ls of the baseball season at Brill that year. As my old readers know, the college had a baseball

players who had hitherto played only on the scrub, and the whole team lacked the practice that was essential to success. The most serious loss was in the battery, both the pitcher and catcher of the year previous having left the college. Bob Grimes, who played at shortstop, was the captain, and after a good many tryouts, he had put Spud Jackson in as catcher. For

eam against Bill Harney, who had been pitching on the scrub. Tom had managed to hold the scrub down to thre

rney isn't so bad. He had a little ill luck to-

them. Just the same, I think y

t six innings, it was a nip-and-tuck battle between the two pitchers. But from that time on, Dare Phelps seemed to go to pi

, as he rushed up and took the other by the shoul

as true, because a minute later Dare Phelps left the diamond and disappeared from view. Nearly everybody in the college had watched the game

lder Rover in the morning. "Phelps acknowledges that you are a better

the regular games," returned Tom, modestl

hat," and Bob grinned broadly. "We'll sho

ast Fall, Roxley had suffered its second defeat on the gridiron at the hands of Brill. But the Spring previous, its baseball nine had literally "wiped up the diamond"

aska, Sam had given almost his entire time to his studies. He was quite a baseball p

hether you pass with flying colors or not, Tom," he said. "But if I am to return

ame or two," persisted Tom. "It doesn't seem

played some

for the regular thing. You could be on t

Bob would not ask him to play any inside position. By a toss-up, it had been decided that the game should take place on the Roxley grounds. As a consequence

. "We can go over to Hope in the auto for them, and I think it would be nice

e," replied Tom, "Let us

a note to Minnie, asking her to be ready when the auto arrive

ening before the great game was to take place. And Sp

the room which he and half a dozen others were occupying. "Now, I sup

e by one the stars began to appear. In the morning, the sun came up as bright as ever, and by ten o'clock the ground was as dry as any one could wish. The day was a Saturday, and, of course, a holiday both at Brill and Roxley. By eleven o

t Tom, as he ran the automo

had a dresssuit case with To

is So

I thought he

college came rushing across the campus. He was dressed i

eral long tin horns. Into the automobile piled the boys, and then, with a loud sounding of the horn, Tom turned on the power

m, as they bowled along over the bridge. "But, I think it might have been b

d Tom. "I would like to find out whethe

Let your, mind rest on the game-and

tood waiting on the porch, and once they were in the car, the

the tonneau with Grace and Songbird. The younger girl was

e missing ring?" questioned Tom, while

om," answered N

have questioned

uestioned a number of the

said anything mor

fairly makes me shiver. Oh, Tom, sometimes I don't know how I am

t least, for to-day. Think of the jolly good time we a

e sure Roxley would come out ahead. They said they have an unusually strong nine this

Nevertheless, we ho

!" cried Songbird. "With T

am. "Tom has got some curves

in a short while they came in sight of the Sanderson farm. Mr. Sanderson was at work in an

along," sang

d then he brought over a pail full of apples, and dumped them in the tonneau of the car. Minnie, looking as fresh and sweet as ever, was on the pia

do so?" said Minnie, reproachfully

Mr. Sanderson, with a broad grin. "If ye don't want to eat them,

ied Sam, and then, with a toot of the horn,