just to save me from getting up against it rough with my strict dad?"

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

Hugh considered before committing himself to making any reply. He
did not believe most of what the other so glibly declared, partly
because he knew very well that Mr. Disney was not a strict parent
at all, but a most indifferent one, or he would never have allowed
his young hopeful to go in the company of Nick Lang, and take part
in many of the other's practical jokes. Some of these had bordered
on a serious nature, like the time the electric current was shut
off abruptly when the graduation exercises were going on at night-time
in the big auditorium in the high school building; and the ensuing
utter darkness almost created a panic among the audience, composed
principally of women and young people, the wires having been severed,
it was later discovered, at a point where they entered the building.

"I'll say this, Leon," he finally told the waiting boy; "I'll keep
quiet about this little thing for three days, and then feel free to
mention it, if the necessity arises. I'll make a further bargain with
you to this effect; you fight shy of the company of Nick Lang after
this, and I'll hold my tongue as long as I understand that you've cut
his acquaintance; otherwise, I'll feel free to speak; and there are
lots of people in this town who'll believe you had some dark motive
back of your breaking into this building to-night. Your reputation
is against you, Leon, you understand. Another fellow might enter
here, and everybody would believe what he said; but you've long ago