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.”

“Well, I have played some on the scrub.”

“Oh, I know, but that isn’t like going in for the regular thing.  You could be on the regular team if you really wanted to.”

This matter was talked over several times, but Sam refused to be entirely persuaded.  He, however, finally agreed to go on the bench as a substitute, provided 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, the boys of Brill and their friends would have to go to the other college either by train from Ashton, or in automobiles or some other kinds of conveyances.

“Of course, we’ll take the girls, Tom,” said Sam, in talking the matter over.  “We can go over to Hope in the auto for them, and I think it would be nice if we took Songbird along and stopped at the Sanderson cottage for Minnie.”

“All right, that suits me,” replied Tom, “Let us ask Songbird about it.”

Of course the would-be poet was delighted, and he at once sent a note to Minnie, asking her to be ready when the auto arrived.  The girls at Hope were communicated with over the telephone.

“I’m afraid it’s going to rain,” said Spud, on the evening before the great game was to take place.  And Spud was right.  By nine o’clock it was raining steadily.

“Just our confounded luck!” muttered Songbird, as he paced up and down the room which he and half a dozen others were occupying.  “Now, I suppose that game and our nice auto ride will be all knocked in the head.”

“Don’t worry so early,” returned Sam, cheerfully.  “I don’t think this is anything more than a shower, and we need that to lay the dust.”  Sam proved to be right, for before some of the boys retired, the rain had stopped coming down, and one 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’clock, a carryall had taken a large number of the students to Ashton, where they were to take a special train for Roxley.  All of the automobiles at Brill were in use, and with them all of the turnouts that could be hired in the vicinity.