Well, there is never a town or a village but has its particular bully; and for several years now Nick Lang had ably filled that role in Scranton.
He was a born "scrapper," and never so happy as when annoying others.
A fight appeared to be the acme of pleasure with him, and it was seldom that he could be seen without some trace of a mix-up on his face in the shape of scratches, or a suspicious hue about one of his eyes.
The other boy was Leon Disney, the "under-study" of Nick.

While just as tough as the other, Leon never displayed the same amount of boldness.

He would rather attain his revenge through some petty means, being a born sneak.

The boys only tolerated Leon because Nick chose to stand up for him; and every one disliked to anger the Lang fellow, on account of his way of making things unpleasant for others.
The general talk continued, with Nick taking part in it, for he at least was known to be a smart hand at athletics, and had often led in such things as hammer-throwing and wrestling.
During the course of the conversation, which had become general, Eli chanced to mention the name of Owen Dugdale.
"Why, they say that even he aspires to get a place on the substitute list, just to think of his nerve.

Perhaps a few other fellows might feel they'd been slighted if the committee turned them down for Owen Dugdale." "Hold up there a bit, Eli," said K.K., reprovingly.