The Chums of Scranton High at Ice Hockey | Page 3

the tricky bully he's always shown
himself."
Hugh shook his head, as though not quite agreeing with his chum.
"Time alone will tell, Thad. There might come a sudden revolution in
Nick's way of seeing things. I've heard of boys who were said to be the
worst in the town taking a turn, and forging up to the head. It's
improbable, I admit, but not impossible."

"Oh! he's bad all the way through, believe me, Hugh. But did you sell
the skates, as he wanted you to do?"
"No, I told him I didn't care to," Hugh replied. "I was tempted to agree
when he looked so bitterly disappointed; then an ugly scowl came over
his face, and he broke away and left me; so that opportunity was lost.
Besides, it's best not to be too sure I'm going to get those silver-plated
skates after all, though Mom is looking pretty mysterious these days;
and some sort of package came to her by express from New York the
other day. She hurried it away before I could even see the name printed
on the wrapper."
"Perhaps," said Thad a bit wistfully, "you might bequeath me your old
skates in case you do get new ones. Mine are not half as good for
hockey. I don't blame Nick for envying you their possession; but then it
hasn't been so much what you had on your feet that has made you the
swift hockey player you are, but coolness of judgment, ability to
anticipate the moves of the enemy, and a clever stroke that can send the
puck skimming over the ice like fury."
"Here, that'll do for you, Thad. No bouquets needed, thank you, all the
same. According to my notion there are several fellows in Scranton my
equals at hockey, and perhaps my superiors. Nick Lang, for instance, if
only he had skates he could depend on, and which wouldn't threaten to
trip him up in the midst of an exciting scrimmage."
"But, see here, Hugh, you were speaking just now about a chap built
like Nick turning over a new leaf, and making himself respected in the
community in spite of the bad name he's always had. Honestly now, do
you really believe that's possible? Is there such a thing as the
regeneration of a boy who's been born bad, and always taken delight in
doing every sort of mean thing on the calendar? I can't believe it."
Hugh Morgan turned and gave his chum a serious look.
"I've got a good mind to tell you something that's been on my mind
lately," he said.

CHAPTER II
A BULL IN THE CHINA SHOP
On hearing his chum say that, Thad gripped Hugh's arm.
"Then get busy, Hugh," he hastened to remark. "When you start
cogitating over things there's always something interesting on foot.
What is it this time?"
"Oh! just a little speculation I've been indulging in, Thad, and on the
very subject we were talking about--whether a really bad man, or boy,
for that matter, can ever turn right-about-face, and redeem himself. You
say it's impossible; I think otherwise."
"Tell me a single instance, then, Hugh."
"Just what I'm meaning to do," came the ready response, "but it's in
romance, not history; though there are just as strong instances that can
be proven. I've heard my father mention some of them long ago. But it
happens, Thad, that I've been reading over, for the third time, a book
we once enjoyed together immensely. We got a splendid set of Victor
Hugo's works lately at our house, you remember."
"Oh!" exclaimed Thad, "you're referring to his Les Miserables, I guess.
And now I remember how you said at the time we read it together that
the scene where that good priest forgave the rascally Jean Valjean for
stealing his silver candlesticks and spoons, after he had been so kind to
him made a great impression on your mind. But, see here, Hugh, are
you comparing that sneak Nick Lang to Jean Valjean, the ex-convict?"
"Yes, in a way," the other replied. "The man who had been released
from the galleys, after he had served his term for stealing a loaf of
bread was despised by society, which shut the door in his face. He was
like a wild beast, you remember, and hated everyone. Well, by degrees,
Nick is finding himself in just about the same position. Everybody

looks on him as being thoroughly bad; and so he tells himself that since
he's got the name he might as well have the game."
"I suppose that's about the way it goes," Thad admitted.
"There's no doubt of it," Hugh told him. "Several times I remember we
had an idea Nick meant to reform; but he went back to his old ways
suddenly.