The Chums of Scranton High on the Cinder Path

ugh had taken a firmer grip upon his person,

me in rough contact with his own shins; "or we'll start something along the sam

cle he tore from the grasp of Leon, and immediately pressed the button that caused the battery to work. The intense dark

y a secret; and, being a most resourceful sort of chap, he now resorted to another little scheme which he h

ed me, sure I did. It's all right now, Hugh, and I'm not wanting to clear out, since I know who you are. That's Thad, too, I reckon, holdin

Thad; "your watch? Tell that

of my locker this evening when I was dressing, after hard work on the field, running, and practising throwing the hammer. I never noticed it till long after supper, and I was afraid of what my dad would say when he asked me for it in the morning, to

eered the unbelieving Thad. "And say, you ought to know that this isn't your locker, bec

pery sort of customer, who always seemed able to find some sort of

had as he hurriedly went on to explain further; for his inventive faculties seem

he life of me, I couldn't tell which. Of course, if the first belongs to you when my number is 19, I was foolish to change my

w the other to be utterly unprincipled, and a willing tool in the hands of Nick Lang; indeed, there were some t

h in your locker, did you?" he demanded

en to be there I don't know where I could have lost it; and I'll get a fine turning over from dad in

your words by showing us the inside of your locker right now? Number 19 it would be, you said; w

t complying; but then the other had already laid the foundation for a reasonable sense of disappointment in case no watch was forthcoming when

ediately opened the door, and this, upon being swung aside, revealed a bun

areful how he handled them, as though fearful lest he might toss

on continued to air his grievances, as though he meant Hugh to understand how utterly impossib

over missing my clock that I just couldn't think straight at all. Well, it isn't under that jersey, anyhow; nor yet covered by those trunks. I remember no

m. Then he as cautiously lifted the torn sweater; and, as Thad turned the glow of the flash-light

. He over-did the matter, Hugh thou

d shook it, as though any fault could be attached to the article in question. "A fine chase you've given me to-night; and playing the part o

himself, it seemed, judging from t

n your locker just as you said; but whether you forgot it, or le

n's shoulder, so he released his hold, and the other gave a sigh as of

went on to say, as though he believed in the old max

ed the one addressed

might get to my dad's ears, how I'd gone and been so careless about looking after my property. You see, he told me that if I lost this birthday present he'd not get me another watch till I graduated from

tentions of Leon may have been, there had really been no harm done, owing to the fact of the

young hopeful to go in the company of Nick Lang, and take part in many of the other's practical jokes. Some of these had bordered on a serious nature, like the time the electric current was shut off abruptly when the graduation exercises were going on at night-time in

of Nick Lang after this, and I'll hold my tongue as long as I understand that you've cut his acquaintance; otherwise, I'll feel free to speak; and there are lots of people in this town who'll believe you had some dark motive back of your breaking into

keep his word. He had been caught in a downright lie on many another

have given him the shake long since, only he threatened to whip me black and blue if I ever did. But this would be a good chance to try it out. Yes, I'll promise you to try and break away from Nick; and I hope you'll keep

amed the streets until a late hour every night he chose; but, as there was no need of thei