affair that I'm afraid to
hurry too fast. Why, if the boy is innocent, as we both seem to
believe, he'd be terribly humiliated if he learned that he had been
under suspicion. I've found out he's quite proud, and that's one
reason he hasn't mingled with the young folks much since coming to our
town. He knows there are strange rumors about his grandfather, and
that some people are even talking about Mr. Dugdale as if they
suspected him of being a notorious crook in hiding."

"Listen! what's all that loud talking ahead there mean?" suddenly
exclaimed Thad.

They both stopped short, and held their breath while listening.

"Would you believe it!" cried Thad, "that was certainly Nick Lang's
gruff voice I heard just then. If that chap's around this region, he's
come out on purpose to kick up some sort of a shindy. It would be just
like his way."

Hugh felt a thrill pass over him. It was as though some innate warning
told him he would sooner or later be mixed up in the mess Nick meant to
start. Somehow, his thoughts instinctively flew to Owen Dugdale, and
he remembered what Thad had remarked earlier in the evening about the
possibility of Nick picking on Owen simply because Peggy Noland chose
to accompany the other to the hop, in preference to accepting Nick for
a partner.

The voices were growing even more boisterous.

"Let's get a move on us, and sprint up that way, Hugh," suggested Thad,
unable to restrain his impatience.

"Might as well," the other grimly told him.

Accordingly, they started to run. All the while they could hear
disputing voices raised in anger and excitement. Apparently, Nick was
aroused, and looking for trouble; when he allowed himself to jump into
this aggressive mood, somebody was liable to feel the weight of his
heavy fist before the end of the affair came. At least such had always
been the case in the past.

Nick was not the only one doing the talking. Hugh thought he several
times caught the sound of a voice that might belong to Owen. Then
there were also others in the heated argument, some of them apparently
egging the pugnacious Nick on, while yet a few more seemed to be trying
to cast oil on troubled waters.

At least Owen was not alone with Nick and his ugly cronies, Hugh
realized, though, after all, that would not count for much. Fellows
like Leon Disney and several others of the same stripe would be only
too well pleased to pair off and attack any other boy who might