ty good guess for you, Eli, so go up head," laughed Hugh; "for
I've just been told that is what has come about. Their deliberations
have closed, and presently there will be a general call issued for a
full meeting, at which their report is to be read. Then everybody will
know whether or not they have been deemed worthy of making a try for
honors in the diamond this season."

"We'll all be mighty glad when it's over, and those of us who are
unfortunate enough to get left high and dry can know the worst," said
K. K.

"Huh! you needn't lose any sleep over that, K. K.!" exclaimed Sandy
Dowd. "Everybody knows you're a jim-dandy at the bat, and a clever
fielder in the bargain. Wish I had as much chance as you and Hugh here
of making the nine. But then we must put faith in our committee, and
believe they'll select the ones they firmly believe are best fitted for
the job of holding down those heavy sluggers of Allandale. The rest of
us can root for the glory of old Scranton, and even that counts."

"But the committee, it seems, have gone even further," continued Hugh,
looking around at the eager faces of his chums, and also some who could
hardly be classed under that head.

"Go on and tell us the news, Hugh! Don't ye see we're just dying to
know?" pleaded Andy McGuffey.

"Have they been in touch with Allandale and Belleville?" asked the
sagacious Eli.

"It seems that last night they went over to Allandale to meet the
committee of that place, as well as the one representing Belleville,"
continued Hugh. "Matters of every kind were taken up and discussed.
The meeting ended with a programme being laid out that is to be rigidly
adhered to. Two weeks from tomorrow, Saturday, we will find ourselves
up against Belleville; and on the following Saturday it's to be
Allandale. Those two clubs have found a way of having their meetings
come off on Wednesday afternoons at three, a special favor granted by
the directors of the respective schools on account of there being but
three clubs in the league."

"Two weeks, and as yet we don't even know who's going to be on our
team!" burst out Eli. "Seems to me that's an awful short time to get
settled down into our best stride. Allandale will have a terrible
bulge on us, Hugh, because I hear they've kept almost the same team
that carried off the honors last year."

"If anything it's said to be some stronger," added Sandy Dowd,
ponderously, for he had a habit of looking solemn at