be the case, you know."

"Yes, the very _first_ window you tackled in the bargain, Leon;
how fortunate for you!" sneered the unbelieving Thad. "And say,
you ought to know that this isn't your locker, because the numbers
are painted big enough on the door for anybody with only one eye
to see."

Even this did not appear to disconcert the other boy. He was a
slippery sort of customer, who always seemed able to find some sort
of ready excuse, or a way to "climb down a tree" when caught in
the act.

He turned, and stared at the number 16 plainly on the door. Then
he grinned at Thad as he hurriedly went on to explain further; for
his inventive faculties seemed without end when they were exercised
in order to get him out of any bad scrape:

"Well, that shows my first guess was the right one after all. You
see, Hugh, I knew my number was either 16 or 19, and, for the life
of me, I couldn't tell which. Of course, if the first belongs to you
when my number is 19, I was foolish to change my mind; though, of
course, even if the key opened your locker I'd have known my mistake
right away. No harm done, I hope, Hugh?"

Thad made a low, growling sound, as though he put not the slightest
faith in the story Leon was telling. He knew the other to be utterly
unprincipled, and a willing tool in the hands of Nick Lang; indeed,
there were some things about the sneaky Leon that blunt, honest Thad
hated worse than the bullying propensities of the other boy.

"So you really and truly left your watch in your locker, did you?" he
demanded, with a perceptible sneer in his tones.

"I think I did; in fact, I'm certainly hoping so," Leon hastily
replied; "because if it doesn't happen to be there I don't know
where I could have lost it; and I'll get a fine turning over from
dad in the morning when he asks me for the same to take back, and
exchange for one that keeps decent time."

"Oh!" continued the still skeptical Thad, thinking to corner Leon,
"then, perhaps, you'll prove your words by showing us the inside of
your locker right now? Number 19 it would be, you said; well, here
it is, on a direct line with Hugh's locker. Get busy with your key,
Leon, and open up!"

Possibly Thad was confident that the other would not venture to do
as he demanded. He may have expected him to invent some handy excuse
for not complying; but then the other had already laid the foundation
for a reasonable sense of disappointment in case no watch was