It was a hand-to-hand fight with the great mass of knowledge that had been accumulating at such a cruel rate during the years he had spent out of school.

He was making gallant progress when a catastrophe occurred.
The great ball game of the season, which was to be played in Lexington between the Clayton team and the Lexington nine, was set for June 2.
And June 2 was the day which cruel fate--masked as the board of trustees--had set for the academy examinations.

Sandy was the only member of the team who attended the academy, and upon him alone rested the full agony of renunciation.

His disappointment was so utterly crushing that it affected the whole family.
"Couldn't they postpone the game ?" asked the judge.
"It was the second that was the only day the Lexingtons could play," said Sandy, in black despair.

"And to think of me sitting in the bloomin' old school-room while Sid Gray loses the game in me place!" For a week before the great event he lived in retirement.