bargain. They
call him Young Nick, to distinguish him from his father who's dead
and gone; but sometimes people say he's a regular Old Nick when it
comes to playing mean jokes, and getting into trouble of all kinds."

"What's Nick Lang been up to now, Thad?"

"Oh! just spying on you, for one thing!" exclaimed the other angrily.

"He's welcome to chase around 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 cut-off, 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