The Chums of Scranton High

gh. "Are you dead certain it was a souvenir spoo

hook his head i

other 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

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

r, however, and told himself that no matter how many suspicious circumstanc

uare in the face, I feel positive that boy can't be a sneak and a thief. No one with such hon

ted Thad. "Just take that Leon Disney, for instance. There's a

wn all the while. I've often noticed it about Leon, and made

told you, Hugh, you

until the evidence is

am of honest admiration showing in his eyes. "I only hope you'll st

ionate smile; "for we're chums, and what's the use of having a pal unless he '11 g

t my actions in t

ay something about the spoon, so as to draw

ng as that, Hugh. It would have

essing your admiration for such a thing. Then by using your eyes, you could have told whether Mr. Dugdale was surprised at

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, Columb

good chance slip by with

s brain like an electric flash, "that another opportunity will come alo

do you take any stock in the stories that have been floating around town abo

h 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

o, didn't he, Tha

ion 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

en," Hugh finally said, as though his own mind was made up not to

efore. 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 h

you say that?"

the side with his elbow. "I wager the chances are ten to one you're beginnin

lling you the first thing about it until there's

Mebbe I've got a whiff of an idea myself that might turn out worth while; but wild horses couldn't

opped post, as though he thought he

chores to do. When a fellow will keep pets the way I do, he's got to expect to spend some li

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

eing 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 midd

them. It's the right way, to, and no boy with any heart in him could be mean to helpless little animals. I

the truth, that boy is a mystery to me. Sometimes I think that, bad as he seems to b

eat 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 migh

't mentioned it to a living soul, but it set me to thinking, and wondering whether, after all, if a big hulk

standing in front of a house. The man had gone inside and very imprudently left his child, a little

blow. No doubt he was imitating his father in doing that. The spirited beast started rearing, and then acted as i

e 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 s

er in the boy's face again threateningly, gave me a sneering look, and then stalked along down the street whistling like anything. And, Thad,