"Only a little fresh, that's all," remarked Phil, while Tom mumbled a few words that might have been taken for anything. The game with Michigan the next day demonstrated in how poor a condition was Randall, for the contest nearly went by the board, and Tom only pulled it out of the fire by excellent pitching, though he was not in the best of form. "Well, we won, anyhow," remarked Phil that night. "Yes, but nothing to boast of. I'm worried about the Fairview game Saturday," said the captain. "Do we play on their grounds?" "No, they come here." "Well, that's something in our favor. We'll have Bean Perkins and the other shouters with us. We've just got to win, Tom!" "I know it, but----" "There are no 'buts,' old man," declared the genial first baseman. "Just remember that the girls will be on hand, and they mustn't see us go down to defeat twice to a co-ed college." "No, of course not," and Tom turned in. The following days were devoted to practice--practice harder than any yet that term, for Tom and the coach worked the men every spare hour they could devote to the diamond, outside of lecture and study hours. Pete Backus improved wonderfully. He was not Sid's equal, but the best substitute that could be found. "Oh, Sid, but I wish you were going to play," said Tom, with a little sigh, the night before the Fairview game. "So do I," came in sorrowful tones from the second baseman. "But--Oh, well, what's the use of talking?" and he tried to laugh it off, but it was a poor attempt. Fairview was on hand early with a crowd of "rooters" and supporters, both young men and maidens, the next afternoon, when the Randall team fairly leaped out on the diamond. "I wonder if Ruth is here?" said Phil, as he stopped a particularly "hot" ball Tom threw. "Let's take a look," suggested the pitcher, and while the grand stand and bleachers were filling up the two strolled along, scanning the hundreds of faces. "There she is!" cried Tom at length. "Miss Tyler's with her." "And Miss Harrison is up there, too," added Phil. "And see who's with her--Miss Harrison, I mean." "Who?" "Langridge." "By Jove! you're right," agreed Tom. "I guess he came to get a line on us. Well, he'll get it." "Queer place he picked out to see the game from," went on Phil. "Why?" "It'll be sunny there, after a bit," replied Phil, for part of the seating accommodations on the Randall grounds were not of the best, and some grand stands were little better than the bleachers in the matter of shade. "He'll have the sun almost in his face before the game is half over," continued the first baseman. "Well, if it suits him, we oughtn't to kick," said Tom. "No, I s'pose not. Hello, if there isn't Sid, and he's going to sit right down behind Langridge and Miss Harrison."