epared to settle."

Of course there was no further excuse for Hugh keeping that grip on
Leon's shoulder, so he released his hold, and the other gave a sigh
as of relief at this evidence of a change in policy on the part of
his captor.

"Say, I wish you'd do me a great favor, Hugh," Leon went on to say,
as though he believed in the old maxim that it is wise to "strike
while the iron is hot."

"As to what?" demanded the one addressed in this whining way.

"What's the use of saying anything about this business?" Leon went
on eagerly. "It certainly wouldn't do any good, and I proved to you
that I enter here just to recover my watch, didn't I? But mebbe it
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
high school; and say, I'm beginning to lose all hope of that ever
happening in case. But you will keep mum about it, won't you, Hugh;
just to save me from getting up against it rough with my strict dad?"

It sounded like a reasonable request, Hugh must have thought. Besides,
no matter what the intentions of Leon may have been, there had really
been no harm done, owing to the fact of their being drawn to the spot
by discovering his skulking figure dimly outlined in the moonlight.

Hugh considered before committing himself to making any reply. He
did not believe most of what the other so glibly declared, partly
because he knew very well that Mr. Disney was not a strict parent
at all, but a most indifferent one, or he would never have allowed
his 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 the big auditorium in the high school building; and the ensuing
utter darkness almost created a panic among the audience, composed
principally of women and young people, the wires having been severed,
it was later discovered, at a point where they entered the building.

"I'll say this, Leon," he finally told the waiting boy; "I'll keep
quiet about this little thing for three days, and then feel free to
mention it, if the necessity arises. I'll make a further bargain with
you to this effect; you fight shy of the company of Nick Lang after
this, and I'll h