lost the confidence of everybody worth while in Scranton. Is it a
bargain, then?"

Leon replied with alacrity; but then that was no sign that he meant
to keep his word. He had been caught in a downright lie on many
another occasion; so Hugh did not place much reliance on his promise
to reform.

"Oh! as to that, Hugh," said the crafty Leon, "I've been figuring
on cutting away from Nick for a long time now, and I guess I'll do it.
He's got me in lots of nasty scrapes, you understand, and then just
laughs at me. I'd have given him the shake long since, only he
threatened to whip me black and blue if I ever did. But this would
be a good chance to try it out. Yes, I'll promise you to try and
break away from Nick; and I hope you'll keep mum about my coming here
to-night. If you don't mind, Thad, I'd like to have my flash light
now. And I ought to be going back home in the bargain, because dad
doesn't like me to be out nights unless he knows where I'm at."

Thad chuckled as though he considered this last in the light of a
joke; for Leon roamed the streets until a late hour every night he
chose; as there was no need of their staying longer, they passed out
of the window, and headed toward heir respective homes.




CHAPTER IX

SCRANTON IN GALA ATTIRE