about that unguarded +window'?" + +"I was figuring that out," mused Hugh, "and, really, I believe he does. +I'll tell you what I base that supposition on. Some time ago, a fellow +came to see me, and tried to buy a pair of my hares; but his figures +and mine didn't agree, and so we failed to make a bargain. But I +showed him my place here, and he examined it all through. I even can +remember that he gave the window a little upward push, speaking at the +time of the necessity for all pets to have plenty of pure air, or their +dens would become foul smelling. That boy was Tip Slavin, and I +understand that he's pretty thick with Nick and Leon. They must have +heard about his visit here, and pumped him dry. So if they do make me +a night visit, depend on it this window will figure big in their +calculations." + +Thad chuckled as though pleased. + +"That makes it simple, then, Hugh," he went on to say, exultantly, "for +with such a thing settled, it ought to be easy for us to hatch up some +scheme to play hob with their plan of campaign. It'd just about serve +the sneaks right if we set a spring-gun trap that'd give them a dose of +fine bird-shot; but then I don't suppose you'd want to go quite as far +as that. Look here, Hugh, I believe right now, you've already settled +on some sort of surprise for those fellows when they come snooping +around here. If that's a fact, you're going to up and explain its +workings to your best chum, ain't you?" + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +THE TRAP + +Hugh heard his chum through, and then quietly went on to say: + +"Yes, I have got a little plan that ought to teach them a lesson, and +cool off their ardor a bit. In the first place, we can easily rig up a +small platform just above this window here. I've got several +stanchions and a board. It wouldn't take us more than half an hour to +complete it, I reckon. But we must make it extra strong, you know." + +"But I don't know," pleaded Thad, helplessly. "Why should this lovely +little shelf up there be so strong? Are we going to perch on it, and +drop down on top of the night birds after they let themselves in? Is +that the game, Hugh?" + +"Not quite, Thad. It's the tub that must balance up there!" + +"Tub! Great Scott! are you figuring on giving Nick and Leon their +usual Saturday night bath?" gasped the other, still groping in the dark. + +"Something like that," chuckled Hugh, "only it will be _such_ a +surprise to those chaps, and cold, too, ugh! as cold as ice can make +it." + +"Go ahead and explain a lot more," Thad demanded. "I'm beginning to +get just an inkling of the game. Whew! I believe you've been reading +of the pranks the fellows play in the boarding schools, with a tub of +water suspended over a door, so that when an unlucky boy opens it he is +drenched to the skin." + +"That's about the idea," Hugh acknowledged. "Nothing particularly +brilliant or original about it, I own up, but the best we can do under +the circumstances." + +Then he went on to explain the particulars, showing Thad how the tub +could be balanced nicely, so that when a cord attached to it was +jerked, it would tilt over beautifully, discharging its full contents +without itself falling down. + +Thad listened, and grunted. Plainly he was a bit disappointed. + +"It sounds pretty good, Hugh," he admitted, finally, "and will of +course give the rascals a great scare; but seems to me as if it's +hardly vigorous enough. According to my mind, we ought to make the +punishment fit the crime. When a couple of low-down scamps try to kill +the dumb pets of a fellow who has never gone out of his way to harm +them, and are caught with the goods on, they ought to be treated to a +dozen good wipes with a cowhide whip, something that'll make 'em yell +bloody murder. But just as you say, we can try this dodge, and +discourage them from any more funny business around your coop." + +"Then the sooner we start in and get busy, the better," suggested Hugh, +whose motto had always been that of "strike while the iron is hot." + +Thad was ready to do his share in any labor, so that presently the +sound of much sawing and hammering oozed out from the rabbit hutch, +where the chums continued to work for nearly an hour. + +At the end of that time they had completed the job so far as the +platform over the window was concerned. Hugh had done more than this, +for by cleverly arranged boards he constructed a regular trap; so that +when the boys managed to climb through the window, they would naturally +crouch down directly in range of the coming water-spout. + +"There," said Hugh, finally, "that is all done, and I think fills the +bill. I'll go after the galvanized iron wash-tub now." + +"Be sure and fetch the biggest one you can," suggested the greedy Thad, +with a sly grin. "You see, we ought to deal generously with our +guests, even if they're uninvited ones. I believe in going the whole +hog when about it." + +"Depend on me to do the right thing by Nick and Leon," Hugh assured +him. "When I have visitors drop in on me in this off-hand way, I +always want to be ready to treat them well. But I'm afraid they'll +think our reception committee rather frigid, eh, Thad?" + +He soon came back bearing a massive tub that aroused the admiration of +Thad. + +"That certainly is a jim-dandy wash-tub!" he declared. "I'm glad now +we made the shelf big enough. I reckon you had the dimensions of this +thing in your mind when doing your measurements, Hugh." + +Next they lifted the tub on to the platform above. It could be readily +balanced on the edge so that a very slight pull from the cord would +tilt it forward, when the propensity for water to seek its own level +would do the rest. + +They tested it a number of times, and it worked splendidly. "When +filled with water, it would only add to the gaiety of things," Thad +said, fervently. + +"But where will we be all the time, Hugh?" he now asked. + +"I've arranged all that," he was assured. "One of the objects of these +upright boards is to act as a cover for us, as well as to form a trap +for our guests. You see, I happen to know that Leon Disney owns a hand +electric torch like the one you showed me the other day that your uncle +in the city sent out, and which I want you to fetch over when you come +after supper. Just as like as not, he'll use it through the window +before they try to enter, so as to make sure the coast is clear. +That's why I've been so careful not to leave anything around that might +excite suspicion." + +"Just so," laughed Thad, merrily, for as he was not going to get an icy +ducking, he felt as though he could afford to be happy; "after fellows +have worked so hard to jimmy their way into the premises of another, +it'd be a shame to discourage their efforts in the beginning. We might +paint a sign 'welcome,' and put it over the window, Hugh, just to let +them know everything is lovely, and the goose hangs high." + +"I'll step outside, and take a peep in through the window to find out +how things look," suggested Hugh, which he proceeded to do. + +"Nothing to excite anybody's suspicion that I can see," he announced. +"The tub is completely out of sight, just as I expected it would be, +and even the cord connecting it with our hiding place couldn't be +noticed unless you knew all about it beforehand. I guess our work is +done, all but filling the reservoir." + +Procuring a bucket, they set to work. One carried and the other +poured, standing on the short step-ladder in order to better reach the +elevated tub. + +"There, it's as full as I dare make it," Hugh finally announced. + +"And for one, I'm not half sorry," Thad added, "because toting water +isn't altogether fun. That bucket is heavy enough to nearly pull your +arms out of their elbow sockets. You said something about _ice_, +didn't you, Hugh?" + +"Yes, I had that in mind. After supper, when we come out here to take +up our vigil, I'll get a lot of small chunks from the ice-house and put +it in the water. It'll make it lovely and cold, I warrant you, unless +our guests delay their coming too long." + +Nothing more being necessary, the boys adjourned to the house, where in +Hugh's den they talked various matters over with the customary +enthusiasm of live boys. Naturally, these affairs, as a rule, +concerned the athletic happenings just then on the carpet, and +particularly the baseball rivalry about to break out in a series of +hotly contested games between Scranton, Belleville and the formerly +victorious Allandale High team. + +Later on, Thad went home to his supper, though Hugh had pressed him to +stay and share his meal, for they were often at each other's table. + +"Like to," said Thad, shaking his head, "but it happens I've got a few +things I ought to attend to. Then again there's that hand-torch you +asked me to fetch over with me. Another time will have to do, Hugh." + +Hugh laughed scornfully. + +"Tell all that to your grandmother, Thad, will you?" he exclaimed. +"Just as if I didn't know that your folks religiously have corned beef +and cabbage every Thursday night, which is a favorite dish with your +dad, likewise with a certain fellow of my acquaintance. Now, _we're_ +only going to have chicken pot-pie at our house, and of course that +doesn't appeal to you like your pet fare. Oh I well, I understand how +things go, and I'll let you off this time. I don't believe you've ever +taken a meal at my house on a Thursday since I've known you." + +Thad laughed as though not at all abashed. + +"I guess you're on to my weak spot, all right, partner," he hastened to +say in the boldest manner possible. "But really and truly, I have got +some things I want to do, though of course they could be postponed if +absolutely necessary. Some time perhaps you'll be having my plebeian +dish over at your house; then try asking me if you dare." + +He turned up about seven o'clock, just after darkness had set in, for +the moon was getting very old now, and a late riser. The two boys sat +in Hugh's den for considerably more than an hour, talking and planning. +Both showed vague signs of nervousness, however. Thad in particular +frequently walked over to a window and looked out. Doubtless he was +thinking what a joke on them it would be if the marauders came much +earlier than expected, when all their fine work with that tub of icy +water would go for naught. + +"Hadn't we better be making a start, Hugh?" he finally asked. "Don't +forget we have to handle that ice first, and get things ready." + +"All right," the other replied. "We'll make for the rabbit hutch, and +here's hoping that we don't have a long watch all for nothing." + +The ice was soon procured. Hugh cracked it in rather small pieces. He +did this for two good reasons. First it would chill the water more +speedily when in this condition; then again the chances of knocking one +of the interlopers on the head with a heavy lump of ice falling quite +some distance would be obviated. Hugh did not intend that this prank +should end in a tragedy, if he could help it. + +When everything had been arranged to suit Hugh, the boys retired within +the rabbit hutch, and the door was fastened with the padlock, which +Hugh could undo when the time came by leaning far out of the open +window. + +They took up their positions in the place already selected, and wrapped +in complete darkness awaited coming events. The time passed very +slowly, but since they had dressed warmly, they did not suffer from the +chilly air, for it was only April, and the warmth of summer still far +distant. + +Nine o'clock struck. Bless that town clock, by means of which they +could tell the hour; for Thad was beginning to believe it much later +than it really was. He yawned, and stretched a bit, shifting his +position. Then Hugh touched him on the arm, and his low whisper came +in Thad's very ear. + +"Sh! something stirring outside!" + +Thad had heard it, too. Either the night wind had arisen; and was +sighing through the branches of the big oak that hung partly over the +rabbit hutch, or else some living object had moved; for what the boys +heard as they crouched there quivering with suspense and anticipated +victory was certainly in the nature of a creeping sound. + +Yes, now there came to the ears of Thad what must be low whispers. +Nick and his fellow conspirator had undoubtedly arrived and were +scanning their contemplated field of operations! + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +A COLD RECEPTION + +Then the boys in hiding saw a strange glow around them. Undoubtedly +Leon was making use of his electric hand-torch, and both of the +intended raiders must be pressing their noses against the glass of the +small window, trying to form some sort of idea as to what awaited them. + +Neither Hugh nor Thad more than breathed. The latter clutched the +stout cord in a firm hand, ready to give the quick jerk when he +believed the proper moment had arrived. + +Apparently, the fellows outside must have concluded that everything was +just lovely, for they could now be heard softly opening the window, and +pushing the sash carefully back out of the way. While climbing in +through the opening thus made, they did not wish to thrust a foot +against the glass, and cause a smash that might be their undoing; oh! +trust that shrewd general, Nick Lang, for looking out against any such +accidents; he had been in this business a long time now, and understood +all the ins and outs of it. + +More low whispering followed. Evidently, Nick was trying to coax Leon +to climb in first, so that he could light the way with his torch; but +that sly fox held back. It was Nick's special game, and consequently +he should be the one to do the honors of the occasion. + +After a little grumbling beyond the open window, Thad and Hugh heard +the soft pad of shoes scraping against the boards. Nick had started to +enter. The yawning aperture, and the apparent lack of any signs of +danger lured him on. Ah! if he had only dimly suspected what a +wonderful reception awaited him in that same rabbit hutch, undoubtedly +Nick could not have been tempted to take that important step; indeed, +he would have turned and run for it with all speed. + +But "when ignorance is bliss, 'tis folly to be wise," the old saying +runs; and Nick was happy in not having a glimmer of the truth. + +He should not be long in making his entrance. The window was only five +feet from the ground, and within easy reach. Besides, Nick was an +unusually strong boy, which fact in itself had been one reason for his +having been able to play the part of town bully as long as he did. + +The sounds changed their nature. Evidently, Nick had managed to pull +himself over the window-sill. He was now inside the hutch, perhaps +kneeling on the floor, and directly under the tilted tub that stood on +the shelf above! + +Hugh gripped his cord still more firmly. It was almost time for +something to happen. Perhaps before another minute had passed the +avalanche would descend, and give two startled fellows the surprise of +their lives. + +Now Nick was lending his companion a helping hand. It may not have +been through generosity that Nick acted thus; perhaps he dimly +suspected that the cowardly Leon might wish to draw back, and allow him +to carry out the nefarious business alone and unaided; and Nick was +bent on making his crony share in the act, so that he could not turn on +him and betray him in the future. + +Yes, Leon was coming along. He made more noise than the other, for +Nick could be heard growling, and telling him to be careful if he +didn't want to fetch the owner of the rabbit hutch down on them with +blood in his eye, and perhaps a stout baseball bat for a weapon. + +Thad softly chuckled on hearing this. No doubt, in his mind he was +saying that something in the way of a reception far less warm was +hovering over the heads of the two "innocents abroad." That made Thad +think of Mark Twain, and he wondered whether the illustrious Tom Sawyer +and his chum, Huckleberry Finn, had ever arranged a more fetching +reception committee than this one of Hugh's. + +Leon seemed quite clumsy about climbing up; the fact of the matter was, +he came rather unwillingly, and might have held back only that the +determined Nick had taken a firm grip on his coat collar, and held on +tenaciously, bent on making sure of having company in his dark deed of +slaughter, or robbery, whichever he had in mind. + +Thad would have given almost anything for the privilege of taking a sly +peep; but he had been sternly enjoined against doing this same thing by +Hugh. The other, however, found it necessary to put his head beyond +the corner of the upright boards, so as to make sure that both boys +were there, and ready for their bath. + +One brief look was enough for Hugh. Leon had depressed his hand-torch +so that its glow only fell on the floor; but enough light was diffused +throughout the place to disclose two kneeling figures directly under +the tub. + +Hugh waited no longer, but gave the cord a strong pull. + +There was a sudden surge, and down came a terrific Niagara of icy water +that completely deluged Nick and Leon. They let out involuntary yells +that were of a piercing intensity. Nor was this all, for Hugh must +have given the cord an extra hard pull, or else the fastenings of the +tub had not proved stanch enough; for down it came with an infernal +jangling that must have completed the fright of the precious pair of +intruders. + +Indeed, it even gave Thad a start, with all that racket, and the cries +of the terrified boys adding to the volume of sound. + +"Now give us some light, Thad!" called Hugh, wishing to glimpse the +drenched culprits before they could scramble through the opening again, +and make their escape. + +Thad was so excited he could hardly remember what he had done with his +new electric hand-torch. So he ran his fingers around on the floor, +feeling here and there in eagerness, all the while strange sounds +coming to their ears from the other end of the rabbit hutch. + +Then he managed by accident, or great good luck, to touch what he was +searching for, and instantly Thad flooded the place with its +illumination, after which both of them stepped forward. + +They were just in time to glimpse a pair of legs vanishing through the +opening. Then came a heavy crash accompanied by dismal groans, after +which they heard the sounds of footsteps as the two boys scurried +around the building, wishing to keep from being seen. When Hugh and +Thad looked out of the window there was no one in sight. + +They turned and stared at each other. Then Thad doubled up like a +closed hinge, and shook with boisterous laughter. + +"Oh! what a circus that was, Hugh!" he cried. "Why, I don't know what +I'd have given just for a chance to watch those two chaps swimming +around. And, say, that big tub falling must have nearly scared Leon to +death. I wonder now, did it happen to hit either of them when it came +tumbling down after emptying out all the iced water? Oh! I'll laugh +myself nearly sick every time I think of this dandy trap of yours." + +Of course, the interior of the Belgian hares' quarters was a sight to +behold, after all that downpour; but anticipating this, the careful +Hugh had placed his pets where they could not be injured by the flood. + +"See here what they left behind them," remarked Hugh, picking up what +turned out to be a stout gunny-sack. "Well, I'm glad to find this, +because it seems to prove that they meant to steal my hares, and not +kill them." + +"Just about as bad in the long run!" declared Thad, scornfully. "Like +as not that Nick would have thrown them into the river, with a stone +tied to the bag, in order to hide all traces. Then, no matter how much +you might suspect them, you couldn't prove a thing. But Hugh, they +made a terrible slip if they figured on that, because, see here what +I've found." + +He held something up. + +"Leon's hand-torch, for a certainty!" exclaimed Hugh. "In his sudden +fright he lost it, and was in too great a hurry to think of trying to +find his property again." + +"You've got him where you want him, all right, Hugh," snapped Thad, +suddenly. "All you have to do is to leave this here and fetch Chief +Wambold around to notice that it lies in your rabbit hutch. Then Leon +will have to explain how he came to leave it here." + +"Oh! I sort of feel that those fellows have been punished enough as it +is," the other went on to say, slowly. + +"You're too easy on the skunks, Hugh, take my word for it," said Thad, +with a trace of disappointment in his voice. "A fellow like Nick Lang +never can appreciate such a thing as leniency. You've got to give him +what he believes in, and that's brute force. Well, then, if you won't +have Leon arrested, at least you can keep this hand-torch as a trophy +of the momentous occasion. It'll serve to remind you of this pleasant +night's entertainment. While not so fine a torch as mine, still it +seems to be O. K. You'll do that, I hope, Hugh?" + +But the other shook his head. + +"I don't want the thing, Thad, I assure you I don't," he said. "I'll +send it to Leon with a little satirical note, telling him that while I +thank him very much for leaving me his torch, I have always made it a +rule not to accept presents from those who were not my intimate +friends; and that, therefore, I'm returning it with the hope that in +the future he may put it to better use than in the past." + +Thad laughed. + +"Oh! well, you must have your way, Hugh, I reckon; and really, that +will set the pair guessing. They'll understand we're on to their +identity, and of course will be more or less anxious to know just what +you mean to do about it." + +"One thing I'm sure of," added Hugh, "which is, that Nick Lang can +never be made to change his habits by harsh measures. Some of these +fine days I may find a chance to do him a great favor; and by heaping +coals of fire on his head, force him to see a light." + +Thad heard his chum say this with more or less astonishment. +Apparently, while he had the utmost faith in Hugh's ability to do most +things, at the same time he considered that this would be in the form +of a miracle. He smiled, and again shook his head in the negative. + +"Well, you don't believe they'll come again tonight at any rate, do +you, Hugh?" he asked, as they prepared to leave the rabbit hutch. + +"Not one chance in ten," the other told him. "I mean to fix this +window so it can't be easily opened. Besides, my window is on this +side of the house, and I've got a cord arranged whereby a weight will +fall on the floor of my room if anybody tried to get in here, after +I've fixed the little jigger. I own a shotgun, you know, Thad, and can +fire up in the air out of my window if there's any alarm. Tomorrow +I'll put heavy wire netting over the window, that will insure the +safety of my pet Belgian hares, and my homing pigeons. Now let's be +heading toward the house, and going to bed; for you promised to sleep +with me, you know." + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +NICK AS A GAP-STOPPER + +On Saturday afternoon the field was the scene of another gathering. +Almost every boy in town had come out to see what success the Scranton +High fellows were making with their new team. Besides, there were many +little knots of high-school girls present, all eager to watch some +fellow in whom they felt especial interest. Then, from time to time, +older folks began to show up, until quite a gathering could be seen in +the grandstand and on some sections of the bleachers. + +Perhaps Scranton did not possess as fine buildings as Allandale, for +instance, because the spirit of sport had long been rampant in the +other town, while Scranton seemed to have been half asleep until +latterly; but they were good enough, and commodious in the bargain. +The field itself could hardly have been surpassed. It was unusually +level, and stretched away to such a distance that it must needs be +quite a slugger who could make a home-run hit on those grounds. + +Still it had been done. There was at least one member of the team who +had shown an ability to send the ball out over the head of a fielder, +and to such an astonishing distance that by the time it was recovered +and returned to the diamond, he had raced completely around the circuit +for a home run. + +Mr. Leonard had by now completed his choice of the team. He had +watched the play of the boys, and decided on just who best seemed +fitted to fill the various positions. Of course, as time passed, this +schedule of players was subject to possible changes, but on the whole +the physical instructor believed he had built up the strongest team +Scranton could put in the field that season. + +Much must depend on the pitching staff. It remained to be seen how the +twirlers would "pan out" under fire. At present Mr. Leonard was +working strenuously, trying to put more "ginger" into their work; and +also teaching them some of the wrinkles of the game, as known to +semi-professionals like himself. + +Greatly to the surprise as well as delight of Owen Dugdale, he had been +notified that he was to cover short. Indeed, others were not as much +astonished as Owen himself, because they had been admiring the splendid +way in which he fielded his difficult position there, accepting chances +that many fellows would have allowed to let get by them for fear of +making an error, and with wonderful success. + +Once Owen got his hands on the ball, and he could shoot it across to +first like a rifle bullet. His accuracy and speed were simply grand; +everybody cheered when he sent the ball "screaming" across to the man +guarding the initial sack; or on occasion hurled it to Hugh on third +for a double. + +Then again, Owen was improving in his batting. Hugh had gone to great +pains to give him many pointers, and the fruit of this was seen by the +clever way in which Owen could lay down a pretty bunt, the ball rolling +along just inside the line in a tantalizing fashion, and headed for +first or third, as the occasion might require. The player who can be +depended on to bunt successfully two times out of three attempts is +always a valuable accessory to a club; since he is thus able to push a +runner along; and perhaps get his own base in the bargain, when the +others are busily engaged in trying to catch the fellow on the bases. + +Short-stop must always be an agile chap, who is especially quick both +at decisions and throwing. Even though he snatch up the ball, and thus +make a fine stop, if his judgment is poor or his throwing arm lame, he +can often bungle his work, and prove of little help to his team. + +There would still be another full week before the first game with +Belleville. If fair weather favored them the Scranton boys hoped to +put in daily practice, and speed up in their team work, as well as +signals. The pitchers, too, needed considerable more practice before +they could be said to be at their best; in fact, they would all be +better off for two more weeks of hard work, which, however, could not +be obtained. + +Two teams were made up for this afternoon, one of them the regulars, +and the other a "scrub," though with some fair players aboard, mostly +substitutes. Mr. Leonard himself meant to play at various positions +for the latter team. He chanced to be one of those remarkable +all-round handy men, capable of filling a job as catcher, first +baseman, second, short-stop or fielder. He even astonished the boys +during the afternoon play by taking his place as a slab-artist in the +pitcher's box; and some of his shoots and drops puzzled the hard +hitters on the regular team, so that they whiffed at thin air, and thus +passed out on strikes. + +The pitchers had been evenly divided, and all showed considerable +ability after their caliber. Some seemed to have considerable "stuff" +with them, and mystified the batters with their delivery. Others were +hit freely, and runs were either earned or else made with the +assistance of errors more or less glaring. + +The weak places in the team's play were being noted by Mr. Leonard, who +would take measures to stop the leaks after a fashion of his own; +through advice and practical instructions, if he could; and should +these means fail, then by a radical change in the line-up. + +As Hugh had been made field captain, he would have charge of the +playing to a considerable extent. On this account, he took an +especially keen interest in all that went on. When Nick Lang, who +played centre field, made a difficult catch of a great fly from Mr. +Leonard's bat, no one applauded more than did Hugh; while Thad behind +the bat stood and scowled, for somehow he disliked the idea of the town +bully having any part in the team's work. + +When he took occasion to speak of this during their turn at bat, as he +and Hugh sat by themselves on the lower bleacher seats, watching the +game, the other took him to task for his way of thinking. + +"You've got to get over that personal way of thinking, Thad, when you +belong to a ball club like Scranton High," he said, earnestly. "Now we +all know what Nick is, and few fellows like to play in a game where he +has any part; but remember that he is one of the high-school students, +and on that account has just as much right to aspire to a place on the +representative team as you or I." + +"But he always makes trouble wherever he goes," expostulated Thad, +still unconvinced, it seemed; "and mark my words, he'll do something to +try and break up this team, if things don't go just to suit his ideas." + +"Please don't forget Mr. Leonard when you say that, Thad. Depend on +it, he's going to keep his eye on Nick right along. If the fellow +shows any insubordination, he'll get his walking papers like a flash, +and perhaps be booted off the grounds in the bargain, if he gets too +fresh." + +"Well, perhaps you're right, Hugh," grumbled Thad. "Mr. Leonard must +know a heap more than a boy like me, who sees everything on the +surface. And I admit that was a cracking good catch Nick made, after +such a hard run. He can field, all right, and he is a gap-stopper in +center field, for a fact." + +"There, look at him send out a screamer right now, that ought to be +good for a double!" exclaimed Hugh. "You see, we need Nick on the +team. He is one of our mainstays at bat and in the field. If only Mr. +Leonard can control him, he's apt to be of great assistance to us in +winning games. The boy who would take his place isn't really in the +same class with Nick as a player. So let's try to forget all about our +natural aversion while we're playing ball. If we act that way, the +other fellows are apt to follow suit. And, Thad, conquering your +feelings may be the means of bringing a glorious victory to Scranton +High. Wouldn't you think yourself well repaid for just repressing your +antipathy toward Nick Lang?" + +"Of course you're right, Hugh, as you nearly always are. I'm so +quick-tempered I make all sorts of silly blunders. But look there, I +can see a cloud of dust up the road yonder. Now I wouldn't be at all +surprised if we had another friendly visit from that Belleville fellow, +O. K. He's taking quite an interest in Scranton, it seems, and has run +over again this Saturday to find out how we're improving. We must +jolly him along, Hugh, and never let him see we're feeling a bit of +anxiety over our pitchers." + +Sure enough, the rider of the motorcycle proved to be Oliver Kramer, +the same boy who had been over before to take a look at the Scranton +players. He came alongside the two chums sitting on the bleachers, and +deposited his machine so that it would be safely out of the way. + +"Hello! fellows!" he remarked, cheerily, as he held out his hand to +Hugh. "Here I am again, right side up with care, as the clown in the +circus always says. Glad to meet you again, Captain Morgan, and you +also, Thad Stevens. Mr. Leonard was over to dinner at our house +Sunday, and he invited me to drop in any old time, and see how your +crowd was making out. I hope now you don't object to my being here, +Hugh?" + +"Not in the least, O. K.," Hugh told him, smilingly. "We're pushing +along pretty fairly, and ironing out some of the wrinkles as we go. +Lots still to be done before we're ready to try conclusions with your +team at Belleville; but with such a capable coach as Mr. Leonard, we +believe we'll get there in time." + +They watched the play go on. There were some really clever stunts done +that called for loud cheers on the part of the small crowd present. O. +K. added his strident voice to the shouts. + +"Great work that, old top!" he shouted at Sandy Dowd, who had made a +magnificent steal to second, after getting first on a single, his slide +amidst a cloud of dust being the grand climax of the feat; for though +the catcher sent the ball down in a direct line to the baseman, still +the red-headed Sandy had his hand on the bag at the time he was +touched, and there was no disputing the "safe on second" of the umpire. + +For three innings did O. K. sit there and enjoy the game. He was a +baseball enthusiast of the first water, and never could get quite +enough of his favorite sport. Of course he preferred taking part in a +game, but the next best thing was to watch others play, and comment on +their mistakes; just as most people can play the critic while watching +a game of billiards and always feel they could have improved on the +shot that missed connections. + +"Well, what do you think now, O. K.?" asked Hugh later on, when the +Belleville boy made preparations as though about to start homeward. +"Do you notice any improvement in our work? Have we gone up or down, +in your judgment?" + +"Yes, be honest, now, O. K., and say," asked Thad. "We can take +criticism without flinching. You know what your team can do; have we +any show against Belleville, or that strong aggregation at Allandale?" + +"Honestly, between man and man, fellows," said the other, earnestly, "I +can see the greatest sort of improvement in your play. When you get +your team work down a bit better and closer to scientific principles, +you're going to make both the other clubs in the Three-Town League +hustle some to hold their own. I'm glad to see it, too, because it +means we'll have to do our level best if we hope to win. And that +insures some mighty lively ball games during the short season while +we're playing against each other." + +Hugh felt satisfied, for he believed O. K. to be quite honest in what +he said. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +PRETTY POLLY UNDER SUSPICION + +"Hello! Thad, that you?" + +"Nobody else, Hugh. I rather thought I'd hear your voice when I +stepped over to the 'phone. What's doing this fine Sunday afternoon?" + +"Are you in for a little walk with me, Thad?" + +"Just what would please me a heap, Hugh. Anything particular moving?" + +"There you go suspecting that I've got something on tap just because I +call up and invite you to cover a few miles, when the weather is so +fine. But for once you've hit the nail on the head, my boy." + +"That settles it, then. I'll rush right over, and join you, Hugh." + +"Be careful and don't break your neck in your hurry, Thad. My news can +keep; and what would poor Scranton High do for a catcher in the game +next Saturday if you fractured your collar-bone?" + +Whether Thad took the advice to heart or not, he certainly made his +appearance at the home of his best chum in an incredibly brief space of +time, flushed in the bargain, and with an eager light lurking in his +eyes. + +"Nothing doing until we get safely out of town," said Hugh, firmly; "so +you'll have to put the brake on your impatience." + +"Huh!" grumbled Thad, "that sounds as if what you had to tell me was of +vast importance, so that you didn't want to run any risk of others +cribbing the news. Now you have got me guessing to beat the band, +Hugh. I wonder if those Belleville fellows have been up to any dodge +to learn our signals, and how our pitchers are practicing certain pet +balls?" + +"Oh! I'll relieve your mind that far by telling you it has nothing +whatever to do with the game next Saturday; for that matter it's not +about baseball at all. You're doing those fine chaps at Belleville a +gross injustice to even hint at their thinking of spying on us." + +Thad grinned as though he had won a point. + +"Well, I take it all back, then, Hugh," he hastened to say, contritely. +"And now that point's settled, there's only one more thing it could be +about." + +"Notice that shrub bursting into bloom, will you?" remarked Hugh. "No +one ever saw a prettier sight than that is right now." + +"Have you learned anything more about----" + +"We'll take a turn here, and walk along the canal toward the big +mill-pond," interrupted Hugh. "That's always a favorite walk of mine; +and, to tell the truth, I haven't been out to the mill-pond for a long +time. The fishing there hasn't been very good this season, some of the +boys told me. Besides, I've been kept so busy with my studies, +baseball matters, and several other things I'm interested in, that I +haven't had much time for fishing this spring. Nobody loves it more +than I do, either, as you happen to know." + +Thad heaved a sigh, and shook his head. + +"No use trying to coax you, Hugh, when you've made up your mind not to +let out even a little peep. A fellow might wheedle until he fell over, +and you'd still be as hard as adamant. Yet it's right. Makes me think +of the old saying that a single man can lead a mule to water, but a +dozen can't make him drink--not comparing you to a mule, of course." + +They chatted as they walked, until presently the town had been left +behind them. + +"Now I'll open up and tell you what's been worrying me," announced +Hugh, suddenly. "The fact of the matter is, I was called over to +Madame Pangborn's this morning after getting home from church. She +told me a third spoon has disappeared!" + +"Great guns! is that so, Hugh? And, say, was Owen there on the day it +went glimmering?" demanded Thad, frowning. + +"I'm sorry to have to say yes to that," returned Hugh, slowly. "It was +yesterday it happened. She persisted in leaving the spoons just where +I saw them. I advised her to do that, for if they were hidden away we +might never discover the thief. As on the other occasions, Owen came +in with a bundle for the Red Cross, sent by the same lady who had +intrusted him with a package twice before." + +"All I can say is, it's getting a heap serious for our new friend, +Owen. Hugh, do you think the poor chap might be what they call a +kleptomaniac; that is a person who has an irresistible inclination to +take things that don't belong to him, or her, and generally has no use +for them after stealing the same? It's really a disease, I've read. +Some very rich people are affected by it, particularly queer old +ladies." + +"You're jumping ahead too fast, Thad," remonstrated Hugh, chidingly. +"I haven't admitted yet that I suspect Owen more than I did before. In +fact, these occurrences, such as his being in the house each time a +spoon vanishes, may turn out to simply be coincidences." + +"That sounds just like you, Hugh. You're the best kind of a friend +anybody ever could have. Perhaps now you've got a clue of some sort +that you wouldn't mind telling me about?" + +"I've been wondering whether the culprit is a human being after all," +remarked Hugh, to the utter astonishment of his comrade, who burst out +with: + +"Whew! you're aiming high, I must say, old chap. If not a human being, +what sort of a creature could the clever thief be? I've heard of +monkeys stealing things and hiding the same away in a spirit of +covetousness; but then the old lady doesn't happen to have a simian for +a household pet, that I know of." + +"No, but she has got a poll-parrot, as I told you, Thad!" observed +Hugh, calmly. + +"Oh! do you suspect that a silly bird could go and carry off not only +one spoon but three of them?" gasped the other boy. "What would a +parrot want of such objects, and where would she hide them?" + +"Remember, this is only guess work on my part, because, so far, I +haven't any positive evidence that it's so. But I remembered once +reading an article about some birds having a weakness that way. +Generally it was a raven that did it, and hidden away in a dark corner +they would find trinkets and spoons and all sorts of things that were +of no possible use to any bird. In every instance they seemed to be +bright and tempting, as if the bird had no eye for dingy things. Well, +these spoons have recently been scoured and cleaned so that they shine +splendidly!" + +"Oh! now that you mention it, Hugh," broke out Thad, "I remember that +several years ago, before I knew you, with another boy I climbed a tall +tree to peek in at the nest of a pair of crows. Well, sir, besides the +young ones, what did we find but three strange things. One was a key, +pretty rusty at that; another seemed to be a piece of metal that might +have fallen off a motor car on the road; it was made of brass, and +still shone fairly well. The third I've forgotten about, though I've +still got them all at home somewhere. At the time, Dick Saunders and I +laughed, and said the old mother crow had fetched her babies some +playthings to keep them amused while she and her mate were off hunting +grubs and corn and such crow food." + +"Well, all of which goes to prove that my little theory mightn't be so +far fetched as you seemed to think in the beginning," said Hugh. "I +mean to look around closely the next time I drop in to see the Madame. +Perhaps if I picked up a tiny green feather that must have come from +Pretty Poll, and on the table close to the case that holds the spoons, +it might clinch matters." + +"Whew! I only hope you do!" declared Thad. "I'd hate to learn that +Owen had any hand in taking those spoons. The sooner we find out the +truth, the better for all concerned. It'll not only relieve our minds, +as well as that of the old lady; but either prove or disprove the +suspicions we're right now entertaining toward that poor boy." + +He looked very determined when saying this, just as though he had made +up his own mind to hasten the denouement; but of that he did not say +anything to Hugh. + +"My plan at present is to find a chance to hide in the room, and have +the old lady let her parrot free to fly around," continued Hugh, +reflectively. "You see, as a rule, the bird is held by a fine chain, +and made to stay by her perch; but the lady as much as admitted, when +scolding her pet, that every now and then Polly managed to get loose by +pecking at the ring about her leg; and had a great time flying +squawking in and out of the rooms before anybody could catch her again." + +Thad clapped his hand in glee. He had changed his mind considerably +after hearing all these things in the line of a convincing argument, as +mentioned by Hugh. + +"Why, if it should turn out that way, Hugh, it'd make a story well +worth writing up for the magazines, or a big New York daily paper. I +hope now you'll get busy on this scheme right away, so we'll know the +truth. Parrots are mighty cunning birds, for a fact. I knew one once +that used to mock everybody going by. What fun we boys used to have +trying to teach him to say things that mebbe his mistress wouldn't +exactly approve of, though, honestly, Hugh, they weren't very tough, +just boys' slang, you know. I'm glad now you asked me to take this +walk with you. For all we can tell, it may have some influence in +solving this puzzle that's got both of us guessing." + +When Thad said this, he of course could have no idea how near he was +hewing to the truth. That walk was fated to have a very considerable +influence on the course of events, and also upon the solving of the +riddle; but we must not anticipate. + +The two lads continued to saunter along. They chatted on other +subjects besides the mystery of the old lady's lost souvenir spoons. +The matter of outdoor sports was much in their minds those days, when +sleepy old Scranton was waking from her Rip Van Winkle nap of twenty +years, and girding herself to accomplish a few things on the diamond +and the gridiron. + +So they drew gradually nearer to the famous Hobson mill-pond, where for +generations the boys of Scranton had been accustomed to swim and fish +in the good old summer time, and skate in the winter, the canal leading +close to its location. + +The old mill was no longer in use, but with its moss-covered wheel made +a very picturesque sight that artists often painted with delight. The +pond itself was of fair size, and surrounded with trees and bushes. In +fact, it was quite a lake. On one side there stood a large ice-house, +and when the surface of the pond was covered with a foot of clear firm +ice, many of the residents of the town had their supply cut and stored +in places built partly underground, in order that they might have all +the ice they wanted through the dog days. + +Hugh and Thad had almost arrived at the mill-pond when they suddenly +heard loud voices. There was screaming in shrill tones that would +indicate the presence of children near by. + +"What does all that row mean, Hugh?" snapped Thad, looking suddenly +interested. + +"They're playing around the pond, those kids, and like as not one of +them may have fallen in! Let's get a move on us and see!" + +Hugh seemed to be of the same opinion, for he started on a rapid +gallop. Louder rang out the shrill cries. There could be no doubt now +as to some one being frightened; and considering the loneliness of the +mill-pond region, it was easy to guess Thad had hit the truth when he +surmised that a child must be in danger of drowning. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +THE RESCUE AT HOBSON'S MILL-POND + +The two boys covered the short distance in an incredibly brief space of +time. As they rounded the bend just beside the mill-pond and saw the +whole scene spread out before them, their eyes were immediately +fastened on a stirring picture close by. + +Two little colored girls were running up and down the shore doing most +of the screaming, and acting as though half frightened to death. The +reason for their alarm was not hard to see, for at some little distance +out from the bank a small boy, as black as the ace of spades, was +having a terrible time trying to keep his footing on a plank that had +been a part of a rude raft, doubtless fashioned by his own hands. + +He had wished to "show-off" before his little playmates, and after +rudely fastening several boards taken from the tumble-down old mill +into a crude attempt at a raft, had boldly launched the same. With a +pole he had stepped aboard, and then proceeded to "cut capers." +Encouraged by the admiration of the other children, he must have become +more and more reckless, so that he soon reached a point far enough +distant from land to prevent him from touching bottom with his pole. + +This sudden discovery may have alarmed him, and in his endeavor to +paddle, he had caused his raft to part in sections. So there he was +now clinging to one plank, and in immediate danger of falling into the +water, which out there was doubtless many times over his head. + +"Keep steady, there, boy!" shouted Thad. "Stick to your plank, and +we'll get you ashore all right! Don't be scared, whatever you do! +Thad, how can we reach him?" + +"There's an old boat pulled up on the shore a little ways above here," +said the other quickly, for he had the faculty of thinking of +everything when an emergency arose, an admirable trait in any boy. + +So they started on a run, heading for the spot, and hoping the tragedy +would hold off until they could launch the old craft, which leaked more +or less, but was likely to hold long enough for them to accomplish the +rescue. + +Passing the two small girls, Thad shot out words of encouragement to +them. + +"Stop that screaming!" he told them, with an air of authority. "You +only rattle the boy, don't you know? We're going after a boat so as to +get out to him. It's close by, and much safer than swimming. Tell him +to keep still, and we'll get him in a jiffy!" + +Of course he did not slacken his pace any while jerking out these +words. They at least seemed to have some effect on the two children, +for they stopped shrieking. + +Just as the boys reached the boat, however, the cries broke out again +with redoubled energy. Thad glanced back, and immediately exclaimed: + +"He's fallen in, Hugh! We've got to hurry, you know!" + +"Here's one of the paddles; do you see anything of the other?" demanded +Hugh. + +Luckily Thad discovered it immediately. The "paddles" were crude +affairs chopped out of boards by some of the boys who used the boat +while swimming; but all the same they answered a purpose. + +With a rush the old boat was pushed down the sloping sandy shore and +into the mill-pond. Hugh and Thad sprang aboard and each snatching up +a paddle, they commenced to urge the unwieldy craft along as best they +might. + +As they worked, they could see what was going on ahead of them. The +little chap evidently had considerable pluck about him, for he was +making a really gallant fight for his life, trying to cling to the +board, which was wobbling about in the water at a great rate. Twice +his frantic hold seemed lost, but on each occasion he managed to regain +it. Nature urges every human being or animal to struggle to the utmost +when threatened with death by drowning. Some boys have even discovered +that they could swim when they had to, or go down; though it is a risky +experiment which should never be resorted to. + +Hugh's heart seemed to be almost in his throat as he watched the +struggles of the poor little chap. Black or white, it made not the +least difference to him just then; that child's life was as precious in +his mother's sight as if he were the pink and white darling of a +wealthy family. + +Nearer they came to the scene. Oh! if only he might manage somehow to +retain his grip just twenty seconds longer, they would be on hand, and +ready to drag him over the side of the old boat to safety. Hugh, deep +down in his heart prayed that it might be so. He also figured how he +would plunge overboard at the last second, if necessary, and dive after +the sinking child, for he must be saved. + +They both worked as never before in their lives. Possibly that old +boat swept through the water of the mill-pond at a faster rate than it +had ever indulged in, even with twice the number of paddlers aboard. A +precious human life was at stake, and this fact brought out every atom +of energy those two gallant lads could summon to the fore. + +Fortune was kind, and the plucky little colored boy continued to show +wonderful tenacity of purpose; for he managed to retain his slipping +grip on the turning plank until Hugh could bend over and take a grip of +his kinky wool. It may not have been the most pleasant way to effect a +rescue, but there was no time for being particular. + +While he thus held the child above water, Thad bent down and got hold +of the boy's arms. That settled it, for they speedily hauled him +aboard. The two little girl companions of the rescued child, whose +admiration for his boldness had undoubtedly been the main cause for his +taking such great risks, stopped screaming when they saw that he was +safe in the boat. + +The boys now made for the shore, as the boat was taking in water very +fast, and already their feet were soaking wet. Besides, the sooner +they reached land the better, because the boy had fainted from excess +of fright, and also on account of the desperate endeavor he had made to +keep from sinking. + +A minute later and Hugh lifted him from the boat. + +"We've got to get a fire started right away, Thad!" he exclaimed. "The +air isn't as warm as it might be, and he'll be shivering soon. +Besides, it's a long walk to town. Later on perhaps we may be able to +stop some car or vehicle going in on the road, and take them all home. +Here's my match-safe, so speed up a blaze, please." + +It was fortunate that Hugh always made it a practice to have matches +with him. There could be no telling when they might come in very +handy, as on the present occasion; for there was no house near by at +which they could seek assistance. + +Thad was always a good hand at making a fire, and he quickly found +plenty of fine tinder which flashed up when a match was applied. Then +more wood was carefully placed on the little blaze, until in a brief +time he had a cheery fire roaring. + +Hugh laid the boy down where he could feel the comfortable heat. He +understood that the child could not have swallowed any water to speak +of, because he managed to keep his head above the surface, save in the +very end of his struggle. It was only a swoon or faint, and likely the +child would come out of it quickly. He rubbed the little hands, and +waited to see signs of returning animation. + +Two minutes afterwards the boy's eyes opened. He looked puzzled to see +Hugh bending over him, and to hear the crackling of the fire. + +"It's all right, my boy," said Hugh, encouragingly; "you fell into the +water after your raft went to pieces, and we pulled you out. Now we +mean to dry your clothes by the aid of this nice fire, and after that +we'll see you get home. Here are your little playmates, you see. You +can thank them for screaming, because only for that we might not have +come up in time." + +The boy allowed his hand to run up and down his other wet sleeve. + +"Dem's my Sunday-best clo's, too. Mebbe mommy she won't whale me fo' +gettin' dem all soaked like this," he muttered to himself +disconsolately. + +"Don't you worry about that," chuckled Thad, who had overheard the +childish complaint. "Your mother, whoever she may be, will be so +thankful that she hasn't lost her boy she'll forgive you anything. And +you're a brave little chap in the bargain, because you did put up a +nervy fight for your life, that's certain." + +They succeeded in drying his clothes, and then, as a large car was seen +coming along the road with only a single man in the same, Hugh ran over +to hail the driver and beg him to take them all into town. + +Luck favored them again. The man in the big car turned out to be Major +McGrew's chauffeur, whom Hugh knew to speak to, as he was a baseball +enthusiast of the first water. When he heard what had happened, he +told Hugh to fetch the boy along; and also the two other kids; he'd +have them home in a jiffy, for it was less than a mile to town. + +The colored people, as so often happens, lived in a certain section of +Scranton, being very clannish in their habits. Hugh did not doubt but +that he could easily learn just where the boy lived. He looked at him +several times trying to remember where he could have seen the little +fellow before, because there seemed to be something familiar about his +face; but somehow he failed to connect him with any family he knew. + +When presently they entered the district where the colored folks had +their homes, their coming created quite a flutter. To have a fine big +car fetching a trio of colored children home was an event of importance. + +Boys and girls, and a sprinkling of older persons as well, hurried to +ascertain what it could mean. Doubtless they were quick to sense the +fact that something out of the common run must have occurred to cause +such a happening. + +Hugh recognized an old man he knew as a preacher, and addressing +himself to this person he hastened to explain. + +"These children were up at the old mill-pond, and the boy had made a +raft on which he was having the time of his life, when the thing +separated, and left him clinging to one plank where the water was quite +deep. We chanced to hear the girls' screams and got to the spot in +time to push out in an old boat and get hold of him just as he was +sinking. He's a plucky little chap, I want to tell you. Only for the +way he held on to that plank, he must have drowned before we could +reach him. We dried his clothes at a fire we made, and have brought +him home. I wish you would send for his mother, and tell her not to +punish him. He's been very close to death, and has had a lesson he'll +never forget." + +The old man took a look at the boy. + +"Why, it's sure enough little Brutus!" he exclaimed, as though just +discovering this fact, for the boy had kept his face partly hidden, +through shame and fear; then turning to some of the wide-eyed +youngsters clustering around, the parson went on to say; "Here, you +Adolphus Smith, run like the wind over to Madame Pangborn's and tell +Sarah her boy needs her, because he's been in the pond; but be sure to +let her know Brutus is all right!" + +The boy shot away like a flash, while Hugh turned and looked at Brutus +again; for now he knew that he had seen him over at the Pangborn +mansion. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +LITTLE BRUTUS AND HIS "COLLECTION" + +It was not long before they discovered a woman running like mad toward +the spot. Of course this was no other than Sarah, whose heart had been +chilled by the news fetched by Adolphus Smith, the truth being +considerably garbled, it is to be feared. + +She arrived panting, and with her eyes full of horror, as though she +fully expected to find her darling Brutus lying there all wet and cold. + +Upon discovering the shrinking little form, she seized him in her arms, +and dropping to the ground began rocking back and forth as she hugged +him tight, meanwhile covering his ebony little face with motherly +kisses. + +"Hebben be praised, I ain't done lost my Brutus after all. Dat +'Dolphus he skeered me nigh to death wif his stuttering story as how my +chile be'n in de mill-pond. What's all dis row about, anyhow? I hopes +none o' you folks done play a joke on me, dat's right. It'd be de +wustest thing yuh eber done, let me tells yuh." + +The parson thereupon proceeded to tell her the real facts. Sarah +hugged the rescued boy some more, and then on hearing how his life had +been saved by the actions of two white boys, she looked up at Hugh and +Thad. + +"Why, it am de young Morgan boy, glory, if it ain't!" she ejaculated, +and Hugh was a little afraid the good woman, in her gratitude, might +want to transfer her embraces from Brutus to him, so he held out his +hand, with one of his smiles, saying: + +"We were only too glad to be on the spot and give the boy a helping +hand, Sarah. I didn't know at the time he was your child, though that +wouldn't have made any difference. We dried his clothes at a fire we +made, and he's all right." + +Sarah, even as she squeezed Hugh's hand, was looking at Brutus out of +the tail of her eye, as though an awful thought had just then burst +upon her. + +"An' he hab on his bestest Sunday-go-to-meetin' clothes, too. I done +hopes dey ain't shrunk on him, so he cain't git in 'em agin. Dat clerk +he nebber guarantee dat dey wouldn't creep up if de boy he done falls +in de pond. But how did it happen, I'd like to know." + +Hugh thereupon took it upon himself to explain just how Brutus in +trying to "show-off" before his little girl companions had ventured out +too far, and managed to cause his raft to go to pieces. Sarah looked +threatening, so Hugh hastened to "pour oil on troubled waters." + +"Brutus has suffered enough for punishment, I should think, Sarah," he +told her. "He's had his lesson, and will never try anything like that +again. You should be thankful it's no worse. Besides, let me tell +you, he's a little hero. He fought like everything to save himself, +and never let out so much as a cry. The girls did all the yelling. +You ought to be proud of his grit." + +"That's right, you had, Sarah," added Thad, thinking it his duty to +"put in an oar" so as to save Brutus from the "smacking" he seemed to +be dreading. + +This sort of talk mollified the mother. She even looked proudly around +at the clustering neighbors, for by now every denizen of Darktown had +apparently been drawn to the spot, all wild to hear what had happened. +Her look was in the shape of a challenge. It seemed to say: "Dere now, +what do yuh good-for-nothin' coons think of my Brutus, after hearin' +dese white boys say as how he's a real hero? Don't any ob yuh ebber +ag'in ask me why I gives him dat name. Guess I knows my history, an' +didn't I see it in him when he was a little baby? Dar ain't another +hero in dis whole place, dat's right!" + +She turned to Hugh again. Brutus took advantage of his opportunity to +creep over to another woman, who also petted him, and who the boys +afterwards learned was his aunt, a washerwoman of the town. + +"Dat boy he ain't like de rest of de kids, I wants yuh to know, Marse +Morgan," she was saying, eagerly. "All de boys 'round heah dey spends +dere time aplayin' in de street, or agittin' into trouble. My Brutus +he's different. Jest yuh come wif me an' see how he done play all by +hisself. I'd like yuh to know he ain't a wuthless little rascal, dat +chile." + +Hugh seemed about to beg Sarah to let them off, but Thad, for some +reason, perhaps just through mere curiosity, hastened to say: + +"Come on, let's take a peek, Hugh. I've got an engagement in a short +time, but this'll only take a few minutes. We're some interested in +Brutus, you know. I guess he's bound to make a name for himself some +day." + +So they followed Sarah as she led the way to a nearby cottage. + +"Dat's whar we libs, me an' Brutus and my sister, Nancy, her as takes +in washin' six days in de week, an' teaches de infant class in Sunday +school on de seventh day. Yuh see we done got a cabin in de rear where +Nancy she washes. So we fits up one end fo' Brutus' playhouse, same as +de white chillun dey hab playhouses in de yard. He sets dar most ob de +day a havin' de time o' his life playin' sojer with de buttons, and +settin' out his Noah's Ark animals. I allers knowed dat boy was +different from de rest o' de kids. Parson Brown, he say he sure enough +hab de makin' o' a good preacher in him, fo' he talks by de hour to his +toys." + +So Hugh and Thad had a look-in. They found everything in order, +showing that Nancy was not slovenly about her work. The tubs were hung +on the wall, and a basket of soiled clothes standing ready for the next +day's washing. + +Over at the far end of the cabin was the special precinct devoted to +Brutus and his toys. Hugh glanced at the accumulation. He saw that +the boy was one of those who love to accumulate things. He had +numerous little assortments of curious articles, picked up here and +there, all of which had excited his love for collecting. + +Thad was heard to chuckle as though he found it quite amusing; but he +turned this off with a cough as Sarah glanced inquiringly toward him. + +"Yuh see how dat boy he spend his time," the proud mother went on to +say. "Right here he play and play de whole blessed day long. He ain't +nebber done tired o' talkin' to his toys, and asettin' o' 'em in lines +like dey was in school. I always hab an idea in my head Brutus, he +either make a good parson or else he bound to be a school teacher, I +ain't zactly made up my mind yet which it'll be." + +"It's plain to be seen, Sarah," said Hugh, as he turned away, "that +your boy is different. I certainly hope he'll grow up to be a man +you'll be proud of. You won't punish him for what happened today, will +you? We promised him we'd ask you to go easy with him; he was +dreadfully alarmed about his clothes, and seemed to think more about +them than that his life had been in deadly peril." + +"Bless yuh, honey, I ain't meanin' to do the leastest thing to dat +sweet chile. Clothes kin be boughten agin, but I never'd be able to +git anudder Brutus. But if he goes out to dat drefful mill-pond agin, +I'm feared I'll have to skin him, and dat's a fact." + +So the two chums strolled on, heading for another part of the town. +Both of them had been highly edified by what they saw and heard in the +colored settlement. + +"I'd like to ask you one thing, though, Thad; what were you chuckling +at while we were in that cabin that shares the honors of a wash-house +with Brutus and his wonderful collection of toys?" + +"Oh! something struck me as funny, that's all, Hugh. The fact is, just +when Sarah was prophesying all those wonderful things that might be in +store for Brutus, from being a great soldier, or an eloquent parson who +could frighten people into repenting of their sins, I took stock of all +that junk the boy's gone and collected, and do you know, I was thinking +that the chances were he'd make a successful hustler in the 'rags, old +iron, old clothes' line, when he grew up." + +Hugh also laughed on hearing that. + +"Nobody can tell," he went on to say. "The veil of the future hides +such things from our mortal eyes, as Dominie Pettigrew said the other +Sunday. Brutus may turn out to be a wonder; and again there's a chance +of his being only an ordinary day laborer." + +"Well, if he keeps on taking risks just to show off before the girls," +observed Thad, drily, "I rather guess he won't grow up at all, but die +young. But I'll leave you here, Hugh, as I have a date with some one +for half-past four this afternoon." + +"Oh! is that so?" chuckled the other; "well, go along, and don't bother +making excuses. I wouldn't have you break an appointment with Ivy for +anything." + +"You're away off this time, Hugh, for it happens that it isn't Ivy +Middleton, or any other slip of a girl," Thad hastened to say. + +He did not offer to explain, and the other thought he looked somewhat +mysterious; but while his curiosity may have been slightly aroused, +Hugh did not feel justified in making any further inquiries. If Thad +did not wish to tell him, it was all right; even between chums there +may be little secrets. + +"I may see you later on, though," Thad added, as he was turning away; +"that is, if I'm successful in my errand." + +Which remark further aroused the wonder of his comrade, who could not +imagine what Thad had in mind. Hugh went home, and picking up a book +he was reading, proceeded to renew his interest in the story. Half an +hour slipped away in this fashion. Then he heard a jolly whistle down +on the street, which he knew full well. Sure enough, it was Thad +coming hurriedly toward the Morgan home. + +He discovered Hugh at the window and waved his hand. Even at that +distance Hugh saw his face was flushed, just as his manner was buoyant. + +"Now I wonder what that boy has been up to," Hugh said to himself, as +he awaited the coming of Thad; but cudgel his brain as he might, Hugh +never once suspected the errand of his chum could have anything to do +with the solving of the puzzle that was assuming all the +characteristics of a heavy burden on his, Hugh's, shoulders. + +Thad presently burst in upon him, for he knew the way to Hugh's den, +and thought nothing of going in and out of the Morgan house as though +he belonged there. Hugh motioned to a chair. + +"Sit down and cool off," he told Thad. "You look all heated up, as if +you'd been running fast." + +"Well, so I have, part of the way," gasped the other; "and it's quite +some distance out to the Rookery, you must remember." + +"What's that?" exclaimed Hugh; "do you mean to say your appointment was +with Owen Dugdale after all?" + +"Shucks! no, but with his old grandfather," snickered Thad. "Owen's +gone off for the afternoon with Mr. Leonard in the athletic +instructor's flivver, and paying a visit to Barton. I knew about that +when I called Mr. Dugdale up around noon today, for he has a telephone, +it happens, and told him I'd accept his invitation to drop in again to +chat with him, and would be over by about four. Well, in the language +of Alexander, or some other old worthy of ancient times, it was _veni, +vidi, vici_ with me; I came, I saw, I conquered! What do you think of +that, Hugh?" + +With the words he suddenly drew something from a pocket and held it in +front of his companion's nose. It was a souvenir spoon, one of unique +pattern, Hugh saw, and he had a thrill as he comprehended just what it +might mean. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +A STRAIGHT DRIVE FOR THE TRUTH + +"So, you stole Owen's spoon, did you?" Hugh said, reprovingly. + +Thad made a gesture as though he thought his chum was putting it hard. + +"I simply borrowed it, that's all, Hugh," he hastened to explain. "Of +course I haven't any use for souvenir spoons, or any other kind of +spoons, either, for that matter. I was tired of all this beating +around the bush, and made a straight drive to find out the truth. +Either that boy is innocent, or else he's guilty, and now we can learn +which it is." + +"What do you plan to do, now you have the spoon?" demanded Hugh. + +"Why," explained Thad, "I thought perhaps you'd agree to take me over +to call on Madame Pangborn, even if it is Sunday. The better the day +the better the deed; and our main object would be to solve the horrible +mystery that's been hanging over poor Owen's head all this while, even +if he doesn't know about it. What do you say to that, Hugh?" + +The other boy seemed to consider, while Thad watched his face eagerly. +It was just like Thad to go directly at the heart of the matter, for +his was rather an impetuous nature. After all, perhaps it might be the +easiest way in which to settle the question. Hugh at least would be +glad to lay his burden down, for it had been an uphill fight all the +way. Besides, there was so much need of his being able to pay full +attention to baseball matters, with the first game only six days off, +that he would welcome any means for winding up his self-appointed task. + +"Well, it might be best to drop in on the old lady and have her +identify that spoon as one of her set," he finally observed. "Once +that fact was established, we would have some solid foundation to build +on. As it is now, we're just groping in the dark." + +"Then you agree, do you, Hugh?" + +"Call it a bargain, Thad. I'll take you around to call on the old +lady. She's a nice soul, and will be glad to see us. In fact, when we +were talking about a number of things the last time I was in her house, +and I chanced to mention your name, she asked me to fetch you around +sometime. Of course she knows who you are, but I guess you've never +really met her. She's a wonderful old woman, and heart and soul bent +on getting all sorts of comforts for the wounded soldiers of her +beloved la belle France." + +Thad looked greatly pleased. + +"Then let's be starting out right away," he suggested. "It might be, +Owen would get home before he expected to, and I'd a heap sooner he +wasn't around when we were on our way to the Pangborn house. Somehow, +I'd hate to look the boy in the face after doing what I did; though you +understand it was done in the hope of clearing up this awful puzzle." + +"No need of saying that, Thad, because I know what your feelings are. +My plan would have been to pick up the spoon incidentally, and admire +it. Then it would be easy to tell from the manner of Mr. Dugdale +whether he knew where it came from. I don't suppose you thought to do +anything like that, now?" + +"Why, no," came the reply; "for you see, I'd laid out my plan of +campaign, and wanted to hew close to the line. The quickest way to +settle the whole matter, according to my calculations, was to just show +the old lady the spoon, and ask her if it was one of the missing ones. +But please get a move on you, Hugh. I'm fairly quivering with +suspense, because I somehow feel that we're on the verge of making a +big discovery." + +"Perhaps we are," his chum told him, without any show of elation, "but +if it convicts Owen Dugdale of this thing, I'll be mighty sorry." + +He led the way downstairs, and secured his cap from the rack. Then the +two lads hurried out of the front door, heading in the direction of the +big house where the old French lady lived, and which had lately been +turned into a sort of general headquarters for the Red Cross workers. +There some of the ladies of Scranton could be found day after day, +sewing and packing such garments as had been brought in, so that they +might be sent across the sea to the country where the brave poilus were +in the trenches defending their native land against the aggressor, and +slowly but surely pressing the Teutonic hosts back toward the border. + +"I'm going to ask you a favor, Hugh," remarked Thad, presently, as they +drew near their intended destination. + +"Go ahead and ask it, then," he was told. + +"Let me run this little game, won't you, please--that is, I mean, allow +me to introduce the subject of souvenir spoons, and then show the old +lady the one I've got in my pocket right now?" + +"That seems only fair," Hugh assured him. "Since you've taken it on +yourself to crib that spoon from Owen's den, it's up to you to do the +honors. I'll only be too glad to have you do most of the talking. +Yes, and about the time you flash that thing in front of her eyes I'll +be shivering for fear we learn the worst." + +"Nothing like heroic treatment when you've got a cancer gnawing at your +vitals, as surgeons all say," remarked Thad, rather pompously. "I'm +aiming at the bull's-eye now, you understand. It's going to win or +lose, and no more tom-foolery about it." + +When Hugh rang the door-bell, it was Sarah who answered, showing that +she had not lingered very long at home after the boys left, but had +returned to her duties with the madame, who doubtless paid extravagant +wages for her services. + +She smiled broadly at sight of them. + +"I sure is glad to see yuh agin, bofe ob yous," she said. "I done +tells de missus all 'bout hit, and she says as how it was on'y what +she'd spect of dat young Mistah Morgan." + +"Thank you for telling me that, Sarah," Hugh went on to say; "it's +pleasant to know some one thinks well of you. Is Mrs. Pangborn at +leisure? I hope she isn't taking a nap just now?" + +"Deedy she ain't dat, suh; she's on'y readin' in de library. An' she +be mighty glad tuh see yous bofe." + +So she led the way along the wide hall, to usher the boys into the +commodious library. Bookcases lined the walls, and it seemed to be an +ideal place, where a student might enjoy himself very much indeed. +Just then, however, there were several sewing machines shoved aside, +and much evidence to the effect that on weekdays this same library +might be a beehive of industry, with women chattering as they sewed. + +The old lady looked surprised at seeing them, but the welcoming smile +and the extended hand were evidence that she was not displeased. + +"I've taken the liberty of fetching my chum, Thad Stevens, around to +see you, Mrs. Pangborn," Hugh was saying as he sat down. "You've heard +me talk of him more than a few times; and even expressed the wish that +I might introduce him to you. He's interested in nearly everything +that concerns me, and we seem to work together like a well-ordered +team, even if we do have an occasional little spat, which is to be +expected." + +Madame Pangborn loved boys, as has been said before. She understood +them wonderfully well, too, considering that she had never had one of +her own. So she laughed at what Hugh said. + +"I'm doubly glad you have dropped in to see me today, Hugh," she told +him, "for more reasons than one. In the first place, I want to hear at +first hand just what did happen out there at that terrible mill-pond; +and how you managed to save that little boy of my Sarah from drowning. +He sometimes comes here with her to spend a part of a day, and I like +to talk with him, he seems so original, so bright, and so curious about +everything I possess, too." + +"Oh! it didn't amount to very much, so far as we were concerned, I +mean," Hugh expostulated; "but since Sarah has told you about it, I +suppose I might as well spin the whole story. We consider that we were +lucky to be around, that's all, for I guess little Brutus would have +been with the angels before now if we hadn't happened along, and heard +all that shrieking from the colored children." + +Then he went on to tell about it, even to what had happened after +Brutus arrived home in the big car, the object of attention in +Darktown, with Sarah running like mad to find out what the garbled +account brought by Adolphus Smith might really mean. + +The old lady was highly interested in the story, which really Hugh +managed to tell quite cleverly, even injecting some humor in his +narrative. + +"So that is how Sarah comes to be calling her Brutus a hero, is it?" +Mrs. Pangborn went on to say, with a smile. "I had never heard her say +such a word before, and considered it rather queer in a mother whose +child had been close to drowning. According to my mind, you and your +chum are really the ones most deserving of that title; but I'll spare +your blushes, young men. Now tell me what you are doing in the line of +outdoor sports; because I hear there are great goings on around this +section of country; and I suppose I must give up next Saturday +afternoon to journeying over to Belleville, in order to encourage our +valiant Scranton High boys." + +Both of them started telling of the things that were being done in a +baseball way; and as they were enthusiasts, they found it easy to +enlarge upon such a favorite theme. Thad, however, had begun to show +signs of nervousness, and Hugh suddenly remembering that they had come +there with a particular motive in view, drew out of the conversation, +leaving it to his chum to carry it on with the old lady. + +Thad only waited for a favorable opening, when he was ready to "sail +in." This came when the Madame chanced to mention her travels in many +lands, and the fond memories she had of all her visits. + +"But when I shall eventually return to my beloved France," she remarked +sadly, "I anticipate many a heartache to see the terrible condition of +the fair country that has been turned into a howling wilderness by the +vandal German armies. Ah! I almost dread the day, much as I yearn to +tread my native soil again." + +"My chum was telling me that you had quite a collection of queer +souvenir spoons," Thad remarked just then, thinking he had found just +such an opening as he wished. + +Madame Pangborn shot Hugh a suggestive look, as if wondering how far he +had confided in his chum. + +"Yes, it is true, I have taken considerable pleasure collecting spoons +in some of the many cities I visited, all of them wonderfully unique," +she went on to say, with a sigh; "but perhaps, after all, it is a +useless and pernicious habit, since it may tempt some weak one, and +cause trouble." + +Then Thad brought out what he had in his pocket. Hugh held his breath. + +"Please take a look at this spoon, will you, Mrs. Pangborn," said Thad, +"and tell me if you have ever seen one like it before!" + +She gave the speaker a quick, suspicious look, and eagerly took the +little object. For a minute or so she turned it over and over, while +the two boys were quivering with suspense. Then she spoke. + +"Ah! quite a charming specimen of Old English silver workmanship, and I +must say it is exceedingly handsome; but it represents a city in which +I never happened to set foot," with which she handed the spoon back to +Thad, who almost dropped it to the floor, such was his sudden sensation +of intense relief. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +HUGH REACHES HIS GOAL + +Thad Stevens looked as though any one could knock him down with a +feather. The astonishing fact that the old lady who made a fad of +collecting souvenir spoons, had failed to recognize the one which he +had purloined from Owen's den "struck him all in a heap," as he +afterwards expressed it. Why, that would seem to indicate Owen must be +entirely innocent, so far as proof went. + +Hugh, on his part, was quicker to recover. Although he felt a spasm of +sincere satisfaction pass through him at the result of his chum's test, +at the same time he realized that there was no necessity for making +"mountains out of molehills." + +Madame Pangborn had instantly surmised that there was more connected +with that odd little silver spoon than she had as yet grasped. Indeed, +having good eyesight, she could hardly have failed to notice the +strange actions of Thad. + +"Tell me what it all means, please, Thad," she besought him; "for I am +certain you must have some deeper motive in fetching that souvenir +spoon to show me than appears on the surface. Don't you think I am +entitled to your full confidence?" + +"Indeed you are," said Hugh, quickly, "and you shall hear the whole +story. Both of us are right now tingling with satisfaction and delight +because our worst fears have proved ungrounded." + +Then he went on to explain just how Thad had by accident become a +temporary guest under the roof of the Rookery, after having helped old +Mr. Dugdale to the house when he was seized with a sudden attack of +sciatica in one of his lower limbs. It did not take Hugh, with an +occasional sentence of explanation from his eager chum, who wanted to +be set right in the eyes of the good madame, long to tell how Thad +chanced to discover the spoon among many other things in Owen's "den," +and what a host of fears its presence there had aroused in their +breasts. + +Then he reached the point in his narrative where Thad conceived the +bold idea of appropriating the spoon during Owen's absence, and letting +the old lady see the same, knowing full well that if she recognized it +as one of her missing souvenir mementoes, the case would look +exceedingly dark for Owen. + +Madame Pangborn's face took on a radiant look after she had learned all. + +"I have never been able to believe that boy could be guilty of such an +atrocious deed," she hastened to say, emphatically. "I flatter myself +that I can read boys as well as any one, and in his eyes there lies +only truth, and an ardent desire to accomplish great things that have +long been burning in his soul. But, nevertheless, the circumstantial +evidence was so strong that it has caused me some sleepless nights. +Now I know Owen is innocent, I shall be satisfied. I would sooner lose +all my spoons ten times over than find that he had yielded to a sudden +and irresistible temptation." + +"But," said Thad, in sore perplexity, "the three spoons are gone, +there's no doubt about that; and if Owen didn't take them who did?" + +"Please let the matter drop," expostulated the old lady, hastily. "I +am satisfied to know the boy is innocent. I shall immediately put the +rest of my spoons away, so that they may not tempt any one again." + +"But it wouldn't be right to give the hunt up so easily as that, you +know, lady," complained Thad. "We've started in to find the thief, and +our motto is never to turn back once we've put our hands to the plough. +Hugh, don't you say the same?" + +"I certainly do," affirmed the other boy. "And while about it, perhaps +I ought to tell Mrs. Pangborn how I at one time even began to imagine +the thief was a thing of green and yellow feathers, and a hooked bill, +otherwise known as Pretty Polly." + +At that, the old lady seemed highly interested. + +"Oh! such a thought never occurred to me, Hugh!" she hastily exclaimed. +"Could it be possible, do you think?" and she glanced apprehensively +toward the corner of the library, where the handsome and intelligent +parrot sat on her perch, chained by the leg, and with her +yellow-crowned head turned on one side as though she might be listening +to all that was being said. + +"It is a bare possibility," Hugh went on to say. "A whole lot would +depend on whether Polly chanced to get free during those particular +days when the spoons disappeared. As to whether a bird like that would +carry away such things, and hide them, there's lots of accounts of such +things happening. I'll tell you of a few instances I've read about, +and every one was vouched for as absolutely true in the bargain." + +So for some little time he amused and interested the old lady with +accounts of strange things various species of pet birds, from rooks and +ravens, all the way to talking parrots, had been guilty, in the way of +stealing bright articles of jewelry, and trinkets that seemed to have +caught their fancy, hiding them away in some cranny or nook, where the +whole collection was afterwards found. + +"I may have read something along those lines myself at some time or +other, Hugh," she told him, as he concluded, "but it slipped my mind. +Whether Polly is guilty of petty larceny or not, after this, I shall be +more careful than ever about keeping her fast to her perch by that long +chain. There is no telling what a wise old bird of her nature might +not attempt, given freedom. I sometimes think she has a little devil +in her, when she says something wonderful, and looks so droll. But you +have given me a very happy half hour, for which I thank you both." + +Thad kept glancing toward Hugh as though he was puzzled as to what +further action his chum meant to take in the case. For accustomed to +reading the expression on Hugh's face, he seemed to realize that the +other had some "card up his sleeve" which he meant to play. + +"Hadn't we better be going, Hugh?" he now asked. + +"Right away," came the reply, "for it's getting near six o'clock, and +Mrs. Pangborn will be having her tea soon." + +"I do have it a little earlier on Sunday, because I allow Sarah to go +home," admitted the old lady. "She is a great hand to attend church, +you know, and I believe sings in the choir like a lark. I often hear +her practicing down in the kitchen while cooking dinner. But I'd be +delighted if you boys could stay and take a bite with me." + +"Thank you, ma'am," said Hugh, "another time we'd be only too glad to +accept your invitation; but I must be home tonight. What time do you +suppose Sarah would be at her house? I want to see her about her +little shaver Brutus, and find out if his ducking did him any harm, and +thought I'd walk around later in the evening." + +"You are apt to find Sarah at home up to a quarter of eight. After +that she will be in her place in the colored church," he was told. + +Then the boys took their leave. On the way home, Thad expressed some +curiosity concerning the visit Hugh proposed making to Sarah's home. + +"Do you really think that boy might come down with pneumonia, or +something like that on account of being in the water, Hugh?" he asked, +at which the other smiled mysteriously and replied: + +"Oh! the water is still pretty chilly, you know, Thad; and the child +was so terribly frightened that he might feel the result of his +immersion, even if we did make a fire, and dry his clothes well. +Besides, I've dropped my pocket knife, and I've a little idea it was +while we looked through that playhouse of Brutus'. But suppose you +stop asking questions, and agree to accompany me when I make my little +call on Sarah this evening?" + +"Oh! all right, Hugh, I'll go with you," complained Thad, "but I know +as well as anything you've got some queer notion back of it all, which +you don't mean to share with me. But remember that Madame Pangborn +told you she would trust Sarah with her purse or her life, she has such +confidence in the woman." + +"I haven't forgotten," said Hugh, quietly. "I know what I'm doing. +You show up around seven or a quarter after, and we'll take a little +walk. Perhaps we might pick up a few facts worth while before we come +back; stranger things have happened than that, Thad." + +"You are the limit," laughed the other, as he swung aside and headed +for his own house, doubtless to ponder over the mysterious words of +Hugh many times while eating his supper on that Sunday evening. + +It was just dark as he started across lots toward Hugh's home; for +there was a short-cut which they frequently made use of--trust boys for +cutting off corners whenever it is possible, even if they have to vault +fences in order to reduce distances. + +All the way out to the colored settlement, Hugh kept up an unusually +lively flow of talk. He knew Thad was fairly itching to ask questions, +and apparently Hugh did not mean to let him have a chance. + +So they finally entered among the humble cottages and cabins where +Scranton's colored population lived. Children were running about the +streets shouting in play, even as the first peal of the cracked bell in +the little church near by began to sound. + +Sarah was at home. She seemed surprised to see the two white boys. + +"How's little Brutus, Sarah?" asked Hugh. + +"Oh! he's all hunky-dory, suh, 'deed an' he is," she replied with a +smile. "I done jest gib him his supper, and chucked de chile in his +bed. An' I ain't put a hand on him neither. Jes' as yuh sez he done +hab a lesson; but I tells him if he ebber goes to dat ere mill-pond +agin I lays fo' him, and makes him smart like fun." + +"I'm sorry to trouble you, Sarah, but I've dropped my knife somewhere, +and remembered having taken it out of my pocket when you were showing +us Brutus' playhouse. Would you mind getting a lamp, and going back +there just to take a look around. I value that knife a lot, and would +hate to lose it. We won't keep you from church more than a few minutes +at most." + +"Sure I will, suh. I'd do a thousand times as much fo' de white boys +as sabed my baby fo' me dis berry day." + +She quickly secured a lamp, and led the way back in the yard. Thad was +beginning to show signs of nervousness. He realized that Hugh must be +playing some sort of a game, and yet strange to say he was unable to +fathom it. + +Arriving at the old cabin used partly as a wash-house, and with the +rear devoted to Brutus' "playthings," they entered. Sarah held the +lamp while Hugh started to scan the floor earnestly, moving around as +he looked. + +All at once he stooped and picked something up. + +"Well, I was right in believing I dropped my knife in here, for you +see, I've found it again. Why, what's this?" + +He bent over again, and from a receptacle in a queer old fragment of a +desk that had a number of pigeon-holes in it, Hugh plucked something +and held it before the eyes of the others. Then he made another +movement, and _three_ shining objects lay there in his hand. + +Thad gasped and stared. He was looking on the missing souvenir spoons! +As for the amazed Sarah, it was a blessing that she did not let the +lamp fall from her nerveless hand as she burst forth with: + +"Fo' de lands sake, if dem ain't some oh de old missis' spoons; dat +good-fo'-nothin' brack imp must a' snuck one ebbery time I takes him to +visit de lady. Oh! he kotch it fo' dis, you better belieb me!" + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +LOOKING FORWARD--CONCLUSION + +There could be no doubt about the genuine nature of the horror and +indignation, as well as shame, that struggled for the mastery in the +mind of the astonished colored woman. To learn that her little boy had +abused her confidence whenever she took him visiting her good mistress +was a shocking revelation. She also looked furiously angry, and it was +evident that the said Brutus would receive due punishment on account of +his propensity for purloining things that belonged to others, just to +add to his "collection." The thing that struck Hugh as bordering on +the comical was that even a small colored boy might have the same mania +for gathering "trophies" of his visits that possessed Madame Pangborn. +He felt that the good lady would herself be amused at the coincidence, +and be ready to forgive little Brutus. + +He proceeded to show Sarah that it would be entirely unnecessary to let +any one know what had happened. There would be no exposure, and she +need not be "disgraced" in the eyes of her neighbors. Hugh would +simply return the spoons to their owner, who certainly would never hold +it against Sarah. But after that, should Brutus be invited to the old +lady's house, his actions would be carefully watched lest his +acquisitive propensities again get the better of his honesty. + +Thad was highly delighted with the result of their "raid" on Brutus' +playhouse. On the way to Madame Pangborn's, he boldly accused his chum +of having set up a little game. + +"Now I wouldn't be at all surprised, Hugh," he went on to say, "if you +dropped your knife in that cabin on purpose when we were looking around +this afternoon; own up and tell me if that isn't true." + +"Yes, I did," admitted the other, laughingly. "Now that the thing has +turned out even better than I dared hope, I'm willing to confess that a +sudden suspicion gripped me about that time. When I saw what an +astonishing assortment of old junk that boy had collected, I knew he +had a mania for picking up things. And the idea struck me that since +he sometimes was allowed to stay for an afternoon with his mother at +Madame Pangborn's house, what if the temptation came to him to take one +of those pretty spoons to add to his assortment? Why, the more I +thought of the idea the stronger it hit me. On the impulse of the +moment I dropped my knife, so as to have a good excuse for getting out +there again, and prowling around a bit. I didn't want to mention a +thing even to you until I had proved whether there was any truth in my +new suspicion. And it turned out splendidly." + +"Oh! I'm so glad, for Owen's sake particularly!" declared Thad. "Now +I must manage to get this spoon back in his den without his ever +suspecting I took it; but that ought to be easy. I hope he never knows +he was under suspicion, because he's very proud, and it would hurt him +terribly." + +"What makes me think a near-miracle has been performed," added Hugh, +soberly, "is the way all this came about. Only for our taking that +walk we wouldn't have been near Hobson's mill-pond at just the minute +little Brutus was struggling in the water, and so been able to pull him +out. That in turn took us to his home; and his mother had to dip in by +wanting us to see how her precious pickaninny played with his toys back +in the old cabin. It's wonderful, that's all I can say." + +"But, Hugh, you deserve all the credit," affirmed Thad. "In the first +place, you took this heavy task on your shoulders, and started to find +out who was guilty of robbing your good old friend, Madame Pangborn. +It's been an uphill fight from the start, but here we've reached the +finish in a blaze of glory. But won't the old lady be astonished when +we show her the spoons, and tell her just how they were found." + +She certainly was, and made them go into the most particular details +concerning the matter. Just as wise Hugh had believed would be the +case, she did not blame Sarah in the least; nor did she declare the +little chap would surely grow up to be a disgrace to his mother. Her +kindly heart knew the failings of small boys better than to condemn a +child for a weakness. She did say she would have a good talk with +Sarah, and advise her as to how she should try to train Brutus so that +this very trait might serve to his credit instead of being always a +weakness. + +"And as for Owen," she concluded, "I am more than ever satisfied that +his is a sterling character. I want to see more of that boy; and I'm +determined to make the acquaintance of his grandfather. I feel +absolutely certain that the old gentleman has been misunderstood by +thoughtless people in Scranton; and from little hints Owen has dropped, +I fully believe it will turn out that Mr. Dugdale is a man of some +consequence, perhaps even renown, in his own country; though just why +he left it, and has been living in retirement here these two years, is +a matter that concerns only himself. But you boys have acquitted +yourselves handsomely in this affair, and brought me much happiness. +Come and see me often; you will always find my latch-string out to Hugh +Morgan and Thad Stevens." + +So they went home with hearts that beat high in the exuberance of their +joy. The puzzling enigma had been fully solved, and just as they would +have wished it to come out. Now Hugh could put all other matters aside +and devote his spare time to his work as field captain of the newly +organized Scranton High Baseball Team. + +Only a few days remained before their first grand game would be played +with the Belleville nine, and well they knew that they must acquit +themselves handsomely on the diamond if they hoped to bring a victory +home with them, and to cause Scranton, so long drowsing in a Rip Van +Winkle sleep, to awaken and whoop for joy. + +Other problems would possibly present themselves to Hugh Morgan for +solution from time to time, as he pursued his onward way; but it can be +set down as certain that a lad of his sagacity and determination was +bound to attain his goal, once he started out. + +And with that ambitious programme of outdoor sports ahead of them, it +can be safely assumed there would be glorious doings in and around the +town of Scranton, starting on the following Saturday, when, packing +their kits, and donning their new uniforms, the high-school team set +out to invade the lair of the tiger in neighboring Belleville. Just +what they accomplished in the good old summer time will be found +narrated between the covers of the next volume in this series of books, +now on sale under the suggestive title of "The Chums of Scranton High +in the Three-Town League; or, Out for a Baseball Pennant." + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CHUMS OF SCRANTON HIGH*** + + +******* This file should be named 18587.txt or 18587.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/8/5/8/18587 + + + +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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