“Suit yourself about that, Thad.  Perhaps, after all, you may be right, and that it would be a good thing all around if Tip could be sent away with Leon.  But it’s likely Leon will weaken when his trial comes off, and betray his pal; though he may give Tip a hint beforehand so he can clear out in time.”

“And about Nick Lang?” continued Thad.

“I haven’t changed my mind about him, as yet,” Hugh replied sturdily enough.  “So far Nick seems to be minding his own business, and having as little to do with other boys as possible.  I heard Dr. Carmack say he was astonished at the difference in Nick’s work in classes.  He seemed particularly pleased, too, because, with all the other teachers, he’s had a hard time with Nick in the past.”

“But in all the days we’ve practiced our hockey work Nick hasn’t once joined the scrub team we’ve fought against.  That’s why we’ve been able to lick them so easily, I guess, Hugh.  That fellow certainly is a wizard on runners, and would make a good addition to our Seven, if by some chance he could be squeezed in.  But one of the Regulars would have to be dropped, and I think there would be some bad blood shown if anyone had to give way to a fellow who’s had such a bad reputation in the past.  Even now lots of people think he’s only shamming reform for some deep purpose.”

“Lots of people are due for a surprise, then, let me tell you,” said Hugh.  “But, of course, just as you say, I wouldn’t dare take any fellow out as long as he was working his best, and substituting Nick.  It would raise a howl, to be sure.  But, Thad, if the time should ever come when we’re up against a hard proposition, with defeat staring us in the face, and one of our team was injured, I’d grab at Nick like a drowning man does at a plank floating near.”

“One lucky thing happened for us, Hugh, anyhow.”

“You’re referring to the toss of the coin that gave us the choice of grounds for the game, and will force Keyport to journey over here on Saturday, eh, Thad?”

“Yes, that’s what I had in mind.  Captain Mossman seemed to be a pretty fine sort of chap, too, I thought, when he dropped in on us yesterday afternoon to look the place over; because it seems he’s never played before in Scranton.”

“Well, Scranton was hardly on the map until this year,” Hugh laughed.  “However, some of our neighboring towns have already learned that Scranton is alive and wide-awake.”

“Just what they have, Hugh, and there are other surprises coming for them, too.  I noticed that you cut out all play while the Keyport chap was with us.  Didn’t want him to get a line on our methods, I suppose?”

“It might give them a little advantage, you see, and weaken our play.  Some of the Scranton boys have gone over to Keyport to see what’s doing there.  They bring back great reports of the confidence shown in the team; but Coach Leonard has positively forbidden any member of our Seven to make the trip.  He says it smacks too much of spying to please him.”