THE CHUMS OF SCRANTON HIGH OUT FOR THE PENNANTorIn the Three Town League

byDonald Ferguson

CONTENTS

CHAPTERS I. Some of the Scranton Boys II. The Man with the Cough III. Hugh has Suspicions IV. The Barnacle that Came to Stay V. Scranton Tackles Bellevue High VI. A Hot Finish VII. What Thad Saw VIII. A Bad Outlook for Brother Lu IX. Setting the Man Trap X. How Jim Pettigrew Fixed It XI. Something Goes Wrong XII. Scranton Fans Have a Painful Shock XIII. Hugh Tries His "Fade-Away" Ball XIV. Farmer Bernard Collects His Bill XV. The Puzzle is Far from Being Solved XVI. An Adventure on the Road XVII. The Wonderful NewsXVIII. When the Wizard Waves His Wand XIX. Scranton High Evens Matters Up XX. A Glorious Finish---Conclusion

CHAPTER I

SOME OF THE SCRANTON BOYS

"Too bad that rain had to come, and spoil our practice for today, boys!"

"Yes, and there's only one more chance for a work-out between now andthe game with Belleville on Saturday afternoon, worse luck, becausehere it's Thursday. "

"We need all the practice we can get, because if that O. K. Fellow, who dropped in to see us from Belleville, tells the truth, both hisclub and Allandale are stronger than last year. Besides, I hear theyhave each set their hearts on winning the championship of the ThreeTown High School League this season. "

"For one, I know I need more work at the bat. I've improved some, butI'm not satisfied with myself yet. "

"You've improved a whole lot, Owen!"

"That's right, 'Just' Smith, he's made such progress in bunting, andpicking out drops and curves and fast ones, under the watchful eye ofour field captain, Hugh Morgan here, that several other fellows on thenine are below him in batting average right now, and I regret to sayI'm one of the lot. "

The boy who answered to the name of Owen turned red at hearing thishonest praise on the part of his fellow students of Scranton High;but his eyes sparkled with genuine pleasure at the same time. 

A bunch of well-grown and athletic-looking high-school boys had leftthe green campus, with its historical fence, behind them, and were ontheir way home. It was in the neighborhood of two o'clock, withschool over for the day. 

Just as one of them had said, a drizzly rain in the morning hadspoiled all chance for that day of doing any practice in the way ofplaying ball. Mr. Leonard, second principal of the Scranton schoolsunder Dr. Carmack (who was also county supervisor, with dominion overthe Allandale and Belleville schools), had consented to act as coachto the baseball team this season. He was a Princeton grad. And hadgained quite some little fame as a member of the Tiger nine that sweptYale off its feet one great year. 

Besides Owen Dugdale, there were "Just" Smith, Thad Stevens, HughMorgan, Kenneth Kinkaid and Horatio Juggins in the bunch that startedoff from the school grounds in company, though they would presentlybreak away as they neared their several homes. 

"Just" Smith had another name, for he had been christened Justin;but he himself, in answering to the calls for Smith, would alwayscall out "Just Smith, that's all, " and in the course of time it clungto him like a leech. 

Kenneth Kinkaid, too, was known far and wide as "K. K. , " which ofcourse was only an abbreviation of his name. Some said he was agreat admirer of Lord Kitchener, who had recently lost his lifeon the sea when the vessel on which he had started for Russia wassunk by a German mine or submarine; and that Kenneth eagerly tookadvantage of his initials, being similar to those of Kitchener ofKhartoum fame. 

Horatio Juggins was an elongated chap whose specialty, besides capturingballoon fliers out in right field with wonderful celerity, consistedin great throwing to the home plate, and also some slugging when at bat. 

Thad Stevens was the catcher, and a good one at that, everybody seemedto believe. He, too, could take his part in a "swat-fest" when arally was needed to pull the Scranton boys out of a bad hole. Thadhad always been a close chum of the captain of the team, Hugh Morgan. Together they had passed through quite a number of camp outings, andwere said to be like twins, so far as never quarreling went. 

This same Hugh was really a clever fellow, well liked by most of theScranton folks, who admired his high sense of honor. He was averseto fighting, and had really never been known to indulge in suchthings, owing to a promise made to his mother, the nature of whichthe new reader can learn if he wishes, by securing the first volumeof this Series. In so doing he will also learn how on one momentousoccasion the peace-loving Hugh was brought face to face with a dilemmaas to whether he should hold his hand, and allow a weaker friend to bebrutally mauled by the detestable town bully, Nick Lang, or stand up inhis defense; also just how he acquitted himself in such an emergency. 

First "K. K. " dropped away from the group as he came to the corner thatwas nearest his home. Boy-like, he sang out to the rest as he swungaside:

"I'm as hungry as a bear, fellows, and I happen to know our hiredgirl's going to have corned beef and cabbage for noon today. That'ssaid to be a plebeian dish, but it always appeals to me more thananything else. "

"Huh! you needn't boast, K. K. , " said the Juggins boy, "over at _our_house Thursday is religiously given over to vegetable soup, and I'mgood for at least three bowls of it every time. Then it's also abaking day, so there'll be fresh bread rolls, as brown on the outsideas nuts in November. Whew! I just can't hold back any longer, " andwith that Horatio started on a dog-trot through a short cut-off thatwould take him to a gate in the back fence of his home grounds. 

So presently when Owen and "Just" Smith had also separated themselvesfrom the balance there were only Thad and Hugh remaining; nor didthey waste any time in talking, for a high-school boy is generallyferociously hungry by the time two in the afternoon comes around;although at intermission, around eleven in the morning, in ScrantonHigh they were given an opportunity to buy a lunch from the counterwhere a few substantial things, as well as fresh milk and chocolate, were dispensed by a woman who was under the supervision of the schooldirectors. 

"Since our baseball practice is off for today, Thad, " remarked Hugh, as they were about to separate, "suppose you drop over and join me. I've got an errand out a short distance in the country, and we canwalk it, as the roads are too muddy and slippery for our wheels. "

"Yes, I have hated riding on slippery roads ever since I had thatnasty spill, and hurt my elbow last winter, " replied the other, rubbing his left arm tenderly at the same time, as though even therecollection after months had passed caused him to have tender memoriesof the pain he had endured. "Lucky it wasn't my right wing thatgot the crack, Hugh, because it sometimes feels sore even now, andI'm sure it would interfere with my throwing down to second. But ofcourse I'll join you. I've nothing else that I want to this afternoon. "

"Mother asked me if I'd go out to the Sadler Farm for her the firstchance I got, and already it's been put off too long, owing to ourkeeping continually at practice every afternoon this week. She getsher fresh sweet butter from Mrs. Sadler, and their horse is sick, sothey don't deliver it nowadays. Look for you inside of half an hour, Thad. "

"I'll be along, never fear, " sang out his chum, as he hurried off, doubtless smelling in imagination the fine warm lunch his devotedmother always kept for him on the back of the stove. 

Thad was at the back door of the Morgan house inside of the stipulatedtime, and being perfectly at home there he never bothered knocking, but stalked right in, to find Hugh doing something in his own room. Like most high-school boys' "dens, " this apartment was a regularcuriosity shop, for the walls were fairly covered with college pennants, and all manner of things connected with athletic sports, as wellas pictures that indicated a love for fishing and gunning on thepart of the young occupant; but every illustration was well chosen, and free from the slightest taint of anything bordering on the vulgaror the sensational. There was not a single picture of a notoriousor famous boxer; or any theatrical beauties, to be seen. EvidentlyHugh's fancy ran along the lines of clean sport, and healthy outdoorexercise. 

So the two chums started off for a walk, their pace a brisk one, because the air after that recent spell of rain was quite cool andinvigorating, Indeed, once Thad even deplored the fact that Mr. Leonard had thought it best to call off practice for that afternoon. 

"Well, " remarked Hugh on hearing him say that, "Mr. Leonard was ofthe opinion we were rather overdoing the matter, and might go stale. He told me so, and said that in his experience he had known more thana few teams to overdo things, and lose their best gait in too muchwork. He says one more test ought to put the proper fighting spiritin us, and that he feels confident we'll be keyed up to top-notchspeed by tomorrow night. I think our pitcher, Alan Tyree, is doingbetter than ever before in his life; and those Belleville sluggersare going to run up against a surprise if they expect him to be aneasy mark. "

In due time they reached the farm, and securing several pounds offreshly-made butter that had not even been salted, and was called"sweet butter, " they started back. Thad proposed that they take aroundabout route home, just for a change; and this small thing wasfated to bring them into contact with a trifling adventure that wouldcause them both considerable bewilderment, and be a cause forconjecture for days and weeks to come. 

"I smell wood smoke, " remarked Thad, after they had gone about athird of the distance; "and as the wind is almost dead ahead the firemust be in that direction. There's no house in that quarter that Iremember, Hugh. There, now can see smoke coming out of that thinpatch of woods yonder. I wonder if they're meaning to cut thosetrees down and clear more land?"

"No, you're away off there, Thad, " remarked Hugh, just then. "I canglimpse the fire now, and there's just one chap hanging over it. Don't you see he's a Weary Willie of a hobo, who's getting his dinnerready with wet wood. Here's a chance for us to see just how the thingis done, so let's make him a friendly call!"

CHAPTER II

THE MAN WITH THE COUGH

Thad seemed quite agreeable. 

"Do you know I've never come in close contact with any tramp, " he wenton to remark, as they turned their faces toward the patch of treeswhere the smoke arose, "and I've always wanted to watch just how theymanaged. I note that this fellow has a couple of old tomato canshe's picked up on some dump, and they're set over the fire to warmup some coffee, or something he's evidently gotten at a back door. Perhaps he'll be sociable, and invite us to join him in hisafternoon meal. I guess they eat at any old time, just as the notionseizes them, eh, Hugh?"

"They're a good deal like savages in that respect, I understand, "the other told him. "You know Indians often go a whole day withoutbreaking their fast; but when they do eat they stuff themselves untilthey nearly burst. There, he has seen us coming in, for he's shadinghis eyes with his hand, and taking a good look. "

"I hope we haven't given him a scare, " chuckled Thad, "under theimpression that one of us may be the sheriff, or some indignantfarmer who's lost some of his chickens lately, and traced them feathersto this camping spot. "

The hobo, however, did not attempt to run. He watched their approachwith interest, and even waved a friendly hand toward the two lads. 

"Why, evidently he's something of a jolly dog, " remarked the surprisedThad, "and there are no chicken feathers around that I can notice. Hello, bo', getting your five o'clock tea ready, I see. "

At these last words, called out louder than ordinary, the man in theragged and well-worn garments grinned amiably. 

"Well, now, young feller, " he went on to say in a voice that somehowwas not unpleasant to Hugh's ear, "that's about the size of it. Ihaven't had a bite since sun-up this morning, and I'm near caving in. Out for a walk, are you, lads?"

"Oh! we live in Scranton, " Hugh explained, "and I had an errand upbeyond. We went by another road, and came back this way, which iswhy we sighted your smoke. Fact is, Thad, my chum here, has neverseen a knight of the railroad ties cooking his grub, and he saidhe'd like to drop in and learn just how you managed, because he'sread so much about how splendidly tramps get on. "

"That's all right, young feller, " said the other, cheerily. "Findseats on that log yonder. I ain't got much in my larder today, but what there is will fill a mighty big vacuum in my interior, let me tell you. This here is coffee in the first can---mebbenot just what you boys is accustomed to at your breakfast tables, but good enough for me when it's piping hot. I don't take any frillswith wine either, in the way of cream and sugar, leaving all thatfor those that sit at white tablecloths and have silver as wellas china dishes. In this other can I've got some soup. Never mindwhere I got it; some ladies, bless their hearts, are pretty kind;and I always make it a point to carry several empty tomater canswith me wherever I go. Besides that, in this newspaper here I'vegot some bread, and two fine pieces of bologna sausage that I boughtin a village I came through. So altogether I'm expecting to havea right swell feast pretty soon. "

Thad looked interested in these things. He even peeped into the twocans, and decided that wherever the tramp got that coffee it certainlycould be no "slops, " for it had the real odor. The warmed-over soup, too, smelled very appetizing, Thad admitted. On the whole, heconcluded that tramps were able to make out very well, when they knewthe ropes of the game, and how to beg at back doors. 

Hugh, on the other hand, was more interested in the man himself thanin his limited possessions. He saw that the other was past middleage, for his face was covered with a bristly beard of a week's growth, verging on gray. His cheeks were well filled out, and his blue eyeshad what Hugh determined was a humorous gleam about them, as thoughthe man might be rather fond of a joke. 

He was the picture of what a regular tramp should be, there couldbe no getting around that, Hugh determined. He rather believedthat, like most of his kind, this fellow also had a history backof him, which would perhaps hardly bear exploiting. Doubtless therewere pages turned down in his career, things that he himself seldomliked to remember, giving himself up to a life of freedom from care, and content to take things each day as they came along, under thebelief that there were always sympathetic women folks to be found whowould not refuse a poor wanderer a meal, or a nickel to help him alonghis way. 

Apparently he had been just about ready to sit down and make waywith his meal at the time the boys arrived on the scene; for he nowtook both tin carts from their resting places over the red embers ofhis fire, and opening the package produced the bread and the bologna. This latter looked big enough to serve a whole family of six; butthen a tramp's appetite is patterned very much on the order of agrowing boy's, and knows no limit. 

Having spread his intended food around him as he squatted there, thehobo gave the boys a queer look. 

"You'll excuse me if I don't ask you to join me, youngsters, " he wenton to say. "I'd do the same in a jiffy if the supply wasn't limited;besides, I don't know just what sort of a reception I'm going to meetwith in your town. "

"Oh! no apologies needed, old chap, " said Thad, quickly. "We hadour lunch only an hour or so ago and couldn't take a bite to save usnow. But say everything seems mighty good, if the smell counts formuch. So pitch right in and fill up. We'll continue to sit hereand chat with you, if you don't mind, Bill. "

"That's all right, governor, only my name don't happen to be Bill, even if I belong to the tribe of Weary Willies. I'm known far andwide as Wandering Lu; because, you see, I've traveled all over thewhole known world, and been in every country the sun shines on. Just come from the oil regions down in Texas, because, well, myhealth is failing me, and I'm afraid I'm going into a decline. "

At that he started to coughing at a most tremendous rate. Thadlooked sympathetic. 

"You certainly do seem to have a terribly bad cold, Lu, " he toldthe tramp, as the other drew out a suspicious looking red handkerchiefthat had seen better days, to wipe the tears from his eyes, after hehad succeeded in regaining his breath, following the coughing spell. 

The man put a dirty hand in the region of his heart and winced. 

"Hurts most around my lungs, " he said, "and mebbe I've got the con. I spent some time in a camp where fifty poor folks was sleepingunder canvas down in Arizona, and I'm a whole lot afraid I may havecaught the disease there. So, being afraid my time would soon comeI just made up my mind to look up a sister of mine that I ain'theard a word from for twenty years or more, and see if she was ina position to support me the short time I'd have to live. "

Thad heard this with evident interest. At the same time it occurredto him the stalwart tramp was hardly a fit subject for a speedy death;indeed, he looked as though he might hold out for a good many yearsstill, except when he fell into one of those coughing spells, andseemed to be racked from head to foot with the exertion. 

Hugh saw that the fellow had an engaging manner, and a smooth tongue. He was trying to make out just what sort of a man this same Lu mightbe, if one could read him aright. Was he crooked, and inclined toevil ways; or, on the other hand, could he be taken at face valueand set down as a pretty square sort of a fellow?

"Listen, young fellers, " remarked the still eating hobo, later on, "didn't you tell me you lived in the place called Scranton, whenyou're to home?"

"Yes, that's so, " Thad assured him. "Know anybody there, Lu, and doyou want us to take him your best compliments?"

The tramp grinned amiably. 

"I reckon you're something of a joker, younker, " he went on to say. "Now, about the folks in Scranton, I suppose you boys know abouteverybody in town?"

"Well, hardly that, " Hugh told him, "since Scranton is a place ofsome seven or eight thousand inhabitants, and new people are constantlycoming in. "

"All the same, " added Thad, "we do know a good many, and it's justas likely we might be acquainted with your friend. What's his name, Wandering Lu?"

"First place, it ain't a he at all, but a lady, " the other explained, looking a little serious for once. 

"Oh! excuse the mistake, will you?" chuckled Thad, highly amused atthe airs the disreputable looking grizzled old chap put on when hemade this statement. "Well, we have some acquaintance among theladies of the town also. They're nearly all deeply interested justnow in helping Madame Pangborn do Red Cross work for her belovedpoilus over in brave France. I suppose now you've traveled throughthat country in your time, Lu?"

"Up and down and across it for hundreds of miles, afoot, and intrains, " quickly replied the old fellow, "and say, there ain't anycountry under the sun that appeals more to me than France did. If Iwas twenty years younger, hang me if I wouldn't find a way to crossover there now, and take my place in the trenches along with thembully fighters, the French frog-eaters. But I'm too old; andbesides, this awful cough grips me every once in so often. "

Even the mention of it set him going again, although this time thespasm was of shorter duration, Hugh noticed; just as though he hadshown them what he could do along such lines, and did not want toexhaust himself further. 

"But about this lady friend of yours, Lu, would you mind mentioningher name, and then we could tell you if we happen to know any suchperson in Scranton?" and Thad gave the other a confiding nod asif to invite further confidence. 

"Let's see, it was so long back I almost forget that her name waschanged after she got hitched to a man. Do you happen to know achap who goes by the name of Andrew Hosmer?"

The boys exchanged looks. 

"That must be the sick husband of Mrs. Hosmer, who sews for my mother, "remarked Thad, presently. "Yes, I remember now that his first nameis Andrew. "

"Tell me, " the tramp went on, now eagerly, "is his wife living, doyou mean, younker, this Mrs. Hosmer, and is her name Matilda?"

"Just what it happens to be, " Thad admitted. "So she is the ladyyou want to see, is she, Lu? What can poor old Mrs. Hosmer, whohas seen so much trouble of late years, be to you, I'd like to know?"

The man allowed a droll look to come across his sun-burned face withits stubbly growth of gray beard. There was also a twinkle in hisblue eyes as he replied to this query on the part of Thad Stevens. 

"What relation, you ought to say, younker, because Matilda, she'smy long-lost sister, and the one I'm a-hopin' will nurse me fromnow on till my time comes to shuffle off this planet and go hence!"

The two boys heard this stunning announcement with mingled feelings. Thad looked indignant while Hugh on his part tried to read betweenthe lines, and understand whether there could be any meaning to thetramp's declaration than what appeared on the face of it. 

CHAPTER III

HUGH HAS SUSPICIONS

"Well, old man, " remarked Thad, "I'm afraid you're in for adisappointment about as soon as you strike Scranton; because if Mrs. Hosmer is your long-lost sister, she isn't in any position to helpyou pass the time away till you kick the bucket. Why, even as it is, she has a hard time getting along, and my mother as well as some ofthe other ladies give her sewing to do to help tide over. She canhardly make enough to keep herself and her husband going. "

The tramp shook his head sadly. 

"Say, I'm right grieved to hear that, son, " he went on to observe, seriously. "Course it's goin' to be a hard blow to poor old Lu, after working his way up here all these months, and nearly coughinghis head off at times, to find out that his only relation in thewide world ain't well off in this world's goods. But then Matildashe always was soft-hearted, and mebbe now she might find a holein her humble home where her poor old brother could stay the shorttime he's got in this world of trouble and sorrow. I could do withless to eat if I had to, gents; and blood was always thicker'n waterwith Matilda. "

Thad felt indignant. The idea of this sleek-looking old rascalsettling down on his poor sister, and making her support him, wastoo much for his temper. 

"Well, I'd be ashamed if I were you, Wandering Lu, to even think ofletting any woman earn my living for me, no matter if she did happento be a sister. As it is, she's hard pushed at times to get enoughfood together for herself and her husband. "

"Why, what's the matter with Andrew; why can't he do his share?"demanded the other, boldly, and Thad thought he looked disgusted atthe poor prospect before him. 

"Mr. Hosmer is really sick, " explained the boy; "and there's nohumbug about his ailment, either. I heard the doctor tell my motherthat it was partly due to a lack of substantial food for years. You see, the woman herself was ill for a long time, and her husbandworked himself to skin and bone trying to provide for her. Thenshe got over her trouble, and now it's his turn to go under. He hastried to work a number of times, but fainted at his bench in theshop from sheer weakness. "

"Gee! I'm sorry to hear that, " muttered the other, shrugging hisbroad shoulders as he spoke, and shaking his head from side to side, as though he feared some hope he had been cherishing was on thepoint of vanishing. "But then mebbe Andrew he may get better again, and be able to work at his trade, because if I really got consumptionthere ain't any chance for me to be doin' in this world. "

Thad showed signs of growing angry, but pinched his arm, and mutteredin his ear:

"Just hold your horses, Thad. We can't stop him, if he's set onseeing his sister, you know. And besides, perhaps they'll turn himaway from the door. He's a queer sort of a chap, and I just can'tquite make out whether he's a scamp or a big joke. Let's keepquiet, and see which way the cat jumps. "

Thad heaved a sigh, but did not say anything to the tramp that he mayhave had in his mind, and which possibly Wandering Lu might haveresented. The man had continued his meal and was in something of areflective frame of mind apparently. Hugh supposed he was wonderingwhat he was going to do after coming so far in hopes of finding asnug nest for the remainder of his idle days, and meeting with apossible disappointment. 

"Say, young fellers, I'm going to ask a favor of you, " he suddenlyremarked, as he brushed the back of his hand across his mouth, signifying that he had finished his meal, and did this in lieu ofusing a napkin. 

"What is it you want?" asked Thad, a bit ungraciously, it must beconfessed. 

"Of course, you know just where Matilda lives in Scranton, " observedthe man, insidiously; "and mebbe now you wouldn't mind if I walkedalong with so you point out her home to me when we get near it?"

"Ought we do it, Hugh?" flashed Thad, turning toward his chum. 

"What's the harm?" asked the other, instantly. "He can soon find itby asking at some house, whether we help him or not. Why, yes, we'llaccommodate you, Lu; but I wouldn't be too hopeful if I were you, about their asking you to stay over, because the times are out ofjoint nowadays, food getting higher every day, and money hard to pickup, since Uncle Sam's just jumped into the big war game. "

"But my sister Matilda she always did have a tender heart, and wouldn'tsee a poor stray cat go hungry if so be she had a bite of food, "the tramp went on to say in the most unblushing way possible. "Unlessshe's changed a heap she'll let me stay a while with her anyhow. Mebbe I'll pick up some if I get good care, and can go on the roadagain if the worst comes. But I'm much obliged to you for saying ashow you'd show me her humble home. It'll be mighty fine for a poorold rolling stone like me to get under the roof of a blood relative, which ain't been my luck for over twenty years. "

He hastened to gather his scanty belongings together. When the packwas complete be slung it across his back, and gave Hugh a nod. Somehow even this tramp seemed to understand that Hugh Morgan wasthe leader among his mates; perhaps it was his expression of firmnessthat told the story, for there was certainly nothing of the "boss"air about the boy to indicate as much. 

"I'm all ready, if you are, younkers, " the tramp said. 

"Then we'll be off, " remarked Hugh, Putting his words into action. 

Thad began to wonder what any of their acquaintances would say shouldthey happen to see them in company with Wandering Lu. The tramplooked so utterly disreputable that Thad disliked being discoveredwith him; and yet Hugh, who looked deeper than his companion, wassurprised to notice that this dirt had the appearance of being rathernew and fresh. The fact caused him to take further notice of the man, about whom he felt there rested quite a little air of mystery. 

As they walked along the road headed for town, Thad's curiosity gotthe better of his dislike and suspicion. 

"In all this twenty years of knocking about, ail over the world, asyou claim, I suppose now there have been times when you've struckpay dirt--what I mean is that I sort of think you haven't always beenwhat you are now, just a tramp? How about that, Wandering Lu?"

"What, me?" chuckled the other. "Say, I've dug gold in Alaska, hunted pearls down near Ceylon, been at work in the diamond fieldsout in South Africa, and in lots of other places in the world tookmy turn at playing for high stakes with old Dame Fortune. Why, younkers, I've had fortunes several times, and let the same slipout of my hands. Some time, mebbe, if so be, I conclude to stayaround this section of country, which pleases me a heap as far asI've seen the same, why I'd like to spin you a yarn or two that'dmake your eyes look as big as them there individual butter platesthey use in restaurants. I've run up against heaps and heaps ofqueer adventures. In fact, it's a wonder I didn't die long agowith my boots on. That's what peeves me, to think a feller who'sbeen so close to death by violence so many times should after allbe snuffed out with the pesky con. "

Then he had another spell of violent coughing that quite aroused thesympathy of Thad afresh, while Hugh observed and took note. According to his mind, these fits of near strangulation were almosttoo methodical to be genuine; still, he did not wish to condemnany one without positive proof, though laboring under the impressionthat the said Lu could not be as far gone as he tried to make thembelieve. 

Presently they arrived in the environs of Scranton. The boys wentout of their way to accommodate their disreputable looking companion, for they would have struck across by another street if going homedirect. 

"Mrs. Hosmer lives in that small cottage ahead of us, " Hugh was saying, pointing as he spoke. 

The tramp stared, and nodded his head. 

"Looks right neat, accordin' to my notion, " he said. "Matilda wasalways a great hand for keeping things clean. Now, I rather reckonI'll like this place a heap. "

Thad burned with fresh indignation to hear him so coolly signify hisintention of burdening the already hard pressed sister with his keep. 

"Oh! is that so?" he snorted, "then I kind of think you'll have to geta move on you, Wandering Lu, and remove a few pounds of superfluousearth from your face and hands. "

The man did not show any sign of being offended at this attack; simplylooked at his hands, and grinned as he remarked:

"Reckon that I will, younker; but then soap is cheap, and I wouldn'twant to soil Matilda's clean sheets and towels. Yes, if I'm goingto become domesticated and give up all this roving business I supposeI'll just have to clean up a bit. Wonder now if Andrew he wouldhave an extra suit of clothes he could turn over to me. I'd surehate to make my poor sister blush to introduce her brother lookingas tough as I do just now. "

"There's Mrs. Hosmer coming along the street, " said Hugh at thatjuncture. "She's got a bundle with her, so I expect she's beengetting more sewing to do from your mother or mine, Thad. And that'sMr. Hosmer just opened the door to let her in. He's been watchingfor her, no doubt, because they say he's always been a mighty goodhusband, and it nearly kills him to see her working so hard whilehe keeps on being too weak to be at his trade. We'll meet her atthe door. "

They walked along, and stopped just as the good woman came up. Mrs. Hosmer had snow-white hair, and a most amiable countenance. Everyone who knew her understood that the poor woman possessed a bigheart, and would share her last crust with a hungry man or child. Thad, gritting his teeth at what he anticipated he would see, watchedthe meeting. Hugh answered her pleasant greeting by saying:

"We chanced to come across a man who was inquiring for you, Mrs. Hosmer, and as he asked us to show him where you lived we have fetchedhim along. He can speak for himself now. "

The woman turned to look at the tramp. Up to then she had hardlynoticed him, but now something seemed to stir within her bosom. They saw her start, and bending, look more closely, at the sametime turning paler than usual. 

"Oh! who can it be?" she said, weakly. "I seem to see somethingfamiliar about the figure, and the face, but it's impossible, formy brother Lu has long been dead. "

"That's where you're mistaken, Matilda, because I'm that same LutherCorbley, and still alive and in the flesh, though pretty far gone, I'm afraid, " and he acted as if about to start into one of hishysterical coughing spells, then thought better of it, becauseMatilda was rushing toward him, dropping her bundle as she came. 

Paying no attention to his soiled and ragged clothes, the good womanthrew her arms about the neck of her long-lost brother, and actuallykissed him again and again on his rough cheek. Hugh, watching closely, could see the man assume a pleased look, and once he thought he caughtWandering Lu actually winking his left eye in his direction, as thoughto say: "You see, she never will let me die on the road!"

CHAPTER IV

THE BARNACLE THAT CAME TO STAY

The man in the doorway, Andrew Hosmer, had watched this remarkablescene with a variety of emotions. He realized that something in thenature of a calamity had come upon them, for if his poor, hard-workingwife had found it difficult, even with the generous help of goodfriends in Scranton, to provide food for the two of them, howevercould she manage to add still another to the household, and feed athird mouth?

Still, this man was undoubtedly Luther Corbley, the brother of whomshe had so often talked, and who was believed to be long since dead, because he led such an adventurous life. And surely they could not beso inhuman as to deny him at least temporary shelter, and a share oftheir slender meals. 

So, greatly to the disgust of Thad in particular, Mr. Hosmer now cameforward to offer his hand to the tramp, who took it eagerly. Thelook on Brother Lu's face impressed Hugh as one of strange import. He could not make it out at all, and even found himself vaguelywondering whether this man might not after all be some sort of artfulimpostor, who, having learned about the lost brother, chose to playthe part simply to be well taken care of for a time. 

But then surely Matilda would soon be able to tell, when she got totalking of their childhood days. A thousand things were apt to comeup, and even a cunning schemer could not help betraying his vastignorance along such lines. 

About this time Brother Lu seemed to have one of his periodicaloutbursts of violent coughing. Indeed, he rather outdid himselfon this occasion, as though determined to make a good showing beforehis newly-found relatives, and thus enlist their full-fledged sympathyin the start. 

Matilda seemed fairly shocked as he strained, and writhed, and almostburst a blood vessel with his efforts. Thad stood and watched, hislip curling as though he could no longer be deceived. To him thewhole thing was now very much in the nature of a fraud, a delusion, and a snare. He did not doubt the identity of Brother Lu, but asto the genuine nature of his malady, that was another question entirely, and Thad could not be impressed again. He fully believed the manwas faking sickness just to gain the sympathy of these simple people, and work out the game he had in view, which Thad was convinced wasto make a snug nest for himself during the rest of the summer, perhapsfor all time. 

"Let's be going along, Hugh, " he said, as he wheeled on his chum, thelight of honest indignation glowing in his eyes; "this thing is makingme feel sick, and I can't stand much more of it!"

Hugh himself was agreeable. He intended, however, to see considerablymore of Brother Lu in the immediate future, and expected to be ableto gauge the fellow for what he really was. If he felt positive thatthere was a chance of his being an impostor, Hugh would consider ithis duty to warn Mr. Hosmer, so that with the help of his wife theymight catch the fellow in some sort of trap and expose him. Eventhough he did turn out to be the genuine article, Hugh felt that itwould be a shame to have him hanging on the poor couple, and causingMatilda to work harder than ever to provide food, while possibly thisable bodied tramp led a lazy sort of an existence. 

Accordingly the two boys strolled on, not having far to go in orderto reach Hugh's home, where he could deliver the "sweet butter" hehad gone out to the farm after. Just as Hugh anticipated, Thad"boiled over" as soon as they were out of earshot of the Hosmercottage. Turning to look back he had seen the wretched hobo beingtenderly escorted into the little dwelling, hardly more than a dove-cotein point of size, Matilda on one side, and her husband on the other;and the sight caused Thad to grit his teeth savagely. 

"I tell you it's a burning shame for that husky fraud to imposehimself on that poor old couple the way he has done, " grumbled Thad. "He's no more sick than I am. Didn't you see how he devoured allthat food at a sitting? No man wasting away with consumption couldstuff like that. And see how fat he is in the bargain; why, he'dmake two of old Mr. Hosmer. Yet they are ready to take him in, feedhim three meals a day, give him the best bed in the house, most likely, and for an indefinite time. Uh! thunder! it makes me furious just tothink of it. "

Hugh was amused at seeing Thad act in this way, because it was sounlike his usual cool demeanor. Undoubtedly he was, as he had said, indignant from the crown of his head to the soles of his feet. 

"We'll both of us keep an eye on Brother Lu, " remarked Hugh, "and tryto learn his little game. You know he asked us to come over and seehim, when he would keep his promise to tell us some thrilling yarnsabout his adventures in many lands. "

"Oh! I've no doubt the fellow has a slick tongue in his mouth, andcan spin stories that haven't a particle of foundation except in hisbrain. He's no ignoramus, that's sure, and if he hasn't traveled inall those countries he's read about the same, and can talk everlastinglyabout things he imagines he's seen. "

"But all the while we'll be watching to trip him up, don't you see?"the other continued. "I'll set Matilda to fixing a trap or two thatwill settle the question about his being the man he says he is. "

"Oh! I'm not thinking so much about that!" burst out Thad, "evenif he is Luther Corbley, her own brother, that isn't the main trouble. It's about his fastening himself like a barnacle or a leech on themthat I hate to consider. It makes me think of bow the Old Man ofthe Sea, after being helped by Sindbad the Sailor, refused to getoff his benefactor's shoulders when asked. That's what this chapmeans to do, get so comfortably settled that nothing can dislodge him. "

"We'll see about that, " snapped Hugh, his eyes sparkling now. "Someof the good people of the town who are interested in the welfare ofMr. Hosmer and his wife will object, and so Brother Lu may have totrudge along again. "

"I'm afraid you'll run up against a snag when you try that sort ofthing, Hugh. That snag will be the affection of Matilda. She's_awfully_ tender-hearted, you can see, and would rather go hungryherself than that any one related to her should suffer, even a little. Just think of that beast being installed in their home. Every timehe thinks it necessary to stir up a little extra sympathy he'll startthat old gag of coughing to work again. Oh! I feel as if I couldwillingly help duck him in Hobson's Mill-pond, or give him a rideout of town on a rail some fine night. "

Hugh had to laugh at hearing this honest outburst. 

"No use talking, you don't seem to have much feeling for the woes ofa poor old homeless tramp, Thad, " he told his chum. 

"Well, I haven't, if you want me to give you the honest truth, " saidThad, bluntly; "in my humble opinion any husky man who is willingto loaf around and let a delicate woman like Matilda Hosmer laborfor his support doesn't deserve a grain of pity. Remember, Hugh, I'm not referring to her husband, who is a good fellow, and doingall he can to get his strength back again, so he can go to his trade, and allow her to take things easier. I'm going to tell my folks allabout it. The women of this town ought to do something to influenceMrs. Hosmer, if she persists in letting that hulk of a lazybones staywith her, and be fed at her expense. "

"That might be a bright idea, in good time, " assented Hugh. "Surelyour mothers would know how to manage, and could get Matilda to givethe man his walking papers; though on second thought I really believeshe would refuse, even if they declared they would have to decline toassist her further unless she chased Brother Lu away from her cottagehome. He knows her character, too, because you remember how he toldus Matilda always was a tender-hearted thing, and would not stand byand see a wretched dog suffer if she could prevent it by any personalsacrifice. "

Thad did not reply immediately, but made a number of highly significantgestures, of a nature to cause Hugh to fancy the other were punchingsome fellow's head in a satisfactory fashion. And somehow actionsspoke louder than words in that case. 

"Don't let this queer business weigh too heavily on your mind, Thad, "warned the other, as they prepared to separate. "We've got a gameahead of us, remember, and it's mighty important that the catcherbehind the bat should keep his wits about him. "

"I guess I know all that, Hugh, " chuckled Thad. "Once I get toplaying ball, and there's going to be nothing interfere with mywork as a backstop. I'm feeling in tip-top condition right now, andeverything working right expect to be a factor in bringing Bellevilledown into the dust day after tomorrow. "

"Once we get that game pulled off, " observed Hugh, "and we won'thave another championship one for two weeks, because Allendale andBelleville meet the next Saturday, though we expect to play anotherteam from Jenkintown, just to keep our hands in, you know. Ournext job will be to hustle with that strong Allendale combination, that broke up everything last season, and went through with onlyone defeat. "

"But next week, with nothing on our hands, Hugh, we can turn ourattention to this miserable business again, can't we?"

"Why, I know of no reason to prevent it, " observed the other. "Let'shope that by then Brother Lu will have decided town life is too dullfor him, and be once more holding down the railroad ties in hisjourneying through the country. I've read that it's mighty hard fora genuine tramp to settle down to any civilized sort of existence. You see, they're of a sort of migrating gypsy breed, and get asuneasy as a fish out of water when stalled for any length of time. "

"'Course that would settle it all beautifully, " agreed Thad, witha relieved look on his honest face; "but according to my mind itwould be too good to come true. That sly chap means to play thegame to the limit. As long as he isn't half starved he'll hangon there, and work upon the sympathy of those poor people. Theonly sure way to get him dislodged would be to cut his rations short;though to do that you'd have to hurt Matilda and her sick husband. But give me a little time, and I'll fix him, that's right, I will!"

If Brother Lu could only have seen and heard all this he might havebeen made a bit uneasy, under the conviction that his soft berthin his sister's home was not going to prove such an easy snap asthe conditions seemed to imply. Hugh found himself wondering justhow the fellow would take it. Brother Lu was becoming somethingof a mystery to Hugh, and he was already making up his mind thatit would afford him great pleasure to study the rogue still further, and see what that sly gleam or twinkle in his blue eyes really stoodfor. 

"Come over tonight, Thad, and we'll talk matters over again---baseballmatters, I mean, of course, " Hugh called out as his chum started away. 

"Just as you say, Hugh, though I was expecting that you'd favor mewith a call. There are a few little things that had ought to bestraightened out before we hit that slugging nine over in Belleville. I hope Alan Tyree keeps up his good work in the box. Lately he'sseemed to be doing finely, and Mr. Saunders declares he could mowdown a lot of heavy hitters in the college league. Well, we'llknow more about a heap of things when Saturday night comes around. See you later, then, Hugh!"

CHAPTER V

SCRANTON TACKLES BELLEVUE HIGH

There was quite a big crowd at Belleville when the time came for thegame to start on Saturday afternoon. Scranton had sent a hustlingdelegation of many hundreds of enthusiastic people, most of whom wereyoung folks, deeply interested in the fortunes of their school team, led by Hugh Morgan. 

The scene was a pretty one, for, it being a warm day, the girls wereout in force, dressed in all the colors of the rainbow, and wavingtheir school pennants with a patriotic fervor that did them full credit. 

Then there were the groups of students belonging to each of the rivalhigh schools, with some fellow to lead them in cheering; theypromised to make it a day long to be remembered with their collectivenoise and hearty concerted shouting. 

Already the two teams were in evidence, Scranton being at practice, with the use of the field for fifteen minutes. Some were knockingout flies and fierce ground balls to the fielders; while the catchervaried the monotony of things by sending down speedy balls to secondto catch an imaginary runner from first, after which Julius Hobson orOwen Dugdale would start the ball around the circuit like lightningbefore it reached the hand of the batter again. 

All this preliminary work was being watched with more or less interestby the vast crowd of spectators. There were many who pretended to beable to gauge the capacity and fielding power of a club in this stage, but experienced onlookers knew the fallacy of such a prematuredecision. Often the very fellows who displayed carelessness inpractice would stiffen up like magic when the game was actuallystarted, and never make a sloppy play from that time on, their throwingbeing like clock-work and their stopping of hard hit bounders simplygilt-edged. 

The umpire was on the ground, and would soon be donning his mask forwork behind the bat. He was a former Yale graduate, and as he livedin Jenkintown, would not be inclined to favor any one of the threeclubs representing the High School League. Besides, Mr. Hitchenswas a man held high in esteem by everyone who knew him, and hisdecisions were not likely to be questioned, since everyone felt certainhe would be strictly impartial, and say what he believed to be so. 

When the time limit had expired the players came in, and the twofield captains were seen in consultation, as though there might besomething in the way of ground rules to be settled before play wascalled. The crowd was so large that in several places it had workedover into the field, and a rope had to be stretched to keep thespectators from bothering the players. 

It was understood that a hit in a certain quarter amidst the spectatorswould be counted a two-bagger. To secure a home run on the Bellevillegrounds the batter must send his ball in a direct line for center, andfar above the fielder's head. The ground has a slight slope there, and once a good start was made it was likely to elude the runningfielder long enough to allow a fast sprinter to circle the bases. 

Hugh had never played on the Belleville grounds before, but he alwaysmade it a practice to closely examine every field before startinga game, and discovering its weak spots. Now he realized that Bellevillemust be well aware of that small slope, and the possibilities ithad for a home run. Doubtless the Belleville boys had all beentrained to aim their guns in that direction, with the hope ofaccumulating a number of four-base hits during the progress of a game. The visitors, not being wise to the fact, would waste much of theirsurplus energy in sending out hits to the side of the field where, no matter how vigorous the wallops might be, still they would onlycount for two bases. 

So Hugh gave each and every one of the boys the secret, and the"heavies" were implored to do their utmost to send their hits straightahead, and high over the head of fielder Major, who did duty in themiddle garden. They assured him they would not be found wantingwhen the time came, though, of course, much must depend on how theywere able to gauge the slants and drops of the artful Kinsey, pitcherfor Belleville. 

When the two high-school nines took the field they were found toconsist of the following players in their batting order:Scranton High PlayerPosition--------------------------------------"Just" Smith Left FieldJoe Danvers First BaseHoratio Juggins Right FieldOwen Dugdale Short StopHugh Morgan Third Base (Field capt. )"K. K. " (Ken Kinkaid) Center FieldJulius Hobson Second BaseAlan Tyree PitcherThad Stevens Catcher

Belleville High PlayerPosition--------------------------------------Conway Left FieldGould First BaseWright Right FieldWaterman Shortstop"O. K. " Kramer Third BaseMajor Center FieldO'Malley Second BaseKinsey PitcherLeonard Catcher

Of course the home team elected to go into the field in the openinginning. This brought "Just" Smith to the bat to start things moving. Well, he proved to be the "round peg in the round hole, " for what didhe do but tap the very first ball up for as pretty a single as anyone would want to see. This was certainly a good beginning. JoeDanvers "whiffed out" after knocking several foul strikes. That wasone down, but the eager Scranton fans were saying to each other:

"Notice that our fellows don't seem to have any trouble as yet ingetting to Arthur Kinsey this fine afternoon! Oh! wait till theylimber up, and you'll see them knock him out of the box. "

"Yes, just wait, " some of the local rooters would call out, "andsee how he mows your fellows down in one, two, three style. Arthuralways starts in easy and stiffens up as he goes along. He haspitched two games in an afternoon, and won both. They do say hewas better at the end of the eighteen innings than when he started. Yes, please don't take snap judgment on our poor pitcher. There, did you see how Joe Danvers nearly broke his back trying to hita ball that didn't come within a foot of the plate. He'll havethem all guessing pretty soon and eating out of his hand. The gameis long, my brother, don't settle it in the first inning. "

Owen got in his little bunt, all right, and succeeded in advancingthe runner to second, as well as saving his own bacon. So therewere two on the bags, and as many down, when Hugh stepped up and tooka chance at the offerings of the wily Kinsey. 

Hugh managed to pick out a good one and sent it like a bullet straightat the shortstop, who knocked it down; and finding that he could notreach first in time, as Hugh was jumping along like the wind, sentit over to second, where he caught Owen just by a fraction of aninch, and Mr. Hitchens waved him off; so after all the brave start, no score resulted. 

In their half of the first, Belleville did no better. In fact, theyonly got a man on first through an error on the part of Joe Danvers, who unfortunately slipped in reaching for the ball, and as hisfoot was not on the bag the umpire called the runner safe. But hedied there, Alan Tyree cutting the next two men down as a mower inthe field might the ripe grain with his scythe. 

Again did Scranton make a bid for a run in the next deal, but oncemore slipped up when hope had begun to grip the hearts of many ofthe anxious home rooters. In this inning "K. K. " struck out, JuliusHobson was sent to the bench on a foul that Wright out in the fieldmanaged to settle under after a lively run; Tyree got a Texas leaguehit that allowed him to plant himself on first, and Thad slippedone over into the bleachers in right that, according to the groundrules, allowed him to go to second. 

With men on two bags up came "Just" Smith, who had done so bravelybefore; but alas! as that Belleville fan had truly said, the localpitcher had tightened up and was not such "easy pickings" now; soSmith only whiffed, and the side was out. 

Belleville, much encouraged, started hitting in their half of thisinning. Two good blows, added to a couple of errors, allowed themto send a brace of runners around the circuit. It began to lookserious for Scranton, and Hugh bade his men brace up and do somethingworth while. 

With Scranton at the bat Joe Danvers cracked out a clean single, after he had had seven fouls called on him. Juggins tried to dothe same but failed to connect. Owen, after two strikes and threeballs, again bunted. He succeeded in shoving Joe down to second, but it went as a sacrifice after all, because they got Owen beforehe could cross the initial sack. 

Again history repeated itself, and it seemed up to Hugh to do somethingto save the inning from being a goose-egg again. He braced himselffor an effort. Kinsey apparently considered Hugh dangerous, and wasfor passing him, in hopes of being better able to strike out thenext man up, "K. K. " But Hugh refused to be denied, and steppingout he smote one of those curves a blow that sent it spinning farout in left, allowing Joe to come in, and placing Hugh on second. 

Things began to look a bit brighter now. Encouraged by the aspect, and possibly the cheers of the Scranton fans, "K. K. " put one oversecond that allowed Hugh to reach third, no attempt being made tonip the batter at first. 

Then up stepped Julius Hobson. As he was so fond of saying, itwas "Hobson's choice" with him, because he could not bunt, but hadto hit out. Well, he succeeded in doing a mighty thing, for theball went whizzing far over Major's head out in center, and startedrolling down the little incline. Hugh and "K. K. " raced home amidstthunderous plaudits, and after them came Julius, plodding along"like an ice-wagon, " some of the anxious ones declared, though afterall he had abundance of time to make the complete rounds. 

There were no more runs garnered that inning, but then Scranton wasnot greedy. Four against two looked mighty good to the visitors. 

So the game went on. It became a regular see-saw sort of affair, first one side being ahead and then the other. 

At the end of the seventh, after considerable excitement, the tworival nines found themselves just where they had started in thebeginning of the game, for they were tied, eight to eight, and bothfighting tooth and nail to keep the other from adding to the score, while also endeavoring to secure a few runs on their own account. Both pitchers had warmed to their work, however, and runs were likelyto be a scarce article from that time on. 

When Scranton was going into the field for the beginning of theeighth inning, the vast crowd settled down for an interesting close, because when two teams are as nearly matched as these seemed to be, it is a toss-up which will win the game. 

CHAPTER VI

A HOT FINISH

"It's anybody's game so far!" one of the Scranton boys was calling out. 

"Well, I told you that Kinsey would grow better the longer he was inthe box, " laughed the local rooter, who had spoken before. "Why, he's just getting warmed up by now. Your fellows will be luckyto touch him again from now on. It's as good as sewed up already. "

"Don't crow too soon, " Scranton told him, unflinchingly, for boysare not to be so easily bluffed; and the Scranton fellows still hadgreat confidence in their team, led by Hugh Morgan, as strong finishers. 

It began to look very much like a pitchers' battle from that timeon. Kinsey was fast becoming invulnerable, and batter after batterfailed to connect with his wizard delivery. He would smile at them, and then proceed to give them something they were not expecting, sothat the heaviest Scranton batters struck out. 

On the other hand, Alan Tyree was doing almost as well, and if hefell a trifle short his teammates made up the difference, for theyperformed splendidly. Several hummers that apparently were ticketedfor two-baggers, perhaps more, were hauled down by expert fingersbefore they could get out of the diamond, while the fielders caughtseveral particularly vicious flies that would have counted heavilyagainst Scranton were they allowed to fall safely. 

The ninth inning saw no change, for the tie was still unbroken. Thissort of thing pleased the crowd immensely, as an extra inning gamealways means additional excitement, and added thrills for the money. 

Even the tenth did not break the monotony, although at one timeit looked as if Belleville might add a tally to their score, andpossibly clinch matters. Leonard, their hard-hitting backstop, sent one out in short center, failing to give it enough force totake advantage of that incline back of "K. K. " Then Conway, who hadbeen hitting savagely latterly, tried to knock the cover off theball, but only succeeded in popping up a high foul which Thad smotheredin his big mitt after dancing around for several seconds, as thoughthe twister were difficult to gauge correctly. 

Gould bunted unexpectedly when the stage was set for a mighty blow, with the fielders playing away out. He advanced Leonard, althoughcaught himself, thanks to the quick work of the pitcher, who closedin on the ball, and tossed it to first ahead of the sprinting Gould. 

So Leonard was on second, with two out, and another slugger at theplate in the person of Wright, with Waterman to follow. 

Some of the Belleville boys started cheering and they appeared tobe almost certain that a run was as good as counted, but for oncethey made a mistake, because after Tyree had gotten himself into abad hole, with three balls and one strike called, he forced thebatter to foul, and then shut him out on a dizzy inshoot that hefailed to connect with, being called out by the watchful umpire. 

The eleventh inning saw no difference in the prevailing score, whichafter both clubs had had a turn at bat remained the same, eight to eight. 

"Why, anything is possible with those two boys going as strong asthey are right now, " the Belleville rooter was saying. "That pitcherof yours, Scranton, is no slouch, believe me. He isn't hardly inthe same class as Kinsey, but your fellows are supporting him ingreat shape, and saving many a run by fine field work. But of coursewe'll win in the end; we're bound to. One of our boys will put inthe big wallop and circle the bases on a trot, and then it'll all beover but the shouting. It's no disgrace to be whipped by a Bellevilleteam, Scranton. "

"Spell able first!" taunted the visiting fan, still filled withimplicit faith in his school representatives. 

It was now the beginning of the twelfth. Hugh had again talked tohis fellows, and once more implored them to get busy with their bats. 

"Don't ever get the notion in your heads that you can't hit Kinsey'sshoots and drops!" he told them, as Julius Hobson selected his bat, being the first man up. We've just _got_ to work a man around thecircuit this inning. "

"If we don't we never will next time, because it's the unluckythirteenth, " remarked another, who, like many baseball players, seemed to have a touch of superstition in his make-up. 

"The thirteenth is as good as any other, " Hugh told him, reprovingly;"and if we reach it I hope you'll not lie down on that account. Julius, you're due for a wallop, remember. "

"Sure thing, Hugh, watch my smoke!" chuckled the other, as he steppedblithely out and tapped his bat several times on the plate aftera fashion he had, while Kinsey was eyeing him reflectively, as thoughtrying to remember what the long and short suit of the Hobson boy was. 

Then he sent in a screamer which Julius as promptly sent far outin the heavens, and started running like mad for first. They couldsee the long-legged Conway out in left field sprinting like a hugegrasshopper in hopes of getting under the soaring ball in time toset himself for the catch. As if by a preconcerted signal everybodyin the grandstand and the bleachers stood up, the better to seewhat happened, because it was a most critical point of the game. 

Julius was half-way down to second and still going strong when Conwaywas seen to fairly leap up into the air, then take a headlong fall;after which he hastily scrambled to his feet, holding up his handto signify that he had a ball, which he then threw in to the pitcher, amidst a roar of cheers. Even Scranton fans joined in the applause, being able to appreciate a fine bit of work, although it gave themthe keenest sort of disappointment to realize that after all Juliushad had all his run to second for nothing. 

But at least his mighty blow would serve to encourage some of histeam-mates, who latterly had not been doing much with Kinsey's weirdofferings. 

Of course, nothing was expected of the pitcher, for Tyree was anotoriously weak man at the bat. He tried the best he knew howto connect, but after three attempts had to go back to the bench. So two were down, and Thad Stevens at bat. Hugh said somethingto his chum as the latter stepped forward to the plate. Thad lookedvery grim as though he felt that the whole fate of the game restedon his young shoulders just then. He waited for his ball, had astrike called, and then connected. The sound of that blow wouldnever be forgotten by those eager Scranton fans. It was as loudand clear as the stroke of a woodsman's ax on a hollow tree. Andthey saw the ball speeding away out dead ahead. Everybody startedup again to watch its course, while shouts rent the air. 

Major was making along like mad. No use, Major, because that ballis ticketed for a home run, and nothing on earth but a collapse ofthe part of the fellow spinning around the bases can prevent it. When the ball struck the ground Major was not within thirty feetof it. He did not even attempt to jump up and tag the fleetingsphere as it passed far above his bead, realizing the absurdityof such a proceeding. His business was simply to recover the ball, and get it in home as rapidly as he could. 

But before this could be accomplished Thad Stevens was lying onthe ground among his mates, panting for breath, but a pleased grinon his face, while some of the fellows were patting him happily onthe back, and telling him that he had saved the day for good oldScranton High. 

That ended the scoring for Scranton, although "Just" Smith did manageto get on first by means of a scratch hit. Joe Danvers tried to equalthe performance of the backstop, but while he met the ball and sentit far afield, unluckily. It went too high, and this enabled Majorto get beneath, with the result that the fly was caught, and the sidewent out. 

The excitement started all over again when Belleville came to bat fortheir turn. It was plain to be seen that they had "blood in theireye, " and meant to redouble their efforts to score. 

An error, together with two fair hits, put a couple of the localson the bases. Only one man was down in the bargain. Everybodylooked anxious on both sides, for the game was likely to be ended, one way or the other, in that same twelfth inning. 

A single would tie the score, a double give the game to Belleville. 

Hugh signaled to his infield to play close. He wanted a double playso as to put an end to the intense strain, which was beginning totell upon every player. 

It was the great Conway at bat again. He looked particularly dangerous, for he had a way of standing there like a mighty warrior, flourishinghis club, and watching the pitcher like a hawk. Conway had shownhimself to be the most consistent hitter on the Belleville team whenup against the deceptive shoots of Alan Tyree. Would he again succeedin connecting with the elusive ball, and sending one or bothrunners home?

Tyree appeared perfectly cool, but of course he was far from being so. He delivered his first offering, and the umpire called it a ball. A second followed likewise labeled. Some thought he feared Conwayso much that he meant to pass him, to take chances with Gould, whohad been less able to connect with the ball. 

But with the third effort they heard again that suggestive "crack"as Conway struck, having finally received the ball he wanted. Thecrowd gave a convulsive gasp, but that was all; there was no timefor anything more, so rapidly did events occur. Three runners werein motion, Conway heading down for first, Leonard making for secondand O'Malley beating it along the line full-tilt toward third. 

Owen Dugdale was seen to leap frantically up into the air, thenalmost fall over with the force of the ball which he held tightlyin his right band. He did not make any attempt to cut the runnerdown at first, partly because Conway was already out through thecatch, and then things were better fixed for him closer at hand. O'malley was coming down like a hurricane. He saw what had happenedand tried to get back, but Julius was at the bag and ready to takethe toss like lightning. 

When the spectators saw him touch the bag, and that the umpire hadmade the motion to indicate that Leonard was easily out, a greatshout arose; for the game was over. 

After all the intense anxiety Scranton had won the first of the seriesof three games which she expected to play with Belleville, unlessthe other team failed to take the next one there would be no necessityfor playing the "rubber. "

So Scranton boys were able to wend their way homeward in the comingdusk, singing their school songs, and feeling all the airs of conquerors. A happy crowd it was, taken in all, and rosy visions of the futurenaturally filled the minds and hearts of those boys who had foughtso valiantly that day to overcome the enemy. 

They could even look forward confidently now to the next game, whichwould be with Allendale, two weeks off; and some there were whoalready saw in imagination the championship pennant of the Three TownHigh School League floating from the flag-pole on the dear old campusduring the Fall session of school. 

CHAPTER VII

WHAT THAD SAW

Some days passed. 

As there would be no championship game the coming Saturday for ScrantonHigh the town settled back into its ordinary condition, so far as theyoung people went. There were afternoons for practice, of course, whenthe full team was expected to be on deck, and renew their acquaintancewith the many intricacies of the game as taught by Coach Saunders. 

Still every other day the boys were at liberty to go and come as theypleased. Some made it a religious duty, as well as pleasure, to showup regularly at the ball grounds, where there were always enoughfellows handy to get up a scrub game, for baseball aspirants were asthick as blackberries in August around Scranton that season. A greatrevival of interest in outdoor sports had struck the town, andpromised to stick far into the fall and winter. 

On one of these off-days---it was Friday, to be exact---Thad showedup over at the home of his chum, evidently laboring under some unusualstress of excitement. Hugh had walked home with him from school, andbeing busy with certain things had stayed in his den for two hours ormore. Then in burst Thad, his face red with suppressed news. 

"What's happened now?" demanded Hugh, realizing instantly that theother was in a perfect "sweat" to communicate something he had learned. "Have the Germans landed on the coast, or is little old New York beingbombarded from giant airplanes? There's something amiss, I can seefrom your way of bursting in on me. "

"Oh! you know what I've been bothering my head over lately, Hugh, "snapped the panting Thad. "Of course it's that hobo!"

"Meaning Matilda's now quiet and respected brother Lu, eh?" the otherchuckled. "Well, what's he been doing now---cut stick, and lit out, as we hoped would be the case, finding life in and around a sleepytown like Scranton too dull and commonplace to please the fastidiousnotions of such a wonderful world traveler?"

"What! that leech clear out, and free his poor sister from the loadhe's gone and fastened on her? Well, it's just the contrary; he can'tbe shaken off, try as you will. Why, Hugh, even my respected Ma andtwo of her friends couldn't do the first thing toward getting Matildato say she'd chase him off. "

"Oh! that's the way the land lies, is it, Thad? Then some of the goodladies of Scranton have been over trying to convince Matilda thatblood isn't thicker than water, and that she is under no sort ofobligation to give her wanderer of a brother a shelter, eithertemporary or permanent, under her little roof. "

"I hurried so after the show was over, Hugh, that I'm out of breath;but I'm getting the same back now, and can soon tell you all about it. In one way, it was as good as a circus, though it did make me gritmy teeth to see how that miserable sinner acted. Oh! I just wishedfor a chance to give him a good kick or two. Why, honest, Hugh, Ibelieve I could willingly assist in tarring and feathering a scamplike Brother Lu, who can settle down on his poor relative, and expectto be waited on and fed and treated like an invalid the rest of hislife, while all the time he's as strong as anything, and as sleekas a well-fed rat!" Hugh laughed outright at the comparison. 

"Go to it, then, Thad, and relieve my curiosity. You've got me soworked up by now that I'll surely burst if you don't spin the wholestory in a hurry. "

"Well, it's this way, " began the other, as he fanned his heated facewith a paper be picked up from Hugh's table. "I happened to knowthat Ma and a couple of the other ladies who have been so kind toMatilda during the last year had decided it was a duty they owed herto pay her a visit, take a look for themselves at this Brother Lu, to decide if he was really an object of pity, or a big fraud; andalso advise Mrs. Hosmer that she ought to give him his walking papersright away. 

"Hugh, I decided not to say anything to you about it, because I knewyou had laid out something you wanted to do at home this afternoon;but I was resolved to be around the Hosmer shack when the ladiescalled about three today, and try to learn just how the friendlyscheme came out. 

"They showed up fine and dandy on time. I was hidden behind somebushes close by, and no sooner had they passed inside, Mr. Hosmercoming to the door to welcome them, than I found it convenient tocreep up still closer. The window was open, and I could hear thechatter of women's tongues as they chatted away. Mr. Hosmer cameout and went downtown on some errand; I suspect that, like the wiseman he is, he smelled a rat and wanted to leave a clear field toMa and Mrs. Lund and Miss Carpenter. Perhaps Mr. Hosmer isn't justas much in favor of entertaining Brother Lu the rest of his naturallife as he may have been in the start, for he must know deep down inhis man's soul that the fellow is only working his sister for hiskeep. 

"Well, anyway, I could hear them talking for a little while, afterwhich who should come out of the house but our former hobo, BrotherLu. Say, he's actually wearing Mr. Hosmer's best suit, would youbelieve it, and he seems to like to pose as a sort of retired gentleman;it must be nice after getting such a precarious living walking therailway ties, and begging or stealing as he went, to drop down herein a snug nest where he has the best bed, is sure of three meals aday, wears his brother-in-law's only Sunday-go-to-meeting clothes, andI guess smokes Andrew's little stock of tobacco in the bargain. "

Thad certainly did manage to put considerable emphasis and scorn intohis vivid description of the contemptible actions of the reformedtramp. Hugh was laughing to himself over his chum's righteousindignation; nor did he have any doubt but that, given theopportunity, Thad would most heartily have assisted in a littleoperation calculated to furnish the said Brother Lu with a nice warmcoat of down from a pillow, plastered on with a liberal coatingof sticky black tar. 

"Of course, after he came on the scene, I lost all interest in thefolks inside the cottage, and kept watching his antics, " continuedThad, after giving vent to his feelings as he did. "I couldn't makeout anything that was said, anyway, but it was easy to tell from theway the voices dropped after he came out that the ladies were gettingin their work, and trying to show Matilda she had no business to addto her burdens. 

"Brother Lu, he acted like a sneak from the Start. I could see thathe was taking it for a big joke, because he was grinning likeeverything. I guess he knew what a grip he'd managed to get on hissister, and felt sure not even a dozen ladies of Scranton could causeher to throw him out. 

"What did he do but slide around the wall of the house, get down onhis hands and knees, and creep right under that open window, wherehe could hear every word that was said. What do you think of thatfor meanness, the skunk; now, it never occurred to me to try thatdodge, you know. "

"I could see him as plain as anything, Hugh. He'd listen a bit, andthen just as like as not hear something that tickled him a heap, forhe'd double up and seem to just shake with silent laughter. Oh! Iwas just burning like fun, and boiling over, I was so mad to see howhe carried on; because I just knew Matilda was holding the fortagainst all the batteries the three ladies could bring to bear, andtelling them that it was her sacred duty to take care of her poor, poor brother in his last sickness, because the rough world had usedhim so harshly. 

"Well, in the end he crawled away in a big hurry, so I knew the threeladies must be coming out. Sure enough they came in sight, and bothMrs. Lund and Miss Carpenter were looking as though they felt highlyindignant because Matilda she chose to stick by her good-for-nothingbrother, even when they told her they could hardly be expected to goto the trouble to furnish sewing just to help feed such a lazy-lookingman, and keep him in smoking tobacco. Ma, she seemed dreadfully hurt, and I guess she hardly knew what to do, for she thinks a heap ofMatilda and Mr. Hosmer. 

"They went away, and Matilda, she stood there and looked after themsort of sad like. She knew she had offended three of her best friends, and it cut her to the quick. Still, I could see from her face thatshe didn't mean to turn on Brother Lu, and tell him he'd have toclear out; for she gave her head a stubborn little flirt as she turnedand went indoors again. 

"Hugh, this thing is really getting serious, seems to me. If thoseladies think it their duty to quit giving Matilda work the poorthings will starve, because all they've got to depend on now is whatshe earns by her needle. Something ought to be done to rid her ofthat wart that's fastened on her bounty; if she won't give him up ofher own will, then some of us ought to see to it that he's chased outof the neighborhood. "

"Hold on, Thad, go slow, " warned the more cautious Hugh. "I feelpretty much the same as you do about it, but we mustn't think oftrying any White Cap business around such a respectable town asScranton. There's still lots of time to investigate; and if theworst comes we can appeal to the mayor to help. Perhaps the policecould look up the man's record, and make him clear out on the pleathat he's got a bad reputation. That would answer our purpose, andat the same time keep within the law. "

Thad looked wonderfully pleased. 

"I didn't tell you something more I saw, Hugh, " he now went on to say. "When the three ladies came out, Brother Lu he managed to be there inplain sight. He tried to be polite like, and was of course seizedwith one of those fake fits of coughing right before them. Matildaran to his side, and put her arm around him looking defiantly at Maas if to say: 'There, don't you see how far gone he is, and how canyou ask me to be so inhuman and unsisterly as to tell him he must goout again into the cold, cruel world that has treated him so badly?'

"The ladies looked after Brother Lu as he staggered away, as ifthey hardly knew what to think. But it happened, Hugh, that I couldwatch the man from where I was snuggled down, and would you believeme, he had no sooner got behind the little building they use for awoodshed than he started to dance a regular old hoe-down, snappinghis fingers, and looking particularly merry. I tell you I couldhardly hold in, I was so downright mad; I wanted to rush out anddenounce him for an old fraud of the first water. But on consideringhow useless that would be, besides giving it away that I suspected. Him, and was spying on his actions, I managed to get a grip onmyself again. 

"After things had sizzled out, Hugh, I came away, and ran nearly allthe distance between the Hosmer cottage and your house, I was thateager to tell you how the land lay. And now, once for all, what canwe do to bounce that fraud, and free poor Matilda from thethree-big-meals-a-day brother who's fastened on her like a leech?"

Hugh nodded his head as though he had been thinking while his chumcontinued to tell of his experiences. From his manner Thad jumped tothe conclusion that Hugh might have something interesting to say, and in this he proved to be right. 

CHAPTER VIII

A BAD OUTLOOK FOR BROTHER LU

"Now that you've told me such an interesting thing about this queertramp we ran across the other day, and who turns out to be Mrs. Hosmer'sonly brother, " Hugh was saying, "I want to return the compliment, andexplain that I've been doing a little missionary work or scouting onmy own hook. "

Thad showed signs of intense interest. 

"I sort of thought you'd be wanting to cultivate his acquaintance soas to study the chap at closer range, Hugh, " he hastened to say. "Well, did he entertain you with some accounts of his adventures in differentparts of the world, as he promised he'd do if we'd drop around at hisnew home and see him?"

"He certainly can talk a blue streak, once he gets started, " admittedHugh, with a little whistle. "Why, that man would have made a splendidlawyer, if he'd ever had the ambition to try; and as a promoter forland schemes he'd take the cake. But he says he was born with thewanderlust in his veins that would not let him rest anywhere for adecent length of time. No sooner would he get settled nicely, andperhaps own some big piece of land, down in Brazil once, or it mayhave been out in our own West, than along would come that awfulyearning to be on the move again; and so, unable to resist, he wouldsacrifice his property, and get on the jump again. "

"If you could only rely on all he says, Hugh, " admitted the deeplyinterested Thad, "he'd be a mighty interesting character; but for one, I firmly believe it's a great big lie; he's never been anywhere butaround this country, and that traveling on freight-car beams, andwalking the ties. "

"Well, " Hugh went on, "he certainly has a mighty intimate acquaintancewith all sorts of countries, for he can describe things in the mostminute way you ever heard. He kept me fairly chained while he wastalking of Borneo, Sumatra, Hong Kong, China, Japan, the Philippines, and all those far-away countries in the South Seas. If he's only readabout them, the man has the most astonishing memory I everran across. "

"Oh! he's no doubt a character, " admitted the skeptical Thad, asthough he begrudged acknowledging even this much; "but I still believehim to be a fake. Keep right on telling me what you did, Hugh. "

"For that matter, I didn't do much of anything except listen to hisstories, for he kept up a steady stream of talk for a whole hour ormore, and covered a wide territory in that time. "

"I sort of think Brother Lu has conceived a liking for me which ishardly returned in the same ratio; though I confess there's somethingalmost fascinating about the fellow. "

Thad acted as though alarmed. 

"Be careful, and keep on your guard, Hugh, or else he'll be hypnotizingyou just like he seems to have done with poor Matilda and her husband. That slick tongue of his can do all sorts of stunts. Why if you don'tlook out we'll have you going around taking up a subscription to fitBrother Lu out with a brand new suit of togs; and perhaps buying thepoor chap a bully meerschaum pipe; for it must be dreadful that heis now compelled to use one of Mr. Hosmer's old corncob affairs. "

His sarcasm was lost upon his chum, for Hugh laughed merrily at thegruesome picture Thad drew of his complete subjugation to the wilesof the schemer. 

"Of course, " he continued, calmly, "I didn't forget what I was therefor principally, and all the while he was talking so fluently andholding my interest, I kept watching him and trying to study his realcharacter. Thad, I own up to failure. Once I thought I was a prettyclever hand at that sort of thing, but now I'm mixer-up, and havelost considerable confidence. 

"I kept changing my mind again and again. When he'd tell some ofthe most astonishing stories of the strange lands he'd roved through, I'd begin to say to myself that he must surely be just lying. Thenthe fellow'd mention some little happening that he'd describe sovividly, would you believe it, I felt the tears in my eyes, forit would be sort of pathetic. So during that whole hour I sat thereand changed my mind every ten minutes, now blowing hot, and againcold. I came away in as muddled a state as I went there. His actionsseem to stamp him a rogue if ever there was one; and yet, Thad, Iseemed to see something different in the depths of his twinklingblue eyes. "

"Oh! thunder! however are we going to get rid of such a sticker?"groaned Thad, as though at a loss to know what next to do. 

"Listen, " resumed Hugh. "Among other things he mentioned was anaccount of his adventures down in Texas in the big oil field there, where he said men make fortunes one day and lose them the next inspeculation. He went into some details to tell me of a strange thinghe had witnessed there, and among other names mentioned, he chancedto speak of a Marshal Hastings, who, it seems, is much feared by thebad men of that community. Somehow, I thought I could detect a littlequaver in Brother Lu's voice whenever he spoke of this party; and, Thad, do you know, the idea flashed through my brain that perhaps he'dhad an unpleasant half hour with that same Marshal Hastings himself. "

"I take it that you mean the officer may have warned Lu to shake thedust of that region off his brogans, and make himself scarce, if hedidn't want to pull hemp; is that your idea, Hugh?"

"Something along that order, " came the steady reply. "At least hecould not think of Marshal Hastings without some memory that wasunpleasant, making him shiver. "

Thad's eagerness increased by jumps, and showed itself on his face, which was now lighted up with anticipation. 

"I'm beginning to sense something coming, Hugh, " he hastened to say. "What you saw gave you a sort of idea, didn't it? You reckon rightnow that there may be a way to frighten this lazy loafer, so that ofhis own free will he'll cut stick and clear out. Well, perhapsafter all something like that would be the best way to get rid ofhim. I don't believe the people in this civilized section of countrywould stand for any night-riding business like they did in theKentucky tobacco district; or such a thing as that tar and featherpicnic. So go on and tell me your scheme. "

"Well, " Hugh continued, "you could hardly call it by such a name asyet, because the idea is hardly more than half hatched. But whenhe told me about the way the bad men used to shake at mention ofthat brave marshal's very name, and I saw him doing something alongthe same order, why, I began to figure out that if only Brother Lucould be made to believe Marshal Hastings was here from Texas, looking for _somebody_ he meant to take back with him, why, he mightget such a bad scare he'd skip by the light of the moon between days, and never, never come back again. "

Thad gave his chum a vigorous pound on the back that made the otherwince; but then he was accustomed to taking things of this naturefrom expressive Thad. 

"Oh! that sounds good to me, Hugh!" he burst out with. "I honestlybelieve you are getting close to a bully scheme that may pan outfirstclass. Argument and all kinds of pleading wouldn't influencethat man a bit, because he's selfish, I know he must be, or else hewouldn't burden his poor sister, and see her working for hismiserable comfort every day, and all day long. But, Hugh, he couldbe moved by fear. If so be he has ever done anything down therein Texas that he could be arrested for, why, just the mere knowledgethat this marshal, who always gets those he goes after, has comenorth, and is looking for some one, ought to start Brother Lu on agallop for another distant section of country. "

"It might, " said Hugh, reflectively, as though the exuberance of hiscomrade was having an effect on his mind. 

"It surely would, " repeated Thad, pounding a fist into his other palmto express his convictions. "And, believe me, he wouldn't dare showhis smiling face in these parts in a hurry again, because he'd feelpretty sure the marshal would have arranged it with the local policeto notify him in case Brother Lu ever turned up. Why, Hugh, we'vegot the scheme right now; and it ought to work to beat the band. Ican see that hobo trailing along over the ties again at a hot pace;and while poor Matilda may grieve for her brother, she'll heave a sighof relief to know it's all over, and the ladies are her friends again. "

"Let's go a step further, then, " insinuated Hugh, "and if we decideto try out this little plan, which you're good enough to call ascheme, how can we fix it so that the reformed hobo will take thealarm?"

"That's where the hitch may come in, " agreed the other boy, as heallowed three separate lines of wrinkles to gather across his forehead, which was always reckoned a sure sign that Thad Stevens was concentratinghis brain power upon the solution of a knotty problem. "One thing sure, we can't very well up and inform him of the fact ourselves, or he'dunderstand the motive right away. "

"And even if a letter could be sent, " continued Hugh, "how would webe able to get the right post-mark on the envelope, unless we askedthe postmaster down in a town of Texas close to the oil fields tomail it for us?"

Suddenly Thad started to smile. The said smile rapidly broadenedinto a positive grin that spread all over his face, while his eyesfairly sparkled with delight. 

"Hugh, I've just grabbed a bright idea!" he said, explosively. 

"Let's hear about it before the same gets away from you, then, " hischum advised. 

"Listen. Perhaps you may know that I used to go some with littleJim Pettigrew more or less before you and I became such chums. Jimis considerably older than me, but his stature always made folksthink he was a kid. Well, of course you also know Jim he's graduatedinto a regular cub reporter, as he's so fond of calling it, becausethat word _cub_ is used so often in the movies, when they show upa big newspaper office in New York or Chicago, and the latest greenhornon the staff is given an assignment that allows him to make thegreatest news scoop ever heard of. Jim, to tell the truth, workson our local weekly here, the _Scranton Courier_. He rakes theentire country for news, writes things up that have never occurred, so as to fill space, and draw his weekly pay, attends weddings, funerals, and all sorts of events, not forgetting baseball gamesand such things. 

"Well, Jim is still a good friend of mine, although he now feelshimself so mighty important that even the mayor sends for him tocommunicate something he wants to appear in the next issue of thepaper. The idea that flashed into my brain, you must know, Hugh, isto tell Jim of our great trouble with this pesky hobo, and enlist hisaid in scaring Brother Lu off. "

"Suppose now, in the issue of the _Courier_ that is due tomorrowmorning there appeared an interesting write-up about a certain MarshalHastings who was visiting Scranton, having come all the way from Texasto find and take back a certain party who was badly wanted there forsome serious offense; the story could give little hints that wouldpoint to Brother Lu as the man, without actually saying so. Hugh, tell me, what do you think of that for a scheme; and might it do thework, would you say?"

CHAPTER IX

SETTING THE MAN TRAP

Hugh jumped up from his chair and clapped a cap on his head. 

"It's now about four o'clock of a Friday afternoon, " he remarked, "and if we could only run across Jim Pettigrew, and he got interestedin our story, why it might not be too late to get the little write-uparranged before they went to press tonight. "

Thad was all animation. 

"Fine! Let's rush around to the _Courier_ office and see Jim!" hehastened to say. "I've an idea he's a sort of Jack-of-all-tradesthere, writing up news, setting type in an emergency, and even helpingturn off the limited edition of about five hundred copies of thepaper that are run every week. So, as Friday night is the climax totheir week's work, we're likely to find Jim there with his coat off, and on the job. "

They soon arrived at the small building on a side street where thelocal paper had its offices, and, indeed, every other thing connectedwith it, for that matter. 

"There's Jim sitting in the editor's chair, " observed Thad, lookingthrough a dusty window. 

"Must be Mr. Adoiphus Hanks, who owns and edits the _Courier_, isout of town just at present. Say, that would just suit us to afraction, wouldn't it, Hugh?"

"It might make things easier for us, " admitted the other; and thenthey burst in on the important if diminutive Jim, who received themwith all the airs of a metropolitan editor. 

"Glad to see you, boys, " he told them; "just take seats, will you, and excuse me for three minutes. I'm winding up the main editorialfor this week's issue. Hanks is out of town, and has left me in fullcharge; but then that happens frequently nowadays; and, say, somefoolish people have gone so far as to say they can tell when he'sabsent because, well, the paper shows it; but I tell them they areonly saying that to flatter me. Three minutes, boys, and I'll be atyour service. "

Whatever it was Jim was doing on the typewriter, he continued topound laboriously away for about that length of time. Then finishinghe drew the sheet out, glanced over it, made some corrections, smiledas though highly pleased, and called out to a boy who was workinga hand press to come and take it to the lone compositor, standingat his case in a distant corner of the den. 

"That'll make folks sit up and take notice I kind of think, " saidJim, swelling out his chest with an air of great importance. "Don'task me what it is all about, for I want it to be a surprise to thecommunity. Read it in tomorrow's issue of the _Weekly Courier_. Now, what can I do for you, Thad, old scout? Anything connectedwith the Scranton High baseball team you want written up for nextweek? I'm always ready to favor the boys, because I used to playball myself away back. "

Hugh would have liked to laugh, but he refrained, not wishing tooffend Jim, who was evidently suffering from an overweening senseof his own importance, since he had graduated into a temporary occupancyof the editorial chair. Jim was considerably short of twenty at that, so it could not have been more than a year or two since he used toplay ball, and train with the other boys of Scranton High. 

Thad got busy, and began to tell how they had first ran across thestrange hobo in his camp, cooking a meal. He continued the story witha description of how the long wandering Brother Lu had been so warmlywelcomed by Matilda and her sick husband, and thereupon deliberatelysettled down to enjoying himself at their expense. 

Thad was a pretty good hand at narrating a yarn, and he worked theinterest up by degrees until he had Jim's eyes as round as saucers, while he hung upon every word that was spoken. Hugh only broke inonce in a while to add a few sentences to something his chum said. 

Finally the climax was reached when Thad explained the scheme heand Hugh had concocted between them, and how much they would appreciatethe assistance of Jim in this dilemma. 

The temporary editor pursed up his lips and looked serious. He wasthinking, and gradually a grin began to creep across his thin littleface. 

"Why, I guess it could be worked out, fellows, " he finally remarked, greatly to the satisfaction of the eager Thad. "Course I can do thewriteup part as easy as falling off a fence, because it comes naturalfor me to be able to put any old thing down on paper and hash it upin a most interesting way. I'll have a story that will make folkssit up and take notice all right. "

"I hope, though, Jim, " said Thad, "you won't overdo the thing, becauseyou see we haven't a peg to hang it on, since we don't know what sortof a crime the man might have done away down there in Texas to makeMarshal Hastings come so far after him. You'll draw it a bit mild, won't you, Jim? Just strong enough to strike terror to the heart ofthat rascal, Brother Lu?"

"That's all right, Thad, you leave it to me, " asserted Jim, with aconfidence born of experience, as well as reliance on his powersof description and invention. "Yes, I can do the thing to the king'staste. Why, in such a case it's my habit to make myself actuallybelieve in my work. Right now I can actually see the ferocious andnot-to-be-denied Marshal Hastings. I could even describe how helooks so that you recognize the picture. And say, I'll give suchbroad hints, without actually saying it's Brother Lu he wants, thatthe poor old wretch will bump himself getting out of town on thefirst freight that pulls in here. It's a scream of a joke; andI'm obliged to you boys for putting me up to it. I need all sortsof practice, you understand, to fit myself for a prominent postdown in New York City, where I expect to land a job as a starreporter on one of the big dailies. "

Of course Thad and Hugh were pleased with matters so far as they hadgone. 

"I'm in with you, boys, " continued Jim, as they arose to leave the_Courier_ office, "to the limit; but there's one favor I want toask of you in return. "

"Name it, Jim!" cried Thad, grasping the cold hand of the reporter, for just at that moment he felt as though willing to do almost anythingin return for this real kindness on the part of his old-time associate. 

"Listen, then, " said the other, briskly, for he at least had a rapidmind, and was in many other ways well qualified for the positionwhich he meant to assume in the world of newspaperdom, besides, an abundance of nerve, or as Thad liked to call it, "cheek, "---"Idon't believe Mrs. Hosmer ever sees our sterling paper, becausethe name isn't on our mailing list, or the carrier's either. Buttomorrow morning I'll have Jenkins, our boy here, go around particularlyto Matilda's cottage and leave a paper, telling her we are sendingout a large number of free complimentary copies, hoping to inducemore people to subscribe. Get that, boys?"

"Yes, and it sounds good to me, Jim; you know how to work the mill, all right, " said the judicious Thad, well aware of the power flatterypossesses to grease the wheels of human machinery. 

"Well, the three of us will be in hiding close by, just as Thadwas today when his mother and those other good ladies paid theirunprofitable visit to the Hosmer home. If we're lucky we may seeBrother Lu come dashing out of the place, and strike a blue streakfor the railroad, distant half a mile or so. Should that happen, we can make up our minds it's all serene, and that Scranton, aswell as his poor sister, will have seen the last of him. But youmust promise to come around here and wait for me, as I may have alittle business on my hands. Holding down all the positions on evena local sheet is no easy job, you must know; and I'm the PooBah ofthis joint right now. "

Willingly Thad gave the desired promise. He would have done anythingelse which the autocrat of the enterprise chose to demand just then, since they looked upon Jim as their main reliance. Fortunately theother did not see fit to bind them to any further promises, and whenthey had left the newspaper office, it was with a sense of elationsuch as comes after a successful venture. 

Thad was fairly bubbling over with delight. 

"Why, Hugh, I think we ought to shake hands, with ourselves overgetting up such a smart little scheme as that, " he broke out with, as they walked along the main street of Scranton, meeting many personswhom they knew, and most of them ready with a cheery nod or a word ofrecognition, for both lads were well liked by the best people of thecommunity, and particularly those who knew boy nature best, so thatthey could appreciate what manly fellows the chums were. 

"You're a sanguine sort of chap, Thad, " laughed Hugh. "Right nowyou believe we've as good as got Brother Lu on the run for the talltimber. Don't be too sure, or you may be disappointed. There's manya slip, remember, between cup and lip. But Jim took to the game likea terrier does to a rat, didn't he?"

"It was right in Jim's favorite line of business, " explained theother. "He fairly dotes on writing up imaginary things, and makingthem seem real. He says it's his long suit, whatever he means bythat. I only hope he doesn't make it seem too ridiculous, and sooverdo the matter. "

Hugh seemed to have pretty fair confidence in Jim's judgment. 

"He's a clever chap, " he remarked, "and will know just where todraw the line. I could that already he had drawn upon his imaginationto supply him with something in place of facts. It'll be a thrillingbit of reading, and ought to give our pet aversion a cold shiverwhen he gets its import. Having Marshal Hastings come away up hereafter him will upset all Brother Lu's plans for a soft berth duringthe remainder of his fast-ebbing life; and he may suddenly determinethat it's better to run away and live to eat another day, than totry and stick it out here, and be landed in a Texas jail. "

"It'll seem an awful long time till tomorrow comes, " sighed theimpatient Thad. "We told him we'd be around by nine in the morning, didn't we? Well, let's call it eight-and-a-half, then. He maybe able to get off earlier than he expects, and that would cut BrotherLu out of another meal at the expense of Matilda, whose supplies mustbe running low by now, I should judge, and her money ditto in thebargain. "

"Have it your own way, Thad, and drop in for me, " said Hugh. "In themidst of all this fuss and feathers over that miserable hobo, wemustn't forget we promised to be on hand in the afternoon to playon the team against Mechanicsville; for you know there has been aswitch, and the programme changed. That team is considered astrong aggregation from the mills over there, and, we may get ourfingers burned unless we are careful. After knocking Bellevilledown last Saturday, it would look bad for Scranton to be snowedunder by an outside nine without any reputation, as they have hardlyplayed together this season so far. "

"Oh! I haven't forgotten my promise to Mr. Saunders and you, Hugh, "protested the reliable backstop of the high-school team "I'm too fondof baseball to neglect any chance for playing. But we'll try and putthis other affair over in the A. M. , and that'll leave us free toplay ball after lunch. I wonder how far away our friend, BrotherLu, will be this time tomorrow?"

"Perhaps many miles, " suggested Hugh, "and then again he may be takingthings as easy as ever over there at Sister Matilda's cottage. It'sgoing to be a toss-up whether our game works as we hope, or fallsflat to the ground. "

CHAPTER X

HOW JIM PETTIGREW FIXED IT

When Saturday morning came, the two chums of Scranton High met as perarrangement, and as Thad expressed it, made a "bee-line" downtown. They were fairly wild to get bold of the first copy of the _WeeklyCourier_ that was placed on sale. 

As a rule, it was delivered to the several newsstands, and at therailroad station, around eight o'clock. Then the "printer's devil, "who was also the carrier, delivering copies to most of the townfolks who subscribed in that fashion, would start out with a firstbundle in his bag, taking his time about leaving the same at differentdoors. Perhaps nowadays, however, when there was likely to be abaseball game in the afternoon to enliven things, the said boy mightquicken his pace a bit, so as to get through, and have a chance towitness the struggle. 

They were just in time to see a package delivered at the main newsstore, where sporting goods could also be purchased. Paul Kramer'swas a place most beloved among the boys of Scranton, for the smallstore held almost everything that was apt to appeal to the heart ofthe average youth. Besides, all baseball, and in due season, footballparaphernalia, as well as hockey sticks, and shin guards, the oldstorekeeper always carried a well-chosen stock of juvenile fictionin cloth; and those fellows who were fond of spending their sparehours in reading the works of old favorites like Optic and Alger, as well as numerous more recent additions to the ranks of authors, were to be found poring over the contents of numerous book shelvesand racks, deciding which volume they would squander their latestquarter for. 

Then at Kramer's "Emporium" there was always a huge stock of thelatest music in cheap form; and the girls had also contracted ahabit of dropping in to look this over, with an eye to adding totheir lists. So that from early morning until nine in the evening, on ordinary occasions, if a boy could not be found anywhere elseit was "dollars to doughnuts, " as Thad always said, that he wasrummaging at Paul Kramer's, and lost to all the world for the timebeing. 

Eagerly, then, did Thad throw down a nickel, and snatch up the firstcopy of that week's issue sold that morning. It was virtually "freshfrom the press"; indeed, the odor of printers' ink could easily bedetected in the sheet. 

There was no difficulty about finding the article they were most deeplyinterested in. It occupied a leading place on the front page. JimPettigrew had certainly seen to it that the head was next door towhat is known as a "scare" head; for the type was black and boldenough to attract attention the first thing any one unfolded theircopy of the _Courier_. 

What Mr. Adoiphus Hanks would say was a question, when later on hecame to look over the latest issue of the family paper, and discoveredsuch liberties on the part of the "cub" reporter, raised for oneday to the responsible position of editor. But then Jim wassmooth-tongued enough to settle all that with his boss, for Jimcould talk almost anyone into believing that black was white. Possibly he would think it the best policy to confide the wholestory to Mr. Hanks, and explain just how it had been done in thepublic policy. Adoiphus was not such a bad sort of fellow, andreally believed that he took a leading part in the upbuilding of themorals of Scranton; so he might forgive Jim's breaking away from thelong-established policy of the family paper, which allowed of butlittle sensationalism. 

Well, it was a great story! Jim had allowed his imagination full swing, that was certain. He spoke of actually running across the sternofficial from Texas, and making his acquaintance under ratherdramatic conditions connected with a broken-down car on the road. Then he launched forth into a vivid description of how the minionof justice confided to him the reason for his being there so fardistant from the field of his customary useful and perilous operations. Sly little hints were conveyed in his mention of the rascal whomhe had vowed to find, and take back with him to Texas, there to paythe penalty for breaking the laws. Why, surely the guilty conscienceof Brother Lu must discover a description of himself in every wordthat the imaginary marshal uttered. 

The two boys finished at about the same time. Their eyes met in astare, and Thad gave utterance to a whistle. 

"Whew! Jim is sure a dandy when it comes to write-ups, isn't he, though, Hugh?" he breathed softly, for the proprietor of the "Emporium"happened to be bustling about the place, and was evidently a bitcurious to know just what there could be in that week's edition ofthe _Courier_ to so plainly interest Hugh and his chum. 

"He certainly is, " admitted Hugh. "Why, you can almost see thatMarshal Hastings walking before you, and looking as if he had hiseagle eye fixed on you for keeps. Jim's described him so smartlythat it would apply to almost any Western sheriff or marshal we'veever seen in the movies. "

"But just think how the cold creeps will chase up and down the spinalcolumn of that miserable sneak of a hobo when he glimpses this article, "chuckled Thad. "I can imagine him starting, and his eyes nearlypopping out of his head as he gets busy devouring the whole thing. And, then, Hugh, what d'ye reckon his next move will be?" Hugh shruggedhis shoulders as he slowly replied:

"Honestly now, Thad, I give it up. If he's really guilty, as webelieve, why, of course, he'll not wait on the order of his going, but skip out like a prairie fire, and we'll be shut of him. Butthere's always the doubt. In fact, we never can be sure we've struckthe right nail on the head until we see Lu hitting the high places, and never even looking back. "

"I must read that wonderful article again, " quoth the admiring Thad. "It's simply great the way Jim's written it up, and I'm sure that chapis bound to occupy an exalted place in newspaperdom down in New Yorkone of these days when luck comes to him, and he emigrates that way. "

They scanned it line by line until they could almost repeat thewhole story by heart, it made such a great impression on them. Thadseemed more than amused over the idea that the good folks fromScranton would swallow it whole, and believe there was really aTexan marshal in their midst, looking right and left for a desperatecharacter who had dropped down in that quiet and respectableneighborhood, thinking he would be safe from molestation there. 

"Why, Hugh, " he went on to say, exuberantly, "all today I warrantyou hundreds of people here, women as well as boys and men, willbe scanning every party who happens to be wearing a felt bat anythinglike the one Marshal Hastings is said to possess; and wondering ifthe stranger from Mechanicsville, or Allandale, or any other oldplace can be the wonderful Texan official, who according to Jim'sgraphic account has notches cut on the stocks of both his bigrevolvers to indicate just how many bad men he has been compelledto lay low during the course of his long and thrilling public career. Oh! I feel just as if I wanted to drop down and laugh till my sidesached, it's such a rich joke. That Jim will kill me yet with hiswonderful write-ups. "

Hugh was apparently also highly amused, but he did not lose sight ofthe main facts in the case, as his next remark proved. 

"Remember we settled it that we'd be around to look Jim up abouthalf-past eight, instead of nine o'clock this morning. Thad, it'sgetting near that time now, so perhaps we'd better be moving. Jimmight feel like starting a bit early, so as to give him more timelater on for his regular duties. You see, being left in sole chargeof the office while Mr. Hanks is away makes him responsible for eventhe job printing. "

Thad was only too glad for an excuse for an earlier start. 

"If we have to do any loafing, " he went on to say, philosophically, "we can put in the time at the _Courier_ office, just as well asanywhere else. I always did want to mosey around that place, andwhile Mr. Hanks is away, perhaps I'll have a chance to handle a fewtype, and watch the regular comp work like lightning. The smell ofprinters' ink seems to draw me, Hugh, to tell you the honest truth. "

Although Thad possibly did not know it at the time, that fascinationhas been responsible for many a noted editor's career, as the lureof printers' ink, when it gets a firm hold on any one, can seldombe shaken off in after years. Once a newspaper man and it becomesa lifetime pursuit. But then, of course, Thad might be only imaginingsuch things, and the dim future hold out other possibilities for acareer that would be far removed from an editor's chair. 

They found Jim on deck, and buried up to his ears in work. He seemedto enjoy it to the limit, too, for it made him appear so responsibleand tickled his vanity. He grinned at seeing his two young friends. 

"I suppose now you've read my latest effusion, boys?" Jim remarked, with an assumption of extreme modesty, which, however, hardly suitedhis usual bold demeanor. 

Jim had all a reporter's "nerve, " and could coolly face a ragingsubscriber who had dropped in to ask to have his subscription closedbecause of a certain offensive article in the last issue--yes, andlikely as not Jim could soothe the ruffled feathers of the enragedman, show him how he had really been paid a compliment, and finallybow him out of the office with another year's subscription left inthe shape of a dollar and a half in good money. 

"We've fairly _devoured_ it, Jim, " frankly admitted Thad. "Why, Ican repeat it off-hand right now, I've read it so often. And Jim, I want to say that it's as clever a piece of work as I ever gothold of. That terrible Texan stands out as clear as print. Everybodyin Scranton will be rubbering all today, thinking they can seeMarshal Hastings in each stranger in town. I congratulate you, Jim; you're a peach at your trade, believe me. "

Of course that sort of "gush" just tickled Jim immensely. He triednot to show it, but his eyes were twinkling with gratified vanity. It was fine to hear other people complimenting him so warmly, eventhough they were but boys from Scranton High. Praise is acceptableeven from the lowly; and Jim made queer motions with his lips asthough he might be rolling the sweet morsel over his tongue. 

"Glad you like it, fellows, " he said, in as unconcerned a voice ashe could muster to the fore. "Course there was some hurry, becauseI'm rushed for time, and I could have done a heap better if I reallytried to lay myself out. But I guess that ought to fill the bill, and give Brother Lu a little scare, eh, Thad, old scout?"

"I'm expecting he'll shake himself out of his shoes, or ratherBrother-in-law Andrew's footwear, " exclaimed the eager Thad. "Butsay, Jim, how about your going out with us, and watching him skip!"

Jim looked serious. 

"H'm! got an awful bunch of work to do, fellows, this morning, aswell as hold the editorial desk down for Mr. Hanks; but perhaps thesooner we get that little job over with the better. Yes, I'll callPhilip, our boy here, who's rubbing the ink off his face and hands, and we'll all start out to finish Brother Lu's career in Scranton. "

CHAPTER XI

SOMETHING GOES WRONG

It was in this confident mood that they made their start. Philip hadthe copy of the _Courier_, which Jim had deftly folded so that theheadlines of his startling article would be seen immediately any onepicked the paper up. He was also instructed to simply say that themanagement of the weekly, wishing to give more citizens of Scrantonan opportunity to get acquainted with the feast of good thingsserved up every Saturday, was sending out a supply of sample copies, and that a subscription would be much appreciated. As Philip was ashrewd little fellow he "caught on" to the idea, and would withoutfail carry it through all right. 

It was not intended that any occupant of the Hosmer home should suspectthe presence of the three who meant to see what happened. Thadknew just how they could advance fairly close without being seen, since he had been "playing spy" before on his own account, and was, therefore, acquainted with every bush capable of affording shelter. 

Accordingly, when they found themselves drawing near their intendeddestination, Thad was given charge of the expedition, and he seemedpleased to serve in the exalted capacity of pilot or guide. He ledthe way, and the other two followed as close to his heels as possible. In this manner they finally found themselves as close to the cottageas circumstances and a scarcity of sheltering bushes would allow. 

"Here's where I hide, " whispered Thad, coming to a sudden pause, and remaining in a crouching position. "We can see everything thatgoes on outside the house and, if the door should be left open onsuch a fine warm morning, perhaps hear something that might be saidinside. "

Both Hugh and Jim seemed quite satisfied with the prospect, if theirnods could be taken for assurance. 

"If everything is ready, and the trap set, " remarked Jim, softly, "I'llgive Philip the signal we agreed on. "

"Go ahead, then, " said Thad, eagerly, his eyes fairly dancing withexpectancy; for somehow his heart seemed more than ever set on relievingpoor Matilda Hosmer from the fresh load she had taken so generously onher already tired shoulders. 

Accordingly Jim, without raising his head above the level of the bushthat concealed his body, waved his handkerchief three times. He knewthat Philip would be waiting and watching for such a sign, becausebefore they left the boy Thad had taken pains to point out to himwhere they expected to hide. 

Sure enough, hardly had Jim made the third and concluding wave thanthe carrier was seen to come in sight, bearing quite a load ofpapers; which in reality be expected to deliver on his first roundto regular customers; for none of them saving that particular onewere to be given away free as sample copies; and that had, as Thadexpressed it, "a string tied to it. "

Whistling in the most unconcerned manner possible Philip walkedstraight up to the cottage door and knocked. The boy was playing hispart to perfection, all of them saw, and Jim in particular seemed muchimpressed. 

It was Matilda herself who answered the summons. They could see thatPhilip was getting off the lines which he had committed to memory. Matilda asked him several questions, but she held on to the paperall the same, and seemed quite pleased at being picked out as apossible new subscriber; although times were just then too hard toadmit of her indulging in such a luxury. 

But perhaps she thought it would be such a pleasure for "poor BrotherLu" to forget all his troubles in looking over the town paper. Thadfelt sure this must be in the mind of Matilda, for she was one ofthose persons whose first thought is always of some one besidethemselves. 

Philip having exhausted his schedule hastened to betake himself offbefore he said too much; because he was a wise boy for his years, Jimallowed. And Matilda went back into the house, glancing at the paperas she vanished from view. 

"Now let's hope that hammock there will tempt Brother Lu to saunterforth and take things easy while he looks over the paper, " saidJim, with just a touch of eagerness discernible in his well-controlledvoice; for he prided himself on always "keeping cool" under the mosttrying conditions. 

They did not have long to wait. Why, it seemed to Thad that thewonderful Jim must have some peculiar power, as of suggestion, withwhich he could influence other minds; for as they peeped throughopenings in the bushes, lo! and behold, out of the cottage doorcame the object of Thad's especial aversion. Yes, it was the hobowhom they had first met when he was cooking his meal in regulartramp fashion by using discarded tomato cans for receptacles tohold coffee and stew. But Brother Lu was a transformed tramp. He wore the Sunday clothes of Brother-in-law Andrew, and his facewas actually as smooth as a razor could make it. In fact, he lookedjust too sleek and well-fed for anything; and Thad, as usual, grittedhis teeth with savage emphasis to think how the fellow was imposingon the good nature of that simple and big-hearted couple. 

Then, too, he had the paper in his hand, which evidently Matilda hadgiven over to him immediately she entered. He made straight for thathammock, as though he had actually heard Jim suggest such a charmingpossibility. 

"Now we're in great luck, " Thad breathed, gripping Hugh by the knee, as they crouched in company behind their screen of bushes. "We canwatch, and see just what effect that bombshell has on the skunk!"

"Keep quiet, Thad, " warned Hugh; "or he might hear you. "

The reformed tramp seemed to be very particular about his comfortnowadays. Time was when he could throw himself down carelesslyon the hardest kind of ground and rest easy; but since he had takento living under a roof things were different. They saw him fixthe pillow in the hammock very carefully before he allowed himselfto recline there. Then he raised the paper, and seemed to takea careless glance at it. 

Hardly had he done this than the watchers saw him start upright again. He was undoubtedly devouring the thrilling news item on the frontpage with "avidity"---at least, that was what Jim Pettigrew wouldhave called it, had he been at his favorite job of "writing up"the doings of Scranton society for the past week. 

"Now he has got a body blow!" hissed the delighted Thad, unable tokeep still any great length of time when his pulses were throbbinglike mad, and his eyes round with eagerness. 

Brother Lu read the article through. Then he lowered the paperand seemed to be meditating, to judge from his attitude. Hugh thoughthe could detect something akin to a wide grin on the other's face, but then he may have been mistaken. Thad, on his part, was positivethat he knew what must be passing through the mind of the man afterreading that suggestive news concerning the Texan marshal who neveryet allowed an intended victim to elude his clutches, and who meantto get the guilty party so badly wanted "down below. "

"Say, he's figuring on whether he'd best streak it as he is, or goin and gather a few things together that he may need, " continued theirrepressible Thad. 

Even as he spoke they saw the other scramble hastily out of thecomfortable hammock, and start post-haste for the open door of thecottage. Thad was as certain of what was about to happen as thathe knew his own name. Hugh suspended judgment, believing that itwould be unwise to jump too hastily to a decision. Besides, therewere a few little suspicious things connected with the actions ofBrother Lu that he did not wholly like. 

A minute passed, two of them, which doubtless seemed like so manyhours to the confident Thad. Then they again saw the late hobocoming out. Thad stared harder than ever, and his heart felt likelead. 

What did it mean? he asked himself. Brother Lu did not have his haton, nor was he carrying any sort of hastily thrown together bundle. In fact, he showed not the first sign of the dreadful alarm Thadhad anticipated. 

He still carried the weekly paper in his hand as though he meant tolook over that wonderful article of Jim's again. And what he hadreally darted into the house after was evident; for in the otherhand he carried Mr. Hosmer's only good pipe, as well as his tobaccobag, now getting woefully depleted of its prized contents. 

Then, as if totally unaware of the fact that three pairs of eyeswere glued upon his every slightest move, Brother Lu calmly filledthe pipe, struck a match on the sole of Brother-in-law Andrew'sshoe, applied the flame to the contents of the pipe bowl, and puffedout a cloud of blue smoke with all the assurance in the world. Thad nearly took a fit trying to hold in; the fact was Hugh feltconstrained to lay a warning hand on his chum's arm to keep him frombursting out in such a manner as to betray them to the smug hobo. 

Brother Lu read the article again from beginning to end. Then hesmote his knee with his open palm several times, and they couldactually hear him chuckle, as if he might be highly amused. Allthis rather puzzled Jim, who had fully anticipated seeing the intrudermaking a bee-line for the railroad. Perhaps he even began to wonderwhether, after all, he might not have "laid it on a little thicker"when writing up that story about the grim Texan marshal. 

Presently Matilda was heard calling to Brother Lu, who, leaving hishammock, sauntered into the house with all the airs of one who hadarranged to take life easy from that time on. 

"Hey! let's beat it, " mumbled the keenly disappointed Jim Pettigrew. "I've got heaps to do at the office; and I seem to tumble to the factthat, after all, our big game didn't pan out just as was expected. "

Thad did not have a single word to say just then. He was, in fact, too dazed to collect his thoughts. But Hugh's active mind was grapplingwith the matter, and he apparently seemed able to figure things out. 

They retreated in a strategic fashion, so that possibly no one wasthe wiser for their having been behind the bushes, unless Brother Luchanced to take a notion to peep from behind some fluttering whitedimity curtain. 

"Well, what does it all mean, do you know, Hugh?" finally burst outThad, after they had gone far enough away to make it safe to talkin ordinary tones. 

"I think I have guessed why he seemed so tickled after reading thearticle which we figured would give him such a bad scare, " saidHugh, with a grim smile. "The fact of the matter is he hoodwinkedme when he told such whopping yarns about the terrible sheriff ofthe oil regions. There may be such a chap, all right, but his nameisn't Hastings by a long shot. He just invented that name, you see;and when he read Jim's article about his being up here, he tumbledto the game. "

"Oh! it's rotten luck!" groaned Thad; "after all that beautifulstrategy we've fallen down flat. No use talking, Hugh. Jim, thatfellow is a sticker, and it begins to look as if he couldn't bebudged or pried loose with a crowbar. But I'm not the one to givea thing up because I've failed once or twice; just wait till I getmy third wind, and I'll settle Brother Lu's hash for him!"

So they wandered back to town, sadder but wiser from their newexperience. 

CHAPTER XII

SCRANTON FANS HAVE A PAINFUL SHOCK

The nine from Mechanicsburg showed up that afternoon on time. Theywere a husky-looking lot of young chaps, accustomed to hard toilin the mills, and with muscles that far outclassed the high-schoolboys. But, as every one knows, it requires something more than merebrawn to win baseball games; often a club that seems to be weakdevelops an astonishing amount of skill with bat and ball, and easilywalks off with the victory. 

Mechanicsburg was "out for blood" from the very start. They dependeda great deal on their slugging abilities, and declared that no pitcherthe Scranton players might offer could resist their terrific onslaught. 

When the first inning was over at last it began to look as if theirboast might be made good, for the score stood five to one. Frazerwas in the box for Scranton, Hugh not wishing to use his star pitcherunless it was absolutely necessary. He was a bit afraid that somethingmight happen to Tyree that would put him on the bench and thus theywould be terribly handicapped in their first game with Allandaleon the following Saturday. 

Now, Frazer was a pretty dependable sort of a slab artist, and if theScranton boys had not had Alan Tyree they might have believed him aNumber One. But while Frazer had a number of good curves and drops, and a pretty fair amount of speed, he seemed only able to deceivethose huskies from Mechanicsburg in spurts. 

Between times they got at him for successive drives that netted twoand three bases each. Indeed, in that very first inning the fieldersof the home team were kept on the jump at a lively rate chasingsmashing blows. To tell the truth, all three outs were made onenormous flies that seemed to go up almost to the very clouds, andgave "K. K. " out in the middle garden, and "Just" Smith, who had chargeof left field, a big run each time before they could get their handson and hold the ball. 

In the second time at bat the visitors did not do as much. PerhapsFrazer managed to tighten up, and pitch better ball. He was veryerratic, and could never be depended on to do consecutive good work. In every other inning the heavies could not seem to gauge his workat all, and he mowed them down. Then they would come at him againlike furies, and knock his offerings to every part of the field asthough he might be an amateur in the box. 

Hugh watched the fluctuations of the game with more or less solicitude. They could hardly afford to be beaten by a team like Mechanicsburg, hefigured, as he saw Frazer "fall down" for the third time, and acatastrophe threaten. 

It was the sixth inning. 

Scranton had done more or less scoring on her side, so that thefigures were mounting rapidly, and it promised to be an old-fashionedbatting bee. It now stood nine to twelve in favor of the visitors;and as they had started another of their rallies no one could say whatthe result might be by the time Scranton once more came to bat. 

There was a small but noisy delegation from the other town present, and they kept things pretty lively most of the time, cheering theirfellows, and hooting the slightest opportunity when Scranton failedto connect, or one of the high-school boys did not make a gilt-edgedpickup. 

Nor were the Mechanicsburg rooters alone in this jeering. As usuallyhappens, there were a number of fellows in Scranton who entertainedfeelings of jealousy toward the local nine, based on an idea thatthey had been purposely overlooked when the choice of players was made. 

Chief among these malcontents was the town bully, Nick Lang, whoseacquaintance the reader has already made in a previous volume, andunder exciting conditions. Nick at one time had a good chance ofmaking the nine, for he was a hustler when it came to playing ball, and indeed, in nearly every sport; but as might be expected, hemanaged to display his nasty temper in practice, and Coach Saunders, who heartily disliked and distrusted the big fellow, speedily turnedhim down. 

Nick, as usual, had his two faithful henchmen along with him, LeonDisney and Tip Slavin; and the trio led the hooting whenever a chancecame to rub it into Scranton. Some of the visitors hardly likedthis; it smacked too much of rank treachery to please them. It wasall very well for visitors to deride the home team in order to"rattle" the pitcher; but for fellows living in Scranton to indulgein this sort of thing did not seem right. 

Hugh believed he had had quite enough of this see-saw business. IfFrazer was going to "jump" in that miserable fashion the game wasas good as gone. He disliked doing it the worst kind, but he sawthe appealing look Frazer shot in his direction on third when thevisitors once more started their bombardment. It meant Frazer hadlost all confidence in his ability to stop the threatened rally;and that he was making signs for help. 

So Hugh took him out. 

It was Alan Tyree who stepped into the box, and began to toss a fewballs to the backstop, in order to limber up his arm; while thevisiting batsman waited the signal from the umpire to toe the homeplate, and get ready to strike. 

Just three times did Alan send in one of his terrific shoots thatfairly sizzled as they shot past; three times the heavy batter cutthe thin air with his club, and then walked over to where his companionssat in a clump, watching curiously to see how the change was goingto work. 

Up came the next visitor on the list, who also made light with theoffering of poor Frazer. Did he start a batting bee all over again?Well, not that any one could notice it. The best he could do wasto fan the air on two successive occasions, and then send up a twistingfoul that Thad Stevens managed to hold, after a pretty erratic chaseback and forth. 

Now it was the loyal home fans who began to root long and hard. Theyscented victory, and it seemed good after so much bitter humiliationat the hands of this newly organized team, most of them strange totheir positions, and capable of many fielding errors, but able toremedy this by their ability to bat. 

The third out followed in quick succession. Scranton sighed withrelief, and the fielders had had a rest. They were really gettingtired of chasing wildly after all those terrific smashes, and ofseeing the big fellows running the bases at will. 

Hugh led off in the next inning, and the renewed confidence put inthe whole team by the change of pitchers showed itself. When thatinning was over the locals had reduced the lead of Mechanicsburgto one run; and they fully anticipated wiping that slight advantageout in the next round. 

Tyree still held them close. They knocked several fouls, and oneman actually went out through Juggins in far right, managing tosprint fast enough to grapple with a soaring fly that came his wayacross the foul line. The rest struck out, being almost like babiesin the hands of the wizard Tyree. 

Well, the locals not only wiped that lead out but went two better, so that it now began to look as though they had the game "sewed up, "with Tyree pitching championship brand of ball, and every fellowkeyed up to playing his best. Wonderful infield work saved Alanfrom having the first hit marked up against him in the eighth frame, for several of the hard hitters were up again, and they managed toswat the ball with a vim; but only to have Owen, or it might beMorgan on third, intercept the speeding horsehide, and whip it overto waiting Old Reliable Joe Danvers on first for an out. 

The game really ended with that inning, for Scranton made five runs, having a nice little batting bee of their own for a change. In theninth the visitors got a man on first through a juggle on the partof Hobson on second, though Julius was really excusable, for theball came down to him with terrific speed, and though he knocked itdown he could not recover in time to get it across the infield soas to cut off the speedy runner. 

But when the visitor started to make for second Thad Stevens had himcaught by two yards, his throw down being as accurate as a bulletfired from a new Government army rifle. 

After all, the boys were satisfied to come out of the scrimmage aswell as they did, for those big Mechanicsburg chaps were terrors withtheir bats; and equal to making a home run at any stage of the game. 

It had been good practice for Scranton, every one admitted, thoughsome confessed that their blood had actually run cold when Frazergave such palpable signs of distress. 

Hugh was worried more or less. He wondered what would happen ifTyree could not play in the big game with Allandale. Frazer mightredeem himself, it is true, for the pitcher that goes to the well, and is dented on one day, often comes back later on and does wonderfulwork. Still, as the following week passed day by day, and Saturdaycame closer, the field captain of the Scranton High team seemed tofeel a strange premonition that there was trouble in store forthem. 

And his fears did not prove groundless, after all, as it turned out;for there was trouble a-plenty waiting for the local team, spelledwith a capital T in the bargain. 

The day came, and everything seemed all right as far as the weatherwent. It was hot enough to make the players feel at their bestwithout causing them to wilt under the burning rays of the sun. Clouds at times also promised relief, and the immense throng thatgathered on the open field where Scranton played, for there was nohigh fence around it, believed they were due to witness a sterlinggame, with the two teams well balanced. 

Of course Allandale had beaten unlucky Belleville easily on thepreceding Saturday, while Scranton was "toying" with that aggregationof sluggers from Mechanicsburg, and almost getting their fingersburned while doing so. The "Champs, " as the visitors delightedto call themselves, seemed to have an air of confidence that impressedmany an anxious Scranton rooter, and made him wonder how Tyree wouldstand up against that mighty slab artist, Big Ed Patterson. ThisAllandale pitcher seemed capable of outwitting the smartest batterby giving just what he wanted least of all, as if he knew everyfellow's weaknesses, and could take advantage of them at will. 

Then the blow fell. 

It cast gloom over the whole Scranton camp, as the horrible news wasquickly circulated through the various groups. Boys turned to lookat one another aghast, and the grins on their faces assumed a sicklyyellow hue. 

Word had been brought to the anxious Hugh that Alan Tyree would beutterly unable to be on the field that day, not to speak of pitching. An unlucky accident after lunch had injured his left leg, and thedoctor absolutely forbade his getting into uniform, or even leavingthe house, under severe penalty for disobedience. 

It was in the nature of a dreadful calamity, after the way Frazerhad been actually knocked out of the box by those crude playersfrom Mechanicsburg. Still the game must be played, or forfeitedto Allandale; and Scranton fellows are not in the habit of givinganything up without the hardest kind of a struggle. So with a sigh, and trying to appear calm, Hugh turned to his second-string pitcher. 

CHAPTER XIII

HUGH TRIES HIS "FADE-AWAY" BALL

"Are you game, Frazer, for a desperate fight?" asked Hugh, smiling ina way he hoped would inspire the other with confidence. 

Frazer was a bit white, but he had his jaws set, and there was apromising flash in his eyes that Hugh liked to see. His Scotchblood was aroused, and he would do his level best to hold the Allandalelast-year champions down to few hits. That humiliation which Frazerhad suffered in asking to be taken out of the box on the precedingSaturday had burned in his soul ever since; and he was in a fit frameof mind to "pitch his head off" in order to redeem himself. 

Hugh talked with him a short time. He told him all he knew about thevarious players on the opposing team, and in this way Frazer mightbe able to deceive some of the heavy batters when they came up. Unfortunately Frazer could not vary his speed and drops and curveswith an occasional deceptive Matthewson "balloon ball, " so calledbecause it seems to look as large as a toy hot-air balloon to thebatter, but is advanced so slowly that he strikes before it getswithin reach. 

Hugh on his part had always practiced that sort of a ball, and indeedhe had nothing else beside fair speed and this "floater. " But inpractice, when Hugh went into the box, he had been able to foolmany of his mates, and have them almost breaking their backs tryingto hit a ball that was still coming. As a last resort Hugh meant torelieve Frazer, but only after the game was irrevocably lost; forhe wanted to give the other every chance possible to redeem hisformer "fluke. "

There was not any great amount of genuine enthusiasm shown by thecrowd of local rooters when Frazer walked out to take his place, though many did give him a cheer, hoping to thus hearten the poorfellow, and put some confidence in his soul. 

If he had not been able to hold those boys from Mechanicsburg, whowere reckoned only "half-baked" players, as some of the Scranton fanscalled it, what sort of a chance would Frazer have against theChamps, who had toyed with Belleville just a week back, and lookedtremendously dangerous as they practiced now upon the local field, so as to become a little accustomed to its peculiarities?

Ground rules were again in vogue, owing to the great crowd. Thisgave Scranton a little advantage, since they were used to playing onthe home grounds, and would know just where to send the ball---providingthey were able to come in contact with it, a matter in which one BigEd Patterson meant to have considerable to say, judging from hisconfident manner, and the good-natured smile on his sun-burned face. 

Scranton fought gamely, every one was agreed to that. They startedoff well, for Frazer actually got through the first without a hitbeing made, though twice the visitors met one of his offerings witha vicious smack that sent the ball far out in center, where thewatchful and fleet-footed "K. K. " managed to capture each fly aftera great run. 

And in their half Scranton did a little hitting, though it was mostlythrough good luck that they got one run---a Texas leaguer that fellamong three players who got their signals crossed; then a poor throwdown to second allowing "Just" Smith to land there in safety; a buntthat turned into a sacrifice on the part of Joe Danvers, followedby a high fly that let the runner on third come trooping home, didthe business. 

Owen struck out, and Hugh sent up a mighty foul over in right thatwas caught in a dazzling fashion by the guardian of that patch. 

As the two clubs faced each other they ranged after this fashion, and it may be noticed that there was no change in Scranton's line-upexcept in the pitcher's box. The batting order was not the same, so it must be given as it came on either side:

Scranton HighPlayer Position--------------------------------------"Just" Smith Left FieldJoe Danvers First BaseHoratio Juggins Right FieldOwen Dugdale Short StopHugh Morgan (capt. ) Third Base"K. K. " (Ken Kinkaid) Center FieldJulius Hobson Second BaseFrazer PitcherThad Stevens Catcher

Allandale High PlayerPosition--------------------------------------Farmer Left FieldGould First BaseWright Right FieldWaterman Short StopNorris Third BaseWhipple Center FieldBrown Second BasePatterson PitcherKeeler Catcher

As the game progressed it became evident that Frazer was "pitchinghis arm off" in the endeavor to stem the tide of defeat that inningafter inning seemed bound to overtake the Scranton nine, despitetheir most gallant uphill fight. Allandale proved to be all theirreputation had boasted, and they seemed able to work a man aroundthe circuit nearly every inning. Splendid fielding on the part ofHugh and his mates kept the score down, but nevertheless it continuedto mount, in spite of all their efforts. 

Frazer was beginning to show signs of exhaustion. He had triedevery trick he had in his list on the batters who faced him. Theyhad begun to solve his delivery more and more the oftener they cameup. And there was a very demoralizing way about their confidentattitude that no doubt added much to poor Frazer's distress. Hebegan to believe they were just playing with him, and at a giventime would fall upon his delivery, to knock the ball at will toevery part of the field. 

Hugh knew it was coming, and he hardly felt able to go into thebox himself to stem the rising tide; but anything was better thanto have Frazer submerged under an avalanche of hits. "Big Ed" seemedto be getting better the longer he pitched, and just the reversecould be said of Frazer, who was on the verge of a total collapse. 

"Better take me out before I go to the wall, Hugh, " begged the other, after the sixth frame showed the score to be six to two, with moreruns looming up in the "lucky seventh" in prospect. "I'm ashamedto say I've lost my nerve. Those fellows mean to get at me in theseventh and it will be a Waterloo. I just feel it in my bones they'vebeen waiting to lambast my offerings then, for I've seen them talkingtogether, and laughing, as though they had a game laid out. You goin and feed them those teasers of yours. The boys will take a bracein batting, if you can hold Allandale; and in the end it may not besuch a terrible calamity after all. "

Hugh knew it must be. Frazer had gone to the wall, and would pitchpoorly if allowed to go in the box in the next inning. 

"I hate to do it, Frazer, " he told the other, feeling sorry for him;"but any port in a storm; and it may be possible these sluggers willtrip up on that balloon ball of mine, though I haven't much else tooffer them. "

That inning the locals did a little batting on their own account, withthe result that the score looked a shade better, for it was threeto six when once more Scranton went into the field. 

When it was seen that Hugh walked to the box some of the local rooterscheered lustily, for Hugh was a great favorite. Cat-calls alsogreeted his appearance, coming principally from Nick Lang and hisfollowers; though they were frowned upon by a crowd of Scranton boys, who threatened to hustle them off the grounds unless they mendedtheir ways. 

As Hugh left third one of the substitutes, named Hastings, was placedon that sack. Thad gave Hugh a queer look on discovering this, andfollowed it with a peculiarly suggestive grin; so that Hugh understoodhow his chum was thinking of another Hastings with whose name theyhad taken undue liberties. 

Allandale seemed pleased to know that there was to be a change of slabartists. 

"All pitchers look alike to us when we've got our batting clothes on!"one of them sang out blithely, as he swung a couple of bats around, being the next man up, and desirous of making himself feel that heheld a willow wand in his hands when throwing one aside and wieldingthe other. 

He was mistaken. 

Hugh started in without delay feeding them some of what the boys werepleased to denominate his "teasers. " He soon had them hitting atthin air with might and main, and looking surprised because theyfailed to connect. 

One man, then two, went out on strikes, and neither had touched theelusive "fade-away" ball made famous by Christy Matthewson in his prime. 

The crowd sat up and began to take notice. What did it mean? If Hughcould only keep up his good work by varying his offerings, so as tokeep those slugging Allandale fellows guessing, and Scranton beganto knock the ball around a little on their own account, why, theremight be something like a good game yet. 

The third man got a hit which should really have been an out, for"K. K. , " reliable "K. K. , " out in deep center, misjudged the blow, and started to run back, when he should have shot forward instantly. He could have scooped it up three feet from the ground had he doneso; and while he did manage to keep the ball from getting past, the batter gained first. 

However, he died there, for Hugh deceived the next fellow as hehad done two previous batters, and the side was out. When the eighthinning ended the score was four to six, not so very bad. The localrooters got busy, and gave Hugh a round of hearty cheers when he toedthe mark in the box again. 

Allandale did get a run in this frame, but still Hugh struck two menout. And in their half of the eighth Scranton also tallied, makingthe score read four to seven. Then came the last inning. Hughexerted himself to the utmost. One batter failed to connect, butthe next got in a blow that netted him two bases. 

Hugh kept cool and managed to deceive the next one. Then came amighty heave and when Juggins in far right was seen running like madit looked as if Allandale had clinched another brace of runs thenand there. But Horatio proved himself to be a hero, for he gobbledthat drive, and the side was extinguished with no damage done. 

Scranton tried with might and main to do something wonderful in theirlast half of the final inning. Indeed, with two out and three onbases it looked as if there might be a fair chance, since a wallopwould mean three runs to tie the score, and if Joe Danvers couldonly get in one of his occasional "homers" it would break up thegame in favor of the local team. 

Joe did connect and drove out a great hit, but alas! for theeccentricities of baseball, Whipple over in right had seen fit toplay far back, and after quite a gallop he managed to clutch theball and hold it. 

Of course that gave Allandale the game. The Scranton boys seemedpretty "sore" over their first defeat, but considering the hard luckthat had been their portion, they felt that they had not done sobadly after all. 

"Just wait!" they told the laughing Allandale fellows, "there'sanother day coming when you'll have to face Alan Tyree; and thechances are two to one you'll not find that boy such easy picking. You're in great luck today, Allandale; so make the most of it. Helaughs longest who laughs last; and Scranton is wagering dollars todoughnuts that it'll be our turn next!"

CHAPTER XIV

FARMER BERNARD COLLECTS HIS BILL

"Come and go along with me, Hugh, " Thad Stevens was saying, some daysafter the defeat suffered by Scranton High at the hands of the Champs, as he bounced into his chum's den about four in the afternoon. 

"Where to?" demanded the other, looking up with a smile; and thennoting the eager expression on Thad's face he hurriedly added: "ButI guess I can get pretty close to the mark without your telling me. You're meaning to continue your campaign against our friend, BrotherLu---how about that for a guess, Thad?"

"Just what I'm up to, for a fact, " asserted Thad, with his jawsshutting in an energetic fashion. "You ought to know that I nevergive over, once I'm worked up like that business got me. Day andnight I've been trying to plan a way of ridding poor deluded Matildaand her sick husband from that sleek rascal who's fastened on themfor keeps. "

"Well, what's new in the game, Thad?" continued Hugh, picking up hiscap, and in this way proclaiming his intention of joining his chum. 

"Several things have happened, " admitted Thad, "though honest togoodness I can't say that they have advanced the cause a whit. First of all Mom has capitulated, which word means she couldn't standthe strain any longer, worrying so about Matilda going hungry forlack of sewing to do to earn food for the three of them. So she andsome of the other ladies sent out a bundle, and I've got anotherdown at the door right now, to carry over to the Hosmer cottage. "

"I must say I honor your mother, Thad, for being so tender-hearted, "said Hugh, warmly. 

"Of course you do, Hugh, " sighed the other boy, "but it's too badthey had to give in before that big eater was starved out, and tookto the road again, where he could always make sure of begging a fullmeal at back doors. Now he'll just decide to squat down and stickthrough the summer, yes and winter in the bargain, acting as if hemight be almost dying every little while, and then recovering hisappetite _wonderfully_ soon again. Oh! it makes me furious, that'swhat it does. "

"Well, as you've asked me to go along, Thad, I'll accommodate you;but have you any little scheme on foot today?" continued Hugh, leadingthe way toward the back door, since he under stood that his chum hadleft his bundle there before hunting him out. 

"I wish I did, Hugh, " replied the other, eagerly, "but try as I may, it seems to me I just can't think up anything worth while. Afterthat grand scheme of ours fell so flat it took all the wind out ofmy sails. I'm trusting mostly to luck to have something come upthat we can grab hold of, so as to give him a boost. "

They were soon on their way. Thad talked almost incessantly, andbegged his companion to try his hardest to conceive some promisingplan that might turn out a shade better than the one connected withthat imaginary marshal from Texas. 

So they presently arrived at the Hosmer cottage. Thad did the knocking. He had decided to go in at the slightest invitation, in hopes ofmeeting Brother Lu again, and ascertaining what the prospects were forhis departing to the other world. 

To the surprise of both boys, when they were admitted by Matilda theydiscovered the object of their thoughts seated in a chair, with athick shawl across his shoulders. He looked as though he might bea trifle ill, too. At the sight of them one of his accustomed grinscame over his face, now rough again with a three days' growth ofgray beard. 

"Hello, boys!" the reformed tramp called out, as though really pleasedto see them again; "you find me under the weather this time for keeps. Had one of my little bad attacks, and just beginning to feel a shadebetter. Perhaps I'll go off in one of these spells some fine day, sooner or later. Matilda she's been a good nurse to me, and I'mbeginning to believe I did the wisest thing ever when I decided tohunt my last remaining blood relative up, and stay with her tillthe end came. "

Matilda looked pained to hear him speak in that way, but Thad wasnot in the least impressed. According to his mind the other hadonly caught a little summer cold, and which had caused him considerabledistress, with its accompanying sneezing discomforts. He did notbelieve it was anything serious. 

Determined, however, to stay a short while and study the man, inhopes of discovering some loophole through which he might be reachedand made to give up his soft berth in the Hosmer home, Thad took achair, and settled himself for a visit. 

Hugh asked the man a number of questions concerning his illness, andtook note of the fact that every time Brother Lu had occasion toglance toward his sister a wonderfully tender gleam would come intohis blue eyes. Apparently he had learned what everybody in Scrantonalways knew, that Matilda Hosmer was the kindest and softest-heartedcreature alive. Hugh wondered whether this knowledge might not intime cause the man to feel ashamed of imposing upon her strength andgenerosity, so that of his own free will he would take his departurefor other scenes. 

"Matilda is going to have a birthday in a few days, " he confidedto the boys, at a time his sister chanced to be in the kitchen, "andme'n Brother-in-law Andrew, we've made up our minds to surprise herwith a little present. 'Course it can't be anything much, becausewe haven't a superabundance of ready cash; but Matilda, she's stoodby her poor old wandering brother so handsomely I'd be glad to giveher a whole hundred dollars, if only I possessed that sum. "

Thad looked surprised, indeed he may have begun to suspect that afterall the grizzled old hobo might not be quite so heartless asappearances would indicate. This unexampled spirit of self-sacrificeshown by Matilda was beginning to have its influence on his hardnature. As for Hugh, he listened with considerable interest, listenedand sat there, watching the play of emotions across the face ofBrother Lu, and forming certain opinions of his own at the same time. 

While they sat there a heavy knock came at the door. Upon Matildaventuring to open the same a big man pushed his way inside, andstarted talking roughly in a loud, almost abusive tone. 

Thad recognized him as a certain well-to-do farmer and dairyman whohad an unenviable reputation as a cruel taskmaster with his hiredhelp. He was also known to be exceedingly harsh in his treatmentof any with whom he had dealings, who chanced to be unable to meettheir obligations to the minute. Because he had been able to accumulatehis "pile, " Mr. Abel Bernard seemed to believe everyone should becapable of doing the same. If they could not afford a thing theyought to do without it. He never took excuses from anyone. Itwas all business with Abel---pay up or quit, was his daily motto. 

Hugh, listening, quickly determined that a little more fresh troublehad dropped down upon the poor head of Matilda. She had been takinga quart of milk a day from Farmer Bernard, and the bill had run twomonths and more now. He shoved an account at her in a most savagemanner, Thad thought, and the boy felt as if he could have kickedthe grim dairyman with rare good pleasure to settle the account. 

As for Hugh, if he had chanced to have the money with him just thenhe would only too gladly have loaned or given it to Matilda, sothat she might get rid of the abusive farmer, whose very tone washarsh and rasping. 

"It's my rule never to let anybody get away with more than a secondmonth's milk, " the big man was saying in that loud, abusive voiceof his. "You asked me to let the account go on another spell whenI handed you the same before, and now you tell me you haven't gotthe five dollars it calls for because some old tramp of a brotherthat you haven't seen for twenty years has dropped down on you, and had to be taken care of. Well, Mrs. Hosmer, I'm not helpingto run a hospital, let me tell you; I've got all I can do to lookafter my own folks. You mustn't expect me to deliver you any moremilk till you can pay this; and I hope you'll get the cash soon, too, because I've some accounts of my own I want to settle. "

Matilda was near tears, for such a scene as this frightened her. Poor old Mr. Hosmer tried to bustle forward and enter into theconversation; but the husky dairyman just brushed him aside as thoughhe were no more than a child. 

"I'm not talking to you about it, Mr. Hosmer, " he went on to say, almost brutally; "it's your wife I do business with. I'll be lookingto her to settle my account. And if what I hear honest folks a-sayin'is near true, the sooner she gets rid of her disreputable brother thebetter for all concerned. "

Matilda's eyes flashed. 

"You need not add insult to injury, Mr. Bernard, " she flashed, showinga little touch of spirit that Hugh hardly believed she possessed. "Heis the only living tie to bind me with my long past childhood. We wereonce very fond of each other; and now that poor Luther has fallensick, and fears he has not long to live, I mean to stand by him, nomatter how people talk. "

Brother Lu looked as though this sort of thing gave him something akinto joy. He even shot a tender glance across at Matilda, and then atriumphant one toward the two boys, as though to say: "Didn't I tellyou my sister had a tender heart?"

Then he got on his feet. He really seemed a trifle weak, showing thathe had actually been under the weather latterly. 

"How much does my sister owe you, man?" he demanded in as stern avoice as he could command. 

"Oh! does that interest you at all, Mister Weary Willie?" sneeredthe irate farmer; "well, if you want to know, my account is an evenfive dollars. Perhaps, now, you'll put your hand into your jeanspocket and hand out that amount with pleasure. "

"I've got that much tied up in my old bandanna handkerchief, ithappens, " said Brother Lu, to the astonishment of Thad. "It's trueme 'nd Brother-in-law Andrew expected to do something different withmy little fortune, but then let that pass. You wait till I get it, you grasping milk raiser. "

He started from the room, followed by the admiring gaze of Matilda, who evidently saw in this wonderful offer of her brother a fullsettlement for all the tender care and affection she had bestowedupon him during the past weeks. 

Presently, after a little delay, the reformed hobo came into theroom. Sure enough, he was holding a brand-new five-dollar bill inhis extended hand, and there was a look of actual pleasure to beseen on his grizzled face. 

"There you are, Mister Man, " he said as he thrust the money at thefarmer; "now you sign that bill in a hurry, and never show your facehere again. We'll either find another party to deliver us milk, or go without. "

Hugh saw something that gave him an unexpected thrill. It was asimple matter, and no doubt escaped Thad's attention entirely, yetit might mean a great deal. As he looked closely at the fresh andnew bank bill of the denomination of five dollars, Hugh saw thatit had only three distinct creases marked across its face, as thoughit might have been taken from some flat receptacle like a bill-book;certainly when Brother Lu declared that he had such a bill tied upin his bandanna handkerchief he prevaricated, for it would under suchconditions have been crumpled instead of looking so smooth! Hughfrom that moment began to smell a rat!

CHAPTER XV

THE PUZZLE IS FAR FROM BEING SOLVED

When, a little later on, the two chums came away from the Hosmer home, Thad seemed unusually quiet, for him. Hugh, noticing this, andwishing to ascertain whether the other had begun to get on the trackof the truth, presently remarked:

"What makes you so glum, Thad? Coming over you rattled away like ablue streak, and now you haven't so much as said ten words since westarted back home?"

"Well, to tell you the truth, " admitted Thad, shaking his head afterthe manner of one who is sadly puzzled, "I just don't know what tosay, after seeing that little affair. "

"Do you mean you feel badly because Matilda was so reduced in financesthat she couldn't even meet a small account like her milk bill?" askedHugh, fishing for a bite. 

"Why, yes, partly that, " said Thad, slowly; "but it knocked me all ina heap to see that old rascal of a Brother Lu walk out with the lastdollar he had in the wide world, and gladly hand it over to liquidatethat same account. Say, if we didn't just know he was a bad one, I'd call that a really generous act. "

"Oh, " chuckled Hugh, "not so very generous, after all, when you cometo examine things closer. Don't forget, Thad, that he's been spongingon that poor couple for a good many weeks already; and then, if ourcalculations are correct, he means to fasten on them for keeps. "

"That's so, " agreed the other, heaving a sigh as though he feltsomewhat relieved in his mind to have his comrade point out a solutionto the problem. "Of course, he's imposing on his relatives somethingshameful, and the least he could do was to toe the scratch when anemergency came along. But he did the thing up brown, I must admit. "

"And then again, how do we know that five dollars was every cent hehad in the world?" asked Hugh, insinuatingly. 

"He said as much, " declared Thad, instantly; and then laughed as hehastened to add: "though for that matter what would one little whitelie mean to a fellow as case-hardened as an old hobo? There's anotherthing I'm thinking about, Hugh. "

"I can guess it, " the second boy immediately told him. "You'rewondering what it was Brother Lu meant to buy with his little fortune, eh?"

"Well, five dollars isn't so _very_ much when you come to think of it, Hugh, but to a tramp it might seem a pile. But didn't he tell us heand Brother-in-law Andrew had some sort of a little scheme hatchedup to give Matilda a surprise on her birthday, tomorrow, Saturday?"

"Just what he did, " admitted Hugh. "They've been plotting how tospend five dollars recklessly, so as to get the most for their money. Such men are apt to find heaps of enjoyment in blowing in their moneya dozen times, and changing off just as often. I wouldn't besurprised a bit if they even calculated whether they could runacross a nice little home that they could buy and present to Matildafor a birthday present---faithful, big-hearted Matilda. "

"What! for five dollars!" ejaculated Thad, and then he laughed;"but, of course, you're joking, Hugh. Still, it looks like a bigsum to men who've seldom handled as much at a time; and I guess aconfirmed tramp never does. I hope, though, he didn't steal thatmoney. "

"What makes you say that, Thad?"

"Oh! I don't know, but it looked so nice and fresh and new. GreatJupiter! Hugh, you don't think for a minute, do you, that it mighthave been a counterfeit bill?"

Hugh shook his head. 

"Lots of things may turn out to be counterfeit, Thad, men as well asbank bills, but that one was perfectly good. I could even see thecolored threads of silk fiber that the Government uses in the paperto protect the currency. So don't let that bother you again. "

"I'm glad to hear you say so, because it would be terrible if poorMatilda should get into more trouble on account of passing bad money. But is this going to alter our plans any, Hugh?"

"I don't see why it should, " came the steady reply. 

"We'll continue to do business at the old stand, shall we, then?"pursued Thad; "and try our level best to find out some way to forcethat leech to let go the hold he has secured on his sister?"

"We'll keep on trying to learn something about Luther that will giveus an advantage, so we can make him do just what we want, " explainedHugh; and it might have been noticed that he was now very particularjust what words he used when he spoke of the reformed tramp. 

"Huh! there's only one answer to that, " grunted Thad; "which is toinfluence him to move on his way, and clear out. Scranton willnever miss Brother Lu; and the wide world he loves so well beckonsto him to come on. After all, once a tramp always a tramp, they say;and as a rule such fellows die in the harness. "

"It's really a disease, I've read, like the hookworm down South, thatmakes so many of the poor, underfed whites in the mountain districtsseem too lazy for any use. It gets in the blood when they are boys, and they feel a strong yearning just to loaf, and knock around, andpick up their meals when and where they can. "

"Well, I can believe a part of that, Hugh, but the meal end is toomuch for me to swallow. Whoever heard of a tramp who didn't respondto a dinner-bell on a farm? Eating and sleeping are their long suits, and they can beat the world at both. When it comes to going inswimming now, they draw the line every time, for fear of taking cold, I reckon. But I own up Brother Lu Isn't a bad looker, now that he'sreformed far enough to keep his face and hands clean, and wearMr. Hosmer's Sunday-go-to-meeting suit of clothes, which just fitshim by squeezing, and turning up the trouser-legs several inches atthe bottom. "

"Yes, he isn't a bad-looking man, and if we didn't know how fiercehe seemed at the time we first ran across him in the patch of woods, we'd hardly dream he'd ever been down and out. Matilda's cookingseems to agree with him. "

"Shucks! it agrees too well with him, and that's the trouble. Now, Iwonder if there could be any way to make him sicken on his bill offare. I'm going to think it over, and see if I can evolve a schemealong those lines. "

"You'll find it hard to do, " suggested Hugh, "because he eats justwhat Andrew does, I suppose; as for Matilda, I do believe she stintsher appetite so as to be able to give her sick charges their fill. "

"She does look thinner than before, that's a fact!" exclaimed theindignant Thad. "What a burning shame all this is, Hugh! Surelythere must be some remedy for it. I've got a good notion to havea talk with Dominie Pettigrew, and spin him the whole painful story. He might find a way to separate Brother Lu from his quarry. "

"Take my advice, Thad, and wait a little longer, " Hugh told him. "Tomorrow will be Saturday and we play Belleville again in theafternoon. Besides, didn't he tell us it was going to be Matilda'sbirthday, and that he and Andrew had fixed it to surprise her alittle? Well, don't say anything to the Parson until next week, and by that time perhaps we'll know a heap more than we do now. "

Thad looked keenly at the speaker, but Hugh kept a straight face. Ifa glimmering suspicion that Hugh might know of something he wasaverse to confiding to even his best chum darted through Thad's mindjust then he allowed it to slip past. 

"All right, Hugh, I guess it won't do any harm to hold up a few moredays. Matilda has stood it so long now that it isn't going to hurther to endure another week or so of her brother's company, and hisappetite in the bargain. I'll try and forget all about it inthinking of our game with Belleville. We've just got to clinch that, as sure as anything, if we hope to have a look-in at that pennant. "

"We're going to do it, Thad, " said Hugh, with set teeth. "Oncewe put Belleville in the soup for keeps we can devote our undividedattention to Allandale. They have the jump on us, of course, owingto hard luck. But, thank goodness, Alan Tyree is all right again, and he told me this morning he felt that his arm was better than everbefore. That means Belleville won't be able to do anything withhis delivery tomorrow afternoon. "

"This time we play on our own grounds, " suggested Thad, "and theadvantage is all in our favor. Everybody seems to think we shouldhave an easy snap. "

"I rather think everybody stands for Ivy Middletown, Sue Barnesand Peggy Nolan, " jeered Hugh, causing his chum to give a confusedlittle laugh, as though the shot had gone home. "But what do girlsknow about baseball? It's a game of uncertainties all the way through. Many a time a pitcher, believing himself safe and invincible, becausehis club is away ahead, has eased up a trifle, and the other fellowsstart a batting bee that nearly puts the fat in the fire, and giveshim the scare of his life. Belleville went down to defeat lastSaturday before Allandale, and the score looks rotten, but you rememberthey fought like tigers. "

"You're right, Hugh. "

"And only for some hard luck they would have started a streak ofhitting that might have pulled them out of the hole. Half a dozenfierce drives were taken on the run by Allandale fielders, any oneof which, if sent ten feet one way or the other, would have countedfor a three-bagger easily. That's how luck has a hand in defeatinga team, and there's no way of denying it, either. "

"Well, we mean to put up our best sort of game, and not count it wontill the last man goes down in the final inning, " avowed Thad. 

"It's always wise to play safe in baseball, " declared the fieldcaptain of the Scranton High team, "and take nothing for granted. Hit as hard as you can every time you're at bat, and don't allowyourself to be tempted to ease up out of sympathy for the otherfellows. It's scant sympathy they'll show you, once they get atyour prize pitcher, to knock him out of the box. Instead it'llbe jeers, and taunts, and every sort of thing calculated to sting. "

"But after the game's been won?" expostulated Thad. 

"Oh, that's a different thing, " admitted his chum. "Then we feelthat we can afford to be generous without being put in a possiblehole. Every true player is ready to take off his cap and give abeaten rival a hearty cheer. It sort of eases up the sting of defeata bit, too, as all of us know. "

As they parted at the gate in front of Thad's home he once morereturned to the subject that had such a strong hold on his mind. 

"If anything crops up that you think would interest me, about thattramp, of course, I mean, Hugh, please give me the sign, won't you?"Thad asked. 

Hugh did not seem disposed to take his chum into his confidence justthen; perhaps he wanted to make more certain that his faint suspicionswere well grounded before committing himself to a disclosure. 

"Sure I will, if I learn anything positive, Thad, " he merely said;"and in the meantime we'll keep tabs on Brother Lu's eccentric actions, hoping to catch him off his guard, " and later on Thad realized thatthese last words were rather significant. 

CHAPTER XVI

AN ADVENTURE ON THE ROAD

On Saturday morning Hugh had an errand that took him out of town. Onceagain it was to the farm where his mother secured that lovely sweetbutter, without which the hot biscuits would never taste quite sofine. And as her customary supply had not turned up, with Sunday justahead, nothing would do but that Hugh must take a little run out onhis wheel, and fetch several pounds home with him. 

It was about half-past eight when he threw himself in the saddleand started. A more charming summer morning could hardly be experienced. The sun might be a bit hot later on, but just then the air wasfragrant with the odor of new-mown grass, the neighbors' lawns havingbeen attended to on the preceding day, but not raked up; the birdssang blithely in the hedges and among the branches of the trees, and in Hugh's soul there rested the joy that a tired high-schoolscholar finds when the end of the week brings a well-deserved holiday. 

As he rode quietly along, not desiring to be in too great a hurry, Hugh's mind somehow reverted to the last occasion when he had goneout to this same farm, in Thad's company, as it happened. He couldagain in imagination see the old tramp as he got his solitary meal, with the aid of those useful empty tomato cans, and the little blazehe had kindled among the trees alongside the road. 

Passing the spot revived these memories vividly. To think that weekshad gone and all that time Brother Lu had stuck to his guns, holdingout at the humble Hosmer cottage, and eating the bread of dependence!

"But something tells me the end is coming pretty soon now, " Hughmuttered, as he continued on his way. 

It was not so very far beyond that identical spot he discovered alarge car standing at one side of the road, where the woods grewquite thickly. The chauffeur sat there, idly waiting, it seemed. Hugh had more than once known the same thing to happen, when partiestouring from some neighboring town stopped to eat lunch in a spotthey fancied, or, it might be, to gather wild flowers. 

He was not much interested as he passed, with a nod to the man, wholooked around at his approach, save to notice that the car was apretty fine one, and which he remembered seeing once or twice inScranton, always empty save for the driver. 

Hugh had just turned a bend lying a little away from the car when hedistinctly saw some one hastily jump aside, and disappear amidst ascreen of bushes growing along the road. 

"Now, that was queer, " Hugh told himself; "whoever that fellow couldbe he didn't want me to see him, it looked like. And by the same tokenthere was something familiar about him, though I only had a faintglimpse, he jumped so fast. "

As he slowly rode past the bushes he heard no sound. Hugh consideredit good policy not to betray the fact that he had noticed anythingout of the way; he did not as much as turn in the saddle, but continuedto look straight ahead along the dusty white road. 

There was another bend a short distance away. No sooner had heturned this than Hugh was off his wheel like lightning, and runningback to take a look, as though his curiosity might have been aroused. 

What he saw caused him to give a low whistle. Out of the bushes camea form he recognized. It was a rather compact figure upon which hegazed, and the clothes greatly resembled Brother-in-law Andrew'sSunday-best. Yes, Hugh no longer had any doubts, for the man wasno other than the reformed hobo. 

"I've known that Brother Lu had taken to tramping about the countrylatterly, " he muttered to himself, as he watched the other goingoff, apparently laughing as though greatly amused, "for a numberof people have told me as much. That's all right, but why should hewant to hide from me? I've got a good notion to chase after him, once he turns that other bend, and see what it all means. "

The idea must have appealed more and more strongly to Hugh then, fortwo minutes afterwards, when the form of the tramp could no longerbe seen ahead, he went back to his wheel, mounted, and retraced hiscourse until he arrived at the second abrupt curve. 

Again he dismounted and crept forward to see what he might discover. Strange to say, Hugh, usually steady-going Hugh, now found himselftrembling all over, just as though he anticipated making a startlingdiscovery. 

Well, he did. 

Brother Lu was in plain sight. He was just approaching the stalledcar that stood at the side of the road. Watching, Hugh saw thechauffeur jump from his seat, and he plainly saluted the other mostrespectfully. Hugh paid particular attention to that part of theaffair, because any pedestrian might have stopped to pass a few wordswith a car driver, or ask a question; but the pilot would hardlyhave made that positive sign unless there was a reason for his action. 

Now they seemed to be talking earnestly. Brother Lu made gestures, and Hugh took notice of the fact that he seemed to be speaking withauthority, because the chauffeur constantly nodded his bead, as if tosay that he understood. 

Then the man took something from under the front seat cushion of thecar and handed it to Brother Lu. Hugh could not be positive, but herather fancied it was a packet of folded papers. 

Plainly, then, there was a conspiracy afloat. Brother Lu was otherthan he pretended to be, and he was undoubtedly hatching up somesort of plot that had connections with the peace of mind of thetwo simple Hosmers who had taken him in on the strength of his claimto blood relationship. 

Hugh was quivering more than ever now, and his breath came in gaspsas he continued to keep his eyes glued on the two figures not so faraway. He wished that he were gifted with hearing keen enough topick up what they were saying in such low tones, for then he wouldknow everything; but this was out of the question, and he must awaitthe subsequent turn of events. 

It might have been noticed, however, that the boy's eyes glistened aswith a growing delight, from which it was easy to judge that he didnot see anything so very terrible in these strange actions on thepart of the reformed tramp. Indeed, Hugh acted very much as thoughinclined to "shake hands with himself, " as Thad was so fond ofsaying, when he had cause for self-congratulation. 

How long they were carrying on that conversation! Once another carshowed up down the road, and Hugh chuckled to notice how deftlyBrother Lu assumed an humble attitude, just as though he might havesimply halted to ask a question of the lordly chauffeur of the bigand comfortable car. 

"He's a dandy, that's all I can say, " muttered the amused boy, whoon his part stood there as the other car whirled past, as if hemight be looking for something he had lost; but on the contrary, the opposite was really the truth, because Hugh had made a greatdiscovery and a "find" in the bargain. 

Now apparently the earnest conversation between chauffeur and Matilda'sroving good-for-nothing brother had come to an end. The man enteredthe car again, turned in the road with the cleverness that comes fromlong handling of a touring machine, and, with a last respectful salute, his hand going to his cap military fashion, sped down the road, heading toward Scranton. 

Brother Lu stood there as if lost in meditation. Hugh, still watchingclosely, and making up his mind to have it out then and there, becausehe could not stand the weighty load of suspense any longer, was surethe other must be in a merry frame of mind, for he laughed severaltimes, and even slapped his hand against his thigh in a way he had, as if to emphasize his thoughts. 

"Oh, you sly rascal!" Hugh was saying as he continued to observe allthese significant things. "I'm beginning to size you up for whatyou are, all right. But just think how Thad will be stunned when Itell him all about my adventure! Why, he'll almost believe he'sasleep, and dreaming it. There, I do think he's turning around asif he meant to come back this way. That suits me O. K. , because Iwon't have to chase after him. "

Hugh thereupon prepared a surprise for the reformed hobo. He securedhis wheel and stood just around the bend, trying to look severe andknowing, though his heart was beating like a trip-hammer, and he feltthat his eyes must be fairly dancing with all the excitement. 

In imagination he could tell just how near the other man was as theseconds passed. Hugh wondered how Brother Lu would take it uponlearning that his deep-laid schemes had been discovered. Apparentlythe boy did not see anything to fear, or else he would have sped awayon his wheel instead of remaining to charge the other with his basedeception. 

Then the sound of footfalls came to the waiting lad. He caught hisbreath, and his eager gaze was glued on the bend around which the manmust speedily appear. As he walked Brother Lu had his head lowered, and consequently did not at once see that some one waited for him inthe middle of the road. Indeed, he drew very near, and finally Hughgave a sudden cough. 

At that the other quickly looked up, as though startled. When hesaw who it was he immediately commenced to grin after his usualcustom. Somehow Hugh no longer saw anything to condemn in thatbroad smile that covered the face of the ex-hobo; just then, in thelight of the new revelation, it seemed most kindly and benign; forcircumstances alter cases, and a great deal depends upon one'sview-point as to whether an expression can be classed as merry orsarcastic. 

Brother Lu did not seem to be bothered a great deal on making thediscovery he did, though he must surely have jumped to the conclusionthat the boy had been spying upon his late movements. He continuedto advance. Hugh could detect the light of humor in those blue orbsthat had always mystified him, even when he believed the other to bethe worst kind of an impostor, or human leech, capable of livingupon the scanty earnings of his sister Matilda. 

"Hello, there, Hugh Morgan! so you concluded to turn back, did you?"the man started to say, as though inviting the other to open hisbatteries at once, and accuse him to his face. 

"Why, yes, " said Hugh, trying to control his trembling voice, "Isaw somebody jump into the bushes as if he didn't want me to glimpsehim, and of course my curiosity was aroused; so I just dismountedand came back to the other bend. Then, when I recognized you, Idetermined to follow a bit. You see, Mr. Corbley, I mean to settlecertain matters that have been worrying both my chum and myself aheap lately---settle them once and for all. "

"Which I suppose now you've done for a fact, Hugh?" remarked the other, chuckling. 

"I believe I have, " the boy said, firmly. 

"You've got me sized up, all right, I imagine, lad, " continued BrotherLu. 

"I've come to the conclusion, sir, that you are a fraud of the firstwater, if that's what you want to know, " Hugh told him, boldly. 

Strange to say, the ex-tramp, instead of taking umbrage at suchlanguage, bent over almost double, and laughed so hard Hugh almostfeared he was about to have one of his violent fits of coughing;but he did not. 

CHAPTER XVII

THE WONDERFUL NEWS

"I reckon sure my cake is dough now, since you've tumbled to my game, Hugh, " the late tramp was saying, presently; "and there's nothingleft for me to do but take you into camp, and give you the wholestory from beginning to end. "

"I'd be glad to have you do that, Mr. Corbley, " Hugh hastened totell him. 

"Then let's walk back a bit. I believe we can find a nice convenientlog close to the road, where we'll take things easy while I spin mylittle yarn. To tell you the truth, Hugh Morgan, I've taken agreat liking to you and that chum, Thad. I've been sizing the pairof you up ever since I first ran across you; and say, it's given mea heap of joy to see how solicitous you both were about my hangingout at Sister Matilda's ranch, and eating her hard-earned bread. You boys have got the right kind of stuff in you, that's certain. Why, there were times when I was almost afraid that impulsive chumof yours would be wanting to jump on me, and try by main forceto chase me off the ground. "

"We did make one try that way, as of course you know, sir, " venturedHugh. 

"Meaning that article in the _Weekly Courier_ about the terriblemarshal from Texas, Hastings by name, " laughed the other. "I'vehad lots of fun over that racket, son, I give you my word I have. Of course there's a sheriff down there capable of doing all thosestunts your friend on the paper wrote up; but his name chances tobe Rawlings and not Hastings. I must have got things a bit mixedwhen I told you about how he took bad men into camp, and all that. But here's the log, and we can take things easy while I confess howI'm the most tremendous impostor going. "

Hugh seemed eager to hear about it, nor was he apparently at all afraid. In fact he was looking at the reformed tramp as though he felt apositive affection for him now, in the light of the new revelation. 

"First of all, Chum Hugh, " said the man, after they had settledthemselves comfortably, "I want you to know that the stories I toldyou about my travels in foreign lands were every one of them Gospeltruth. I have been all around the whole globe, and seen some queerthings in my day. But let that pass, for as we are apt to seeconsiderable of each other after this, there'll be a plenty of timefor me to continue that narrative of adventure. 

"In the course of my travels I've really picked up several fortunes, and then lost them again almost as quickly. It didn't much matter, because I was one of those happy-go-lucky chaps who believe the worldowes them a living, and which they can get any time they more thanhalf try. 

"So the years went on, and all at once I awoke to find that I wasgetting old and gray. When a man passes sixty, lad, his thoughtsbegin to travel far back into the days of his childhood. So moreand more I got to thinking of those who were everything to me. Iknew that all of them had checked in but a sister, and her I hadn'tseen for twenty years and more; though I believed she was still living. 

"It was down in Texas a few months ago that I had a little sickspell, and while I lay there convalescing strange fancies came intomy head. I made up my mind the time had come for me to quit thisfoolish roaming all about the world. I couldn't expect to live agreat many years more, and why not settle down to being decent andrespectable, as well as do some good with my money before I cashed in?

"That idea kept gripping me until I finally made up my mind to sellall my big holdings in the new oil wells. This I did, and banked thecash in New York---I won't tell you what it was, lad, but six figureswould be needed to cover it, and maybe seven, if all goes well withmy last sale. 

"But somehow an old distrust of human nature began to get a hold onme. I found myself wondering whether Matilda, if she should stillbe living, would welcome her long-missing brother for himself alone, or because he was close on a millionaire. 

"That bothered me a heap, Hugh. Finally a bright idea came to me, and I determined to fix myself up like the worst old tramp going, and pretend to be sick, as well as out of funds. The game appealedto my liking for new adventures, and---well, you know how it succeeded. You boys became connected with the affair from the start, and I'mglad of it, for I like you both. 

"All through these weeks I've grimly held out, though ready to callthe game more than a few times when it seemed that poor Matilda washaving a bigger load on her shoulders than she could carry. But Ifixed up several little schemes to ease the strain, when I decidedto hold back the grand disclosure till her birthday. For one thing, I hid a ten-dollar bill in her Bible, and she never could rememberputting the bill there, although she tried her best. Another timeI wrote a letter in a disguised hand that was signed by a fictitiousname, and which said that in a long-ago deal I had got the betterof her, which my conscience wouldn't allow; so to ease my mind Iwas enclosing a twenty-dollar bill to her to cover interest. 

"Say, that certainly did make her lie awake and wonder, because, ofcourse, she couldn't remember anything of the sort; nor could Andrew. I used to listen to them talking it over again and again, and I amsure got heaps of enjoyment out of it; but I told them it wasperfectly proper for them to use the money, and they did. I atepart of it up myself, Hugh. 

"Now, I'm getting down to hard facts, boy. I want to let you intothe great secret, and your chum ditto. Could you come over to ourhouse, say about ten this morning, and fetch that sharp-eyed Thadalong with you? There'll be something about to happen then. We'vealready fixed it to go on a little picnic excursion and take oursimple lunch along with us, just to celebrate Matilda's birthday, you see. And I'll ask you to go along, which you must agree to do, if you want to have the finest surprise of your life. How aboutit, Hugh?"

"There's nothing that I can see to prevent us, Mr. Corbley, " theboy assured him, eagerly, "and to tell the truth wild horses couldn'thold me back, after what I've already learned. I must see the endof your queer game, sir. But I'm glad that it isn't likely to interferewith our working in the baseball match, which starts at three thisafternoon on the home grounds. "

"Oh! I assure you we'll be all through long before then, and luncheoneaten in the bargain; though it isn't going to be the simple billof fare that Matilda'll be putting in the basket we're going tocarry with us. Well, Hugh, I'm going to keep you in just a littlefever of suspense until then. When you and Thad show up, try toact toward me as you've been doing right along. Don't call me Mr. Corbley, remember, for that might excite suspicions. Even poorsimple but good-hearted Andrew, whose best clothes I'm wearing rightnow with brazen assurance, doesn't dream that I've got more thana few dollars in the wide world. He even begged me not to squanderthose, saying that we could have a holiday without extra expense;but say, I told him to shut up, that if I chose to spend two dollarson my only sister it was nobody's business. I really think Andrewhas come to like me first-rate, though I'm a little afraid he misseshis garments and has to curtail his customary smokes on my account. "

He laughed at the conceit until he shook all over, and Hugh, nowalive to the immensity of the great surprise that awaited the gentlecouple, found himself obliged to join in the merriment. 

Shortly afterwards Hugh started off to finish his errand. He rodewith speed now because of his eagerness to get back home and lookup Thad, upon whom he meant to let loose a bombshell that must fairlystagger him. 

It was not yet nine o'clock, and ten was the appointed hour when theywere expected to join the picnic party. Hugh believed he had neverin all his life felt one-half so joyous. If a fortune had come hisway he could not have appreciated it as much as he did the knowledgethat Matilda and Andrew were going to reap the reward of their longlife of tender-heartedness in their relations with their fellows. Itwas simply grand, and Hugh felt that his mother must know all aboutit as soon as the affair had developed to the grand finale andMatilda's eyes were opened to the fact that she had all this whilebeen entertaining an angel unawares. 

Thad was at home and up to his eyes in rewinding a fishing-rod thatneeded attention. When Hugh burst in upon him with such a glow inhis face and a light in his eyes, Thad knew that something borderingon the wonderful must have occurred. 

Singular to say, his first remark was pretty near a bull's-eye, showingthat he must have been thinking about the ex-hobo as he wound thewaxed red silk around the guides of his fishing-rod. 

"What's happened, Hugh? Oh! have you found a way we can get rid ofthat sticker of a Brother Lu? Something seems to whisper to meyou've struck a scheme. Pitch right in and tell me all about it, Hugh. "

"There has a way come up, sure enough, " said Hugh, beaming on hischum, as well might the bearer of such glorious news. "After todaythat tramp will never eat another mouthful of food at the expense ofhis poor sister and brother-in-law!"

"Then he's going to skip out, is he?" burst from the delighted Thad. "Bully for that! However did it happen, Hugh; and what sort of ahand in it did you have?"

"I don't claim the least credit for it, " he was firmly told; "andfor that matter Mr. ---I mean Brother Lu, isn't going to shake thedust of Scranton off his feet, yet awhile at least. Something elsehas happened to bring about the change. Here, I just can't holdthe wonderful news in any longer, Thad. Listen!"

Accordingly Hugh started to pour out the story. He had Thad sittingthere and almost ceasing to breathe, so deeply interested was he ineverything. When Hugh got to where he discovered the ex-tramp talkingwith the chauffeur of the big touring car, and seemingly withauthority, Thad jumped up and began to dance around excitedly. 

"Oh, joy unconfined! I'm just beginning to glimpse how it's going toturn out, that's what I am, Hugh!" he exclaimed, trembling all overwith the violence of his emotions. "Wouldn't that be the limit, though, if this old hobo proved to be the good fairy coming in disguise toprove the worth of the ones he meant to assist? Go on and tell methe rest, like a good fellow, Hugh. Is he very rich; where did hemake all his money; was that his fine big car, and his chauffeur;was he just testing Matilda and Andrew to prove how they were truegold? It's the greatest thing that ever happened for Matilda, forAndrew; ditto for you and me, because we've had a hand in it all, haven't we, Hugh?"

The rest of the amazing story was soon told. Thad shook hands with hischum again and again. He fairly bubbled over with enthusiasm. 

"I'm so glad, so glad, for Matilda's sake!" he kept saying. "I warrantyou now that fine brother of hers has got some wonderfully big thingup his sleeve; and so we're invited to go along and see the fairystory through, are we, Hugh? How long do we have to wait beforemaking a start for the Hosmer cottage? I wonder if Matilda'll careif we keep company with them on their picnic? First thing she'lldo will be to run back and add some more to the basket, because sheknows how boys can eat like a house afire. I don't see how I canstand it waiting nearly a whole hour; but then there are a hundredother questions I'm burning to ask you. "

Time passed while they sat there in Thad's room and talked. Hugh wascompelled to relate every little incident over again, and amidst allsorts of comments on the part of the other. Finally Hugh said it wasnow a quarter to ten, and that they might as well be starting out, which they proceeded to do most eagerly indeed. 

CHAPTER XVIII

WHEN THE WIZARD WAVED HIS WAND

"Don't forget for a minute, " cautioned Hugh, as they started on theirway toward the humble cottage home of Matilda and her husband, "thatBrother Lu asked us to act quite natural when we came along. "

"I'm on, " responded Thad, though it was only with the greatest difficultythat he seemed able to repress the glow in his eyes that told ofsecret joy. "He means by that, you are to ask Matilda whether she'sready for another batch of sewing stuff that both of our mothershave ready, which I happen to know is the case. And then I supposeBrother Lu will ask us to join them on their little holiday outing, since he's made himself master of ceremonies for today. Say, will ahungry fish snap at an angleworm when it's dangled just in front ofits nose? Well, we'll thank Brother Lu for being so kind, and as wehave nothing else to do we'll accept with celerity, eh, Hugh? Is thatthe programme?"

So talking and laughing, they walked on. Soon they arrived at thecottage, where they found the three inmates just getting ready tostart forth. Matilda had a covered basket already packed. Shewelcomed the two lads with a happy smile. Birthdays came and wentin her life just as they did with other people, only as a rule therewas scant reason to celebrate them, save as they marked the fact thatMatilda was "getting old. "

But somehow the presence of cheery Brother Lu seemed to have startedsomething. Possibly, although Matilda could not dream of what wascoming, some intuition caused her to feel that this day was to bedifferent from any other in her past. A sense of something goodimpending may have thrilled her poor pulses, though if asked why shefound any particular reason for smiling, and throwing off her yokeof worry for a brief spell, she could have given no intelligent answer. 

Brother Lu bustled up. He seemed very important, indeed. 

"Glad to see you, boys, " he said, holding out his hand, which Thadactually seized eagerly; although just a few hours before he hadbeen telling himself how delighted he would be to form one of a partyof determined fellows who might visit the Hosmer cottage at midnight, and warn the ex-hobo to clear out of the neighborhood on penalty ofhaving something decidedly unpleasant happen to him if he refused. But then that was before Thad had heard the wonderful story whichHugh unleashed, and fired at him as he sat there gaping and listeningand slyly pinching his thigh so as to learn whether he were awake, or asleep and dreaming. 

"Looks like you folks might be going on a picnic somewhere?" remarkedHugh, taking his cue from something Brother Lu had said to him before. 

"Just what we expect to do, lads, " hastily replied the other, witha wink, when he believed neither of the Hosmers was looking at him. "You see, this happens to be Tilly's birthday. She hasn't hada real one for ever so long, and Andrew and me, why, we've fixedit that she should take a holiday from her drudgery and we'd allgo off for a little lark. Now, perhaps you two would like to keepus company. How about that, boys? You've been pretty kind to mysister, and we all feel that you're our good friends. What do yousay about tagging along? In my walks about this section of country, I've chanced to make a few acquaintances. One of these is managinga kind of pretty place about two miles away from here; and he suggestedthat I fetch my sister and brother-in-law across country today. He reckoned that they'd kind of enjoy looking over the nest hisemployer has bought and fitted up, though he ain't really takenpossession yet. Tilly, tell Hugh and Thad they'll be welcome toa snack with us at noon. This is a day we all want to remember, you know. Let tomorrow and dull care look out for themselves. That's the tramp's motto. "

Matilda readily complied, and she meant it from the bottom of herheart too, for she was becoming very fond of both boys. Doubtlesswhen she carried the basket back into the house to add to its contents, she must have swept the pantry clean. But as Brother Lu said, whybother about the future when they meant to have a whole day freefrom carking care. Tomorrow would be time enough to take up theheavy burdens of life again. 

And so they started forth, chatting, and so far as appearances went, quite happy. Thad was in a fever of suppressed excitement. He feltcertain that that splendid car would come into the little dramasomehow or other; and for once he guessed aright. 

"There's a car on the side of the road that has stopped to let thedriver do a little repairing, I guess, " remarked Brother Lu, quiteinnocently. "And say, I know that man right well. We've talkedseveral times when I was roving around seeing what the countrysurrounding Scranton looked like. He even calls me Lu and I know himas Jerry. He's a pretty decent sort of fellow in the bargain. Why, he even said that sometime when he didn't have the boss along with him, he'd like to give all of us a little joy ride. Tilly here told meonly yesterday she never had been out in a car except once in alittle broken-down flivver; and then she had to walk back home, nearly three miles. I wonder if Jerry wouldn't pick us up and takeus over to the Hoover place right now. I've a good mind to ask him. Would you like it, Tilly?"

Would she? Matilda's sparkling eyes proclaimed that it would giveher infinite delight; and so Brother Lu, with the assurance thatevery ex-tramp possesses in abundance, stepped up to the man who wasputting his tools away in the chest where they belonged. 

Jerry made an involuntary gesture with his right hand. He had beenabout to touch his cap respectfully, but caught himself just in time. 

"Hello, Jerry!" sang out the breezy one, giving the chauffeur ahearty slap on the shoulder that must have somewhat astonished him;"you told me you'd be right glad to give my folks a little joy rideif the chance ever came along. We're heading right now for theHoover place, and would be obliged to you to give us a lift, becausewe'll have to walk all the way back; and brother-in-law Andrew hereisn't a well man. How about it, Jerry, old top?"

Jerry grinned as though enjoying the joke. 

"Sure I can---Lu, " he managed to say, though it evidently came a bithard for him to be so familiar with his rich employer's first name. "Just bundle in, and we'll take a round-about way there. I can giveyou half an hour, easy enough, and the old man need never knowthe difference in the gas supply. "

They all got in, "old man" and all, for the car had supplementaryseats to be used in emergencies, being built for seven passengers. Thad and Hugh were trying hard to keep from exhibiting broad grinson their faces; though, for that matter, neither of those simple, guileless souls would have suspected the least thing had the boyslaughed outright in their happiness. 

They had a splendid ride, and must have covered many miles whilethat wonderful half-hour was being used up. Matilda looked supremelyhappy. Now and then Hugh saw her glance rest admiringly on BrotherLu. She must have begun to believe that after all the coming ofthis poor sick brother of hers, who had appeared so forlorn, andwith such a dreadful and alarming cough, was gradually emerging fromhis chrysalis stage, and becoming a full-fledged magician. 

Greatly to the amusement of the boys, Brother Lu would every littlewhile ask Matilda how she liked such a car, and seemed to chucklesoftly to himself when she rolled up her eyes in an expressive fashion, and declared that it surely must be getting pretty close to Paradiseto be able to go about the beautiful country in such a palatialconveyance; poor Matilda had evidently been accustomed to consideringit an event when she managed by great good luck to get an invitationto take a ride in an ordinary country buggy or farm wagon. 

Then finally they passed in through the gate of the Hoover estate. This estate had a reputation in Scranton as being the prettiestlittle country place around. It had belonged to a wealthy gentlemanwho had lately died in New York City. There were rumors that ithad changed hands, though no one seemed to have heard the name ofthe new owner. Thad and Hugh could easily understand now why thissecrecy had been maintained. They caught many a sly wink from thewizard, who sat back there with his sister and her husband, wheneverthey looked around. 

"Let's get out here, " announced Brother Lu, with an air of importancethat must have further awed both Matilda and Andrew. "There's myfriend Billings, coming over to see who we are. I told him I wantedto show you all around this elegant place, and he agreed to pilotus about. Now, to look at him, managing this property, you'd neverthink that Malcolm Billings was once down and out, and the worst-lookingtramp that ever took to the road; but it's true. I remember himwell. We first met riding on the rods of a freight car out on theSanta Fe road. You see, some rich fellow took a fancy to Malcolm, and gave him a chance to make good; and I reckon he's a-doing thatsame, all right. "

He greeted the other familiarly as "Mal, " and having been drilled inhis part, the manager of the place called him "Wandering Lu, " asthough he could not dissociate the other from the roving life ofthe past. The boys, keenly watching, could see that he quicklyturned his eyes on Matilda and Andrew when introduced by BrotherLu; and also that there was a light in their depths that told howhe appreciated this little surprise which the other was playing. 

So they started to see first of all the grounds, which consistedof many acres, all in a high state of cultivation, and with flowergardens, vegetable ditto, and all manner of fine fruits, such asa rich man loves to grow on his own country place. There were evenJersey cows, and fowls of various breeds, as well as a flock ofpigeons that gave Matilda more delight than anything else; for secretlyit had always been a pet wish of hers to some day have a flock ofdoves fluttering around her head, just as she had seen the tameones of St. Mark's in Venice do---in pictures, of course, becauseMatilda had never been abroad---as yet. 

Had either of them been in the least suspicious they might havewondered just why Jerry, for instance, had taken the big car overto the garage and started to clean it as though it really belongedthere. The boys saw this, but not Matilda or Andrew, who were ina seventh heaven of rapture, and not walking on earth. 

Then they went to the house, where a matronly woman met them. BrotherLu, more than ever like a magician of the first water, seemed tobe friendly with the housekeeper also, for he introduced his sisterand the others to Mrs. Husted. She took her cue from Mr. Billings, who was also present, and tried to act as though she were condescendingto agree to show these strangers through the beautiful house; butit was an exceedingly hard task for her, because she knew that withthe wave of the wizard's wand this lady would henceforth become hermistress. 

Thad, lingering behind, could hardly contain himself. He wouldagain and again manage to give Hugh a knock with his elbow, andgurgle something half under his breath, only to have the other shakea finger at him, and add a look of reproof. 

They went through the house from top to bottom. 

"Now, if you don't mind, Mrs. Husted, I'd like my folks to see thedining-room, for it's the best part of the whole establishment, according to the notion of men like Malcolm and me, who have knownwhat it is to go hungry many a time during our adventurous lives. "

The obliging housekeeper complied with a degree of alacrity thatmust have still further astonished Matilda. When they entered theroom, to discover a table set for just five persons and fairly groaningbeneath the weight of all manner of good things, Thad drew a longbreath; for now he knew that the grand announcement could not bemuch longer delayed. And he also knew that poor Matilda's simpleluncheon, resting in the covered basket under the tree outside, would in all likelihood remain untouched. 

"Why, what do you think of that?" remarked Brother Lu, appearingto be very much surprised. "Here are places for just five, thenumber we count. Wouldn't it be a great joke now if we had thenerve to sit down, and partake of this little spread. Mrs. Husted, this is my sister's birthday, the only one she's really had, I guess, for more than twenty years. Perhaps you wouldn't mind if we celebratedthe event and tried to do justice to this luncheon. Matilda, let megive you this seat of honor at the head of the table. Andrew, oldscout, you are to sit opposite your wife Boys, find places, and I'lltake this seat. "

Matilda and Andrew allowed themselves to be almost pushed into theirrespective chairs. They were dumb, and seemed almost in a dream. Matilda could not take her wondering eyes off this astonishingbrother of hers, who now must have looked very like the fairy princeto her. She was an automaton in his hands, and he could have doneanything with her. But, of course, presently she would awaken, and find it all one of those amazing dreams that so often come totantalize the very poor. 

Now Brother Lu was standing there. He bent forward and lookedaffectionately at his sister. His eyes were sparkling still, but fromquite another cause, Hugh saw; though his own orbs were also dimmed, and he had to wink very rapidly in order to keep the tears from flowingdown his cheeks. 

"Well, Matilda, how do you like your new home?" said Brother Lu;"for henceforth you and your husband are to live here to the endof your days. It has been bought, and placed in your name. Yes, I'm going to own up, sister mine, that Brother Lu had been playinga cruel joke, but with a good object. I'm not a poor, forlorn hobo, as I led you to believe, neither am I dying by inches. I hope tolive some years yet, to see the two I love drink heartily from thecup of happiness. All this is but a drop in the bucket to whatis coming. You shall make up for some of the lean years you'vespent so bravely, buoying up each other's courage. Yes, and thattender heart of yours, Tilly, shall be given plenty of opportunitiesto bring good cheer to those who are almost down and out. And boys, I'm right glad that you're here with us to see the mask removed, andBrother Lu stand out in his true colors. Matilda has stood the test, and proved to me that her heart is of pure gold. She deserveseverything that is coming to her. Now, I know you boys haven'tlost your appetites, if the rest of us are too happy to think muchof eating; so let's get busy, and do justice to this little spread, given in honor of Tilly's birthday!"

Which they accordingly did, and it would hardly be proper in anyone to tell how much Thad ate, and how both of them felt that theywere seeing one of the most enjoyable occasions in their entire lives. And later on the boys were taken home in the big car, to rest up abit, so as to be in trim for the game with Belleville that afternoon. 

CHAPTER XIX

SCRANTON HIGH EVENS MATTERS UP

The match with Belleville proved a walkover for Scranton, much tothe delight of all the local rooters, and the utter humiliation ofthe boys from the neighboring town. Tyree was at his very best, which meant that few among the Belleville batsmen could touch hisslants and drops and speedy balls. 

They fought gamely to the very last, as all sturdy players of theNational game should, hoping for a turn in the tide; but in theend found themselves snowed under by a score of eleven to two. Those runs were actually gifts, for in the end Tyree slowed up, and almost "lobbed" a few over the plate, as though wishing to takea little of the sting of defeat away; though that is never a safepractice for any pitcher to do. Still, eleven to nothing wouldhave been rubbing it into the Belleville fellows pretty roughly. 

On the following Saturday Allandale had a last whirl at Belleville. This time the boys of the third town took a brace, and for a timeput up quite a creditable game. Big Patterson, however, was toomuch for them, and after the seventh inning they lost all hope ofwinning. But the score was six to four, which might be considereda little hopeful. 

So Belleville, having lost all the games thus far played in whichshe took part, was consequently eliminated as a contending factorin the race for the pennant of the Three Town High School League. 

This left it between Scranton and Allandale. The latter team hada big advantage to start with, since they were already one game tothe good. But Scranton still had faith in Tyree, and if thingsbroke half-way decently in the next game they fully expected tomake their adversaries "take their dust, " as Thad expressed it. 

During this time, of course, the wonderful happenings at the Hosmercottage had become town talk. Everybody was greedily drinking insuch details of the story as they could manage to gather up. 

Acting under the directions of Brother Lu, now known to every oneas the rich owner of the Hoover place, Mr. Luther Corbley, Hugh andThad did not hesitate to relate everything they knew, which, in fact, covered the story from beginning to end. It thrilled all Scranton, and would be related many times over as weeks and months passed by. There had never been anything to compare with it in the annals ofall Scranton, or any other town in the county, for that matter. 

Matilda and Andrew had gone to live in their new home, and the boyswere told that they might always "find the latch-string out, " asthe genial genie of the whole undertaking assured both Hugh andThad. He seemed to have taken a decided liking for the chums, andcould not see enough of them. Many an evening did they spend overat the new home. Thad never seemed to weary of listening to themarvelous stories told by the great wanderer; nor did he any longerhave the least doubt regarding their accuracy. Indeed, after seeingwhat marvels Brother Lu was able to bring to pass in the dull livesof Matilda and her husband, Thad would have been ready to take anythinghe said as Gospel truth. 

Then came the Saturday when Allandale had to be met for the secondtime. Hugh and his fellow players had worked hard through the week, under the fostering care of Coach Leonard, to put themselves in finefettle for the hard game they anticipated lay ahead of them. 

Never was a boy more pampered and looked after than Alan Tyree duringthose last few days before the trial of skill and strategy took placebetween himself and Big Ed Patterson. They were forever hearing vaguereports to the effect that the Allandale pitcher was excelling hisown record, and that his speed had reached a point where it wasattracting the attention of scouts sent abroad through the land bysome of the big teams in the National and American Leagues; so thatin all probability Patterson would be offered a contract calling fora stupendous salary before the fall came along. 

Hugh only laughed whenever these yarns reached him. 

"Let Patterson keep on improving, " he would say lightly, "and nobackstop can hold him for a minute any more than he could grapplewith cannon balls. We've got some pitcher, also. Tyree is betterthan ever before in his life. While he may not have all the speedto burn that Patterson has, there are a few tricks in his bag thathe means to uncork on Allandale. I'm sorry for those fellows whenthey run against Alan in his present shape. Tell them so when yousee them, please. "

It would seem from all this talk that the battle was to be one ofpitchers, for the most part. And when finally the time came forScranton to journey over to the rival town, there to take up cudgelswith Allandale High, quite a numerous host of the local people wentalong, bent on learning just how much truth there might be in thestories that had drifted across regarding the invincibility of BigEd Patterson. 

As on previous occasions, there was a tremendous outpouring of interestedspectators. If anything, it was a record crowd, and far excelled inpoint of numbers and enthusiasm any gathering that had cheered theAllandale team on in their two contests against Belleville. 

There was a reason for this, of course, since the latter team hadproven to be so woefully weak that they had not thus far managed towin a single game, and were out of the race for the pennant. On theother hand, Scranton, while beaten in the first combat with thelocals, had fought gamely, though terribly handicapped by the absenceof their regular star pitcher. Besides, they had really beatenBelleville both times as badly as had Allandale. 

Everybody therefore was anticipating considerable real sport with thetwo pitchers on the mound pitted against each other, and the regularteams covering the various positions on the diamond. 

It was a cloudy day, and looked as though it might rain. Hugh notedthis fact and understood just what Coach Leonard meant when he toldthem it would be just as well to start right in, and do some scoring. If the game should be called after a number of innings had beenplayed, whoever was ahead would be adjudged the victor. A threateningday is not a time to put too much faith in a ninth-inning Garrisonfinish, because the game may never go beyond five or six turns, ifthe flood-gates above chance to open, and the field be deluged soas to make a continuance of play out of the question. 

Well, that was just what did happen, as it turned out, and Scrantonboys found occasion to thank Coach Leonard for his advice, since itreally gave them the decision. 

Patterson certainly had amazing speed when he started, and for threeinnings it was next to impossible to touch him; for that matterTyree was also twirling with considerable effect, though severalhits had been made, and an error allowed one run to be tallied. 

Then in the fourth something happened. Allandale was still strivingwith might and main to stretch that lone tally into several. Theyseemed to have a batting rally, and singular to say it was the endof the string usually considered the weakest that came to the fore. 

Whipple, the right fielder, knocked a terrific fly, but it was takenafter a great run by Juggins. Brown followed suit, but also diedthrough clever work on the part of "K. K. " out in center. It wassupposed that Big Ed Patterson as the next man up would be an easythird, because he had struck out both times at the bat. 

He surprised everyone, himself included, possibly, by sending out acrack that by bard base running allowed him to reach second. ThenKeeler, the Allandale backstop, not to be outdone in the matter, alsomet one of Tyree's mystifying balls on the tip of his bat; andPatterson, who had not had time to even think of asking to get someone to run for him, had to keep galloping along in mad haste, thecoach near third sending him home, which he reached after a slide. 

Farmer, however, struck out immediately afterwards, so that onetally only resulted from the batting rally. But the mischief hadbeen already done. Big Ed was wheezing badly when he took his placein the box, a fact the vigilant eye of Hugh instantly noted. 

"This is going to be our one chance to do something, boys, " he toldhis mates as they came in to start the fifth frame. "Big Ed istired after that running. Work him for a pass, Owen; you know howto do it, all right. "

Owen apparently did, for shortly afterwards he was perched safelyon the initial sack, with Hugh himself at bat, and filled with agrim determination to send the runner along, as well as plant himselfon the bag. 

He picked out a good one, and cracked it out for a double, Owenmanaging to land on third. All Scranton arose and roared to "K. K. "to send them both home, which he obligingly did with the nicestpossible little hit that could have been made, he himself reachingsecond on the throw-in. 

Julius Hobson was now up, but he struck out, greatly to his chagrin. With the score tied, and the sky looking so threatening, Hugh wasmore than ever anxious that one more hit should bring in the run thatmight eventually win the game. 

Patterson realized his weakness, and tried in various ways to delaythe game. He had to tie his shoe once, and then managed to tossthe ball again and again to try and nip "K. K. " at second. In doingso he actually let the runner make third, as O'Malley on secondallowed the ball to slip out of his hands, and the agile "K. K. " slidalong in safety, making a great slide to the sack. 

Then Tyree got in the tap that scored the runner, although he himselfwas caught at first. Thad sent a dandy hit out past short, but wasleft when "Just" Smith struck out. 

In their half the Allandale players again tried to delay the gameuntil the umpire threatened to call it off, and proclaim Scranton thewinner nine to nothing. Then they went to work, but without avail, for the inning found Scranton just one run to the good. 

Play was continued, even though a fine drizzle started, that causedhundreds of the spectators to take warning and depart. 

At the beginning of the seventh inning, with the score the same, therain came down in torrents and play was discontinued. Later, findingthat there was no hope of the game being resumed, the umpire declaredit in the favor of Scranton, and those fellows went home happy thoughsoaked to the skin. 

CHAPTER XX

A GLORIOUS FINISH---CONCLUSION

The fact that Allandale and Scranton were tied, and that there mustbe played a deciding game, brought out a clause in the League contractproviding for just such a possibility. It would be manifestly unfairto play this game on either grounds, even when tossing a penny forchoice; because luck should not enter into such a championship anymore than was absolutely necessary. So this last game was to takeplace on the Belleville grounds, which were adequately supplied withgrandstand and bleachers, and really better adapted for holding arecord crowd than either of the other fields. 

It turned out to be a very fine day, for which every one felt thankful, after the bitter experience over at Allandale, when so many summerhats and dresses were ruined by the sudden coming of the storm, andthe long ride home. 

Belleville, while in mourning because of the unexpected weaknessdeveloped by her school team, proved to be a loyal sport town, forshe opened her arms to the visitors, and many a flag decorated otherbuildings besides the high school, to prove to Scranton and Allandalefolks that no bitterness was felt, since every game had been fairlylost to superior playing. 

That deciding game proved to be a fierce one, so far as the desperateplaying on both sides went, though there was no animosity displayedon either team. All the noise made by the visiting contingents wasdone in a good-natured spirit of friendly rivalry. And the Bellevillerooters acted impartially, cheering first one side and then theother, as good plays happened to come along. 

Big Ed Patterson may have been as good as ever, but Hugh and his matesseemed to have solved his speedy shoots that came hissing over theplate like cannon balls. At least they did not strike out as oftenas during that other game. "Familiarity sometimes breeds contempt"with regard to a baseball phenomenon in the way of a pitcher, aswell as in other walks of life; and when Hugh found Patterson fora drive in the sixth frame "K. K. " took courage and did likewise. Then came Julius Hobson, never having forgiven himself forstriking out when the score was tied, and all Scranton had beggedhim to "tap one out past second, Julius; you know how to work it, old boy; you're a dandy, Julius; now win your game right here!"

Julius had his revenge, for what did the boy do but knock a "hummer"clear out in far center, that it seemed the madly running Farmerwould never get his hands on; and by the time the ball again enteredthe diamond three tallies had resulted, Julius having fairly flownthe rounds, to throw himself down panting, and as happy as theyever make a baseball player. 

Three to one it stood now, and those figures looked pretty big to bothsides, for the pitchers were doing gilt-edged work and heavy scoringseemed utterly out of the question. Allandale was game to thebackbone, and they started a rally of their own when next at thebat. Tyree, however, nipped the same in the bud by getting himselfout of two nasty holes when it looked as though the other team mustsurely push men over the plate. 

So the game went on, and Tyree gave no sign of falling down, standingthe strain wonderfully well. Hugh felt the joyous thrill of comingvictory. Many of the wildly cheering Scranton rooters boasted thatthey could already see Allandale handing over the pennant they hadso easily won the previous summer, and which must float from theflag-pole in front of the Scranton high school another season. 

The finish was highly exciting. Allandale managed actually to tiethe score in their half of the ninth, but Scranton still had an inningin which to do something. 

Thad Stevens led the batting list in the ninth; and some other heavyartillery followed close on his heels. Thad got first on a neatlittle hit. "Just" Smith advanced him a base with a sacrifice bunt. Then Horatio Juggins, who was seldom ever known to fail when it wasup to him to do something, met one of those speedy shoots ofPatterson on the end of his bat, and perched on second, while thewinning tally came in. 

That closed the game, since Allandale had already had their turn atbat in the ninth. Juggins was the hero of the occasion, and thatglorious hit of his would long place him on a pedestal in theestimation of the Scranton High scholars. Indeed, all sorts ofdates would be reckoned back to "that time bully old Jug nearlyknocked the cover off the ball, and handed us the championship ona silver plate. "

Scranton boys were more than satisfied with the success that hadattended the baseball rivalry. They would be entitled to fly thepennant of victory for the next season, beginning with the fallsession of school. Every student's heart must thrill more or lesswith honest pride as he looked back to the wonderful way in which, under such a leader as Hugh Morgan, the Scranton High spirit ofoutdoor sports, which had fallen to a lamentably low figure of late, had been boosted on high, so as to place the locals above everyother town worth mentioning in the county. 

As yet, Hugh was sorry to learn, there did not seem to be much chanceof a series of football games being arranged, because somehow thatsport had never taken a firm hold upon the boys of the three towns. But encouraging signs gave promise that by another year some thingmight be done along such lines. 

However, there was to be no lack of interesting events occurring inand around Scranton, as the fall came on. For some years now therehad been a regular tournament of athletic sports, mostly along theline of running races, of which the boys of Scranton appeared to beespecially fond. 

Mr. Saunders, in his capacity of teacher in the high school underDr. Carmack, the principal, and also county supervisor, hadopportunities to encourage this growing spirit among the pupils, which he did every chance he found. He featured the splendidtraining resulting from consistent work upon the cinder-path, andby degrees quite a lively interest was created in the idea of havinga regular Marathon running race for all high-school boys, no matterwhere located. 

That this idea finally seized hold upon the good people of Scrantonto such an extent that a splendid prize was offered for the successfulcompetitor, may be guessed from the title of the succeeding storyin this Series, which it is to be hoped every one reading this bookwill wish to secure immediately---_"The Chums of Scranton High onthe Cinder-Path; or, The Mystery of the Haunted Quarry. "_

THE END