d after me as often as he pleases," said
Hugh; "much good will it do him, I'm thinking. But tell me, why
should he go to all that bother, when my going out and coming-in
don't interfere with his happiness a whit?"

"Hugh, Nick is on to your scheme for making use of that short-cut
across by way of the old deserted quarry!"

"You don't tell me?" Hugh observed. "Well, I came near speaking to
him about it myself, Thad. You see, Nick is entered for the Marathon,
just the same as a number of other Scranton High boys are. If K.K.,
Just Smith, and several other fellows are to have the benefit of that
cutoff, if they choose to avail themselves of it, why shouldn't Nick
be included, I've been asking myself? Yes, and I'd about concluded
it was my duty to let him know; but if, as you say, he's found out
for himself I'll be saved all the bother of telling."

"He followed you across yesterday, Hugh. By a mere accident I heard
him telling Tip Slavin, and he seemed to think it a good joke, because
you never once suspected he was spying on you from behind trees and
bushes. Why, he says he followed you clear across to the road again."

Hugh shrugged his shoulders.

"Then I give Nick full credit for carrying out a clever piece of
business. I never once remember suspecting that anybody was around.
But, Thad, what's worrying you? There isn't anything about that
discovery to excite you."

"Hugh, that boy means to do something mean, and it's got a connection
with the short-cut quarry road in the bargain!"

Hugh turned and looked at the speaker a little gravely.

"I suppose now you've got some good reason for making that accusation,
Thad?" he ventured.

"Yes, I have," came the quick reply. "I heard him say something to
that other sneak which I couldn't just catch, but it started Tip
laughing like everything. He slapped a hand down on his knee, and
went on to say: Fine, Nick, finer than silk! I bet you he'll be as
mad as hops if he finds himself caught in such a trap, and loses the
race. You can depend on me every time. My affair comes off right
in the start, and I can easy get out there on my wheel long before
the first runner heaves in sight. I'll coach Pete Dudley in his part,
just as you were saying. It's the greatest trick you ever hatched
up, Nick, the very greatest! Now, you can judge for yourself, Hugh,
whether it's safe for you to try to cross by that same quarry road
when the big Marathon race is on."

Hu