Harper's Round Table, August 4, 1896

In a bustling New Jersey town of the 1890s, the Bradfield family is thrown into turmoil when the older brother, Tom, falls ill with a fierce fever just before a crucial Yale baseball game. His younger sibling, Bingham, a spirited boy with a head full of dreams, is sent on a daring 25‑mile bike ride to Princeton to deliver the news and keep Tom’s hopes alive. The story captures the excitement of turn‑of‑the‑century college athletics and the tight‑knit bonds of family.

Bingham’s trek takes him across rugged, rutted roads, his determination turning the harsh terrain into a personal race. Upon reaching the storied campus, he is welcomed by Tom’s roommate, Frank Porter, who treats the boy like a celebrated guest, sharing stories of past glories and the latest campus inventions. As the day’s crowd gathers for the game, Bingham waits anxiously, his youthful energy blending with the palpable anticipation of a town ready to cheer.