“Just make sure that we’ll win out on this,” said Foote. “We may not be able to get Merriwell—this time—but we’ll get one of his pet seniors, anyhow. And he won’t be able to find out about this stunt.”
He took a bunch of keys from his pocket, and, to Parker’s surprise, had no difficulty in gaining admittance to Dwight Hall, where the examination in history had been held. Foote believed in being thorough, if nothing else. He was inside for half an hour, and when he came out, seemed to be delighted.
CHAPTER XVIII
A DEFEAT FOR YALE.
The brief sensation that had been caused the night before by the dean’s announcement as to the history examination and the suspension of Taylor and Gray, was not allowed to last long in the morning. It was announced that Professor Canfield himself was thoroughly satisfied that everything was all right, and the dean immediately revoked the suspensions.
New Haven presented a lovely sight. The June day was perfect as to weather, warm and bright, with just enough wind to make it cool and comfortable. From all over the country the friends and families of the seniors, who occupied the principal place in the day’s program, had gathered to see the impressive ceremonies of the graduation.
The seniors themselves, looking highly dignified and important in their new caps and gowns, were to be seen on all sides, showing pretty girls the sights of the college and the town; pointing out to proud parents and sisters the various landmarks of which they had all heard so much and so often; and, generally, making the most of their great day.
Sometimes in a group there would be some man with white hair and beard who had little need of his son’s guidance, and he would go to some old classroom, and point out to his boy the desk where he had carved his own name years before.
For the great baseball game with Harvard, also, a mighty crowd had come to town. The trains from Boston had poured out hundreds of enthusiastic youngsters from Cambridge, their confidence not shaken a bit by the fact that Yale had already won one victory, sure that this was Harvard’s day.
And all over town, too, were old Yale men, back to celebrate the anniversaries of their own departure from New Haven years before. Every year scores of classes celebrate their reunions. Men, three, five, ten, fifteen, twenty, twenty-five years from Yale, had hired houses and floors of hotels, and there all sorts of meetings took place. Men who had not seen each other for years, during which business cares had kept them apart, rushed into each others arms and reminded one another of the old days when they had been boys in Yale, where their own boys were now students. And, after the formal commencement exercises, when the diplomas had been given out with due solemnity, it was time to get ready for the game.