He needed physical development more than any other fellow in Scranton High.

Constant feeding upon lofty ideas, and never given a chance to develop his muscles, was wrecking his health.

Mr.Leonard had even gone to Mrs.Jardine and entreated her to let him undertake a moderate programme of athletic exercises with Claude; but he might as well have tried to lift the high-school building as to make her change her set ideas.
Hugh and Thad had been out on a particular night after supper, visiting another boy who chanced to live on the outskirts of town.
He had received a wonderful collection of curios from an uncle living out in India, after whom he had been named; and upon being especially invited over to view these things, which included a wonderful assortment of rare postage stamps, the two chums had made it a point to accept, being greatly interested in all boyish "hobbies." That was how they happened to be passing along the road close to the athletic grounds about half-past nine o'clock that same night.
There was a fair moon shining, but objects appeared more or less misty, as often occurs under such conditions.

The boys had about exhausted their vocabulary of words that express delight, in examining the many things of interest shown by "Limpy" Wallace, who was a cripple, and had to use a crutch, he being also a great admirer of Hugh Morgan, whom he considered in the light of a hero.
Besides this, both boys were unusually tired after the exertions of the day, and Thad frequently yawned in a most terrific fashion, as he walked homeward.

Probably these were the main reasons for their unnatural silence, as they stalked along side by side; since it is seldom that two lads will refrain from exchanging opinions on some subject or other, when in company.
Afterwards, in the light of what happened, they were inclined to believe that it was exceedingly fortunate they had lapsed into this queer condition of silence, for, otherwise, they would have missed something that proved unusually interesting, as well as afforded them more or less excitement.
It was Thad who discovered it first.