Ted Marsh on an Important Mission

by Elmer Sherwood

  "Ottawa wanted all the facts and it got them. I expect to hear furtherfrom them in the course of the day."

  "I wonder," said Walker, "if our friends will be polite enough toreturn my dictaphone. They should, it does not belong to them and theyprobably know to whom, it does belong."

  "You might go over and claim it," answered Strong.

  "I think I will, just to see old Winckel's face."

  Strong turned to Ted.

  "Dear lad," he said, "what you did isn't the kind of thing that canappear in the newspapers, but it is the kind about which history ismade. It is a big job you have accomplished. The men who sent you downto us made no mistake in their judgment as to what you could do. SirRobert Wingate wanted to know all about you, I must have talked to himfor more than twenty minutes on the telephone.

  "Walker and I go to Ottawa on a late train today. They want to see me,to go fever details.

  "Well, let's get busy with the last threads of what happened lastnight--we have to put it down on black and white for future,reference. When do you want to return to Wayland, Ted?"

  "I should like to go by Saturday, if it can be arranged," answeredTed.

  "Well, I think it can be done. I shall return tomorrow night or earlythe following morning. You will be free for these two days. Have agood time; remember, we pay all your expenses--nothing is too goodfor you. If you can, come down the day after tomorrow. I may have somenews for you."

  "I shall be glad to come down," answered Ted, as he wondered at thenews to which Strong had reference.

  They spent a half hour or more going over the events of the evening,Strong's secretary taking notes. Then Ted left and returned home.

  That afternoon he took his mother to the ball game and saw the Cubsdefeat the Giants. He tried to explain the game to his mother, whopretended an interest and tried hard to understand. But she found hertruant fancy going elsewhere--it centered about this boy of hers, herdaughter and also about the husband who could not endure thetroubleous times, not because of the hardship to himself so much asthe hardship to her and the child.

  Ted's interest was not divided, however, except in rare moments whenhe would turn to his mother and accuse her of lack of interest. Shewould flush guiltily and pretend that she was interested. She wouldask a question or two, but her very questions convicted her, showedher inability to understand, and Ted gave it up as a hopeless job andcomforted himself in the belief that only men understood the game, itwas too deep for women, excepting one or two, who knew something.

  As they rode home the boy and the mother discussed the improvement intheir condition.

  "We will never have to worry any more, mother, not as long as I amable," the boy said, with all of youth's surety and confidence.

  Mrs. Marsh wiped an unbidden tear from her eye.

  "I am very happy, dear. And yet, I would give so much if your fatherwas one of us. He was a fine man, but things were against him, toomuch so."

  Ted did not answer, he felt that nothing he could say would help.

  After a long period of quiet, the boy spoke a little more quietly:"Never mind, mother, you have Helen and me."

  "I am happy in my riches," answered the mother proudly.

  When they reached home, both of them began to get the supper ready sothat Helen would not have to wait. A brilliant idea came to Ted asthey prepared. "Mother," he said excitedly, "let's not eat at hometonight. We are going to the theater, so let us have supper out."

  At first the mother demurred, but she gave way--there was greattemptation in the unusual treat. When Helen came home and was told theplan she was even more excited than they; it was so unusual anadventure. You can readily believe that it was a happy party of threethat repaired to one of the many nice restaurants in the loop andafterward to the theater. They did not reach home until late in thenight. On the way home they discussed what the news could be thatStrong would have for Ted.

  The next day Ted spent at the Settlement, renewing old acquaintances.Miss White, who had taken Mrs. Dean's place, was glad to see him andgave him a hearty welcome. She was greatly interested in his story ofhis year in the West and wanted to know all about Mrs. Dean. It was agreat day for Ted and the pleasantest of his stay in Chicago.

  On his way home that night Ted began to wish for Wayland. He had notrealized how much the place meant to him until now, Syd Graham and therest of the boys seemed very dear, very desirable.

  "I hope," he said to himself, "that nothing will keep me from going onSaturday."

  CHAPTER X

  TED RECEIVES A REWARD

  Sir Robert Wingate listened while John Strong told the story of theplotting and counterplotting in Chicago. Many times he madememorandums. He asked questions once or twice, but in the main he justlistened. When Strong finally completed his account, Sir Robert said:

  "We took immediate action at our end and the results are more thansatisfying. Strong, I do not want you to think for a minute that theimportance of what you men have done is underestimated. The excitementof the Great War, the necessity of secrecy as to what you haveaccomplished--all these facts may give you an idea that we do notconsider your work as important as it is. We do, however. Now, as tothis boy, Theodore Marsh. He must be an unusual youngster with a goodhead. He will bear watching."

  "Unfortunately for us, he is American. Those are the kind of boysCanada could use to advantage. Not only is he American, but loyallyso.

  "Well, he shall have acknowledgment of his deed of service. Tell me,is he from a family of wealth?"

  Strong briefly gave Sir Robert an account of Ted's past. The latternodded his head understandingly.

  "I think we will also give a more practical acknowledgment of thevalue of his service. The Government, I am sure, will be glad to givea reward of $1,000.00 to him. When you go back to Chicago, you willgive him a letter from me which will also hold a check for thatamount."

  You would think that both Strong and Walker were the ones who werereceiving the money, they showed how glad they were.

  Strong could not complete his work until late in the afternoon. Walkerand he boarded a train which brought them into Chicago about threeo'clock the next afternoon.

  "This letter and the enclosure will be a great surprise to Ted, won'tit?" said Walker. "I certainly am glad of it; he surely deserves it."

  "That he does, and I am just as glad. Let me manage the business ofletting him know about it."

  When they reached the office, Ted had already been there. He had left,saying that he would be back at two o'clock, when told that Strongwould not arrive until the afternoon.

  Promptly at two Ted showed up. Strong saw him as he opened the doorand greeted him warmly.

  "Hello, Ted; it's good to see you. We certainly shall miss you whenyou go back to Wayland. But I guess you will be glad to be back, won'tyou?"

  "I certainly will. I am going by way of Big Gulch and shall stop offat the ranch for a day or so."

  "That's a splendid idea, isn't it?" commented Walker.

  "Well, Ted, hear anything more from our friends, the enemy?" askedStrong, laughingly.

  "No, sir, but then I would not be the one to hear. I thought Mr.Walker would, he was going to claim his property."

  They all laughed.

  "By Jove, I must do that; I have completely forgotten it," remarkedWalker.

  "Well, Ted, they were very nice at Ottawa. I understand the Governmentis going to honor you in some way for your service; they even spoke ofdoing the same thing for both Walker and myself."

  Strong gave Ted an outline of what had happened, but made no mentionof the letter from Sir Robert. Walker was tempted to remind him,thinking that he had forgotten, but he remembered that Strong had saidhe wished to handle that end himself.

  "I suppose you will be busy packing and getting ready tomorrow. Youleave at four on Saturday afternoon? Come down and see us before yougo. When we need your services again, we'll have you come on."

  Ted got up to go. As he opened the door, Strong called t
o him.

  "I say, Ted, I almost forgot another thing which probably is not veryimportant. I have a letter for you; silly, not to have remembered."And Strong smiled, while Walker laughed.

  "For me?" said Ted wonderingly, as he took the letter. Then, as heopened it, he saw the check. He looked at it a little dazed. He sawhis name as if in a haze--then he saw the amount.

  "One thousand dollars--and for me?" He stammered the words, he wasalmost stricken dumb.

  "Yes, for you--to do with as you will. You certainly deserve it," saidStrong.

  "Every bit of it," added Walker.

  Ted had a feeling as if he wanted to cry. He did. Walker patted him onthe shoulder understandingly, while Strong looked out of the windowand pretended he did not see.

  "There is a letter which you might be glad to read and which I thinkwill be almost as welcome as the money." Strong turned round and facedhim as he said this.

  The boy opened the letter.

  "August 2, 1914.

  "Master Theodore Marsh, "Chicago, Illinois.

  "Dear Theodore:

  "Mr. Strong has advised me as to the service you have done Canada. It has been a big service, one that Canada must remember. I want you to know that it does and will. You have shown a capacity for thinking, for doing the right thing at the right time. I think even better than both these things, though, has been the simple way in which you have carried out instructions when conditions were such as to put up to you the burden of necessary action. What would have been a remarkable accomplishment for a man is a tremendous accomplishment for a boy.

  "I regret the fact that you are not Canadian but am glad you are a loyal American. Your country is fortunate in having a boy of your kind. I hope you will have the future that your present action promises.

  "The enclosed, in a small way, signalizes a reward for your invaluable services.

  "I hope to have the pleasure of meeting you at some time, and I am,

  "Very sincerely yours, "Robert Wingate."

  "That's a fine letter, isn't it?" said Ted, when he finished. He spokein a low voice--he did not trust his feelings.

  "Yes, it's fine. Sir Robert is a great man. He does things in a bigway. But I think you want to go home now, so go."

  And Ted did.

  CHAPTER XI

  TED GOES BACK

  "But, Ted, it would be impossible for us to go on Saturday. I am notso sure that we can go at all, it will require a lot of thinking."

  Mrs. Marsh had heard the wonderful news and Ted's sudden plan for themto go out to Big Gulch or Wayland. She was trying to show Ted howimpossible it was for them to do it and he was only just beginning toacknowledge that perhaps Saturday would be too soon.

  "Well, I tell you, mother. Maybe Saturday is too soon, but you will beready in two weeks--that is plenty of time. I know that Helen will beable to do whatever she wants to do out there--and this money, afterwe have repaid the Deans, will help to tide over the time until we aresettled. We shall hear what Helen says--and I shall speak to Mr. andMrs. Dean when I get out there."

  Helen was told the news almost before she passed the doorstep. She wasastonished and glad and cried all in the same minute.

  "How wonderful!" she finally managed to say.

  Then she was told of Ted's plan. The boy had thought that she mightneed convincing, but she agreed almost at once.

  "I know I can obtain a position in my line of work out there. It is aland of opportunity and we should grasp the chance to get out there."

  All that remained was for Ted to get the opinion of the Deans.

  Ted went down to say good-bye to Strong and Walker the next day. Bothmen were very busy, but the three had lunch together and Ted promisedto write to both of them.

  "You may have to write both of us at the front--we shall go off to thewar--that is, Walker will. It may be my bad luck to have to stay onduty here, although I have asked to be relieved."

  "Well, Ted," said Walker, "I shall see you at the train."

  "And I will try to do so," added Strong.

  The boy told both his friends of the plan to bring his mother andsister out West. They agreed that it was a good plan.

  His mother and sister, and Walker and Strong saw him depart. It wasjust a year before that Ted had left, what a big year it had been.

  Ted's thoughts turned to the ranch. He was eager to see Red Mack,Smiles, Graham, Pop, and the Deans. He hoped it would be Red who wouldmeet him--and that he would bring his horse down so that they could goback to the ranch on horseback. Of course, in all likelihood, it wouldbe the Packard that would come down for him, for the distance was longand it would mean a lot of extra trouble for Red or anyone to lead hishorse down all the way. The trip to Big Gulch seemed long because ofthe boy's eagerness to see his friends. He awakened very early on thesecond morning when the train was due. When the train finally reachedthe station, he eagerly looked out to see who was there. But he couldsee no one until he stepped from the train.

  There stood Red and next to him Pop. There were three horses and oneof them was his.

  Glad greetings were exchanged.

  "My, I'm glad you came for me on horseback. I hoped you would, but itseemed too much to expect."

  "Well, we figured you would like it. Glad you do."

  They started off. As best he could, Ted told his story and both of themen listened with different interest. When Ted came to that part whereit had practically been settled that his mother and Helen were to comeout, a queer look came into Pop's eyes which neither of them saw. Theolder man rode behind most of the way after that.

  "You should see Wolf, you would not know him," said Red.

  "I guess he would not know me, either," answered Ted.

  "He may be your dog, but I'm kind of attached to him myself," remarkedRed.

  Some time in the afternoon they reached the ranch. Smiles was thereand so were the other men and they gave Ted a great welcome.

  So did Wolf, who had grown wonderfully, and who, while he did notlook like any particular kind of dog, showed himself to have anindividuality, all his own. He sprang at Ted and barked his delight.It made Ted feel good to have the dog remember him. It was queer tosee how the dog tried to pay attention to both Red and Ted, and itmade the men laugh at his double devotion.

  Ted hurried to the house where Mrs. Dean was waiting for him. Sheshowed how glad she was to see him.

  "Mr. Dean will be back a little later. He has been very busy."

  Ted thought he would wait with his news until later and merelymentioned some of the things that had happened.

  "Ted, dear," said Mrs. Dean, "I want to tell you that we are going tohave a little stranger in this house, soon." Then Ted knew why he hadhesitated about blurting out his news--there was an even bigger eventto happen.

  "I'm so glad," said he.

  He stayed a little while only, as Mrs. Dean did not seem strong.

  He saw Dean when he came home. To both of his friends he told hisnews, what had been done, he showed Sir Robert's letter and then spokeof his plan for his mother and sister.

  "How wonderful," said Mrs. Dean, while John Dean looked tenderly ather.

  "I'm proud of you, Ted. I counted on you, but you did much more. Iheard from Strong, but I did not know what had been accomplished. Asto your mother and sister--they must come out here--the wonderfulthing is that Mrs. Dean will need your mother's help very soon and itall seems to fit one thing into another. Helen will get a rest here;she need not worry as to finding the right kind of opportunity. Whendo you expect to write home?"

  "At once," answered Ted.

  "The sooner they come the better, although I suppose it will be everybit of two weeks."

  Ted started to leave his friends to rejoin Red and the rest. Deancaught up with him about one hundred yards from the house.

  "You know, Ted," he started withou
t any preamble, "I feel as if mycountry is calling me. I cannot think of going until the child isborn and Mrs. Dean is well. But I shall have to, hard as it may be.That is one reason why I shall be glad to have your sister and yourmother here. They will be company for Mrs. Dean. She agrees with methat I should go. She is the bravest, best woman in the world." Hestopped for a minute. "I shall see you later, as soon as Mrs. Deantakes her rest. I want to know all about Chicago and what happened."

  He returned to the house while Ted joined the men.

  They were in the midst of a discussion of the war. Ted listened.Smiles and several of the other men were leaving in three days--offfor the war. Red was not going--he was American. "I may go later, ifthey need me," he said. There was to be a great shortage of men at theranch.

  Dean had made Pop the new foreman to take Smiles' place. Pop was notin the conversation, he was sitting by himself and he showed everydesire to be left alone. After a little while, he left the room.

  It made the war very near and Ted felt very lonely to hear that thesefriends of his were going off, some of them never to return.

  CHAPTER XII

  THE MARSHES REUNITED

  Pop entered the house. He wanted advice and he wanted it bad. He knewthat ordinarily he would have gone to Mrs. Dean--a woman would help somuch at a time like this. But Dean met him in the hall.