"Yes, it's all to the merry," put in Stanley, who had come up with
Bob. "But tell us privately, William, are you going to depend on a
straight ball and speed, or are you going to give them some curves and
fadeaways?"

"Now, see here!" spluttered the dudish student. "I am not a baseball
pitcher, and I want. you to----"

"Oh, William, don't try that game on us! '" burst out Stanley. "We
know that you have been practicing pitching for the past two months;
that you took lessons from one of the greatest ball twirlers in the
Western League. Of course, we understand that you wanted to surprise
us; and I must confess, it is a surprise."

"But a mighty agreeable one," came from Spud, who had joined the
crowd, while Tom hovered behind William Philander, grinning broadly
over what was taking place. "Brill has wanted a really great pitcher
for years. Of course, we have won some victories with ordinary
pitchers, but the moment I heard that you had taken to twirling the
sphere, I said to all my friends; 'This is the year that Brill is
going to come out on top.' My dear Tubbs, I think we ought to get down
on our knees, and thank you for doing this much for our college. I am
sure the board of directors, when they hear of this, will certainly
give you a vote of thanks, because success in baseball and other
athletic sports is what makes a college in these days. And you are
taking up the sport in such a thoroughly systematic manner

"Oh, my dear fellow!" pleaded William Philander, frantically. "This is
all some dreadful mistake, don't you know. How it came about, I can't