pitcher than he is, and I think Bill Harney will have to do the same."

"Better wait and see how I pitch in one of the regular games,"
returned Tom, modestly. "For all you know, I may go to pieces."

"Nonsense, Tom! I know you too well for that," and Bob grinned
broadly. "We'll show Roxley College this year what we can do."

Every year there were two contests between Brill and Roxley, a rival
college located some miles away. One contest was at baseball, and the
other football. During the past 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" with Brill by a
score of 6 to 0. My, readers can, therefore, well imagine how anxious
the baseball management was to win the game scheduled to come off in
about a week.

Since returning to college from his trip to New York, and then the
longer trip to Alaska, Sam had given almost his entire time to his
studies. He was quite a baseball player, but he felt that to play on
the regular team would take too much of his time.

"If you are going to leave college this June, it won't make so much
difference whether you pass with flying colors or not, Tom," he said.
"But if I am to return in the Fall, I want to make sure that I am not
going to do so under conditions."

"But, Sam, I don't see why you can't play a game or two," persisted
Tom. "It doesn't seem natural for you to keep out of it altogether."