The supremacy which Sandy had established in the base-ball days had lent him a permanent halo in the eyes of the younger boys of Clayton.

"Letter from Sandy this morning," Jimmy would announce, adding somewhat anxiously, "Ain't he on the team yet ?" The judge was obliging and easy-going, and he frequently gratified Jimmy's curiosity.
"No; he's studying pretty hard these days.

He says he is through with athletics." "Does he like it up there ?" "Oh, yes, yes; I guess he likes it well enough," the judge would answer tentatively; "but I am afraid he's working too hard." "Looks like a pity to spoil such a good pitcher," said Jimmy, thoughtfully.

"I never saw him lose but one game, and that nearly killed him." "Disappointment goes hard with him," said the judge, and he sighed.
Jimmy's chronic interest developed into acute curiosity the second winter--about the time the Nelsons returned to Clayton after a long absence.
On Thanksgiving morning he found two letters bearing his hero's handwriting.

One was to Judge Hollis and one to Miss Ruth Nelson.