“Oh, by the way,” said Ray, as he rose and picked up a letter from the floor. “Here is a matter that I was just going to speak about when you suggested working together. It is a letter from Berkeley which Tony Larcom handed to me this afternoon. He has been writing the Park men about the date for the deciding game. Tony, according to my suggestion, has urged as late a day as possible. They have examinations over there almost the same time that we do, so they seemed to be quite agreeable to a delay. There has been some little correspondence concerning the matter, and this is their final letter, in which they agree to the date suggested by Tony; that is, the 21st of June.” “Why, that is the day before Commencement,” I said. “Yes,” answered Ray, “and all the better on that account. It will mean a large crowd of visitors and friends. This, of course, will swell the receipts of the Baseball Association, and will give us a strong and enthusiastic backing. There will be a great many graduates here to rejoice with us if we win the championship.” “It will be a great day, and we must not fail to do ourselves proud,” I responded. “Tell me frankly, Ray, which would you rather do: win the championship, or secure the valedictory oration?” “Now don’t try to catch me that way,” laughed Ray. “I shall not express any preference. I want _both_, and I intend to get both if possible.” “All right, old fellow,” I answered as we retired. “I sincerely hope you will.” CHAPTER XXXI GOOD NEWS The next week Ray was passing through his examinations, and I saw little of him. For several successive days he was even unable to be at the ball ground for our regular practice. By Friday, however, he had passed the last examination, and was free until commencement time. I was in a position to envy him this leisure, for my trial was just about to begin. The severest and most disagreeable tasks, however, have an end; and so, after a week’s hard driving with pen and paper in the large examination hall, I too found freedom. I was confident that I had done well, and felt reason to believe that I had gained a higher rank in my class than the year previous.