Ted and the Telephone

by Sara Ware Bassett

  CHAPTER XIV

  THE FERNALDS WIN THEIR POINT

  The trial of Alf Sullivan and Jim Cronin was one of the mostspectacular and thrilling events Freeman's Falls had ever witnessed.That two such notorious criminals should have been captured through theefforts of a young boy was almost inconceivable to the police,especially to the State detectives whom they had continually outwitted.And yet here they were in the dock and the town officers made not theslightest pretense that any part of the glory of their apprehensionbelonged to them. To Ted Turner's prompt action, and to that alone, thetriumph was due.

  In consequence the boy became the hero of the village. He had alwaysbeen a favorite with both young and old, for every one liked hisfather, and it followed that they liked his father's son. Now, however,they had greater cause to admire that son for his own sake and cherishtoward him the warmest gratitude. Many a man and woman reflected thatit was this slender boy who had stood between them and a calamityalmost too horrible to be believed; and as a result their gratitude wastremendous. And if the townsfolk were sensible of this great obligationhow much more keenly alive to it were the Fernalds whose property hadbeen thus menaced.

  "You have topped one service with another, Ted," Mr. Lawrence Fernalddeclared. "We do not see how we are ever to thank you. Come, there mustbe something that you would like--some wish you would be happy to havegratified. Tell us what it is and perhaps we can act as magicians andmake it come true."

  "Yes," pleaded Mr. Clarence Fernald, "speak out, Ted. Do not hesitate.Remember you have done us a favor the magnitude of which can never bemeasured and which we can never repay."

  "But I do not want to be paid, sir," the lad answered. "I am quite asthankful as you that the wretches who purposed harm were caught beforethey had had opportunity to destroy either life or property. Certainlythat is reward enough."

  "It _is_ a reward in its way," the elder Mr. Fernald asserted. "Thethought that it was you who were the savior of an entire community willbring you happiness as long as you live. Nevertheless we should like togive you something more tangible than pleasant thoughts. We want you tohave something by which to remember this marvelous escape from tragedy.Deep down in your heart there must be some wish you cherish. If youknew the satisfaction it would give us to gratify it, I am sure youwould not be so reluctant to express it."

  Ted colored, and after hesitating an instant, shyly replied:

  "Since you are both so kind and really seem to wish to know, there issomething I should like."

  "Name it!" the Fernalds cried in unison.

  "I should like to feel I can return to the shack next summer," the boyremarked timidly. "You see, I have become very fond of Aldercliffe andPine Lea, fond of Laurie, of Mr. Hazen, and of the little hut. I havefelt far more sorry than perhaps you realize to go away from here." Hisvoice quivered.

  "You poor youngster!" Mr. Clarence exclaimed. "Why in the name ofgoodness didn't you say so? There is no more need of your leaving thisplace than there is of my going, or Laurie. We ought to have sensedyour feeling and seen to it that other plans were made long ago.Indeed, you shall come back to your little riverside abode nextsummer--never fear! And as for Aldercliffe, Pine Lea, Laurie and allthe rest of it, you shall not be parted from any of them."

  "But I must go back to school now, sir."

  "What's the matter with your staying on at Pine Lea and having yourlessons with Laurie and Mr. Hazen instead?"

  "Oh--why----"

  "Should you like to?"

  "Oh, Mr. Fernald, it would be----"

  Laurie's father laughed.

  "I guess we do not need an answer to that question," GrandfatherFernald remarked, smiling. "His face tells the tale."

  "Then the thing is as good as done," Mr. Clarence announced. "Hazenwill be as set up as an old hen to have two chicks. He likes you, Ted."

  "And well he may," growled Grandfather Fernald. "But for Ted's prayersand pleas he would not now be here."

  "Yes, Hazen will be much pleased," reiterated Mr. Clarence Fernald,ignoring his father's comment. "As for Laurie--I wonder we neverthought of all this before. It is no more work to teach two boys thanone, and in the meantime each will act as a stimulus for the other. Thespur of rivalry will be a splendid incentive for Laurie, to say nothingof the joy he will take in your companionship. He needs young peopleabout him. It is a great scheme, a great scheme!" mused Mr. Fernald,rubbing his hands with increasing satisfaction as one advantage of thearrangement after another rotated through his mind.

  "If only my father does not object," murmured Ted.

  "Object! Object!" blustered Grandfather Fernald. "And why, pray, shouldhe object?"

  That a man of Mr. Turner's station in life should view the plan withanything but pride and complacency was evidently a new thought to thefinancier.

  "Why, sir, my father and sisters are very fond of me and may not wishto have me remain longer away from home. They have missed me a lot thissummer, I know that. You see I am the youngest one, the only boy."

  "Humph!" interpolated the elder Mr. Fernald.

  "In spite of the fact that we are crowded at home and too busy to seemuch of one another, Father likes to feel I'm around," continued Ted.

  "I--suppose--so," came slowly from the old gentleman.

  "I am sure I can fix all that," asserted Mr. Clarence Fernald briskly."I will see your father and sisters myself, and I feel sure they willnot stand in the way of your getting a fine education when it isoffered you--that is, if they care as much for you as you say they do.On the contrary, they will be the first persons to realize that such aplan is greatly to your advantage."

  "It is going to be almightily to your advantage," Mr. Lawrence Fernaldadded. "Who can tell where it all may lead? If you do well at yourstudies, perhaps it may mean college some day, and a big, well-paid jobafterward."

  Ted's eyes shone.

  "Would you like to go to college if you could?" persisted the elderman.

  "You bet I would--I mean yes, sir."

  The old gentleman chuckled at the fervor of the reply.

  "Well, well," said he, "time must decide all that. First lay a goodfoundation. You cannot build anything worth building without somethingto build upon. You get your cellar dug and we will then see what wewill put on top of it."

  With this parting remark he and his son moved away.

  When the project was laid before Laurie, his delight knew no bounds. Tohave Ted come and live at Pine Lea for the winter, what a lark! Thinkof having some one to read and study with every day! Nothing could bejollier! And Mr. Hazen was every whit as pleased.

  "It is the very thing!" he exclaimed to Laurie's father. "Ted will notbe the least trouble. He is a fine student and it will be asatisfaction to work with him. Besides, unless I greatly miss my guess,he will cheer Laurie on to much larger accomplishments. Ted's influencehas never been anything but good."

  And what said Laurie's mother?

  "It is splendid, Clarence, splendid! We can refurnish that extra roomthat adjoins Laurie's suite and let Mr. Hazen and the boys have thatentire wing of the house. Nothing could be simpler. I shall be glad tohave Ted here. Not only is he a fine boy but he has proved himself agood friend to us all. If we can do anything for him, we certainlyshould do it. The lad has had none too easy a time in this world."

  Yes, all went well with the plan so far as the Fernalds were concerned;but the Turners--ah, there was the stumbling block!

  "It's no doubt a fine thing you're offering to do for my son," Ted'sfather replied to Mr. Clarence Fernald, "and I assure you I am notunmindful of your kindness; but you see he is our only boy and when heisn't here whistling round the house we miss him. 'Tain't as if we hadhim at home during his vacation. If he goes up to your place to worksummers and stays there winters as well, we shall scarcely see him atall. All we have had of him this last year was an occasional teatimevisit. Folks don't like having their children go out from the familyroof so young."

  "But, Father," put in Nancy, "think
what such a chance as this willmean to Ted. You yourself have said over and over again that there wasnothing like having an education."

  "I know it," mused the man. "There's nothing can equal knowingsomething. I never did and look where I've landed. I'll never go aheadnone. But I want it to be different with my boy. He's going to havesome stock in trade in the way of training for life. It will be a kindof capital nothing can sweep away. As I figure it, it will be a sureinvestment--that is, if the boy has any stuff in him."

  "An education is a pretty solid investment," agreed the elder Mr.Fernald, "and you are wise to recognize its value, Mr. Turner. Toplunge into life without such a weapon is like entering battle withouta sword. I know, for I have tried it."

  "Have you indeed, sir?"

  Grandfather Fernald nodded.

  "I was brought up on a Vermont farm when I was a boy."

  "You don't say so! Well, well!"

  "Yes, I never had much schooling," went on the old man. "Of course Ipicked up a lot of practical knowledge, as a boy will; and in some waysit has not been so bad. But it was a pretty mixed-up lot of stuff and Ihave been all my life sorting it out and putting it in order. Isometimes wonder when I think things over that I got ahead at all; itwas more happen than anything else, I guess."

  "The Vermonters have good heads on their shoulders," Mr. Turnerremarked.

  "Oh, you can't beat the Green Mountain State," laughed the senior Mr.Fernald, unbending into cordiality in the face of a common interest."Still, when it came to bringing up my boy I felt as you do. I wasn'tsatisfied to have him get nothing more than I had. So I sent him tocollege and gave him all the education I never got myself. It has stoodhim in good stead, too, and I've lived to be proud of what he's donewith it."

  "And well you may be, sir," Mr. Turner observed.

  Mr. Clarence Fernald flushed in the face of these plaudits and cut theconversation short by saying:

  "It is that kind of an education that we want to give your boy, Mr.Turner. We like the youngster and believe he has promise of somethingfine. We should like to prepare him for college or some technicalschool and send him through it. He has quite a pronounced bent forscience and given the proper opportunities he might develop intosomething beyond the ordinary rank and file."

  "Do you think so, sir?" asked Mr. Turner, glowing with pleasure. "Well,I don't know but that he has a sort of knack with wire, nails, andqueer machinery. He has tinkered with such things since he was a littlelad. Of late he has been fussing round with electricity and scaring usall to death here at home. His sisters were always expecting he'd meethis end or blow up the house with some claptraption he'd put together."

  Nancy blushed; then added, with a shy glance toward the Fernalds:

  "They say down at the school that Ted is quite handy with telephonesand such things."

  "Mr. Hazen, my son's tutor, thinks your brother has a knowledge ofelectricity far beyond his years," replied Mr. Clarence Fernald. "Thatis why it seems a pity his talents in that direction should not becultivated. Who knows but he may be an embryo genius? You never cantell what may be inside a child."

  "You're right there, sir," Mr. Turner assented cordially. Then after amoment of thought, he continued, "Likely an education such as you arefiguring on would cost a mint of money."

  The Fernalds, both father and son, smiled at the naive comment.

  "Well--yes," confessed Mr. Clarence slowly. "It would cost something."

  "A whole lot?"

  "If you wanted the best."

  Mr. Turner scratched his head.

  "I'm afraid I couldn't swing it," declared he, regret in his tone.

  "But we are offering to do this for you," put in Grandfather Fernald.

  "I know you are, sir; I know you are and I'm grateful," Ted's fatheranswered. "But if I could manage it myself, I'd----"

  "Come, Mr. Turner, I beg you won't say that," interrupted the elder Mr.Fernald. "Think what we owe to your son. Why, we never in all the worldcan repay what he has done for us. This is no favor. We are simplypaying our debts. You like to pay your bills, don't you?"

  "Indeed I do, sir!" was the hearty reply. "There's no happier momentthan the one when I take my pay envelope and go to square up what Iowe. True, I don't run up many bills; still, there is not always moneyenough on hand to make both ends meet without depending some oncredit."

  "How much do you get in the shipping room?"

  "Eighty dollars a month, sir."

  "And your daughters are working?"

  "They are in the spinning mills."

  Mr. Fernald glanced about over the little room. Although scrupulouslyneat, it was quite apparent that the apartment was far too crowded forcomfort. The furnishings also bespoke frugality in the extreme. It wasnot necessary to be told that the Turners' life was a closearithmetical problem.

  "Your family stand by us loyally," observed the financier.

  "We have your mills to thank for our daily bread, sir," Mr. Turneranswered.

  "And your boy--if he does not go on with his studies shall you have himenter the factories?"

  Mr. Turner squared his shoulders with a swift gesture of protest.

  "No, sir--not if I can help it!" he burst out. Then as if he suddenlysensed his discourtesy, he added, "I beg your pardon, gentlemen. Iwasn't thinking who I was talking to. It isn't that I do not like themills. It's only that there is so little chance for the lad to getahead there. I wouldn't want the boy to spend his life grubbing away asI have."

  "And yet you are denying him the chance to better himself."

  "I am kinder going round in a circle, ain't I?" returned Mr. Turnergently. "Like as not it is hard for you to understand how I feel. It'sonly that you hate to let somebody else do for your children. It seemslike charity."

  "Charity! Charity--when we owe the life of our boy, the lives of manyof our workmen, the safety of our mills to your son?" ejaculated Mr.Clarence Fernald with unmistakable sincerity.

  "When you pile it up that way it does sound like a pretty big debt,doesn't it?" mused Mr. Turner.

  "Of course it's a big debt--it is a tremendous one. Now try, Mr.Turner, and see our point of view. We want to take our envelope in ourhands and although we have not fortune enough in the world to wipe outall we owe, we wish to pay part of it, at least. No matter how much wemay be able to do for Ted in the future, we shall never be paying infull all that he has done for us. Much of his service we must accept asan obligation and give in return for it nothing but gratitude andaffection. But if you will grant us the privilege of doing this little,it will give us the greatest pleasure."

  If any one had told the stately Mr. Lawrence Fernald weeks before thathe would be in the home of one of his workmen, pleading for a favor, hewould probably have shrugged his shoulders and laughed; and even Mr.Clarence Fernald, who was less of an aristocrat than his father, woulddoubtless have questioned a prediction of his being obliged actually toimplore one of the men in his employ to accept a benefaction from him.Yet here they both were, almost upon their knees, theoretically, beforethis self-respecting artisan.

  In the face of such entreaty who could have remained obdurate?Certainly not Mr. Turner who in spite of his pride was thekindest-hearted creature alive.

  "Well, you shall have your way, gentlemen," he at length replied, "Tedshall stay on at Pine Lea, since you wish it, and you shall plan hiseducation as you think best. I know little of such matters and feelsure the problem is better in your hands than mine. I know you willwork for the boy's good. And I beg you won't think me ungratefulbecause I have hesitated to accept your offer. We all have our scruplesand I have mine. But now that I have put them in the background, Ishall take whole-heartedly what you give and be most thankful for it."

  Thus did the Fernalds win their point. Nevertheless they came away fromthe Turner's humble home with a consciousness that instead of bestowinga favor, as they had expected to do, they had really received one.Perhaps they did not respect Ted's father the less because of hisreluctance to take the splen
did gift they had put within his reach.They themselves were proud men and they had a sympathy for the pride ofothers. There could be no question that the interview had furnishedboth of them with food for thought for as they drove home in theirgreat touring car they did not speak immediately. By and by, however,Grandfather Fernald observed:

  "Don't you think, Clarence, Turner's pay should be increased? Eightydollars isn't much to keep a roof over one's head and feed a family ofthree persons."

  "I have been thinking that, too," returned his son. "They tell me he isa very faithful workman and he has been here long enough to have earneda substantial increase in wages. I don't see why I never got round todoing something for him before. The fellow was probably too proud toask for more money and unless some kick comes to me those things slipmy mind. I'll see right away what can be done."

  There was a pause and then the senior Mr. Fernald spoke again:

  "Do you ever feel that we ought to do something about furnishing betterquarters for the men?" he asked. "I have had the matter on myconscience for months. Look at that tenement of the Turners! It is old,out of date, crowded and stuffy. There isn't a ray of sunshine in it.It's a disgrace to herd a family into such a place. And I suppose thereare ever so many others like it in Freeman's Falls."

  "I'm afraid there are, Father."

  "I don't like the idea of it," growled old Mr. Fernald. "The houses alllook well enough until one goes inside. But they're terrible, terrible!Why, they are actually depressing. I haven't shaken off the gloom ofthat room yet. We own land enough on the other side of the river. Whycouldn't we build a handsome bridge and then develop that unused areaby putting up some decent houses for our people? It would increase thevalue of the property and at the same time improve the livingconditions of our employees. What do you say to the notion?"

  "I am ready to go in on any such scheme!" cried Mr. Clarence Fernaldheartily. "I'd like nothing better. I have always wanted to take up thematter with you; but I fancied from something you said once when Isuggested it that you----"

  "I didn't realize what those houses down along the water front werelike," interrupted Grandfather Fernald. "Ugh! At least sunshine doesnot cost money. We must see that our people get more of it."