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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/28769-h.zip b/28769-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..b006dd4 --- /dev/null +++ b/28769-h.zip diff --git a/28769-h/28769-h.htm b/28769-h/28769-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d21fbc5 --- /dev/null +++ b/28769-h/28769-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,3303 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1" /> +<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of Ted Marsh on an Important Mission, by Elmer Sherwood</title> +<style type="text/css"> + p {margin-top: 0.5em; text-align: justify; margin-bottom: 0.5em;} + body {margin-left: 11%; margin-right: 10%;} + a {text-decoration: none;} + @media screen { + hr.pb {margin:30px 0; width:100%; border:none;border-top:thin dashed silver;} + .pagenum {display: inline; font-size: x-small; text-align: right; position: absolute; right: 2%; padding: 1px 3px; font-style: normal; font-variant:normal; font-weight:normal; text-decoration: none; background-color: inherit; border:1px solid #eee;} + .pncolor {color: silver;} + } + @media print { + hr.pb {border:none;page-break-after: always;} + .pagenum { display:none; } + } + h3 {font-size:1.0em;} + hr.fn {width:3em; border:none; border-bottom:1px solid black; margin-left:0; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em;} + .footnote .label {position: absolute; right: 84%; text-align: right;} + .footnote {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-size: 0.9em;} + h1,h2,h3 {text-align:center; font-weight:normal;} + h1.pg {text-align:center; font-weight:bold; font-size: 190%; } + h3.pg {text-align:center; font-weight:bold; font-size: 110%; } + .fnanchor {font-size: .8em; text-decoration: none;} + .figcenter {margin: 2em auto 2em auto; text-align: center;} + p.tp {font-size:1em; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0; text-align:center;} + .caption {font-size:smaller;} + hr.tb {border:none; margin-top: 2em;} + table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; clear: both;} + h1 {font-size:1.4em;} + hr.major {width: 65%; margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 2em; border:none; border-bottom:1px solid silver; clear:both;} + h2 {font-size:1.2em;} + + hr.full { width: 100%; + margin-top: 3em; + margin-bottom: 0em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + height: 4px; + border-width: 4px 0 0 0; /* remove all borders except the top one */ + border-style: solid; + border-color: #000000; + clear: both; } + pre {font-size: 85%;} +</style> +</head> +<body> +<h1 class="pg">The Project Gutenberg eBook, Ted Marsh on an Important Mission, by Elmer +Sherwood, Illustrated by Alice Carsey</h1> +<pre> +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at <a href = "http://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a></pre> +<p>Title: Ted Marsh on an Important Mission</p> +<p>Author: Elmer Sherwood</p> +<p>Release Date: May 12, 2009 [eBook #28769]</p> +<p>Language: English</p> +<p>Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1</p> +<p>***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TED MARSH ON AN IMPORTANT MISSION***</p> +<p> </p> +<h3 class="pg">E-text prepared by Roger Frank<br /> + and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team<br /> + (http://www.pgdp.net)</h3> +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<p> </p> + +<div class='figcenter'> +<a name='linki_1' id='linki_1'></a> +<img src='images/illus-fpc.jpg' alt='' title='' style='width: 330px; height: 561px;' /><br /> +<p class='caption' style='margin: 0 auto; text-align:center; width: 330px;'> +HE SPRANG AT TED AND BARKED HIS DELIGHT<br /> +</p> +</div> +<hr class='pb' /> + +<p class='tp' style='font-size:2em;margin-top:20px;margin-bottom:60px;'>Ted Marsh on An<br />Important Mission</p> +<p class='tp' >by</p> +<p class='tp' style='font-size:larger;'>ELMER SHERWOOD</p> +<p class='tp' style='font-size:smaller;margin-bottom:75px;'>Author of “Ted Marsh, the Boy<br />Scout”, “Buffalo Bill’s Boyhood”,<br />“Buffalo Bill and the Pony Express”,<br />etc., etc.</p> +<p class='tp' style='font-style:italic;font-size:smaller;margin-bottom:30px;'>Illustrations by Alice Carsey</p> +<p class='tp' style='font-variant:small-caps;margin-bottom:20px;'>Whitman Publishing Co.</p> +<hr class='pb' /> +<h3>CONTENTS</h3> +<table border='0' cellpadding='2' cellspacing='0' summary='Contents' style='margin:1em auto;'> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>I.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>Ted Decides to Accept</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_I_TED_DECIDES_TO_ACCEPT'>11</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>II.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>Plans Are Made to Meet Ted</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_II_PLANS_ARE_MADE_TO_MEET_TED'>24</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>III.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>Ted Arrives in Chicago</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_III_TED_ARRIVES_IN_CHICAGO'>33</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>IV.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>Ted Meets Strong</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_IV_TED_MEETS_STRONG'>39</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>V.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>Setting a Trap</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_V_SETTING_A_TRAP'>47</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>VI.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>Strong Seems Checkmated</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_VI_STRONG_SEEMS_CHECKMATED'>57</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>VII.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>The Dictaphone at Work</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_VII_THE_DICTAPHONE_AT_WORK'>68</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>VIII.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>Winckel Calls a Halt</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_VIII_WINCKEL_CALLS_A_HALT'>80</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>IX.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>At Ottawa</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_IX_AT_OTTAWA'>87</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>X.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>Ted Receives a Reward</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_X_TED_RECEIVES_A_REWARD'>94</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>XI.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>Ted Goes Back</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_XI_TED_GOES_BACK'>101</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>XII.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>The Marshes Reunited</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_XII_THE_MARSHES_REUNITED'>108</a></td> +</tr> +</table> +<hr class='pb' /> +<h3>ILLUSTRATIONS</h3> +<div style='font-size:smaller'> +<table border='0' cellpadding='2' cellspacing='0' summary='Illustrations' style='margin:1em auto;'> +<col style='width:80%;' /> +<col style='width:20%;' /> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='left'>HE SPRANG AT TED AND BARKED HIS DELIGHT</td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#linki_1'>4</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='left'>CAUTIOUSLY HE PROWLED ABOUT</td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#linki_2'>13</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='left'>TED FREES THE PRISONERS</td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#linki_3'>77</a></td> +</tr> +</table> +</div> +<hr class='pb' /> +<h1>TED MARSH ON AN IMPORTANT MISSION</h1> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_11' name='page_11'></a>11</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_I_TED_DECIDES_TO_ACCEPT' id='CHAPTER_I_TED_DECIDES_TO_ACCEPT'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER I</h2> +<h3>TED DECIDES TO ACCEPT</h3> +</div> +<p>“Ted, oh Ted.”</p> +<p>The speaker’s hail was not altogether +unexpected. The boy called Ted turned +about and met Captain Wilson half way.</p> +<p>The familiar figure of the boy proves to +be Ted Marsh who had come out to Western +Canada with his friends, John Dean and +Mrs. Dean. After a number of months on +the Double X Ranch, months which the +boy had found both exhilarating and tremendously +to his liking, he had been sent +to Wayland Academy. To those of us who +have read Ted Marsh the Boy Scout, the +following facts are familiar. A brief resume, +however, is set forth herewith for +those readers who are new so that they can +safely gather the threads of our story.</p> +<p>Ted Marsh, a likeable newsboy, living in +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_12' name='page_12'></a>12</span> +Chicago, makes the acquaintance of John +Dean, a Canadian rancher. Ted takes him +to the Settlement to which he belongs. +Dean’s interest in the boy grows. Then as +the boy begins to show the man the Chicago +that he knows, there is the startling +clamor of fire engines and all the evidence +of a nearby fire. It is in the tenement in +which Ted lives. The boy cannot be held +back. He rushes into the building to try +to save his mother. Fortunately, his mother +has already left the burning building. The +boy is caught within and only makes his +escape by jumping from the window on high +into the firemen’s waiting net below.</p> +<p>After a stay in the hospital John Dean +and his wife take the boy West with the consent +of his mother who unselfishly lets him +go because opportunity, so she feels, is there. +Ted’s father had left home just before Ted +was born.</p> +<div class='figcenter'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_13' name='page_13'></a>13</span> +<a name='linki_2' id='linki_2'></a> +<img src='images/illus-013.jpg' alt='' title='' style='width: 330px; height: 558px;' /><br /> +<p class='caption' style='margin: 0 auto; text-align:center; width: 330px;'> +CAUTIOUSLY HE PROWLED ABOUT<br /> +</p> +</div> +<p>Strong interest centers around the doings +of Ted and his new-found friends both +at the ranch and at the academy. Adventures +are many. The boy is found to be +cool in emergencies. He has qualities which +bring respect and liking. The end of the +story finds him suggested for an important +mission to Chicago—and his youth is considered +of great advantage by the gentlemen +who wish to send him. The opening of +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_14' name='page_14'></a>14</span> +the present story finds Captain Wilson hailing +Ted, ready to broach the subject and find +out if the boy is willing or unwilling to undertake +the mission:</p> +<p>The boy saluted. He stood at attention +while the captain studied him for a few +moments.</p> +<p>“Ted, boy, I come to you on very important +business. Not as Scout to Scout, +but as man to man. For you can safely refuse +to do this—it will not count against +you as Scout. Did Mr. Dean see you?”</p> +<p>“Yes sir,” the boy replied. “He told me +that in all probability you would wish to +see me in reference to an important matter. +And he told me that when you did ask me, +I was to be sure to decide with no other +thought than that of either wanting or not +wanting to do it. He doesn’t want my +friendship for him or for anyone else to influence +me.”</p> +<p>“That’s exactly it, Ted. What we are +going to ask you to do, you must, first, want +to do, second, feel that you can do, third, be +sure it is in line with any convictions you +may have. Now, I suppose you are even +more anxious to know what it is all about?”</p> +<p>The boy nodded his assent but waited for +the other to continue.</p> +<p>“Whatever we are going to tell you or +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_15' name='page_15'></a>15</span> +which you may gather you do under pledge +of secrecy. And now let us go to meet +Major Church. While we are on our way, +bear with me for a few minutes while I go +into all this for you.</p> +<p>“Germany, we all feel, is getting ready +to make war. Most people cannot realize it, +but we have fairly good proof gathered both +in London and in Ottawa that it is so. We +also know that over in the States a big army +of so-called German Americans but who are +Germans in reality, men who have never +severed their allegiance to the Fatherland, +are getting ready, preparing to invade +Canada. They are also to have the help of +many Irishmen who hate England.</p> +<p>“The reason for this conference is to get +Canada to also prepare. The Germans are +working quietly, secretly. We cannot get +the evidence to show what they are doing +although we have tried. Here in Canada, +they simply will not believe, and cite the +fact that Germany has repeatedly declared +its friendship as the best kind of proof of +our being all wrong.</p> +<p>“Is all this too complex for you, my boy?” +Captain Wilson interrupted his discourse +with the sudden thought that he was not +making it clear to his listener.</p> +<p>“I understand you, Captain Wilson,” the +boy answered. So the captain continued. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_16' name='page_16'></a>16</span></p> +<p>“We think we have found out one source +through which we can get information. We +must, however, proceed with great caution. +Nothing would please the Germans more +than to show us up and give surface proof +of their good will and good intentions. Incidently, +they would give a lot to make those +of us who are watching, the laughing stock +of Canada and the United States. That is +why we must be very careful. We must +try to get Washington to see the truth not +through any suspicion they may have but by +actual, obvious, undeniable evidence. If we +can furnish such proof the Government at +Washington will find good reason for watching +these German-Americans.</p> +<p>“It is for us to get the proof. Once we +get that we will not have to worry as to +trouble from the other side of the border.</p> +<p>“I suppose,” the captain concluded as +they entered the building and made their +way to the room in which Major Church +was waiting, “you know who some of the +men at this conference are. Besides Mr. +Dean and myself, Major Smith, our chief, +is an ex-army officer. Colonel Graham is +Syd Graham’s father. Mr. Smythe comes +from Toronto; he is in the employ of the +Government. Well, here we are.”</p> +<p>They entered a small room. Major Church +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_17' name='page_17'></a>17</span> +put aside some papers on which he had been +engaged.</p> +<p>Captain Wilson introduced Ted.</p> +<p>“I have heard of you, young man,” was +the major’s greeting. “You are a credit to +the school, I find. And we have called you +before us because of qualities we find you +possess.</p> +<p>“I don’t know how much you do know, +lad, but war with Germany is near. Germans +masquerading as German-Americans +are planning an attempt against Canada +and they intend to carry out that attempt +just before the immediate declaration of +war. We believe that the meetings of the +prime movers are held in Milwaukee, possibly +in Chicago. It is important for us to +know their plans.”</p> +<p>“We perhaps could decide on anyone of +several men but it occurred to us that to +send one so young as you are would in itself +lull any suspicions they may have. They +will not connect you with our work, which +is in itself half the battle. But, of course, it +would not do to send any one who, though +young, is not also endowed with a fair +amount of good common sense and discretion.”</p> +<p>Ted listened. Nothing that the Major +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_18' name='page_18'></a>18</span> +said escaped him. He realized the weight +of the speaker’s words.</p> +<p>“I understand that you have lived in Chicago. +That is correct, is it not?”</p> +<p>“Yes sir,” Ted replied.</p> +<p>“Well, it will help in case the point to +cover is Chicago. With your knowledge of +Chicago very little time would be lost.”</p> +<p>“In the main,” the Major continued, “it +is mostly a question of being alert—eyes, +ears and mind.”</p> +<p>“Captain Wilson,” the Major turned. “Is +Mr. Smythe obtaining the necessary information, +do you know?”</p> +<p>“Yes, we will soon know,” was the reply, +“who is the operative in that district and +whether Chicago or Milwaukee is the point +to cover. Mr. Smythe is waiting for the +answer.”</p> +<p>Major Church gave Ted an account of +how their secret service men worked and +how information was obtained.</p> +<p>“Despite the fact that we have all these +men, I feel sure that you will be able to get +the information we desire more readily than +any of our men. In a way, you will be a +temporary secret service man.”</p> +<p>He carefully outlined his reasons for believing +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_19' name='page_19'></a>19</span> +that Ted might be successful in getting +information.</p> +<p>“My boy, Canada is not your country. +There is no call for you to do it. You may +wish to remain neutral and we do not want +you to go unless you wish to, heart and +soul. But should you go, successful or unsuccessful, +you will be rendering us a great +service.”</p> +<p>“I want to go,” Ted answered very quietly. +“Canada is second only to my loyalty +for my own country.”</p> +<p>Major Church and Captain Wilson gave +Ted a hand-clasp which showed their feelings.</p> +<p>“You are true blue, my lad,” said Major +Church. “We will have information as to +location from Mr. Smythe very soon. You +can understand the need of secrecy when +our wires are coded. By the way, Wilson,” +he turned to the captain, “you have an instructor +in German here, have you not?”</p> +<p>“We have,” was the reply.</p> +<p>“Better watch him a bit. My theory is +that all of these Germans will bear watching.”</p> +<p>Three hours later Captain Wilson and Ted +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_20' name='page_20'></a>20</span> +joined Mr. Smythe, Mr. Dean, Colonel Graham +and Major Church. Mr. Smythe presented +the following wire:</p> +<table style='margin: auto' summary=''><tr><td> +<p style='margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0;'> +“Smythe,<br /> +<span style='margin-left: 1.5625em;'>“Wayland.</span><br /> +“Ekal stroper On. 2 ecalp Ees H.”</p> +</td></tr></table> +<p>“As you know, gentlemen, they have used +the simplest code because the information +would only be information for us. It is the +reversal of the letters of a word. Let us +see:</p> +<table style='margin: auto' summary=''><tr><td> +<p style='margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0;'> +“Lake Reports No. 2 place. See H.</p> +</td></tr></table> +<p>“H is Strong. No. 2 is Chicago. Strong +is our chief operative there. Ted will have +to see him to get his information and also +such help as he may need. But one thing +we know—their headquarters just now are +at Chicago.”</p> +<p>“I am glad of it,” said Ted. “Since Chicago +is my home town, I can do things there +and may be successful.”</p> +<p>“Suppose,” said John Dean, “you start +tomorrow, Ted. You see, speed is the thing. +That will give you a chance to see your +mother and sister, too.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_21' name='page_21'></a>21</span></p> +<p>“I need hardly say,” said the major, +“that even your mother had best not know +about this, unless it should be actually +necessary. Secrecy is imperative.”</p> +<p>“I knew that, sir,” Ted replied.</p> +<p>“One thing more,” Major Church added, +and he spoke to the men in the room. “No +matter who asks about Ted, he has gone +home to see his mother; someone is not well, +let us say. The slightest hint or suspicion +as to the purpose of his trip would frustrate +it. Will you, Mr. Smythe, telegraph to Toronto, +and tell the chief just what has been +done?”</p> +<p>Mr. Smythe nodded his head.</p> +<p>Ted went out first. As he closed the door, +another door far down the hall opened, a +head came out, a very German head—the +head of Mr. Pfeffer, instructor in that language. +Quietly and quickly it was withdrawn. +Ted did not observe this; if he had, +it probably would not have had any meaning +for him. Mr. Pfeffer was a very curious +gentleman, he would have given much to +know the purpose of the meeting; even now, +he was debating with himself whether he +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_22' name='page_22'></a>22</span> +should do some innocent questioning of Ted. +He decided against it.</p> +<p>Just before retiring, Captain Wilson +came into Ted’s room.</p> +<p>“It seems silly to distrust Pfeffer, Lucky, +still when you get to a station, say Winnipeg, +I would telegraph your mother that you +are coming. If any questions should be +asked of her, she should say that she knows +you are coming. See? It is best to be safe +and to guard against everything.”</p> +<p>Early morn saw Ted on the train. It was +announced to those who made inquiries that +Ted had been called home. Mr. Pfeffer received +the information with private wonder +and doubt.</p> +<p>He took occasion to stroll down to the +telegraph office later that same day.</p> +<p>“Hello, Peter,” he said to the operator.</p> +<p>Peter turned around to see if anyone was +about, then brought out a copy of the coded +telegram.</p> +<p>“Easy code, professor—what does it +mean?” His copy already had translated +the words properly.</p> +<p>“It may mean nothing or it may mean +everything. The boy is going to Chicago—perhaps +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_23' name='page_23'></a>23</span> +Chicago is No. 2—perhaps not. +Peter, you had better send a telegram. Better +be sure, eh?”</p> +<p>“Why would they be sending a child and +for what?” Peter was incredulous.</p> +<p>“Did the boy send a telegram?” Mr. Pfeffer +asked. “I had better see them all.”</p> +<p>But there was none that had been sent +that morning to Chicago.</p> +<p>A long wire, also in code, went forward +from Mr. Pfeffer to Chicago. Then that +worthy strolled back to the Academy.</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_24' name='page_24'></a>24</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_II_PLANS_ARE_MADE_TO_MEET_TED' id='CHAPTER_II_PLANS_ARE_MADE_TO_MEET_TED'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER II</h2> +<h3>PLANS ARE MADE TO MEET TED</h3> +</div> +<p>In a room in one of the West Side streets +of Chicago, in an old-fashioned office +building, which also rented rooms to lodges +and societies, eight men were engaged in +earnest conversation.</p> +<p>“You are wrong, O’Reilly,” said one of +them. “England will not dare come into it. +There are men in England who would want +the country to war against my land. But +the powers that be, and the people, too, will +be against it.”</p> +<p>“I hate England, Berman,” said O’Reilly. +“There are Irishmen who are willing to lick +the hand that has beaten them and has held +them in subjection, but they are not true +sons of Erin. I am against England, but I +do not despise the English as you Germans +do. Once they are aroused, mark my words, +slow as they may be at the start, they will +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_25' name='page_25'></a>25</span> +be a mighty force.” His eyes flashed. +“Many people call me a traitor, but Ireland, +not England, is my country, and all +Irishmen should be against the country that +holds it slave.</p> +<p>“But to business, gentlemen. Will you, +Mr. Schmidt, explain the call for this meeting?”</p> +<p>“That I will,” answered he who had been +addressed. “There are two things for us +to take up—the less important first. I have +a telegram from our good friend Pfeffer up +in Wayland, in Alberta, Canada, where he is +doing our work, but is presumably a German +instructor. Ah, here it is—”</p> +<p>He drew out the coded wire that Pfeffer +had sent. “I have figured out the code and +it reads as follows:</p> +<p>“‘Ference eld erecon urday h atch h oysat +ed w arsh b adian t cific M eftcan erepa en l +am h alledsev ome y c ther h pect b emo +ssus n h ay i ee o trong w haps s as s persper +ay h eekpa formation m atchin s w.’</p> +<p>“‘Conference held here Saturday. Watch +boy Ted Marsh, Canadian Pacific, left here +seven A. M. Sunday. Called home by mother. +Suspect he is on way to see Strong. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_26' name='page_26'></a>26</span> +Perhaps he has papers, may seek information. +Watch.’”<a name='FNanchor_0001' id='FNanchor_0001'></a><a href='#Footnote_0001' class='fnanchor'>[A]</a></p> +<p>There was a discussion as to the telegram. +“Who is Strong?” asked O’Reilly.</p> +<p>“He is the chief operative—secret service +man—stationed in Chicago by the Government +at Ottawa. We have him watched. +We have even instructions out that if he +becomes dangerous he will disappear very +suddenly.”</p> +<p>“That is bad business,” said a little man +named Heinrich.</p> +<p>“Bad business nothing!” answered +Schmidt. “No one must stand in the forward +way. Germany first, last, forever. +What is Strong, what are you, what am I—poof, +nothing! But Germany—ah—” the +speaker’s eyes gleamed.</p> +<p>“It will give those who are suspicious +ground for proof that their suspicions are +more than suspicions,” answered Heinrich.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_27' name='page_27'></a>27</span></div> +<p>“Let us not wander from the point, gentlemen,” +another man interrupted. “As I +gather from the telegram, this boy may be +coming to see Strong. Now, we must first +make sure of that fact, then find out what +it is he is coming for and stop him in his attempt, +if it concerns us.”</p> +<p>“O’Reilly,” asked Mr. Winckel, a man +with spectacles which carried thick lenses, +“can you or one of your friends, perhaps, +meet the boy and pose as this man Strong? +Schmidt, you or Feldman had better go to +Milwaukee and try to place the boy and get +such information as you can. But do not +let him suspect you.”</p> +<p>“I’ll go,” said Schmidt.</p> +<p>“When is he due?” asked Mr. Winckel.</p> +<p>“Why, I should think it would be some +time tonight,” answered Schmidt. “I’ll look +and make sure.”</p> +<p>“Find out his home address,” added +Winckel. “Telegraph it to us and one of us +will hurry up and find out if his mother +really expects him. How about your part, +O’Reilly?”</p> +<p>“I’ll see to it,” answered the Irishman. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_28' name='page_28'></a>28</span></p> +<p>“That is finished now. Oh, yes, one more +thing, Schmidt, better have Strong watched +even more closely. What is the other business?” +It could be seen that Mr. Winckel +was the moving spirit.</p> +<p>“Tomorrow, eight o’clock, here—the chief +will come from Washington. When Captain +Knabe comes, he will tell us just when the +day will be. It is very soon, very soon; the +long wait is over. Then, too, he will tell us +what we shall do. You will all be here? +Now we shall go to our work.”</p> +<p>They broke up. They were very thorough, +each man had his work assigned and +would see it carried through.</p> +<p>We shall turn to John Strong, who early +that morning had been slipped a memorandum +in code by the waitress serving breakfast +to him, announcing that Ted was to +come and to meet him. Also, Ted’s home +address.</p> +<p>John Strong was a clean-cut Canadian, hair +graying at the temples. No one knew better +than he how carefully he was watched. That +he was able to be as useful to his government +as he was, showed his ability.</p> +<p>He decided at once that he would not meet +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_29' name='page_29'></a>29</span> +Ted. That would show one thing—the important +thing to those who would want to +know. How could he get to the boy’s mother +without being observed?</p> +<p>To the girl who waited on him he whispered +that he wanted her to arrange for two +cars to wait at the main entrance of the +Hotel La Salle at ten o’clock.</p> +<p>He strolled out and immediately felt himself +shadowed. He reached the hotel, +looked at the register very carefully, as if +there was something there he wanted to see, +then turned to the cigar-stand. Turning +around, he saw another man looking just as +carefully at that register. He smiled. Now +he knew one of those who were watching +him. He pulled out some memorandum slips +from his pocket and made some notations. +As if by accident he left one of the slips on +the case, lighted his cigar, bought a newspaper, +and sat down and lounged.</p> +<p>Another man came to the cigar counter, +also bought some cigars, picked up some +matches, and with it the slip of paper.</p> +<p>So there were two.</p> +<p>At five minutes past the hour Strong +strolled to the door, made a frantic dash for +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_30' name='page_30'></a>30</span> +the machine, which seemed very slow to +start. A moment later two men entered the +machine immediately next, gave the driver +instructions to follow the first machine, +which by now had dashed off.</p> +<p>The first car went south. You may remember +that Mrs. Marsh lived north. The +second car followed. The occupants could +never suspect the innocent appearing chauffeur +of that second car, as he swore and +raved at the policeman who had ordered him +to stop to let the east and west traffic go by +at the side street. The frantic men inside +were assured that he would make up the lost +time; that he knew the number of the car +he was following. But he never found that +car. He became very stupid, although always +pleasant.</p> +<p>John Strong reached the home of Mrs. +Marsh, certain that he had eluded the pursuit.</p> +<p>“Mrs. Marsh, I believe?” he asked as she +opened the door.</p> +<p>“I am Mrs. Marsh,” she answered.</p> +<p>“I am a friend of some friends of Ted. +The main reason for his coming down to +Chicago is to see me, although I am sure +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_31' name='page_31'></a>31</span> +he will think that seeing you will count for +even more than that.”</p> +<p>“Did you get word from him?” further +asked Strong.</p> +<p>“Yes, I got a telegram. It said he was +coming to see you, but that I was to let anyone +else who might ask think that he was +coming because I sent for him. I do not +understand.”</p> +<p>Very carefully Strong explained it all to +Mrs. Marsh.</p> +<p>“It is important that these people should +not suspect that he is coming to see me, +only that he is coming home, nothing more. +It may even be, that one of them will be +here to see you, some time today. They +surely will if they find out anything about +his coming, and where you live. I will say +this, that I feel I am speaking for Mr. Dean +when I say it will be a great service to him +and to his country.”</p> +<p>“I shall be glad to do anything for Mr. +Dean. You can count on me. I think I +understand and perhaps will be able to help. +Perhaps, too, my daughter, Helen, even +more so.”</p> +<p>“Will you have your daughter come and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_32' name='page_32'></a>32</span> +see me right after supper. The train comes +in at 9:10 tonight, and she will meet you +afterward at the station. She will go there +from my office. Possibly, as you say, she +can help.”</p> +<p>He left Mrs. Marsh, confident that she +understood and that she had the ability and +willingness to carry her part through.</p> +<div class='footnote'><a name='Footnote_0001' id='Footnote_0001'></a><a href='#FNanchor_0001'><span class='label'>[A]</span></a> +<p> +Readers will find it interesting to study out the simplicity +of this code. There is special pleasure in their +working it out for themselves. It is simple and unweaves +itself once you have the key. For those who do not wish +to decipher the code, they can use the following method. +The first syllable of any word of more than one syllable +is attached to the third word following. Of one syllable +words the first letter is found by itself after the second +word. In no case is a single letter considered a word. +</p></div> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_33' name='page_33'></a>33</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_III_TED_ARRIVES_IN_CHICAGO' id='CHAPTER_III_TED_ARRIVES_IN_CHICAGO'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER III</h2> +<h3>TED ARRIVES IN CHICAGO</h3> +</div> +<p>Between the hours of seven and nine +that night many things were happening. +Helen had gone down to see Strong. +A man, who may have been a Dane or a +German, boarded Ted’s train at Milwaukee, +and O’Reilly was preparing to meet that +same train, as was John Strong. At home +Mrs. Marsh was leaving to meet the train. +We shall follow the man who boarded the +train. He entered one of the Pullmans, but +no boy seemed to be there; another one, and +there were two boys, but both seemed to be +with parents.</p> +<p>But he was successful in the third car. It +was Ted he saw and as he sat down very +near him he pulled out a Danish newspaper +and started to read.</p> +<p>Pretty soon he looked up. He seemed a +very pleasant man. He spoke to a man in +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_34' name='page_34'></a>34</span> +the seat in front of him, then he turned to +Ted. “Have you come from far?” he asked +innocently.</p> +<p>“Yes, sir,” answered Ted, “from Wayland.”</p> +<p>“So,” observed the man. “Do you live in +Chicago or in Wayland?” He added, “I +live in Milwaukee, but I go twice, sometimes +three times a month to Chicago. My daughter +lives there.”</p> +<p>“In Chicago,” answered Ted. Truth to +tell, he was very glad to talk, the trip had +been a long one.</p> +<p>“Where do you live, what part?” asked +his new acquaintance.</p> +<p>“Over north, 11416 Wells street.” Ted +saw no reason why he should not tell this +harmless stranger where he lived. Although +he had no suspicion of him, he had made up +his mind that such questions he would answer, +no matter who asked them.</p> +<p>For he realized that the one way to arouse +curiosity was to appear secretive.</p> +<p>“My daughter lives up that way, too,” +the man said. He seemed quite interested +in the idea of making conversation. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_35' name='page_35'></a>35</span></p> +<p>“I will leave you for a minute.” The +train was slowing up for Racine. His telegram +was all ready except for the address. +He rushed into the ticket office, added the +address and had it sent collect, and had +plenty of time to board the train.</p> +<p>“I wonder why,” thought Ted, “he should +have to run into that station.” Ted’s suspicions +were somewhat aroused. He decided +to appear as if he had not taken note of the +actions of his acquaintance.</p> +<p>Schmidt had underestimated the ability +of the boy. He was so young, he thought, +there was no necessity for special care.</p> +<p>Then, too, he was so very affable, so very +simple. To his questions as to who would +meet him Ted answered that he thought no +one would, the time he was coming was a +little uncertain, he added.</p> +<p>“No one is to meet me, either. Perhaps +we can both go up home together, eh?”</p> +<p>“Sure,” replied the boy, “that would be +fine.”</p> +<p>Ted fancied by now that the man was a +German. But, then, he had that Danish +newspaper. Maybe he was not. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_36' name='page_36'></a>36</span></p> +<p>“What do you do at your place—Wayland, +I think you said?”</p> +<p>“I go to the Academy there. I belong to +the Scouts—it is military and academic.” +The boy was quite young and quite simple, +Schmidt decided.</p> +<p>“Ah, that military business is bad, very +bad. There will never be war anymore.”</p> +<p>Ted wondered if the man really believed +it. He could not make up his mind. So +they talked. The man grew less and less +interested. He had made up his mind that +the boy was really going to see his mother. +Of course, that would be proven when they +found out how much the mother knew about +it and if she would meet the boy. Probably +all this time had been wasted, but Schmidt +had no regrets. After all, eternal vigilance +was the watchword.</p> +<p>An hour later the train came into the +station.</p> +<p>Ted, who had been quite tired, no longer +felt any weariness. Here was Chicago, here +was home.</p> +<p>As he stepped away from the train, his +mother and sister ran forward. Two men +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_37' name='page_37'></a>37</span> +watched him from close by—one motioned +to the other. O’Reilly went forward.</p> +<p>“My boy, are you looking for Mr. +Strong?”</p> +<p>Helen interrupted: “Looking for Mr. +Who? Why, of course he’s not—he’s my +brother—I guess you are mistaken. Come, +Ted, we are going home first.”</p> +<p>Ted did not question his sister; he knew +there was method in her outburst. He +added:</p> +<p>“Sorry, sir.”</p> +<p>“I’m so glad you came, Ted. How I hoped +you would!” his mother said.</p> +<p>O’Reilly turned doubtfully, as the other +man beckoned him away.</p> +<p>“Time lost,” said Schmidt. “Let them +go. No harm done. I pumped the boy on +the way; he had no secret, apparently. He +is but a child.”</p> +<p>“I was scared by that girl,” replied +O’Reilly musingly. “My, she’s a Tartar. +All right, then, I’m tired and I’m going +home. Good-night.”</p> +<p>“Good-night, my friend—see you tomorrow.” +Schmidt watched him go. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_38' name='page_38'></a>38</span></p> +<p>“Say, sis, I did have to meet a Mr. +Strong.” Ted spoke in a low voice.</p> +<p>“I know it, Ted, but that man was not +he. When we get away somewhere I’ll tell +you something about it.”</p> +<p>“Let’s go home. I’m crazy to be back +here and it certainly feels fine.”</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_39' name='page_39'></a>39</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_IV_TED_MEETS_STRONG' id='CHAPTER_IV_TED_MEETS_STRONG'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER IV</h2> +<h3>TED MEETS STRONG</h3> +</div> +<p>There were many eager questions on +the way home. The mother listened +with great pride to Ted’s account, even +though he had told many of the same things +in his letters.</p> +<p>Ted painted a great picture of his new +home and it made Mrs. Marsh very happy +for his sake, even though she wished a little +longingly that both Helen and she could be +a part of this wonderful and happy life.</p> +<p>Helen must have been thinking the same +thing, for she spoke out:</p> +<p>“I wish mother and I could go out there. +If there were only something I could do +there. My work here is interesting, but I +would gladly give it up for such an opportunity.”</p> +<p>“It’s all right, sis,” replied Ted. “It +won’t be long before you will both be out +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_40' name='page_40'></a>40</span> +there. I wouldn’t want to stay myself if I +did not feel sure of that.” They had reached +their “L” station by now and home was only +a matter of a few moments.</p> +<p>“I guess you are tired, Ted. But I think +I had better tell you what Mr. Strong wants +you to do.” Then Helen told him of her +going down to see Mr. Strong, how the latter +had reason to believe that there was to +be a meeting of the Germans the very next +night. He wanted to see Ted, who was to +go to a certain number on Adams Street at +eight the next morning. She gave him the +number of the room. Ted was to wait until +such time as Strong came. He might be +late, for often there was difficulty in getting +there unobserved. He would mention the +word Dean and Helen for identification, +should it be necessary.</p> +<p>Ted went to bed and slept the sleep of the +just and the weary.</p> +<p>That next morning the newspapers printed +in large headlines the ultimatum that +Austria had put up to Servia. They speculated +on the possibilities of war. To Ted—refreshed +and no longer weary, reading the +newspaper as he made his way downtown—it +brought a feeling that he was in some way +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_41' name='page_41'></a>41</span> +involved. It made him feel quite important; +it increased his respect for the men who had +sent him to Chicago. It was big work these +men were doing; he was having a share in +it. He left the elevated station with some +time on his hand. It seemed so long since +he had been down here in the heart of Chicago. +It came to Ted that it would always +hold a warm spot in his affections. After +all, it was here he had spent his childhood; +it was to the knockabouts received here that +he owed much. If only he could be successful, +if only he could obtain the necessary information +and be able to deliver the message +to John Strong. Without knowing very +much about it all, he realized that the things +for him to do were important parts of it all. +A little uncertainly, because the subject was +a little too much for him, and he was still a +very young boy, he speculated on why nations +should go to war.</p> +<p>“Hello, Ted,” someone greeted him. It +was Spot, the fellow with whom he had had +that fight at the beginning of this story.</p> +<p>“Hello, Spot,” Ted greeted him cordially. +He was glad to renew old acquaintances. +“How’s business?”</p> +<p>“Fine,” answered Spot. “Lots of news, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_42' name='page_42'></a>42</span> +lots of papers sold. What are you here for? +Thought you went ’way out West?”</p> +<p>“I’m just paying a visit,” laughed Ted. +“Seeing friends.” They talked for a few +minutes.</p> +<p>“See you again, Spot. Is this your regular +stand?”</p> +<p>“Sure is,” replied Spot, as he turned to a +customer.</p> +<p>Ted went on his way. Very soon he +reached the building on Adams street to +which Helen had directed him. He turned +in and when he came to the seventh floor +he entered Room 701.</p> +<p>He accosted the man who looked up from +a desk with:</p> +<p>“Want a boy?”</p> +<p>“Well, perhaps.” He sounded very English. +“What is your name?”</p> +<p>“Theodore Marsh,” replied the owner of +that name.</p> +<p>The man’s manner changed on the instant. +Ted liked him then. “Come in, Ted. +Mr. Strong is expected any minute, but of +course he may not come for a while. We +have just moved in here. We have to move +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_43' name='page_43'></a>43</span> +quite often, for those Germans certainly are +shrewd. Quick, too, and they keep us on +the jump.”</p> +<p>He turned to work on an intricate little +machine which had a long coil of wire, very +thin, much thinner than a telephone wire.</p> +<p>“Do you know what this is?” Ted did +not know.</p> +<p>“A dictaphone. We will have use for it. +I am getting it ready for tonight.”</p> +<p>Ted had heard of a dictaphone, but he had +not yet learned its usefulness. He was to +find out that night how wonderfully useful +it could be, how much danger the use of it +would avoid.</p> +<p>It was almost two hours before a man entered. +When he saw Ted he said, with a +smile:</p> +<p>“Hello, my boy. I guess you and I have +met both Dean and Helen, haven’t we? Let +us go into this room.”</p> +<p>Ted delivered the papers he had brought +for Strong. Strong took them eagerly and +just as eagerly Ted gave them up. He +heaved a sigh of relief at getting rid of +them. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_44' name='page_44'></a>44</span></p> +<p>“This paper alone,” Strong picked up one +of the papers from his desk, where he had +placed them, “if trouble should come, would +prove to the United States Government +what the Germans are doing in the States +and just how it affects Canada. Without +this it would be disagreeable to be found +doing some of the things we find ourselves +compelled to do. I see, also, that this letter +says that I may count on your help. We +will need it, I am sure.</p> +<p>“Tonight, the Germans are to hold a +meeting. The purpose and decision reached +there we must know at all costs. We must +go down there, you and Walker and I. +Walker is the man in the office. He has the +necessary knowledge to place a dictaphone +or tap a telephone wire. Also, he, another +man named Bronson, and I have already +made arrangements for placing that dictaphone +at the Germans’ meeting-place.”</p> +<p>He turned to Walker. “Are you ready?”</p> +<p>“In about five minutes,” replied Walker, +with a grin.</p> +<p>While they were waiting Strong suddenly +thought of something. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_45' name='page_45'></a>45</span></p> +<p>“As I understand—am I right?—you +were a newsboy up to a year ago?”</p> +<p>“Yes, sir, I was,” answered Ted.</p> +<p>“Good. Do you think you could manage +to fix yourself up as one and meet us in +front of the Auditorium?”</p> +<p>“I think I can,” replied the boy, after a +moment’s thought.</p> +<p>“All right, I’ll give you forty-five minutes,” +Strong said, as he turned to Walker, +who was now ready.</p> +<p>Quickly, Ted located Spot.</p> +<p>“I’ll tell you what I’ll do, Spot,” he confided +to the news merchant. “I’ll give you +two dollars and my clothes for your clothes +and papers. I want you to have a share in +my good fortune and I also want to sell +papers for awhile.”</p> +<p>Spot grinned delight. “You mean it, +Ted?”</p> +<p>“Sure. Where can we change?”</p> +<p>“Any place will suit me. But I’ll show +you a place. That’s easy.”</p> +<p>A place was very easily located. Spot had +managed to wash his hands and face, while +Ted’s had not yet gotten to the color they +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_46' name='page_46'></a>46</span> +should be. They had exchanged everything +from shoes to hats.</p> +<p>“Where are you going now, Spot?” asked +Ted.</p> +<p>“I beg your pardon,” replied Spot. “My +name is Mr. James Sullivan. I would have +you address your betters properly, boy.” +He never cracked a smile as he walked off, +but Ted laughed uproariously.</p> +<p>A little later two men came out of the +Auditorium.</p> +<p>“Paper, sir, papers?”</p> +<p>“No,” answered one of them. The other +took a second look at the newsboy and +laughed. “He certainly fooled you, Strong. +It’s Ted.”</p> +<p>“Good work, Ted,” Strong said, with appreciation.</p> +<p>“Slip into that automobile while we stand +in front of it.” They walked toward it. +“Now, quick.” The machine was off to the +German meeting-place.</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_47' name='page_47'></a>47</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_V_SETTING_A_TRAP' id='CHAPTER_V_SETTING_A_TRAP'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER V</h2> +<h3>SETTING A TRAP</h3> +</div> +<p>The automobile came to a stop two blocks +from the German meeting-place.</p> +<p>As the three walked toward it, a beggar +stopped Strong. The latter gave him some +coins. Ted, who was watching, saw a paper +pass between the two. It was so quickly +done that he was not even sure of it. He +made no comment, as he knew that Strong +would mention it, if he thought it necessary.</p> +<p>“The room is on the third floor,” Strong +said. “There is someone in it now. That +beggar has just been up there; he has been +watching the house all morning, so that he +could keep me in touch.</p> +<p>“Suppose, Ted, you go up and sell your +papers. Go to every office. When you reach +Room 318, size it up as well as you can. See +what you can of 316 and 320 also.”</p> +<p>“All our work and our preparations have +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_48' name='page_48'></a>48</span> +been from 418,” Walker added. “Our +friends are there.”</p> +<p>“Yes,” Strong said, “take a look in there, +even though you will meet Bronson a little +later.”</p> +<p>A boy tried to sell his papers in the many +offices. He canvassed each floor and in due +time reached the fourth. He came to Room +418 and saw a sign on the glass reading as +follows:</p> +<p style='margin-left:0.0em; margin-right:0.0em; text-align:center'>TERENCE McMAHON<br /> +INSURANCE AGENT AND ADJUSTER<br /> +MAIN OFFICE—OLIVER BUILDING<br /> +<br /> + Russell Bronson, Br. Mgr.<br /></p> +<p>He entered. “Want a paper?” he asked +one of the men.</p> +<p>The man took one. Ted glanced about +and then went out. He had some idea of +the room. He noticed that three other doors +seemed to belong to the same office, Rooms +422, 420 and 416.</p> +<p>He soon reached the third floor. He went +through the same routine, just as carefully +and matter-of-factedly, as he had done on +the other floors. When he reached 320 he +found the door locked and a hand pointing +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_49' name='page_49'></a>49</span> +to 318 as the entrance. On the glass of that +door he saw a sign which read:</p> +<p style='margin-left:0.0em; margin-right:0.0em; text-align:center'>NOVELTIES AND TOYS<br /> +A. CHRISTENSEN<br /></p> +<p>Ted opened the door. A man was inside, +his feet perched upon a desk and he was +reading a German newspaper.</p> +<p>“Paper, sir?” Ted asked him.</p> +<p>“No,” was the answer. He did not even +glance up.</p> +<p>“I have a Staats-Zeitung and a Wochen-Blatt,” +coaxed Ted. All this time he was +taking stock of the room.</p> +<p>“A Wochen-Blatt? I’ll take one,” the +man became interested. He offered a half +dollar to Ted.</p> +<p>“I haven’t the change, but I will get it for +you.” Ted was fighting for time, so that he +could form impressions.</p> +<p>“And run away with my money?” the +man sneered. “Not on your life. I’ll wait +until later.”</p> +<p>“You can hold all my papers. I’ll come +back.”</p> +<p>The man grudgingly gave the boy the +money. At the corner store Ted found his +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_50' name='page_50'></a>50</span> +two friends; the automobile had long since +left.</p> +<p>“Good work,” Strong commented, after +hearing Ted. “Now, how can we get that +fellow out of the building for half an hour?”</p> +<p>“When I suggested going out for the +change,” volunteered Ted, “he didn’t want +to trust me and said: ‘I’ll wait until later.’ +Perhaps he intends going out.”</p> +<p>“Well, here is one way to coax him to go +a little sooner. A German wants what he +wants when he wants it, and he never stops +wanting it until he gets it. When you go +back, Ted, insist on being paid twice as +much as the paper sells for. He probably +will not pay it. He will consider it a holdup. +But he will want that paper and it may +hurry his departure. It is almost lunch-time +anyway.</p> +<p>“Walker, you go to all the news-stands +within three square blocks and also any +stores you may see that sell newspapers and +buy up any Wochen-Blatts they have. That +ought to keep our friend busy trying to get +what he wants and so give us more time. +We will all meet in Room 418. I’ll steal up +while you two are wrangling over your high-handed +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_51' name='page_51'></a>51</span> +outrage, Ted. Walker can come any +time. There is small chance that he will be +recognized. You see,” Strong added, his +eyes smiling, “that’s the value of having the +ordinary face Walker has. He looks like +seventy-five million other folks, so no one +would notice him.”</p> +<p>Ted rushed back to the office. “Everybody +is poor around here or else they don’t want +to make change. My, what trouble.” He +was counting out the change and he now +placed but forty cents on the man’s desk.</p> +<p>The man picked up the money and for a +moment it looked as if he would not count +it, but he did.</p> +<p>“Hey, boy, another nickel! You’re short +here.”</p> +<p>“No, I’m not. I took a nickel for all the +trouble I had in making change.” Ted felt +mean and he knew his argument was a poor +one, but he was doing it for a purpose.</p> +<p>“Five cents, or I don’t want the paper.” +He made a threatening motion toward Ted.</p> +<p>Ted laughed at him. He threw the dime +on the desk, picked up his paper and backed +out of the door. The man was muttering +fiercely in German. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_52' name='page_52'></a>52</span></p> +<p>Out on the street our hero watched from +a nearby door. It was just mid-day and +people were hurrying for their lunch. But +it was at least twenty minutes before he saw +his man walk out of the building. He +watched him and saw him stop at one, then +at another stand and try to obtain the desired +paper. He was not successful and Ted +saw him stroll further down the street.</p> +<p>Two minutes later Ted was in Room 418. +Walker joined them almost at the same +time.</p> +<p>Ted was introduced to the man to whom +he had sold a paper a little earlier and then +the party got down to business.</p> +<p>“Walker, jump down and try the door,” +said Strong. “Here is the key.”</p> +<p>But a new problem presented itself when +Walker reported back that the key would +not fit the lock and Strong, incredulous, had +proven the truth of it for himself.</p> +<p>“Phew!” whistled Strong. “They must +have changed the lock. They figured the old +one was too easy for anyone who had a mind +to enter. Come on, Walker, we’ll try the +window.”</p> +<p>But they found no way of entering +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_53' name='page_53'></a>53</span> +through the window. It was securely fastened. +Walker, with one foot on the edge +of the fire-escape and the other on the ledge +of the next room’s window and holding himself +secure with one hand, attempted to open +that window also, but found it just as securely +locked.</p> +<p>“There is still one way before we think of +any rough stuff,” said Strong. With the +other three he went down to the third floor.</p> +<p>“Here, Ted, get on my shoulders and try +the fanlight. Let’s pray that it opens.”</p> +<p>It opened so very easily that they all +laughed. But they found that neither +Walker, Strong nor Bronson could get +through. But Ted could.</p> +<p>“Well,” said Bronson, “I reckon it’s up +to the boy, isn’t it?”</p> +<p>“It certainly is,” said Strong.</p> +<p>Walker now very quickly, yet very clearly +explained the workings and the manipulations +of the dictaphone. Ted listened carefully +as he was told how the wires should +be laid and connected.</p> +<p>“You see, Ted,” Walker continued, “the +whole thing is already prepared. We knew +how little time we would have when the time +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_54' name='page_54'></a>54</span> +did come, so we did everything we could +beforehand. You will find a place for these +wires on the wall behind the steam-pipes. +The floor moulding running along the window +wall will move if you remove the screws—four +of them. Then count off the sixteenth +floor board—you work it this way,” +Walker showed Ted how, “and it will pry +loose. It is all very simple and should take +no more than twenty minutes. It would +take me ten.</p> +<p>“The floor-board has a little groove into +which the wires will fit. You will find that +where this board ends is another piece of +moulding which will most surprisingly give +way to your magic fingers, and the screwdriver, +as did the moulding at the other end. +On the big cabinet that is there, try that +corner of it nearest you and against the wall, +and there you will find that your wires will +fit snugly. Your hands are small and can +get in there, back of the cabinet. You just +can’t go wrong. On top of the cabinet see +that the mouthpiece or, rather, the listener, +is propped up so that it faces the table. If +you have any doubts call out—we will be +here. You will also find that it will not be +seen, for the cabinet is high.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_55' name='page_55'></a>55</span></p> +<p>“Be careful, Ted, about leaving things +just as they were. It all will fit back snugly. +Be twice as careful as you are quick,” +Strong warned him.</p> +<p>“I shall be up here, Bronson will be one +flight below, and the beggar is watching in +the street. Walker will be up above passing +the wires down to you.”</p> +<p>More than fifteen minutes had already +been consumed. Strong had warned Ted to +open the window of Room 420 and, should +a warning come, hide in that room. A rope +would be passed down for him from the window +above.</p> +<p>Ted got to work at once. He found it +even more simple than Walker had told him. +In fifteen or twenty minutes he called out. +“I think I am through.” He took another +look about. He had carefully seen to everything +and there was no sign of any disturbance.</p> +<p>“Wait a minute,” said Strong. There was +a pause. Then he heard Strong speaking to +him again, “Say something right out, not +too loud, just ordinary conversation.”</p> +<p>“Want to buy a paper? News, Post, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_56' name='page_56'></a>56</span> +American, Staats-Zeitung?” said Ted to the +empty air.</p> +<p>There was another pause, then he heard +Walker say to Strong, “It’s fine and distinct, +old man.”</p> +<p>Ted took another look about. He lifted +himself on the door-knob and then eager +hands helped him out. Walker ran down +the fire escape to take a look around the +room and Strong hoisted himself up on the +knob and also looked about. Ted’s work +had been thorough and neither of them made +any criticisms.</p> +<p>“Well, that’s something of a relief,” said +Walker. Ted closed the fanlight.</p> +<p>“Nothing to do until tonight,” and Walker +grinned.</p> +<p>“Let’s eat,” said Strong. “Coming with +us, Bronson?”</p> +<p>“Certainly,” was the answer.</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_57' name='page_57'></a>57</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_VI_STRONG_SEEMS_CHECKMATED' id='CHAPTER_VI_STRONG_SEEMS_CHECKMATED'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER VI</h2> +<h3>STRONG SEEMS CHECKMATED</h3> +</div> +<p>Ted was too excited to eat.</p> +<p>“Better eat, lad,” said Walker. “We +do not know when we will get another +chance today. If no one else seemed to be +following his advice, he himself considered +it good enough to heed. He was eating +enough for two.</p> +<p>“I imagine it is going to be risky business +tonight,” Bronson remarked. “I wish I +could be with you.”</p> +<p>“It’s either going to be that, or it is going +to be very simple,” Strong answered.</p> +<p>“That is the trouble with all adventure, +these days,” Walker complained. “It’s always +so very simple.”</p> +<p>“I consider this extremely interesting +and exciting,” replied Strong. “It is like +a tremendous game of chess with enough +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_58' name='page_58'></a>58</span> +elements of danger added to suit the most +exacting. Don’t imagine that we shall not +be in danger every second tonight. These +Germans are cold-blooded. If we should +happen to be in their way, should they find +out how much we actually know, we can say +good-bye; the sun would rise tomorrow, but +we might not.”</p> +<p>He turned to Ted. “Well, lad, are you +afraid?”</p> +<p>“I’m going to stick, of course,” was the +reply.</p> +<p>“Well, comrades, here is the plan. The +keys you see here, one for each of us, are +for Room 420. We shall separate. At six-thirty +we must all plan to be in that room. +No noise must be made when you come; no +sound must be made while you are there.”</p> +<p>“We had better make sure we do all our +sneezing outside, eh?” Every one laughed +with Walker.</p> +<p>“It will be your last sneeze, if it’s inside,” +Strong laughingly warned him. “The least +sound, a scraping chair, would be heard. +Stay in Room 420; the fire escape makes 418 +dangerous, if anyone should be curious and +decide to come up and look into that room. +Of course, there will be no lights turned on. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_59' name='page_59'></a>59</span></p> +<p>“Should any of us fail to get there, he +who does must make every effort to get the +import of the conversation.”</p> +<p>“Can I do anything, before I leave for +New York tonight?” asked Bronson.</p> +<p>“No, I guess not. Get your room into +shape for us. Put the chairs where we cannot +stumble over them. How long will you +be gone?”</p> +<p>“I don’t know. These Germans certainly +keep us busy. Some of our optimists are +turning pessimists, now that Austria is declaring +war against Servia. They are beginning +to think that perhaps there is something +in this war-talk. I have to go to them +and tell them just how much there really is +in it. I had much rather stay—wish I +could.”</p> +<p>“I know that, Bronson, and there is no +one I would rather have. But perhaps you +will be of better service there. I shall code +Wright the information we get tonight, if +we get it. They will have it at the New York +office.”</p> +<p>Strong and Walker returned to the Adams +street office; Ted went home. He was glad +of the chance to see more of his mother; +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_60' name='page_60'></a>60</span> +Helen, he knew, would not be home. Ted +was very fond of his pretty, efficient sister, +and proud of her rapid rise at the store.</p> +<p>He found his mother there when he +reached home. He explained the reason for +his wearing the newsboy’s clothes.</p> +<p>Ted spent a quiet, comfortable afternoon +with her. Many things they still had to talk +about and the mother realized how much it +was the desire of Ted to have her and Helen +come out to that great West, a land where +contentment and opportunity, at least, were +more likely to be found than in this place, in +which she had lived so many years.</p> +<hr class='tb' /> +<p>About three o’clock, only a half hour after +he had been at Adams street, Strong was +called to the telephone. He had been busy +at a report, the call was unexpected and +could only come from his secretary or from +Ted, the only two besides Walker who knew +of this new location.</p> +<p>It proved to be his secretary.</p> +<p>“A messenger boy came here a little while +ago with a message for you,” she said.</p> +<p>“Read it.”</p> +<p>“‘A meeting is to be held at W.’s house. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_61' name='page_61'></a>61</span> +If you will come, can get you in. 4:30!’ It +is signed ‘J.’,” she added.</p> +<p>There was a pause. She continued: “It +looks as if it comes from Jones. It is his +writing, beyond doubt, but he signed his +initial instead of his number.”</p> +<p>“I’ll come right over,” Strong answered, +and his voice sounded perplexed.</p> +<p>Charles Jones was an operative, employed +as a butler by the Winckel household. He +had so often given proof of profound stupidity +in everything except his duties in the +household that Herr Winckel would have +laughed at any suspicion of his being anything +else but a butler. Herr Winckel was +so fond of saying and repeating that the man +had a butler mind it could never grasp anything +outside of that.</p> +<p>In reality, Jones was shrewd, keen, able +to obtain information without creating suspicion. +He had been one of Strong’s best +men and the latter felt he could count on +him.</p> +<p>Could it be a trap, he wondered?</p> +<p>Strong was uncertain as to what he should +do. To miss this meeting, which perhaps +was important; to go there, on the other +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_62' name='page_62'></a>62</span> +hand, and endanger the chances of his getting +to that night meeting?</p> +<p>“I wish I knew what to do, Walker.” +Together they went over the phases of it as +they walked down to the office.</p> +<p>“I’d go,” advised Walker. “You say that +the boy could do his part. If they do want +you out of the way, should this be a trap, +they will hold us until morning; they would +not dare hold us any longer. And, if they +do, they will not feel the need for carefulness +and the boy will thus have a better +chance. It works well both ways.”</p> +<p>When they came to the office, Strong read +the message again.</p> +<p>“We’ll go, Walker,” he decided. “Dress +up. Be sure not to carry any papers.”</p> +<p>Two men came out of one of the inner +offices a few minutes later. They would +have been taken anywhere for two English +servants; they might have been valets, footmen, +even butlers. Each one looked the +other over critically, but the disguise was +thorough.</p> +<p>At fifteen minutes past the hour they +reached the Winckel house, knocked at the +servants’ entrance. The maid answered +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_63' name='page_63'></a>63</span> +and they asked for Mr. Jones. They +appeared to be very superior, upper-class +servants. Very English, too. She escorted +them in and then opened a door for them to +enter. They passed through. As they did, +each one of them was pounced upon. They +struggled against the sickening smell of the +chloroform held tightly against their noses. +Then they knew nothing more for a while.</p> +<p>An hour later they awoke with a feeling +of nausea and the smell of chloroform all +about them. They found themselves tied +hand and foot and unable to move. From +all appearances they seemed to be in the +cellar of the house.</p> +<p>“Are you there, chief?” asked Walker, in +a sick and very low voice.</p> +<p>“Yes, I’m here; going to stay awhile, I +guess.”</p> +<p>“I wonder what happened? Suppose +they got on to––?”</p> +<p>“They are probably gloating somewhere +within earshot,” Strong warned him in a +whisper. “They certainly have us out of +the way for the time being,” he added, ruefully.</p> +<p>“Well, there’s nothing to do; we’re +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_64' name='page_64'></a>64</span> +caught,” Walker said, in his ordinary voice. +Then, in a voice so low Strong could barely +hear him, he inquired, “Are you pretty well +tied? Can you do anything?”</p> +<p>“Can’t even move,” was the answer.</p> +<p>“Same here,” Walker said dejectedly. +“They made a good job.”</p> +<p>At five o’clock Ted left home for downtown. +He stopped off to buy some of the +late editions of the newspapers and proceeded +to the meeting-place. He made his +rounds through several buildings and at last +reached that particular one.</p> +<p>There was no one watching, however. +With Strong out of the way the Germans +felt quite secure.</p> +<p>At five-thirty he had already let himself +into Room 420 and was preparing to make +himself comfortable. He picked up the dictaphone +every few minutes, but for a long +time heard nothing. Things seemed quiet +and he began to wonder where Strong and +Walker were, what was delaying them. His +heart was going at a great rate because of +the forced quiet and the excited state of his +mind.</p> +<p>Things would depend on him if the two +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_65' name='page_65'></a>65</span> +men did not come. Would he be able to +carry out the plans?</p> +<p>“I can only do my best,” the boy said to +himself. And there was a strong determination +to make that best count.</p> +<p>It was now half past seven. He lifted the +dictaphone oftener. Very soon he heard +voices, very indistinct, but as he listened +they became clearer and clearer. Then he +began making out the words and the sense +of the conversation.</p> +<p>“Yes,” said one voice. “We found out +that this man Jones, who was Winckel’s +butler, was one of their men. He dropped a +card which young Winckel found. That was +enough to warrant his being watched, although +we did nothing for several days except +to see that he got no further information.</p> +<p>“Today, at the point of a gun, we forced +him to write a note to Strong telling him +that there was to be a meeting at Winckel’s +house at four-thirty and that he could get +him in. Strong with another man came. We +trapped them, bound them and they are now +in the cellar out of harm’s way.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_66' name='page_66'></a>66</span></p> +<p>Ted welcomed the information. At least +he knew just what to expect.</p> +<p>“It’s almost time for our friends to be +here, isn’t it? What time is Captain Knabe +coming?” said a voice.</p> +<p>“At about fifteen minutes after eight. He +is coming with Winckel.”</p> +<p>“Say, Schmidt, it was a good piece of +business to get Strong out of the way. He +is too dangerous and resourceful to suit us.” +This from O’Reilly.</p> +<p>“He has been a nuisance, hasn’t he?” answered +Schmidt. “Hello, friends,” he said +to some new-comers. “I have just been telling +O’Reilly about our little affair this afternoon.”</p> +<p>There was the sound of a number of voices +and of some laughing. Then more men came +into the room, there was the scraping of +chairs as men seated themselves.</p> +<p>Then there was quiet as two men entered. +Greetings were exchanged and Ted realized +that the two were Winckel and Captain +Knabe.</p> +<p>As Captain Knabe was introduced to +some of the men, Ted wrote the names down. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_67' name='page_67'></a>67</span></p> +<p>“Let us get down to business, friends,” +said one, who seemed to be the chairman. +“Captain Knabe has come here from Washington, +his time just now is important. Even +more important is the need for immediate +action. Captain Knabe, gentlemen.”</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_68' name='page_68'></a>68</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_VII_THE_DICTAPHONE_AT_WORK' id='CHAPTER_VII_THE_DICTAPHONE_AT_WORK'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER VII</h2> +<h3>THE DICTAPHONE AT WORK</h3> +</div> +<p>“I understand,” said Captain +Knabe, “that some of the Irish gentlemen +present do not understand German, and +so, while I can do so much better in my native +tongue, I shall talk in English.”</p> +<p>“How lucky,” thought Ted.</p> +<p>“Well, gentlemen, I have good news for +you—war is to be declared the day after tomorrow.”</p> +<p>There was the sound of moving, falling +chairs, of men getting to their feet. Then +a whispered toast—a whisper that was almost +loud because of the number of voices—“Der +Tag.”</p> +<p>“You, in America, who have never given +up your allegiance to the supreme nation, +nor to the emperor, must do your share. Although +war is to be declared the day after +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_69' name='page_69'></a>69</span> +tomorrow, it will be a matter of a few more +days before we are at war with England; +possibly it will be more than a week. I understand +you are ready.”</p> +<p>Another voice spoke. “We are prepared. +We will announce picnics at certain places; +it is for you to tell us the locations.”</p> +<p>“I am ready to tell you that now,” replied +the captain. “Concentrate on your picnic +grounds near Detroit for the taking of +Windsor. Herr Winckel has the plans. I +have given him three sets—Windsor, Toronto, +Winnipeg. He also has the charts +which show how to move and what railroads +to occupy. Our friends in Canada are to see +that there are available cars, engines and +even motors. Of course, all of you will know +just what picnic grounds are to be selected, +so we need waste no time on that.”</p> +<p>“How many men have you, Herr +Winckel?” Captain Knabe wanted to know.</p> +<p>“Will you tell us, Schoen?” Herr Winckel +asked.</p> +<p>“Approximately, armed and ready for the +call, one hundred and twenty-five thousand +men. There are also forty thousand Irishmen. +O’Reilly has them equally prepared +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_70' name='page_70'></a>70</span> +and ready. Pfeffer reports thirty thousand +men in Canada, eager for the call. They are +so stationed that we can throw one hundred +and fifty thousand men on Windsor and Toronto +or such other points as are within one +half day’s ordinary travel. For Montreal we +would need eighteen hours’ additional notice. +For Quebec we would need thirty. We +figure that thirty thousand men will be +enough for Winnipeg, although we shall +have more.”</p> +<p>“The fool Englishmen,” sneered a voice.</p> +<p>“Not such fools, Schmidt. Do not underestimate +them.” The voice was Winckel’s.</p> +<p>“Everything looks so easy,” said another +voice.</p> +<p>“Aye,” said Captain Knabe, “we cannot +help but win. But the Englishman fights +best with his back to the wall.”</p> +<p>“You have your commands assigned, have +you not?” the captain inquired.</p> +<p>“We have,” replied Schoen.</p> +<p>“Now, gentlemen, here is the thing of the +utmost importance,” Herr Winckel spoke +warningly. “The facts must not leak; they +must not get to the United States officials. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_71' name='page_71'></a>71</span> +That is so important that the whole plan will +have to be dropped if there is any suspicion +as to a leak.”</p> +<p>“I think a number of us will bear out +what Winckel says,” O’Reilly spoke up. +“For myself, and I think I speak for the +other Irishmen here present and also for the +forty thousand against England, but against +the United States—never. Not one Irishman +can be counted on if it comes to a showdown +against the U. S. A.”</p> +<p>“Nor very many Germans,” added +Winckel.</p> +<p>“So be it,” said Captain Knabe. “Shall +we go over the ammunition storehouses, +those that are in Canada and those that are +in this country?”</p> +<p>Many of the places Ted could not make +out, others he did. He realized that this was +valuable information. Names though they +were, they were clues and so might be important.</p> +<p>Much more was said by the many men and +Ted stored up in his mind such information +as he thought would be useful. At half past +ten all the men had left and from what Ted +heard he understood that Knabe, Winckel, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_72' name='page_72'></a>72</span> +O’Reilly and Schoen were adjourning to +some other place to perfect plans.</p> +<p>Ted cautiously stretched himself. He was +wary and still watchful. Although his muscles +were stiff and his bones ached, he had +not dared to move. When he was fairly certain +that he could move, he indulged in that +luxury for at least five minutes. He had no +trouble in leaving the building. Once outside, +he hastened to a telephone booth. He +had no intention of telephoning, but he did +want to find out the address of Winckel. A +plan was in his mind.</p> +<p>He found two Winckels in the telephone. +He decided that in all likelihood it was the +one on Michigan avenue, the other was +somewhere on the North Side.</p> +<p>When he came to the first cross street he +saw a passing taxi and hailed it. The driver +had some suspicion as to the ability of his +customer to pay, for Ted was still in his +newsboy’s clothes. However, Ted proved +he had the necessary funds and satisfied the +chauffeur.</p> +<p>Ted left the taxi two blocks before he +reached the Winckel residence. The inside +of the house was almost, not quite dark. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_73' name='page_73'></a>73</span> +Stealthily the boy investigated. He decided +that any entrance would have to be made +from the rear or the side of the building. +The rear windows to the basement and the +door he found were locked.</p> +<p>The boy studied the situation. He saw +where he could enter through one place, but +it would mean that he would have to remove +a window glass. He decided against that. +There was danger of being heard.</p> +<p>Though Ted was seeking an entrance he +had not as yet made up his mind to try to go +to the rescue of his friends. To go into the +building and take chances? But then, after +all, his information could be of use to Strong +only, for he held the many threads.</p> +<p>It would be folly to call the police, Strong +would not care to have the publicity, and +then, too, the two men might not be there +after all.</p> +<p>He decided, come what may, he would go +in. He felt fairly certain that Winckel +would not be in the house nor would he +return for an hour or more. Before making +any further attempt to get inside, Ted went +to a nearby drug store. He obtained paper +and stamped envelope and wrote the following +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_74' name='page_74'></a>74</span> +message to Strong’s office, addressing it +to Strong’s secretary, Miss Ford.</p> +<table summary='special format' style='margin-left:5%; margin-right:5%'> +<tr> +<td colspan="2"><p>“Unless you hear from us in the early +morning, you will find us imprisoned in the +cellar of Mr. Winckel’s house. I am now +trying to get Mr. Strong and Mr. Walker +out, but may not succeed.</p></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td align='left'>“11:15 p.m.</td> +<td align='right'>Ted.”</td> +</tr> +</table> +<p>Having mailed the letter he hurried back +to the house. Cautiously he prowled about, +trying to find a way into the basement. +There was no way.</p> +<p>At any ordinary time Ted would have said +it was impossible to get up on that ledge, +but he managed it now. The house entrance +was through a wide door, but one had to go +down three steps and it made the floor an +English basement. The floor above that was +much higher than most ground floors and +yet lower than most second floors. Ted crept +along the narrow ledge holding on to such +supports as were there. He reached a big +window and by careful manipulation and +urging the boy managed to force it open.</p> +<p>He crawled in. Spot’s suit was very useful +now, for it held matches. Ted did not +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_75' name='page_75'></a>75</span> +intend to use any unless he had to, but the +building was strange to him and the occasion +for the use of them might arise. He +knew that he would have two floors to travel, +the one to the basement and the one to the +cellar. He got down the one floor without +mishap. He was about to begin the exploration +of that floor for the entrance to the +cellar, when he heard the key being inserted +into the street door.</p> +<p>His heart leaped within him. Two people +entered, a man and woman. They switched +on a light. If these people had come thirty +seconds earlier he would have been caught +coming down the stairs, Ted thought, as he +crouched behind the turn of the staircase.</p> +<p>“It was nice of you to see me home, Mr. +Erkin,” said the young lady. “Will you be +good enough to let the light burn, as some +of the folks are not in yet? Come and see +me some time.”</p> +<p>“Good-night, thank you, I will,” the man +answered and left.</p> +<p>The boy thought, “Well, I certainly +should be called Lucky. Here I wonder how +to find an entrance to the cellar and they are +kind enough to turn on a light for me.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_76' name='page_76'></a>76</span></p> +<p>It was fairly easy for Ted to find his way +now, but because of the light he had to use +even greater care.</p> +<p>The cellar seemed deserted, when he got +there. It was pitch dark and it took several +minutes for him to grow accustomed to the +extreme darkness. Then he heard the faint +murmur of voices.</p> +<p>Strong and Walker had slept fitfully and +had been wide awake at various times. +Strong had again been awakened and was +insisting that Walker listen to him.</p> +<p>As Ted drew nearer, he heard Strong say, +“I don’t think, the way I feel, I shall ever +be able to move again. But if I knew that +Ted was just the least bit successful I could +be forever content.”</p> +<p>“The poor child—if he did anything at +all,” Walker answered, “it would be wonderful. +It’s a man’s job, what, then, could +a boy do?”</p> +<p>As if in answer to the question, they heard +a low voice call, “Mr. Strong, Mr. Strong!”</p> +<p>“Who is that?” the startled voice of +Strong demanded.</p> +<p>“It’s me, Ted!” said that ungrammatical +young man, a bit excitedly.</p> +<div class='figcenter'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_77' name='page_77'></a>77</span> +<a name='linki_3' id='linki_3'></a> +<img src='images/illus-077.jpg' alt='' title='' style='width: 337px; height: 548px;' /><br /> +<p class='caption' style='margin: 0 auto; text-align:center; width: 337px;'> +TED FREES THE PRISONERS<br /> +</p> +</div> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_78' name='page_78'></a>78</span></div> +<p>“God bless you, boy. Is it really you? +Have you a match?”</p> +<p>Ted struck one. Hurriedly he untied the +two men, who were already questioning him +excitedly and to whom he whispered assurances.</p> +<p>As they turned the corner (having left the +building without trouble) Strong looked +back. An auto passed north on Michigan +avenue.</p> +<p>“That’s Winckel’s car,” he said. “We +weren’t any too soon.”</p> +<p>Ted told the two men of the night’s adventures +and they both listened eagerly. +Strong was laboring under great excitement +as the boy went on with his story. When +Ted was through he placed his hand on +Ted’s shoulder and said, quietly and very +impressively, to him:</p> +<p>“I simply can’t tell you the things I long +to say. You’re going to be a man, my boy! +This is a day’s work of which you will always +be proud.</p> +<p>“Knowing what we know, we can go to +sleep tonight, awake in the morning with a +plan as to just what we will do. I could +almost cry with contentment. This news +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_79' name='page_79'></a>79</span> +you bring is what we have long striven to +learn, and along comes Ted Marsh—Lucky, +the Boy Scout—and makes Canada and +England his very grateful and humble servants.</p> +<p>“There are several things we know we +can do now,” he added. “We had best take +a night to sleep it over.”</p> +<p>“You are a wonder, Ted, my friend,” +added Walker.</p> +<p>“Come, let us go,” said Strong.</p> +<p>“We are all weary. I hate to leave you. +I’d like to celebrate, but I guess we had +better postpone it until tomorrow. See you +at eight.”</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_80' name='page_80'></a>80</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_VIII_WINCKEL_CALLS_A_HALT' id='CHAPTER_VIII_WINCKEL_CALLS_A_HALT'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER VIII</h2> +<h3>WINCKEL CALLS A HALT</h3> +</div> +<p>There were glaring headlines in the +newspapers the next morning. War was +on. People who had doubted all along, who +could not believe it possible, now had to believe. +And, although England was as yet +not involved, no one was optimistic enough +to imagine that she would stay out of it.</p> +<p>Around newspaper offices, everywhere, +excited, eager groups discussed it all. Many +a man heard the thrilling call of his native +land and many listened and made plans to +return to either Germany, Russia, England +or France.</p> +<p>Yet neither in headlines nor in the ordinary +run of news, was there mention made +of the events of our story. Silent, powerful +forces were at work to keep it quiet.</p> +<p>The automobile of Herr Winckel stopped +before his house and from it Schmidt, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_81' name='page_81'></a>81</span> +O’Reilly and the owner alighted. They +made their way to the cellar, a precaution +as to the safekeeping of the prisoners. +O’Reilly and Schmidt were to be guests of +Winckel for the night. Much work had been +planned for the morning.</p> +<p>“Quiet, aren’t they?” said Schmidt, as +Winckel started to turn on the light.</p> +<p>“I guess they are asleep,” remarked +O’Reilly. The light glared. A moment’s +hush. There were astonished and wondering +exclamations. The ropes which had +held the prisoners tied, were strewn about, +but the prisoners were nowhere.</p> +<p>“What can it mean?” exclaimed Winckel, +searching vainly for an explanation.</p> +<p>Wild guesses were made by the three as +to how the escape was made.</p> +<p>“Well,” said Winckel after awhile, +“never mind how they escaped, the important +thing is—how much have they found +out of our plans.” He showed plainly how +disturbed he was.</p> +<p>“How can they have found out about our +plans? Pretty far fetched to imagine that +they could have obtained any information—the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_82' name='page_82'></a>82</span> +chances are that they did not escape +until late this evening.”</p> +<p>O’Reilly interrupted Schmidt. “Is there +any way in which we can find out the last +time someone in the house saw the prisoners?”</p> +<p>“Good idea,” said Winckel. “We shall +soon find out.”</p> +<p>The household was awakened. Inquiries +and investigation showed that Lauer, a +trusted employee of Winckel, had taken a +last look at the prisoners at about ten +o’clock. He was certain of that; he had +heard their voices, although he could not +make out what they spoke about.</p> +<p>There were sighs of relief from Schmidt +and O’Reilly, who felt that the situation +was covered, but Winckel was more skeptical +and less canny.</p> +<p>“I will admit that they were here until +ten o’clock and later. I will even admit +that they were not listening at the conference. +But how was their escape managed +and why after ten? Did they have outside +help and how did the outside help know of +their imprisonment here?</p> +<p>“Both of you gentlemen may be tired and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_83' name='page_83'></a>83</span> +may wish to retire. Please do so, if you +want to. I am going down to our meeting +place to see what I can see. A little late, +I will admit, and it may not do us much +good, but there is always a chance. It is +important for us to find out if we have +blundered, if our plans have been disclosed.”</p> +<p>Both Schmidt and O’Reilly insisted on +accompanying Winckel and the three left +the house in the next five minutes.</p> +<p>They reached the building in about twenty +minutes. No policeman was about to see +them violate the speed laws on the way. +An immediate and careful search of the +room was made, to see if anyone had been +there since they left and also for any clue +as to the probable leak.</p> +<p>“Nothing seems wrong as far as I can +see,” O’Reilly started to say. “Hello, what +is this?” He had discovered the cleverly +concealed wires of the dictaphone. Winckel +and Schmidt joined him on the instant. +They traced the wires and soon found out +the whole layout.</p> +<p>“Mischief is certainly afoot,” exclaimed +Schmidt. The other men said nothing, but +studied the proposition. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_84' name='page_84'></a>84</span></p> +<p>“There still is a chance,” said O’Reilly +In an unconvincing manner—as if he wanted +to believe something his better sense did not +permit him to do, “that this outfit was not +used since Strong and the other man had +been kept from it.”</p> +<p>A sickening thought at the same instant +came to Schmidt. “O’Reilly, we talked +about the prisoners, how we had trapped +them, where they were—and all the time +someone was listening. That someone heard +all we had to say and then, after we were +all through, he went up to Winckel’s house +and rescued them.”</p> +<p>Winckel said nothing for many minutes; +he seemed lost in thought. The other men +waited for him to speak. Finally he did.</p> +<p>“We are a lot of dunces. We were so sure +of ourselves, we felt we were so wise. Pride +goeth before a fall and we fell. We must +give up our plans. It is up to both of you +to get busy, we still have time to keep out +of trouble. There is a ray of comfort in +that, at least.”</p> +<p>“I hate to think what Knabe and the others +at the embassy will think,” was the rueful +comment of Schmidt. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_85' name='page_85'></a>85</span></p> +<p>“Don’t let that bother you. This plan +has failed, we must plan again—when again +we match wits, let us hope we shall be more +careful and consequently more successful. +Come, enough of post mortems, let’s get +busy.”</p> +<p>It was a busy night for all of them. There +were many men who had to be seen and who +in turn had to see others. It was, so they +explained to the others, a matter of life +and death that all preparations cease at +once, as there would be close and careful +watch kept. There was much telephoning +and telegraphing to the friends who were in +other cities.</p> +<p>There can be nothing but thorough admiration +for the effective, capable way these +men went about calling a halt to all activities. +Like a perfect, well oiled machine +which slows down and then ceases its movements, +until there is something tremendously +impressive in its inaction and silence; +like a well-drilled army which retreats magnificently +and in its very retreat almost +gains a victory, so much like all this, was the +action and the work of these men at this +time. They were obeyed as only the Germans +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_86' name='page_86'></a>86</span> +know how to obey. By morning, there +was no sign, no clue to their plans and activities. +One thing only remained to prove the +danger to Canada that had been. Arsenals +and warehouses holding weapons and vehicles +of war were found at the places shown +on the list that Ted had copied.</p> +<p>At Ottawa and a little later in London and +in Washington, the powers—the men at the +helm—found out that what would in all +probability have been a successful invasion +of Canada had been checked. And they +found out, too, just how and in what way it +had been done.</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_87' name='page_87'></a>87</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_IX_AT_OTTAWA' id='CHAPTER_IX_AT_OTTAWA'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER IX</h2> +<h3>AT OTTAWA</h3> +</div> +<p>“Come in, both of you,” Strong called +from the inside office. Ted had shown +up at Strong’s office early the next day. He +found Strong at his desk and he found afterwards +that he had been there for more than +two hours. His secretary told Ted that he +was telephoning long distance and that Ted +should wait. When the operative was +through talking, he came out and saw Ted.</p> +<p>“Sit down a few minutes, Ted, I shall be +busy,” he had said. He had returned to his +office and proceeded to do some further telephoning. +Walker had come in a little later +and the two were busy going over the evening’s +events when Strong called out as +above.</p> +<p>“Well, Ted, I guess we are going to have +war. At least we won the first victory, or +rather you did.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_88' name='page_88'></a>88</span></p> +<p>Ted fidgeted at the praise and grinned +sheepishly.</p> +<p>“I wonder,” said Walker, “if they have, +found the dictaphone as yet.”</p> +<p>“You can safely figure on the fact that +they did. They started a little investigation +when they found that the birds had flown. +But it does not matter how much they know +we know, now. It’s a fight in the open from +now on. I’m thankful for that.</p> +<p>“I have already notified Ottawa, New +York, and the different capitals of the provinces. +Washington also knows, our embassy +has already notified them as to the location +of the arsenals. They are going to issue orders +from Ottawa to confiscate those in our +own country at once.</p> +<p>“Ottawa wanted all the facts and it got +them. I expect to hear further from them +in the course of the day.”</p> +<p>“I wonder,” said Walker, “if our friends +will be polite enough to return my dictaphone. +They should, it does not belong to +them and they probably know to whom, it +does belong.”</p> +<p>“You might go over and claim it,” answered +Strong. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_89' name='page_89'></a>89</span></p> +<p>“I think I will, just to see old Winckel’s +face.”</p> +<p>Strong turned to Ted.</p> +<p>“Dear lad,” he said, “what you did isn’t +the kind of thing that can appear in the +newspapers, but it is the kind about which +history is made. It is a big job you have +accomplished. The men who sent you down +to us made no mistake in their judgment as +to what you could do. Sir Robert Wingate +wanted to know all about you, I must have +talked to him for more than twenty minutes +on the telephone.</p> +<p>“Walker and I go to Ottawa on a late +train today. They want to see me, to go +fever details.</p> +<p>“Well, let’s get busy with the last threads +of what happened last night—we have to +put it down on black and white for future, +reference. When do you want to return to +Wayland, Ted?”</p> +<p>“I should like to go by Saturday, if it can +be arranged,” answered Ted.</p> +<p>“Well, I think it can be done. I shall return +tomorrow night or early the following +morning. You will be free for these two +days. Have a good time; remember, we pay +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_90' name='page_90'></a>90</span> +all your expenses—nothing is too good for +you. If you can, come down the day after +tomorrow. I may have some news for you.”</p> +<p>“I shall be glad to come down,” answered +Ted, as he wondered at the news to which +Strong had reference.</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>That afternoon he took his mother to the +ball game and saw the Cubs defeat the +Giants. He tried to explain the game to his +mother, who pretended an interest and tried +hard to understand. But she found her truant +fancy going elsewhere—it centered +about this boy of hers, her daughter and also +about the husband who could not endure +the troubleous times, not because of the +hardship to himself so much as the hardship +to her and the child.</p> +<p>Ted’s interest was not divided, however, +except in rare moments when he would turn +to his mother and accuse her of lack of interest. +She would flush guiltily and pretend +that she was interested. She would ask a +question or two, but her very questions convicted +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_91' name='page_91'></a>91</span> +her, showed her inability to understand, +and Ted gave it up as a hopeless job +and comforted himself in the belief that only +men understood the game, it was too deep +for women, excepting one or two, who knew +something.</p> +<p>As they rode home the boy and the mother +discussed the improvement in their condition.</p> +<p>“We will never have to worry any more, +mother, not as long as I am able,” the boy +said, with all of youth’s surety and confidence.</p> +<p>Mrs. Marsh wiped an unbidden tear from +her eye.</p> +<p>“I am very happy, dear. And yet, I +would give so much if your father was one +of us. He was a fine man, but things were +against him, too much so.”</p> +<p>Ted did not answer, he felt that nothing +he could say would help.</p> +<p>After a long period of quiet, the boy spoke +a little more quietly: “Never mind, mother, +you have Helen and me.”</p> +<p>“I am happy in my riches,” answered the +mother proudly. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_92' name='page_92'></a>92</span></p> +<p>When they reached home, both of them +began to get the supper ready so that Helen +would not have to wait. A brilliant idea +came to Ted as they prepared. “Mother,” +he said excitedly, “let’s not eat at home tonight. +We are going to the theater, so let us +have supper out.”</p> +<p>At first the mother demurred, but she +gave way—there was great temptation in +the unusual treat. When Helen came home +and was told the plan she was even more +excited than they; it was so unusual an adventure. +You can readily believe that it +was a happy party of three that repaired to one +of the many nice restaurants in the loop +and afterward to the theater. They did not +reach home until late in the night. On the +way home they discussed what the news +could be that Strong would have for Ted.</p> +<p>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 and gave him a hearty welcome. +She was greatly interested in his story of +his year in the West and wanted to know all +about Mrs. Dean. It was a great day for +Ted and the pleasantest of his stay in +Chicago. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_93' name='page_93'></a>93</span></p> +<p>On his way home that night Ted began to +wish for Wayland. He had not realized how +much the place meant to him until now, +Syd Graham and the rest of the boys seemed +very dear, very desirable.</p> +<p>“I hope,” he said to himself, “that nothing +will keep me from going on Saturday.”</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_94' name='page_94'></a>94</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_X_TED_RECEIVES_A_REWARD' id='CHAPTER_X_TED_RECEIVES_A_REWARD'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER X</h2> +<h3>TED RECEIVES A REWARD</h3> +</div> +<p>Sir Robert Wingate listened while +John Strong told the story of the plotting +and counterplotting in Chicago. Many +times he made memorandums. He asked +questions once or twice, but in the main he +just listened. When Strong finally completed +his account, Sir Robert said:</p> +<p>“We took immediate action at our end +and the results are more than satisfying. +Strong, I do not want you to think for a +minute that the importance of what you +men have done is underestimated. The excitement +of the Great War, the necessity of +secrecy as to what you have accomplished—all +these facts may give you an idea that we +do not consider your work as important as it +is. We do, however. Now, as to this boy, +Theodore Marsh. He must be an unusual +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_95' name='page_95'></a>95</span> +youngster with a good head. He will bear +watching.”</p> +<p>“Unfortunately for us, he is American. +Those are the kind of boys Canada could use +to advantage. Not only is he American, but +loyally so.</p> +<p>“Well, he shall have acknowledgment of +his deed of service. Tell me, is he from a +family of wealth?”</p> +<p>Strong briefly gave Sir Robert an account +of Ted’s past. The latter nodded his head +understandingly.</p> +<p>“I think we will also give a more practical +acknowledgment of the value of his service. +The Government, I am sure, will be glad to +give a reward of $1,000.00 to him. When +you go back to Chicago, you will give him a +letter from me which will also hold a check +for that amount.”</p> +<p>You would think that both Strong and +Walker were the ones who were receiving +the money, they showed how glad they were.</p> +<p>Strong could not complete his work until +late in the afternoon. Walker and he boarded +a train which brought them into Chicago +about three o’clock the next afternoon.</p> +<p>“This letter and the enclosure will be a +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_96' name='page_96'></a>96</span> +great surprise to Ted, won’t it?” said Walker. +“I certainly am glad of it; he surely deserves +it.”</p> +<p>“That he does, and I am just as glad. Let +me manage the business of letting him know +about it.”</p> +<p>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 Strong would not arrive until the afternoon.</p> +<p>Promptly at two Ted showed up. Strong +saw him as he opened the door and greeted +him warmly.</p> +<p>“Hello, Ted; it’s good to see you. We certainly +shall miss you when you go back to +Wayland. But I guess you will be glad to be +back, won’t you?”</p> +<p>“I certainly will. I am going by way of +Big Gulch and shall stop off at the ranch for +a day or so.”</p> +<p>“That’s a splendid idea, isn’t it?” commented +Walker.</p> +<p>“Well, Ted, hear anything more from our +friends, the enemy?” asked Strong, laughingly.</p> +<p>“No, sir, but then I would not be the one +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_97' name='page_97'></a>97</span> +to hear. I thought Mr. Walker would, he +was going to claim his property.”</p> +<p>They all laughed.</p> +<p>“By Jove, I must do that; I have completely +forgotten it,” remarked Walker.</p> +<p>“Well, Ted, they were very nice at Ottawa. +I understand the Government is going +to honor you in some way for your service; +they even spoke of doing the same thing for +both Walker and myself.”</p> +<p>Strong gave Ted an outline of what had +happened, but made no mention of the letter +from Sir Robert. Walker was tempted to +remind him, thinking that he had forgotten, +but he remembered that Strong had said he +wished to handle that end himself.</p> +<p>“I suppose you will be busy packing and +getting ready tomorrow. You leave at four +on Saturday afternoon? Come down and +see us before you go. When we need your +services again, we’ll have you come on.”</p> +<p>Ted got up to go. As he opened the door, +Strong called to him.</p> +<p>“I say, Ted, I almost forgot another thing +which probably is not very important. I +have a letter for you; silly, not to have remembered.” +And Strong smiled, while +Walker laughed. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_98' name='page_98'></a>98</span></p> +<p>“For me?” said Ted wonderingly, as he +took the letter. Then, as he opened it, he +saw the check. He looked at it a little dazed. +He saw his name as if in a haze—then he +saw the amount.</p> +<p>“One thousand dollars—and for me?” +He stammered the words, he was almost +stricken dumb.</p> +<p>“Yes, for you—to do with as you will. +You certainly deserve it,” said Strong.</p> +<p>“Every bit of it,” added Walker.</p> +<p>Ted had a feeling as if he wanted to cry. +He did. Walker patted him on the shoulder +understandingly, while Strong looked out of +the window and pretended he did not see.</p> +<p>“There is a letter which you might be glad +to read and which I think will be almost as +welcome as the money.” Strong turned +round and faced him as he said this.</p> +<p>The boy opened the letter.</p> +<p style='margin-left:1.0em; margin-right:2.0em; text-align:right'>“August 2, 1914.<br /></p> +<p style='margin-left:1.0em; margin-right:2.0em; text-align:left'>“Master Theodore Marsh,<br /> +<span style='margin-left: 1.0em;'>“Chicago, Illinois.</span><br /></p> +<p style='margin-left:1.0em; margin-right:2.0em; '>“Dear Theodore:</p> +<p style='margin-left:1.0em; margin-right:2.0em; '>“Mr. Strong has advised me as to the +service you have done Canada. It has been +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_99' name='page_99'></a>99</span> +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.</p> +<p style='margin-left:1.0em; margin-right:2.0em; '>“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.</p> +<p style='margin-left:1.0em; margin-right:2.0em; '>“The enclosed, in a small way, signalizes +a reward for your invaluable services.</p> +<p style='margin-left:1.0em; margin-right:2.0em; '>“I hope to have the pleasure of meeting +you at some time, and I am,</p> +<p style='margin-left:1.0em; margin-right:2.0em; text-align:right'><span style='margin-right: 3.125em;'>“Very sincerely yours,</span><br /> +<span style='margin-right: 1.0em;'>“Robert Wingate.”</span><br /></p> +<p>“That’s a fine letter, isn’t it?” said Ted, +when he finished. He spoke in a low voice—he +did not trust his feelings. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_100' name='page_100'></a>100</span></p> +<p>“Yes, it’s fine. Sir Robert is a great man. +He does things in a big way. But I think +you want to go home now, so go.”</p> +<p>And Ted did.</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_101' name='page_101'></a>101</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_XI_TED_GOES_BACK' id='CHAPTER_XI_TED_GOES_BACK'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XI</h2> +<h3>TED GOES BACK</h3> +</div> +<p>“But, Ted, it would be impossible for us +to go on Saturday. I am not so sure +that we can go at all, it will require a lot of +thinking.”</p> +<p>Mrs. Marsh had heard the wonderful news +and Ted’s sudden plan for them to go out to +Big Gulch or Wayland. She was trying to +show Ted how impossible it was for them to +do it and he was only just beginning to +acknowledge that perhaps Saturday would +be too soon.</p> +<p>“Well, I tell you, mother. Maybe Saturday +is too soon, but you will be ready in two +weeks—that is plenty of time. I know that +Helen will be able to do whatever she wants +to do out there—and this money, after we +have repaid the Deans, will help to tide over +the time until we are settled. We shall hear +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_102' name='page_102'></a>102</span> +what Helen says—and I shall speak to Mr. +and Mrs. Dean when I get out there.”</p> +<p>Helen was told the news almost before she +passed the doorstep. She was astonished +and glad and cried all in the same minute.</p> +<p>“How wonderful!” she finally managed +to say.</p> +<p>Then she was told of Ted’s plan. The boy +had thought that she might need convincing, +but she agreed almost at once.</p> +<p>“I know I can obtain a position in my line +of work out there. It is a land of opportunity +and we should grasp the chance to get +out there.”</p> +<p>All that remained was for Ted to get the +opinion of the Deans.</p> +<p>Ted went down to say good-bye to Strong +and Walker the next day. Both men were +very busy, but the three had lunch together +and Ted promised to write to both of them.</p> +<p>“You may have to write both of us at the +front—we shall go off to the war—that is, +Walker will. It may be my bad luck to have +to stay on duty here, although I have asked +to be relieved.”</p> +<p>“Well, Ted,” said Walker, “I shall see +you at the train.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_103' name='page_103'></a>103</span></p> +<p>“And I will try to do so,” added Strong.</p> +<p>The boy told both his friends of the plan +to bring his mother and sister out West. +They agreed that it was a good plan.</p> +<p>His mother and sister, and Walker and +Strong saw him depart. It was just a year +before that Ted had left, what a big year it +had been.</p> +<p>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 would meet him—and that he +would bring his horse down so that they +could go back to the ranch on horseback. +Of course, in all likelihood, it would be the +Packard that would come down for him, for +the distance was long and it would mean a +lot of extra trouble for Red or anyone to +lead his horse down all the way. The trip +to Big Gulch seemed long because of the +boy’s eagerness to see his friends. He +awakened very early on the second morning +when the train was due. When the train +finally reached the station, he eagerly looked +out to see who was there. But he could see +no one until he stepped from the train.</p> +<p>There stood Red and next to him Pop. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_104' name='page_104'></a>104</span> +There were three horses and one of them +was his.</p> +<p>Glad greetings were exchanged.</p> +<p>“My, I’m glad you came for me on horseback. +I hoped you would, but it seemed too +much to expect.”</p> +<p>“Well, we figured you would like it. Glad +you do.”</p> +<p>They started off. As best he could, Ted +told his story and both of the men listened +with different interest. When Ted came to +that part where it had practically been +settled that his mother and Helen were +to come out, a queer look came into Pop’s +eyes which neither of them saw. The older +man rode behind most of the way after that.</p> +<p>“You should see Wolf, you would not +know him,” said Red.</p> +<p>“I guess he would not know me, either,” +answered Ted.</p> +<p>“He may be your dog, but I’m kind of attached +to him myself,” remarked Red.</p> +<p>Some time in the afternoon they reached +the ranch. Smiles was there and so were +the other men and they gave Ted a great +welcome.</p> +<p>So did Wolf, who had grown wonderfully, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_105' name='page_105'></a>105</span> +and who, while he did not look like any +particular kind of dog, showed himself to +have an individuality, 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 to see how the dog +tried to pay attention to both Red and Ted, +and it made the men laugh at his double +devotion.</p> +<p>Ted hurried to the house where Mrs. Dean +was waiting for him. She showed how glad +she was to see him.</p> +<p>“Mr. Dean will be back a little later. He +has been very busy.”</p> +<p>Ted thought he would wait with his news +until later and merely mentioned some of +the things that had happened.</p> +<p>“Ted, dear,” said Mrs. Dean, “I want to +tell you that we are going to have a little +stranger in this house, soon.” Then Ted +knew why he had hesitated about blurting +out his news—there was an even bigger +event to happen.</p> +<p>“I’m so glad,” said he.</p> +<p>He stayed a little while only, as Mrs. Dean +did not seem strong.</p> +<p>He saw Dean when he came home. To +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_106' name='page_106'></a>106</span> +both of his friends he told his news, what +had been done, he showed Sir Robert’s letter +and then spoke of his plan for his mother +and sister.</p> +<p>“How wonderful,” said Mrs. Dean, while +John Dean looked tenderly at her.</p> +<p>“I’m proud of you, Ted. I counted on +you, but you did much more. I heard from +Strong, but I did not know what had been +accomplished. As to your mother and sister—they +must come out here—the wonderful +thing is that Mrs. Dean will need your +mother’s help very soon and it all 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. When do you +expect to write home?”</p> +<p>“At once,” answered Ted.</p> +<p>“The sooner they come the better, although +I suppose it will be every bit of two +weeks.”</p> +<p>Ted started to leave his friends to rejoin +Red and the rest. Dean caught up with him +about one hundred yards from the house.</p> +<p>“You know, Ted,” he started without any +preamble, “I feel as if my country is calling +me. I cannot think of going until the child +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_107' name='page_107'></a>107</span> +is born 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 your mother here. They will be company +for Mrs. Dean. She agrees with me +that I should go. She is the bravest, best +woman in the world.” He stopped for a +minute. “I shall see you later, as soon as +Mrs. Dean takes her rest. I want to know +all about Chicago and what happened.”</p> +<p>He returned to the house while Ted joined +the men.</p> +<p>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—off +for the war. Red was not going—he +was American. “I may go later, if they +need me,” he said. There was to be a great +shortage of men at the ranch.</p> +<p>Dean had made Pop the new foreman to +take Smiles’ place. Pop was not in the +conversation, he was sitting by himself and +he showed every desire to be left alone. +After a little while, he left the room.</p> +<p>It made the war very near and Ted felt +very lonely to hear that these friends of his +were going off, some of them never to return.</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_108' name='page_108'></a>108</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_XII_THE_MARSHES_REUNITED' id='CHAPTER_XII_THE_MARSHES_REUNITED'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XII</h2> +<h3>THE MARSHES REUNITED</h3> +</div> +<p>Pop entered the house. He wanted advice +and he wanted it bad. He knew +that ordinarily he would have gone to Mrs. +Dean—a woman would help so much at a +time like this. But Dean met him in the +hall.</p> +<p>“Hello, Pop—what’s the trouble?” asked +Dean.</p> +<p>“Hello, Jack. I can’t say whether it’s +trouble or not. What I want is advice. +Maybe you can give it to me, although I +figured Mrs. Dean would be better.”</p> +<p>“Tell me, I may be able to help.” Dean +was surprised at the agitation of the older +man.</p> +<p>Pop told his story. He did not keep any +of the details from Dean. The latter listened, +his astonishment growing all the +time. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_109' name='page_109'></a>109</span></p> +<p>“You see, Jack, it’s this way. If they +come here, my wife will see me. She probably +hates me. I cannot hope that she will +understand. On the other hand, I want so +much to be with her, I am going to be foreman +and that means I can support her comfortably. +But I probably would make her +miserable if I entered into her life again. +What do you say?”</p> +<p>“Let us ask Mrs. Dean. She will give +you the right answer.”</p> +<p>Mrs. Dean listened. There was no hesitation +in her answer.</p> +<p>“Go to Chicago at once. You need not +worry about how your wife will take it, nor +as to how she feels. I know. She understands +better than you can ever suppose. +Jack, dear, whoever said that God did not +weave our lives? How closely our friends +here have been interwoven with our lives, +how much we have been of service to each +other.</p> +<p>“Go to Chicago on the first train,” she +finished.</p> +<p>“Yes, and we shall tell Ted. Bring them +back with you,” added Dean.</p> +<p>Pop left the house, much relieved. He +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_110' name='page_110'></a>110</span> +was happy that his duty was what his inclination +was—what he craved to do. He +joined the other men.</p> +<p>Without giving any explanation he told +Smiles he would have to be away for about +ten days and that he had already arranged +for the same with John Dean.</p> +<p>Early the next morning he was off. He +asked Red to take him down. To Red he +explained the whole thing, that he was coming +back with his folks.</p> +<p>“I understand a whole lot of things now. +How queerly you acted at times. I guess +I’ll call you Marsh, now.”</p> +<p>“Yes, and it’s up to you to explain. I +shall wire you before you do so. If my wife +should decide that she does not want me, I +am not coming back. If she decides she will +forgive me, I will telegraph you and you can +let it out casually.”</p> +<p>“I will be glad to do so,” answered Red. +“Is Jack going to tell Ted?”</p> +<p>“Yes, that’s the plan.”</p> +<p>“The boy will be glad. He likes you a lot. +But, mostly glad, because it will make his +mother happy.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_111' name='page_111'></a>111</span></p> +<p>“I hope so much that it will,” the older +man answered.</p> +<p>We are not going into details as to the +meeting between the Marshes. We, who are +acquainted with so much of their story, can +imagine what happened. Bill Marsh left +home because he felt he could not hold his +head up nor his wife’s respect. He had +been very foolish, and it was this foolishness, +this false pride, even a lack of faith in +the understanding of his wife that had made +him stay away. Who should have known +him better than his own wife? It was harder +to make Helen understand. She asked some +searching questions, but in the end she realized +the fine manliness of her father.</p> +<p>The two, mother and daughter, marveled +at the coincidence of the father being at the +same place as Ted.</p> +<p>“The world is a small place, isn’t it?” +said Mrs. Marsh.</p> +<p>It did not take very long for them to be +ready to leave. Marsh helped where he +could and a week after he arrived they left +for Big Gulch. Red had paved the way, in +accordance with their plan.</p> +<p>Ted was too surprised to make any comment +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_112' name='page_112'></a>112</span> +when he heard the news. At first he +was furiously angry at his father. Boylike, +he could not forgive certain things which an +older person could. It was Mrs. Dean, even +more than Red and John Dean, who made +him see and understand.</p> +<p>Then the Marshes came to Big Gulch. +Matters adjusted themselves. It was a busy +time for all. Smiles was off, smiling and +glad. So were the other men who were to +go. Brave men, all of them, doing their duty +as they saw it. Pop took up his duties as +foreman.</p> +<p>Then the child was born to the Deans. A +girl, which seemed like a squalling, ugly +baby, much like any other baby, to Ted. But +to say so to the mother or to the father or to +Mrs. Marsh or to Helen, would have been a +great, an awful insult.</p> +<p>The men came in to see the heir apparent. +They seemed clumsy, uncouth, sheepish +creatures and all of them were glad to get +away, including Pop and Ted.</p> +<p>With the excitement subsiding, things +began again to take a normal aspect. Mrs. +Dean began to sit up, the child began to +look more like a human being, it had +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_113' name='page_113'></a>113</span> +been decided that Helen was to rest for a +few months and then continue her studies +at the nearest preparatory school, with the +purpose of entering college. John Dean was +to leave for the front in two weeks.</p> +<p>Our story is almost complete. Ted received +a great welcome at the Academy. +The boys had heard of what he had done, of +his reward and the letter he had received +from Sir Robert Wingate. For one whole +day his coming made the Great War an even +smaller event. Captain Wilson had gone to +Ottawa, he had been promoted to be a major. +Some of the instructors were gone and even +one or two of the older students. Those who +were left spoke only of the time when they, +too, could go and they were bemoaning their +misfortune in being young.</p> +<p>Ted heard from the folks at home. He +heard from Helen and somehow he got the +impression that all she spoke about was +Red and what a fine man he was. A letter +from Red made no mention of Helen, but +he did say that he was getting down to the +serious business of thinking of the future. +Even as young as Ted was, he could guess +that they had become great friends and he +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_114' name='page_114'></a>114</span> +was glad. His father wrote him that he had +placed his $1,000.00 in the bank for him, he +having settled all the debts and accounts +himself. It was a fine letter and it removed +what resentment still remained with Ted +against his father. His mother also wrote, +saying she was wonderfully happy and he +got a short note from John Dean before he +left. He also heard from Walker, who told +him he was off for the war, but that Strong +had to stay.</p> +<p>Syd Graham and Ted were inseparable. +They did many things together and the +plans for the future each of the boys made +included the other. There was, of course, a +great deal more of military training and +many times the boys at the Academy were +called upon for some duty or other.</p> +<p>So the days went. Ted received a fall vacation +and he went home. There was news +from the front. Dean had been wounded, so +the report came, not seriously, but enough +to disable him, and he was returning home. +He would always limp. In that awful charge +when so many Canadians had been wounded +and killed, Smiles had lost his life. It made +Ted very sad to think that he would never +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_115' name='page_115'></a>115</span> +see the happy, smiling ex-foreman again. +Helen was at school. Ted pumped Red +Mack as to Helen and found his suspicions +confirmed. He teased Red unmercifully +and it was one time when Red was flustered. +The Dean baby was a healthy, lusty youngster +of a few months.</p> +<p>Ted Marsh has his life before him. This +story is but one incident of his early life. +But for later events we must look elsewhere.</p> +<div class='figcenter'> +<img src='images/illus-emb.jpg' alt='' title='' style='width: 106px; height: 161px;' /><br /> +</div> +<hr class='pb' /> +<div style='text-align:center'> +<img alt='ad page' src='images/illus-ad1.jpg' /> +</div> +<hr class='pb' /> +<div style='text-align:center'> +<img alt='ad page' src='images/illus-ad2.jpg' /> +</div> +<hr class='pb' /> +<div style='text-align:center'> +<img alt='ad page' src='images/illus-ad3.jpg' /> +</div> +<hr class='pb' /> +<div style='text-align:center'> +<img alt='ad page' src='images/illus-ad4.jpg' /> +</div> +<hr class='pb' /> +<div style='text-align:center'> +<img alt='ad page' src='images/illus-ad5.jpg' /> +</div> +<hr class='pb' /> +<div style='text-align:center'> +<img alt='ad page' src='images/illus-ad6.jpg' /> +</div> +<hr class='pb' /> +<div style='text-align:center'> +<img alt='ad page' src='images/illus-ad7.jpg' /> +</div> +<hr class='pb' /> +<div style='text-align:center'> +<img alt='ad page' src='images/illus-ad8.jpg' /> +</div> +<hr class='pb' /> +<div style='text-align:center'> +<img alt='ad page' src='images/illus-ad9.jpg' /> +</div> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<p>***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TED MARSH ON AN IMPORTANT MISSION***</p> +<p>******* This file should be named 28769-h.txt or 28769-h.zip *******</p> +<p>This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:<br /> +<a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/8/7/6/28769">http://www.gutenberg.org/2/8/7/6/28769</a></p> +<p>Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed.</p> + +<p>Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: Ted Marsh on an Important Mission + + +Author: Elmer Sherwood + + + +Release Date: May 12, 2009 [eBook #28769] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TED MARSH ON AN IMPORTANT +MISSION*** + + +E-text prepared by Roger Frank and the Project Gutenberg Online +Distributed Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net) + + + +Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this + file which includes the original illustrations. + See 28769-h.htm or 28769-h.zip: + (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/28769/28769-h/28769-h.htm) + or + (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/28769/28769-h.zip) + + + + + +TED MARSH ON AN IMPORTANT MISSION + +by + +ELMER SHERWOOD + +Author of "Ted Marsh, the Boy Scout", "Buffalo Bill's Boyhood", +"Buffalo Bill and the Pony Express", etc., etc. + +Illustrations by Alice Carsey + + + + + + + +[Illustration: HE SPRANG AT TED AND BARKED HIS DELIGHT] + + + +Whitman Publishing Co. + + + + +CONTENTS + + I. Ted Decides to Accept 11 + II. Plans Are Made to Meet Ted 24 + III. Ted Arrives in Chicago 33 + IV. Ted Meets Strong 39 + V. Setting a Trap 47 + VI. Strong Seems Checkmated 57 + VII. The Dictaphone at Work 68 + VIII. Winckel Calls a Halt 80 + IX. At Ottawa 87 + X. Ted Receives a Reward 94 + XI. Ted Goes Back 101 + XII. The Marshes Reunited 108 + + + + +ILLUSTRATIONS + + HE SPRANG AT TED AND BARKED HIS DELIGHT 4 + CAUTIOUSLY HE PROWLED ABOUT 13 + TED FREES THE PRISONERS 78 + + + + +TED MARSH ON AN IMPORTANT MISSION + +CHAPTER I + +TED DECIDES TO ACCEPT + + +"Ted, oh Ted." + +The speaker's hail was not altogether unexpected. The boy called Ted +turned about and met Captain Wilson half way. + +The familiar figure of the boy proves to be Ted Marsh who had come out +to Western Canada with his friends, John Dean and Mrs. Dean. After a +number of months on the Double X Ranch, months which the boy had found +both exhilarating and tremendously to his liking, he had been sent to +Wayland Academy. To those of us who have read Ted Marsh the Boy Scout, +the following facts are familiar. A brief resume, however, is set +forth herewith for those readers who are new so that they can safely +gather the threads of our story. + +Ted Marsh, a likeable newsboy, living in Chicago, makes the +acquaintance of John Dean, a Canadian rancher. Ted takes him to the +Settlement to which he belongs. Dean's interest in the boy grows. Then +as the boy begins to show the man the Chicago that he knows, there is +the startling clamor of fire engines and all the evidence of a nearby +fire. It is in the tenement in which Ted lives. The boy cannot be held +back. He rushes into the building to try to save his mother. +Fortunately, his mother has already left the burning building. The boy +is caught within and only makes his escape by jumping from the window +on high into the firemen's waiting net below. + +After a stay in the hospital John Dean and his wife take the boy West +with the consent of his mother who unselfishly lets him go because +opportunity, so she feels, is there. Ted's father had left home just +before Ted was born. + +[Illustration: CAUTIOUSLY HE PROWLED ABOUT] + +Strong interest centers around the doings of Ted and his new-found +friends both at the ranch and at the academy. Adventures are many. The +boy is found to be cool in emergencies. He has qualities which bring +respect and liking. The end of the story finds him suggested for an +important mission to Chicago--and his youth is considered of great +advantage by the gentlemen who wish to send him. The opening of the +present story finds Captain Wilson hailing Ted, ready to broach the +subject and find out if the boy is willing or unwilling to undertake +the mission: + +The boy saluted. He stood at attention while the captain studied him +for a few moments. + +"Ted, boy, I come to you on very important business. Not as Scout to +Scout, but as man to man. For you can safely refuse to do this--it +will not count against you as Scout. Did Mr. Dean see you?" + +"Yes sir," the boy replied. "He told me that in all probability you +would wish to see me in reference to an important matter. And he told +me that when you did ask me, I was to be sure to decide with no other +thought than that of either wanting or not wanting to do it. He +doesn't want my friendship for him or for anyone else to influence +me." + +"That's exactly it, Ted. What we are going to ask you to do, you must, +first, want to do, second, feel that you can do, third, be sure it is +in line with any convictions you may have. Now, I suppose you are even +more anxious to know what it is all about?" + +The boy nodded his assent but waited for the other to continue. + +"Whatever we are going to tell you or which you may gather you do +under pledge of secrecy. And now let us go to meet Major Church. While +we are on our way, bear with me for a few minutes while I go into all +this for you. + +"Germany, we all feel, is getting ready to make war. Most people +cannot realize it, but we have fairly good proof gathered both in +London and in Ottawa that it is so. We also know that over in the +States a big army of so-called German Americans but who are Germans in +reality, men who have never severed their allegiance to the +Fatherland, are getting ready, preparing to invade Canada. They are +also to have the help of many Irishmen who hate England. + +"The reason for this conference is to get Canada to also prepare. The +Germans are working quietly, secretly. We cannot get the evidence to +show what they are doing although we have tried. Here in Canada, they +simply will not believe, and cite the fact that Germany has repeatedly +declared its friendship as the best kind of proof of our being all +wrong. + +"Is all this too complex for you, my boy?" Captain Wilson interrupted +his discourse with the sudden thought that he was not making it clear +to his listener. + +"I understand you, Captain Wilson," the boy answered. So the captain +continued. + +"We think we have found out one source through which we can get +information. We must, however, proceed with great caution. Nothing +would please the Germans more than to show us up and give surface +proof of their good will and good intentions. Incidently, they would +give a lot to make those of us who are watching, the laughing stock of +Canada and the United States. That is why we must be very careful. We +must try to get Washington to see the truth not through any suspicion +they may have but by actual, obvious, undeniable evidence. If we can +furnish such proof the Government at Washington will find good reason +for watching these German-Americans. + +"It is for us to get the proof. Once we get that we will not have to +worry as to trouble from the other side of the border. + +"I suppose," the captain concluded as they entered the building and +made their way to the room in which Major Church was waiting, "you +know who some of the men at this conference are. Besides Mr. Dean and +myself, Major Smith, our chief, is an ex-army officer. Colonel Graham +is Syd Graham's father. Mr. Smythe comes from Toronto; he is in the +employ of the Government. Well, here we are." + +They entered a small room. Major Church put aside some papers on +which he had been engaged. + +Captain Wilson introduced Ted. + +"I have heard of you, young man," was the major's greeting. "You are a +credit to the school, I find. And we have called you before us because +of qualities we find you possess. + +"I don't know how much you do know, lad, but war with Germany is near. +Germans masquerading as German-Americans are planning an attempt +against Canada and they intend to carry out that attempt just before +the immediate declaration of war. We believe that the meetings of the +prime movers are held in Milwaukee, possibly in Chicago. It is +important for us to know their plans." + +"We perhaps could decide on anyone of several men but it occurred to +us that to send one so young as you are would in itself lull any +suspicions they may have. They will not connect you with our work, +which is in itself half the battle. But, of course, it would not do to +send any one who, though young, is not also endowed with a fair amount +of good common sense and discretion." + +Ted listened. Nothing that the Major said escaped him. He realized +the weight of the speaker's words. + +"I understand that you have lived in Chicago. That is correct, is it +not?" + +"Yes sir," Ted replied. + +"Well, it will help in case the point to cover is Chicago. With your +knowledge of Chicago very little time would be lost." + +"In the main," the Major continued, "it is mostly a question of being +alert--eyes, ears and mind." + +"Captain Wilson," the Major turned. "Is Mr. Smythe obtaining the +necessary information, do you know?" + +"Yes, we will soon know," was the reply, "who is the operative in that +district and whether Chicago or Milwaukee is the point to cover. Mr. +Smythe is waiting for the answer." + +Major Church gave Ted an account of how their secret service men +worked and how information was obtained. + +"Despite the fact that we have all these men, I feel sure that you +will be able to get the information we desire more readily than any of +our men. In a way, you will be a temporary secret service man." + +He carefully outlined his reasons for believing that Ted might be +successful in getting information. + +"My boy, Canada is not your country. There is no call for you to do +it. You may wish to remain neutral and we do not want you to go unless +you wish to, heart and soul. But should you go, successful or +unsuccessful, you will be rendering us a great service." + +"I want to go," Ted answered very quietly. "Canada is second only to +my loyalty for my own country." + +Major Church and Captain Wilson gave Ted a hand-clasp which showed +their feelings. + +"You are true blue, my lad," said Major Church. "We will have +information as to location from Mr. Smythe very soon. You can +understand the need of secrecy when our wires are coded. By the way, +Wilson," he turned to the captain, "you have an instructor in German +here, have you not?" + +"We have," was the reply. + +"Better watch him a bit. My theory is that all of these Germans will +bear watching." + +Three hours later Captain Wilson and Ted joined Mr. Smythe, Mr. Dean, +Colonel Graham and Major Church. Mr. Smythe presented the following +wire: + + "Smythe, + "Wayland. + "Ekal stroper On. 2 ecalp Ees H." + +"As you know, gentlemen, they have used the simplest code because the +information would only be information for us. It is the reversal of +the letters of a word. Let us see: + + "Lake Reports No. 2 place. See H. + +"H is Strong. No. 2 is Chicago. Strong is our chief operative there. +Ted will have to see him to get his information and also such help as +he may need. But one thing we know--their headquarters just now are at +Chicago." + +"I am glad of it," said Ted. "Since Chicago is my home town, I can do +things there and may be successful." + +"Suppose," said John Dean, "you start tomorrow, Ted. You see, speed is +the thing. That will give you a chance to see your mother and sister, +too." + +"I need hardly say," said the major, "that even your mother had best +not know about this, unless it should be actually necessary. Secrecy +is imperative." + +"I knew that, sir," Ted replied. + +"One thing more," Major Church added, and he spoke to the men in the +room. "No matter who asks about Ted, he has gone home to see his +mother; someone is not well, let us say. The slightest hint or +suspicion as to the purpose of his trip would frustrate it. Will you, +Mr. Smythe, telegraph to Toronto, and tell the chief just what has +been done?" + +Mr. Smythe nodded his head. + +Ted went out first. As he closed the door, another door far down the +hall opened, a head came out, a very German head--the head of Mr. +Pfeffer, instructor in that language. Quietly and quickly it was +withdrawn. Ted did not observe this; if he had, it probably would not +have had any meaning for him. Mr. Pfeffer was a very curious +gentleman, he would have given much to know the purpose of the +meeting; even now, he was debating with himself whether he should do +some innocent questioning of Ted. He decided against it. + +Just before retiring, Captain Wilson came into Ted's room. + +"It seems silly to distrust Pfeffer, Lucky, still when you get to a +station, say Winnipeg, I would telegraph your mother that you are +coming. If any questions should be asked of her, she should say that +she knows you are coming. See? It is best to be safe and to guard +against everything." + +Early morn saw Ted on the train. It was announced to those who made +inquiries that Ted had been called home. Mr. Pfeffer received the +information with private wonder and doubt. + +He took occasion to stroll down to the telegraph office later that +same day. + +"Hello, Peter," he said to the operator. + +Peter turned around to see if anyone was about, then brought out a +copy of the coded telegram. + +"Easy code, professor--what does it mean?" His copy already had +translated the words properly. + +"It may mean nothing or it may mean everything. The boy is going to +Chicago--perhaps Chicago is No. 2--perhaps not. Peter, you had better +send a telegram. Better be sure, eh?" + +"Why would they be sending a child and for what?" Peter was +incredulous. + +"Did the boy send a telegram?" Mr. Pfeffer asked. "I had better see +them all." + +But there was none that had been sent that morning to Chicago. + +A long wire, also in code, went forward from Mr. Pfeffer to Chicago. +Then that worthy strolled back to the Academy. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +PLANS ARE MADE TO MEET TED + + +In a room in one of the West Side streets of Chicago, in an +old-fashioned office building, which also rented rooms to lodges and +societies, eight men were engaged in earnest conversation. + +"You are wrong, O'Reilly," said one of them. "England will not dare +come into it. There are men in England who would want the country to +war against my land. But the powers that be, and the people, too, will +be against it." + +"I hate England, Berman," said O'Reilly. "There are Irishmen who are +willing to lick the hand that has beaten them and has held them in +subjection, but they are not true sons of Erin. I am against England, +but I do not despise the English as you Germans do. Once they are +aroused, mark my words, slow as they may be at the start, they will +be a mighty force." His eyes flashed. "Many people call me a traitor, +but Ireland, not England, is my country, and all Irishmen should be +against the country that holds it slave. + +"But to business, gentlemen. Will you, Mr. Schmidt, explain the call +for this meeting?" + +"That I will," answered he who had been addressed. "There are two +things for us to take up--the less important first. I have a telegram +from our good friend Pfeffer up in Wayland, in Alberta, Canada, where +he is doing our work, but is presumably a German instructor. Ah, here +it is--" + +He drew out the coded wire that Pfeffer had sent. "I have figured out +the code and it reads as follows: + +"'Ference eld erecon urday h atch h oysat ed w arsh b adian t cific M +eftcan erepa en l am h alledsev ome y c ther h pect b emo ssus n h ay +i ee o trong w haps s as s persper ay h eekpa formation m atchin s +w.' + +"'Conference held here Saturday. Watch boy Ted Marsh, Canadian +Pacific, left here seven A. M. Sunday. Called home by mother. Suspect +he is on way to see Strong. Perhaps he has papers, may seek +information. Watch.'"[A] + +There was a discussion as to the telegram. "Who is Strong?" asked +O'Reilly. + +"He is the chief operative--secret service man--stationed in Chicago +by the Government at Ottawa. We have him watched. We have even +instructions out that if he becomes dangerous he will disappear very +suddenly." + +"That is bad business," said a little man named Heinrich. + +"Bad business nothing!" answered Schmidt. "No one must stand in the +forward way. Germany first, last, forever. What is Strong, what are +you, what am I--poof, nothing! But Germany--ah--" the speaker's eyes +gleamed. + +"It will give those who are suspicious ground for proof that their +suspicions are more than suspicions," answered Heinrich. + +"Let us not wander from the point, gentlemen," another man +interrupted. "As I gather from the telegram, this boy may be coming to +see Strong. Now, we must first make sure of that fact, then find out +what it is he is coming for and stop him in his attempt, if it +concerns us." + +"O'Reilly," asked Mr. Winckel, a man with spectacles which carried +thick lenses, "can you or one of your friends, perhaps, meet the boy +and pose as this man Strong? Schmidt, you or Feldman had better go to +Milwaukee and try to place the boy and get such information as you +can. But do not let him suspect you." + +"I'll go," said Schmidt. + +"When is he due?" asked Mr. Winckel. + +"Why, I should think it would be some time tonight," answered Schmidt. +"I'll look and make sure." + +"Find out his home address," added Winckel. "Telegraph it to us and +one of us will hurry up and find out if his mother really expects him. +How about your part, O'Reilly?" + +"I'll see to it," answered the Irishman. + +"That is finished now. Oh, yes, one more thing, Schmidt, better have +Strong watched even more closely. What is the other business?" It +could be seen that Mr. Winckel was the moving spirit. + +"Tomorrow, eight o'clock, here--the chief will come from Washington. +When Captain Knabe comes, he will tell us just when the day will be. +It is very soon, very soon; the long wait is over. Then, too, he will +tell us what we shall do. You will all be here? Now we shall go to our +work." + +They broke up. They were very thorough, each man had his work assigned +and would see it carried through. + +We shall turn to John Strong, who early that morning had been slipped +a memorandum in code by the waitress serving breakfast to him, +announcing that Ted was to come and to meet him. Also, Ted's home +address. + +John Strong was a clean-cut Canadian, hair graying at the temples. No +one knew better than he how carefully he was watched. That he was able +to be as useful to his government as he was, showed his ability. + +He decided at once that he would not meet Ted. That would show one +thing--the important thing to those who would want to know. How could +he get to the boy's mother without being observed? + +To the girl who waited on him he whispered that he wanted her to +arrange for two cars to wait at the main entrance of the Hotel La +Salle at ten o'clock. + +He strolled out and immediately felt himself shadowed. He reached the +hotel, looked at the register very carefully, as if there was +something there he wanted to see, then turned to the cigar-stand. +Turning around, he saw another man looking just as carefully at that +register. He smiled. Now he knew one of those who were watching him. +He pulled out some memorandum slips from his pocket and made some +notations. As if by accident he left one of the slips on the case, +lighted his cigar, bought a newspaper, and sat down and lounged. + +Another man came to the cigar counter, also bought some cigars, picked +up some matches, and with it the slip of paper. + +So there were two. + +At five minutes past the hour Strong strolled to the door, made a +frantic dash for the machine, which seemed very slow to start. A +moment later two men entered the machine immediately next, gave the +driver instructions to follow the first machine, which by now had +dashed off. + +The first car went south. You may remember that Mrs. Marsh lived +north. The second car followed. The occupants could never suspect the +innocent appearing chauffeur of that second car, as he swore and raved +at the policeman who had ordered him to stop to let the east and west +traffic go by at the side street. The frantic men inside were assured +that he would make up the lost time; that he knew the number of the +car he was following. But he never found that car. He became very +stupid, although always pleasant. + +John Strong reached the home of Mrs. Marsh, certain that he had eluded +the pursuit. + +"Mrs. Marsh, I believe?" he asked as she opened the door. + +"I am Mrs. Marsh," she answered. + +"I am a friend of some friends of Ted. The main reason for his coming +down to Chicago is to see me, although I am sure he will think that +seeing you will count for even more than that." + +"Did you get word from him?" further asked Strong. + +"Yes, I got a telegram. It said he was coming to see you, but that I +was to let anyone else who might ask think that he was coming because +I sent for him. I do not understand." + +Very carefully Strong explained it all to Mrs. Marsh. + +"It is important that these people should not suspect that he is +coming to see me, only that he is coming home, nothing more. It may +even be, that one of them will be here to see you, some time today. +They surely will if they find out anything about his coming, and where +you live. I will say this, that I feel I am speaking for Mr. Dean when +I say it will be a great service to him and to his country." + +"I shall be glad to do anything for Mr. Dean. You can count on me. I +think I understand and perhaps will be able to help. Perhaps, too, my +daughter, Helen, even more so." + +"Will you have your daughter come and see me right after supper. The +train comes in at 9:10 tonight, and she will meet you afterward at the +station. She will go there from my office. Possibly, as you say, she +can help." + +He left Mrs. Marsh, confident that she understood and that she had the +ability and willingness to carry her part through. + + [A] Readers will find it interesting to study out the simplicity + of this code. There is special pleasure in their working it out + for themselves. It is simple and unweaves itself once you have + the key. For those who do not wish to decipher the code, they can + use the following method. The first syllable of any word of more + than one syllable is attached to the third word following. Of one + syllable words the first letter is found by itself after the + second word. In no case is a single letter considered a word. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +TED ARRIVES IN CHICAGO + + +Between the hours of seven and nine that night many things were +happening. Helen had gone down to see Strong. A man, who may have been +a Dane or a German, boarded Ted's train at Milwaukee, and O'Reilly was +preparing to meet that same train, as was John Strong. At home Mrs. +Marsh was leaving to meet the train. We shall follow the man who +boarded the train. He entered one of the Pullmans, but no boy seemed +to be there; another one, and there were two boys, but both seemed to +be with parents. + +But he was successful in the third car. It was Ted he saw and as he +sat down very near him he pulled out a Danish newspaper and started to +read. + +Pretty soon he looked up. He seemed a very pleasant man. He spoke to a +man in the seat in front of him, then he turned to Ted. "Have you +come from far?" he asked innocently. + +"Yes, sir," answered Ted, "from Wayland." + +"So," observed the man. "Do you live in Chicago or in Wayland?" He +added, "I live in Milwaukee, but I go twice, sometimes three times a +month to Chicago. My daughter lives there." + +"In Chicago," answered Ted. Truth to tell, he was very glad to talk, +the trip had been a long one. + +"Where do you live, what part?" asked his new acquaintance. + +"Over north, 11416 Wells street." Ted saw no reason why he should not +tell this harmless stranger where he lived. Although he had no +suspicion of him, he had made up his mind that such questions he would +answer, no matter who asked them. + +For he realized that the one way to arouse curiosity was to appear +secretive. + +"My daughter lives up that way, too," the man said. He seemed quite +interested in the idea of making conversation. + +"I will leave you for a minute." The train was slowing up for Racine. +His telegram was all ready except for the address. He rushed into the +ticket office, added the address and had it sent collect, and had +plenty of time to board the train. + +"I wonder why," thought Ted, "he should have to run into that +station." Ted's suspicions were somewhat aroused. He decided to appear +as if he had not taken note of the actions of his acquaintance. + +Schmidt had underestimated the ability of the boy. He was so young, he +thought, there was no necessity for special care. + +Then, too, he was so very affable, so very simple. To his questions as +to who would meet him Ted answered that he thought no one would, the +time he was coming was a little uncertain, he added. + +"No one is to meet me, either. Perhaps we can both go up home +together, eh?" + +"Sure," replied the boy, "that would be fine." + +Ted fancied by now that the man was a German. But, then, he had that +Danish newspaper. Maybe he was not. + +"What do you do at your place--Wayland, I think you said?" + +"I go to the Academy there. I belong to the Scouts--it is military and +academic." The boy was quite young and quite simple, Schmidt decided. + +"Ah, that military business is bad, very bad. There will never be war +anymore." + +Ted wondered if the man really believed it. He could not make up his +mind. So they talked. The man grew less and less interested. He had +made up his mind that the boy was really going to see his mother. Of +course, that would be proven when they found out how much the mother +knew about it and if she would meet the boy. Probably all this time +had been wasted, but Schmidt had no regrets. After all, eternal +vigilance was the watchword. + +An hour later the train came into the station. + +Ted, who had been quite tired, no longer felt any weariness. Here was +Chicago, here was home. + +As he stepped away from the train, his mother and sister ran forward. +Two men watched him from close by--one motioned to the other. +O'Reilly went forward. + +"My boy, are you looking for Mr. Strong?" + +Helen interrupted: "Looking for Mr. Who? Why, of course he's not--he's +my brother--I guess you are mistaken. Come, Ted, we are going home +first." + +Ted did not question his sister; he knew there was method in her +outburst. He added: + +"Sorry, sir." + +"I'm so glad you came, Ted. How I hoped you would!" his mother said. + +O'Reilly turned doubtfully, as the other man beckoned him away. + +"Time lost," said Schmidt. "Let them go. No harm done. I pumped the +boy on the way; he had no secret, apparently. He is but a child." + +"I was scared by that girl," replied O'Reilly musingly. "My, she's a +Tartar. All right, then, I'm tired and I'm going home. Good-night." + +"Good-night, my friend--see you tomorrow." Schmidt watched him go. + +"Say, sis, I did have to meet a Mr. Strong." Ted spoke in a low +voice. + +"I know it, Ted, but that man was not he. When we get away somewhere +I'll tell you something about it." + +"Let's go home. I'm crazy to be back here and it certainly feels +fine." + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +TED MEETS STRONG + + +There were many eager questions on the way home. The mother listened +with great pride to Ted's account, even though he had told many of the +same things in his letters. + +Ted painted a great picture of his new home and it made Mrs. Marsh +very happy for his sake, even though she wished a little longingly +that both Helen and she could be a part of this wonderful and happy +life. + +Helen must have been thinking the same thing, for she spoke out: + +"I wish mother and I could go out there. If there were only something +I could do there. My work here is interesting, but I would gladly give +it up for such an opportunity." + +"It's all right, sis," replied Ted. "It won't be long before you will +both be out there. I wouldn't want to stay myself if I did not feel +sure of that." They had reached their "L" station by now and home was +only a matter of a few moments. + +"I guess you are tired, Ted. But I think I had better tell you what +Mr. Strong wants you to do." Then Helen told him of her going down to +see Mr. Strong, how the latter had reason to believe that there was to +be a meeting of the Germans the very next night. He wanted to see Ted, +who was to go to a certain number on Adams Street at eight the next +morning. She gave him the number of the room. Ted was to wait until +such time as Strong came. He might be late, for often there was +difficulty in getting there unobserved. He would mention the word Dean +and Helen for identification, should it be necessary. + +Ted went to bed and slept the sleep of the just and the weary. + +That next morning the newspapers printed in large headlines the +ultimatum that Austria had put up to Servia. They speculated on the +possibilities of war. To Ted--refreshed and no longer weary, reading +the newspaper as he made his way downtown--it brought a feeling that +he was in some way involved. It made him feel quite important; it +increased his respect for the men who had sent him to Chicago. It was +big work these men were doing; he was having a share in it. He left +the elevated station with some time on his hand. It seemed so long +since he had been down here in the heart of Chicago. It came to Ted +that it would always hold a warm spot in his affections. After all, it +was here he had spent his childhood; it was to the knockabouts +received here that he owed much. If only he could be successful, if +only he could obtain the necessary information and be able to deliver +the message to John Strong. Without knowing very much about it all, he +realized that the things for him to do were important parts of it all. +A little uncertainly, because the subject was a little too much for +him, and he was still a very young boy, he speculated on why nations +should go to war. + +"Hello, Ted," someone greeted him. It was Spot, the fellow with whom +he had had that fight at the beginning of this story. + +"Hello, Spot," Ted greeted him cordially. He was glad to renew old +acquaintances. "How's business?" + +"Fine," answered Spot. "Lots of news, lots of papers sold. What are +you here for? Thought you went 'way out West?" + +"I'm just paying a visit," laughed Ted. "Seeing friends." They talked +for a few minutes. + +"See you again, Spot. Is this your regular stand?" + +"Sure is," replied Spot, as he turned to a customer. + +Ted went on his way. Very soon he reached the building on Adams street +to which Helen had directed him. He turned in and when he came to the +seventh floor he entered Room 701. + +He accosted the man who looked up from a desk with: + +"Want a boy?" + +"Well, perhaps." He sounded very English. "What is your name?" + +"Theodore Marsh," replied the owner of that name. + +The man's manner changed on the instant. Ted liked him then. "Come in, +Ted. Mr. Strong is expected any minute, but of course he may not come +for a while. We have just moved in here. We have to move quite often, +for those Germans certainly are shrewd. Quick, too, and they keep us +on the jump." + +He turned to work on an intricate little machine which had a long coil +of wire, very thin, much thinner than a telephone wire. + +"Do you know what this is?" Ted did not know. + +"A dictaphone. We will have use for it. I am getting it ready for +tonight." + +Ted had heard of a dictaphone, but he had not yet learned its +usefulness. He was to find out that night how wonderfully useful it +could be, how much danger the use of it would avoid. + +It was almost two hours before a man entered. When he saw Ted he said, +with a smile: + +"Hello, my boy. I guess you and I have met both Dean and Helen, +haven't we? Let us go into this room." + +Ted delivered the papers he had brought for Strong. Strong took them +eagerly and just as eagerly Ted gave them up. He heaved a sigh of +relief at getting rid of them. + +"This paper alone," Strong picked up one of the papers from his desk, +where he had placed them, "if trouble should come, would prove to the +United States Government what the Germans are doing in the States and +just how it affects Canada. Without this it would be disagreeable to +be found doing some of the things we find ourselves compelled to do. I +see, also, that this letter says that I may count on your help. We +will need it, I am sure. + +"Tonight, the Germans are to hold a meeting. The purpose and decision +reached there we must know at all costs. We must go down there, you +and Walker and I. Walker is the man in the office. He has the +necessary knowledge to place a dictaphone or tap a telephone wire. +Also, he, another man named Bronson, and I have already made +arrangements for placing that dictaphone at the Germans' +meeting-place." + +He turned to Walker. "Are you ready?" + +"In about five minutes," replied Walker, with a grin. + +While they were waiting Strong suddenly thought of something. + +"As I understand--am I right?--you were a newsboy up to a year ago?" + +"Yes, sir, I was," answered Ted. + +"Good. Do you think you could manage to fix yourself up as one and +meet us in front of the Auditorium?" + +"I think I can," replied the boy, after a moment's thought. + +"All right, I'll give you forty-five minutes," Strong said, as he +turned to Walker, who was now ready. + +Quickly, Ted located Spot. + +"I'll tell you what I'll do, Spot," he confided to the news merchant. +"I'll give you two dollars and my clothes for your clothes and papers. +I want you to have a share in my good fortune and I also want to sell +papers for awhile." + +Spot grinned delight. "You mean it, Ted?" + +"Sure. Where can we change?" + +"Any place will suit me. But I'll show you a place. That's easy." + +A place was very easily located. Spot had managed to wash his hands +and face, while Ted's had not yet gotten to the color they should be. +They had exchanged everything from shoes to hats. + +"Where are you going now, Spot?" asked Ted. + +"I beg your pardon," replied Spot. "My name is Mr. James Sullivan. I +would have you address your betters properly, boy." He never cracked a +smile as he walked off, but Ted laughed uproariously. + +A little later two men came out of the Auditorium. + +"Paper, sir, papers?" + +"No," answered one of them. The other took a second look at the +newsboy and laughed. "He certainly fooled you, Strong. It's Ted." + +"Good work, Ted," Strong said, with appreciation. + +"Slip into that automobile while we stand in front of it." They walked +toward it. "Now, quick." The machine was off to the German +meeting-place. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +SETTING A TRAP + + +The automobile came to a stop two blocks from the German +meeting-place. + +As the three walked toward it, a beggar stopped Strong. The latter +gave him some coins. Ted, who was watching, saw a paper pass between +the two. It was so quickly done that he was not even sure of it. He +made no comment, as he knew that Strong would mention it, if he +thought it necessary. + +"The room is on the third floor," Strong said. "There is someone in it +now. That beggar has just been up there; he has been watching the +house all morning, so that he could keep me in touch. + +"Suppose, Ted, you go up and sell your papers. Go to every office. +When you reach Room 318, size it up as well as you can. See what you +can of 316 and 320 also." + +"All our work and our preparations have been from 418," Walker added. +"Our friends are there." + +"Yes," Strong said, "take a look in there, even though you will meet +Bronson a little later." + +A boy tried to sell his papers in the many offices. He canvassed each +floor and in due time reached the fourth. He came to Room 418 and saw +a sign on the glass reading as follows: + + TERENCE McMAHON + INSURANCE AGENT AND ADJUSTER + MAIN OFFICE--OLIVER BUILDING + + Russell Bronson, Br. Mgr. + +He entered. "Want a paper?" he asked one of the men. + +The man took one. Ted glanced about and then went out. He had some +idea of the room. He noticed that three other doors seemed to belong +to the same office, Rooms 422, 420 and 416. + +He soon reached the third floor. He went through the same routine, +just as carefully and matter-of-factedly, as he had done on the other +floors. When he reached 320 he found the door locked and a hand +pointing to 318 as the entrance. On the glass of that door he saw a +sign which read: + + NOVELTIES AND TOYS + A. CHRISTENSEN + +Ted opened the door. A man was inside, his feet perched upon a desk +and he was reading a German newspaper. + +"Paper, sir?" Ted asked him. + +"No," was the answer. He did not even glance up. + +"I have a Staats-Zeitung and a Wochen-Blatt," coaxed Ted. All this +time he was taking stock of the room. + +"A Wochen-Blatt? I'll take one," the man became interested. He offered +a half dollar to Ted. + +"I haven't the change, but I will get it for you." Ted was fighting +for time, so that he could form impressions. + +"And run away with my money?" the man sneered. "Not on your life. I'll +wait until later." + +"You can hold all my papers. I'll come back." + +The man grudgingly gave the boy the money. At the corner store Ted +found his two friends; the automobile had long since left. + +"Good work," Strong commented, after hearing Ted. "Now, how can we get +that fellow out of the building for half an hour?" + +"When I suggested going out for the change," volunteered Ted, "he +didn't want to trust me and said: 'I'll wait until later.' Perhaps he +intends going out." + +"Well, here is one way to coax him to go a little sooner. A German +wants what he wants when he wants it, and he never stops wanting it +until he gets it. When you go back, Ted, insist on being paid twice as +much as the paper sells for. He probably will not pay it. He will +consider it a holdup. But he will want that paper and it may hurry his +departure. It is almost lunch-time anyway. + +"Walker, you go to all the news-stands within three square blocks and +also any stores you may see that sell newspapers and buy up any +Wochen-Blatts they have. That ought to keep our friend busy trying to +get what he wants and so give us more time. We will all meet in Room +418. I'll steal up while you two are wrangling over your high-handed +outrage, Ted. Walker can come any time. There is small chance that he +will be recognized. You see," Strong added, his eyes smiling, "that's +the value of having the ordinary face Walker has. He looks like +seventy-five million other folks, so no one would notice him." + +Ted rushed back to the office. "Everybody is poor around here or else +they don't want to make change. My, what trouble." He was counting out +the change and he now placed but forty cents on the man's desk. + +The man picked up the money and for a moment it looked as if he would +not count it, but he did. + +"Hey, boy, another nickel! You're short here." + +"No, I'm not. I took a nickel for all the trouble I had in making +change." Ted felt mean and he knew his argument was a poor one, but he +was doing it for a purpose. + +"Five cents, or I don't want the paper." He made a threatening motion +toward Ted. + +Ted laughed at him. He threw the dime on the desk, picked up his paper +and backed out of the door. The man was muttering fiercely in +German. + +Out on the street our hero watched from a nearby door. It was just +mid-day and people were hurrying for their lunch. But it was at least +twenty minutes before he saw his man walk out of the building. He +watched him and saw him stop at one, then at another stand and try to +obtain the desired paper. He was not successful and Ted saw him stroll +further down the street. + +Two minutes later Ted was in Room 418. Walker joined them almost at +the same time. + +Ted was introduced to the man to whom he had sold a paper a little +earlier and then the party got down to business. + +"Walker, jump down and try the door," said Strong. "Here is the key." + +But a new problem presented itself when Walker reported back that the +key would not fit the lock and Strong, incredulous, had proven the +truth of it for himself. + +"Phew!" whistled Strong. "They must have changed the lock. They +figured the old one was too easy for anyone who had a mind to enter. +Come on, Walker, we'll try the window." + +But they found no way of entering through the window. It was securely +fastened. Walker, with one foot on the edge of the fire-escape and the +other on the ledge of the next room's window and holding himself +secure with one hand, attempted to open that window also, but found it +just as securely locked. + +"There is still one way before we think of any rough stuff," said +Strong. With the other three he went down to the third floor. + +"Here, Ted, get on my shoulders and try the fanlight. Let's pray that +it opens." + +It opened so very easily that they all laughed. But they found that +neither Walker, Strong nor Bronson could get through. But Ted could. + +"Well," said Bronson, "I reckon it's up to the boy, isn't it?" + +"It certainly is," said Strong. + +Walker now very quickly, yet very clearly explained the workings and +the manipulations of the dictaphone. Ted listened carefully as he was +told how the wires should be laid and connected. + +"You see, Ted," Walker continued, "the whole thing is already +prepared. We knew how little time we would have when the time did +come, so we did everything we could beforehand. You will find a place +for these wires on the wall behind the steam-pipes. The floor moulding +running along the window wall will move if you remove the screws--four +of them. Then count off the sixteenth floor board--you work it this +way," Walker showed Ted how, "and it will pry loose. It is all very +simple and should take no more than twenty minutes. It would take me +ten. + +"The floor-board has a little groove into which the wires will fit. +You will find that where this board ends is another piece of moulding +which will most surprisingly give way to your magic fingers, and the +screwdriver, as did the moulding at the other end. On the big cabinet +that is there, try that corner of it nearest you and against the wall, +and there you will find that your wires will fit snugly. Your hands +are small and can get in there, back of the cabinet. You just can't go +wrong. On top of the cabinet see that the mouthpiece or, rather, the +listener, is propped up so that it faces the table. If you have any +doubts call out--we will be here. You will also find that it will not +be seen, for the cabinet is high." + +"Be careful, Ted, about leaving things just as they were. It all will +fit back snugly. Be twice as careful as you are quick," Strong warned +him. + +"I shall be up here, Bronson will be one flight below, and the beggar +is watching in the street. Walker will be up above passing the wires +down to you." + +More than fifteen minutes had already been consumed. Strong had warned +Ted to open the window of Room 420 and, should a warning come, hide in +that room. A rope would be passed down for him from the window above. + +Ted got to work at once. He found it even more simple than Walker had +told him. In fifteen or twenty minutes he called out. "I think I am +through." He took another look about. He had carefully seen to +everything and there was no sign of any disturbance. + +"Wait a minute," said Strong. There was a pause. Then he heard Strong +speaking to him again, "Say something right out, not too loud, just +ordinary conversation." + +"Want to buy a paper? News, Post, American, Staats-Zeitung?" said Ted +to the empty air. + +There was another pause, then he heard Walker say to Strong, "It's +fine and distinct, old man." + +Ted took another look about. He lifted himself on the door-knob and +then eager hands helped him out. Walker ran down the fire escape to +take a look around the room and Strong hoisted himself up on the knob +and also looked about. Ted's work had been thorough and neither of +them made any criticisms. + +"Well, that's something of a relief," said Walker. Ted closed the +fanlight. + +"Nothing to do until tonight," and Walker grinned. + +"Let's eat," said Strong. "Coming with us, Bronson?" + +"Certainly," was the answer. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +STRONG SEEMS CHECKMATED + + +Ted was too excited to eat. + +"Better eat, lad," said Walker. "We do not know when we will get +another chance today. If no one else seemed to be following his +advice, he himself considered it good enough to heed. He was eating +enough for two. + +"I imagine it is going to be risky business tonight," Bronson +remarked. "I wish I could be with you." + +"It's either going to be that, or it is going to be very simple," +Strong answered. + +"That is the trouble with all adventure, these days," Walker +complained. "It's always so very simple." + +"I consider this extremely interesting and exciting," replied Strong. +"It is like a tremendous game of chess with enough elements of danger +added to suit the most exacting. Don't imagine that we shall not be in +danger every second tonight. These Germans are cold-blooded. If we +should happen to be in their way, should they find out how much we +actually know, we can say good-bye; the sun would rise tomorrow, but +we might not." + +He turned to Ted. "Well, lad, are you afraid?" + +"I'm going to stick, of course," was the reply. + +"Well, comrades, here is the plan. The keys you see here, one for each +of us, are for Room 420. We shall separate. At six-thirty we must all +plan to be in that room. No noise must be made when you come; no sound +must be made while you are there." + +"We had better make sure we do all our sneezing outside, eh?" Every +one laughed with Walker. + +"It will be your last sneeze, if it's inside," Strong laughingly +warned him. "The least sound, a scraping chair, would be heard. Stay +in Room 420; the fire escape makes 418 dangerous, if anyone should be +curious and decide to come up and look into that room. Of course, +there will be no lights turned on. + +"Should any of us fail to get there, he who does must make every +effort to get the import of the conversation." + +"Can I do anything, before I leave for New York tonight?" asked +Bronson. + +"No, I guess not. Get your room into shape for us. Put the chairs +where we cannot stumble over them. How long will you be gone?" + +"I don't know. These Germans certainly keep us busy. Some of our +optimists are turning pessimists, now that Austria is declaring war +against Servia. They are beginning to think that perhaps there is +something in this war-talk. I have to go to them and tell them just +how much there really is in it. I had much rather stay--wish I +could." + +"I know that, Bronson, and there is no one I would rather have. But +perhaps you will be of better service there. I shall code Wright the +information we get tonight, if we get it. They will have it at the New +York office." + +Strong and Walker returned to the Adams street office; Ted went home. +He was glad of the chance to see more of his mother; Helen, he knew, +would not be home. Ted was very fond of his pretty, efficient sister, +and proud of her rapid rise at the store. + +He found his mother there when he reached home. He explained the +reason for his wearing the newsboy's clothes. + +Ted spent a quiet, comfortable afternoon with her. Many things they +still had to talk about and the mother realized how much it was the +desire of Ted to have her and Helen come out to that great West, a +land where contentment and opportunity, at least, were more likely to +be found than in this place, in which she had lived so many years. + + * * * * * + +About three o'clock, only a half hour after he had been at Adams +street, Strong was called to the telephone. He had been busy at a +report, the call was unexpected and could only come from his secretary +or from Ted, the only two besides Walker who knew of this new +location. + +It proved to be his secretary. + +"A messenger boy came here a little while ago with a message for you," +she said. + +"Read it." + +"'A meeting is to be held at W.'s house. If you will come, can get +you in. 4:30!' It is signed 'J.'," she added. + +There was a pause. She continued: "It looks as if it comes from Jones. +It is his writing, beyond doubt, but he signed his initial instead of +his number." + +"I'll come right over," Strong answered, and his voice sounded +perplexed. + +Charles Jones was an operative, employed as a butler by the Winckel +household. He had so often given proof of profound stupidity in +everything except his duties in the household that Herr Winckel would +have laughed at any suspicion of his being anything else but a butler. +Herr Winckel was so fond of saying and repeating that the man had a +butler mind it could never grasp anything outside of that. + +In reality, Jones was shrewd, keen, able to obtain information without +creating suspicion. He had been one of Strong's best men and the +latter felt he could count on him. + +Could it be a trap, he wondered? + +Strong was uncertain as to what he should do. To miss this meeting, +which perhaps was important; to go there, on the other hand, and +endanger the chances of his getting to that night meeting? + +"I wish I knew what to do, Walker." Together they went over the phases +of it as they walked down to the office. + +"I'd go," advised Walker. "You say that the boy could do his part. If +they do want you out of the way, should this be a trap, they will hold +us until morning; they would not dare hold us any longer. And, if they +do, they will not feel the need for carefulness and the boy will thus +have a better chance. It works well both ways." + +When they came to the office, Strong read the message again. + +"We'll go, Walker," he decided. "Dress up. Be sure not to carry any +papers." + +Two men came out of one of the inner offices a few minutes later. They +would have been taken anywhere for two English servants; they might +have been valets, footmen, even butlers. Each one looked the other +over critically, but the disguise was thorough. + +At fifteen minutes past the hour they reached the Winckel house, +knocked at the servants' entrance. The maid answered and they asked +for Mr. Jones. They appeared to be very superior, upper-class +servants. Very English, too. She escorted them in and then opened a +door for them to enter. They passed through. As they did, each one of +them was pounced upon. They struggled against the sickening smell of +the chloroform held tightly against their noses. Then they knew +nothing more for a while. + +An hour later they awoke with a feeling of nausea and the smell of +chloroform all about them. They found themselves tied hand and foot +and unable to move. From all appearances they seemed to be in the +cellar of the house. + +"Are you there, chief?" asked Walker, in a sick and very low voice. + +"Yes, I'm here; going to stay awhile, I guess." + +"I wonder what happened? Suppose they got on to----?" + +"They are probably gloating somewhere within earshot," Strong warned +him in a whisper. "They certainly have us out of the way for the time +being," he added, ruefully. + +"Well, there's nothing to do; we're caught," Walker said, in his +ordinary voice. Then, in a voice so low Strong could barely hear him, +he inquired, "Are you pretty well tied? Can you do anything?" + +"Can't even move," was the answer. + +"Same here," Walker said dejectedly. "They made a good job." + +At five o'clock Ted left home for downtown. He stopped off to buy some +of the late editions of the newspapers and proceeded to the +meeting-place. He made his rounds through several buildings and at +last reached that particular one. + +There was no one watching, however. With Strong out of the way the +Germans felt quite secure. + +At five-thirty he had already let himself into Room 420 and was +preparing to make himself comfortable. He picked up the dictaphone +every few minutes, but for a long time heard nothing. Things seemed +quiet and he began to wonder where Strong and Walker were, what was +delaying them. His heart was going at a great rate because of the +forced quiet and the excited state of his mind. + +Things would depend on him if the two men did not come. Would he be +able to carry out the plans? + +"I can only do my best," the boy said to himself. And there was a +strong determination to make that best count. + +It was now half past seven. He lifted the dictaphone oftener. Very +soon he heard voices, very indistinct, but as he listened they became +clearer and clearer. Then he began making out the words and the sense +of the conversation. + +"Yes," said one voice. "We found out that this man Jones, who was +Winckel's butler, was one of their men. He dropped a card which young +Winckel found. That was enough to warrant his being watched, although +we did nothing for several days except to see that he got no further +information. + +"Today, at the point of a gun, we forced him to write a note to Strong +telling him that there was to be a meeting at Winckel's house at +four-thirty and that he could get him in. Strong with another man +came. We trapped them, bound them and they are now in the cellar out +of harm's way." + +Ted welcomed the information. At least he knew just what to expect. + +"It's almost time for our friends to be here, isn't it? What time is +Captain Knabe coming?" said a voice. + +"At about fifteen minutes after eight. He is coming with Winckel." + +"Say, Schmidt, it was a good piece of business to get Strong out of +the way. He is too dangerous and resourceful to suit us." This from +O'Reilly. + +"He has been a nuisance, hasn't he?" answered Schmidt. "Hello, +friends," he said to some new-comers. "I have just been telling +O'Reilly about our little affair this afternoon." + +There was the sound of a number of voices and of some laughing. Then +more men came into the room, there was the scraping of chairs as men +seated themselves. + +Then there was quiet as two men entered. Greetings were exchanged and +Ted realized that the two were Winckel and Captain Knabe. + +As Captain Knabe was introduced to some of the men, Ted wrote the +names down. + +"Let us get down to business, friends," said one, who seemed to be the +chairman. "Captain Knabe has come here from Washington, his time just +now is important. Even more important is the need for immediate +action. Captain Knabe, gentlemen." + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +THE DICTAPHONE AT WORK + + +"I understand," said Captain Knabe, "that some of the Irish gentlemen +present do not understand German, and so, while I can do so much +better in my native tongue, I shall talk in English." + +"How lucky," thought Ted. + +"Well, gentlemen, I have good news for you--war is to be declared the +day after tomorrow." + +There was the sound of moving, falling chairs, of men getting to their +feet. Then a whispered toast--a whisper that was almost loud because +of the number of voices--"Der Tag." + +"You, in America, who have never given up your allegiance to the +supreme nation, nor to the emperor, must do your share. Although war +is to be declared the day after tomorrow, it will be a matter of a +few more days before we are at war with England; possibly it will be +more than a week. I understand you are ready." + +Another voice spoke. "We are prepared. We will announce picnics at +certain places; it is for you to tell us the locations." + +"I am ready to tell you that now," replied the captain. "Concentrate +on your picnic grounds near Detroit for the taking of Windsor. Herr +Winckel has the plans. I have given him three sets--Windsor, Toronto, +Winnipeg. He also has the charts which show how to move and what +railroads to occupy. Our friends in Canada are to see that there are +available cars, engines and even motors. Of course, all of you will +know just what picnic grounds are to be selected, so we need waste no +time on that." + +"How many men have you, Herr Winckel?" Captain Knabe wanted to know. + +"Will you tell us, Schoen?" Herr Winckel asked. + +"Approximately, armed and ready for the call, one hundred and +twenty-five thousand men. There are also forty thousand Irishmen. +O'Reilly has them equally prepared and ready. Pfeffer reports thirty +thousand men in Canada, eager for the call. They are so stationed that +we can throw one hundred and fifty thousand men on Windsor and Toronto +or such other points as are within one half day's ordinary travel. For +Montreal we would need eighteen hours' additional notice. For Quebec +we would need thirty. We figure that thirty thousand men will be +enough for Winnipeg, although we shall have more." + +"The fool Englishmen," sneered a voice. + +"Not such fools, Schmidt. Do not underestimate them." The voice was +Winckel's. + +"Everything looks so easy," said another voice. + +"Aye," said Captain Knabe, "we cannot help but win. But the Englishman +fights best with his back to the wall." + +"You have your commands assigned, have you not?" the captain +inquired. + +"We have," replied Schoen. + +"Now, gentlemen, here is the thing of the utmost importance," Herr +Winckel spoke warningly. "The facts must not leak; they must not get +to the United States officials. That is so important that the whole +plan will have to be dropped if there is any suspicion as to a leak." + +"I think a number of us will bear out what Winckel says," O'Reilly +spoke up. "For myself, and I think I speak for the other Irishmen here +present and also for the forty thousand against England, but against +the United States--never. Not one Irishman can be counted on if it +comes to a showdown against the U. S. A." + +"Nor very many Germans," added Winckel. + +"So be it," said Captain Knabe. "Shall we go over the ammunition +storehouses, those that are in Canada and those that are in this +country?" + +Many of the places Ted could not make out, others he did. He realized +that this was valuable information. Names though they were, they were +clues and so might be important. + +Much more was said by the many men and Ted stored up in his mind such +information as he thought would be useful. At half past ten all the +men had left and from what Ted heard he understood that Knabe, +Winckel, O'Reilly and Schoen were adjourning to some other place to +perfect plans. + +Ted cautiously stretched himself. He was wary and still watchful. +Although his muscles were stiff and his bones ached, he had not dared +to move. When he was fairly certain that he could move, he indulged in +that luxury for at least five minutes. He had no trouble in leaving +the building. Once outside, he hastened to a telephone booth. He had +no intention of telephoning, but he did want to find out the address +of Winckel. A plan was in his mind. + +He found two Winckels in the telephone. He decided that in all +likelihood it was the one on Michigan avenue, the other was somewhere +on the North Side. + +When he came to the first cross street he saw a passing taxi and +hailed it. The driver had some suspicion as to the ability of his +customer to pay, for Ted was still in his newsboy's clothes. However, +Ted proved he had the necessary funds and satisfied the chauffeur. + +Ted left the taxi two blocks before he reached the Winckel residence. +The inside of the house was almost, not quite dark. Stealthily the +boy investigated. He decided that any entrance would have to be made +from the rear or the side of the building. The rear windows to the +basement and the door he found were locked. + +The boy studied the situation. He saw where he could enter through one +place, but it would mean that he would have to remove a window glass. +He decided against that. There was danger of being heard. + +Though Ted was seeking an entrance he had not as yet made up his mind +to try to go to the rescue of his friends. To go into the building and +take chances? But then, after all, his information could be of use to +Strong only, for he held the many threads. + +It would be folly to call the police, Strong would not care to have +the publicity, and then, too, the two men might not be there after +all. + +He decided, come what may, he would go in. He felt fairly certain that +Winckel would not be in the house nor would he return for an hour or +more. Before making any further attempt to get inside, Ted went to a +nearby drug store. He obtained paper and stamped envelope and wrote +the following message to Strong's office, addressing it to Strong's +secretary, Miss Ford. + +"Unless you hear from us in the early morning, you will find us +imprisoned in the cellar of Mr. Winckel's house. I am now trying to +get Mr. Strong and Mr. Walker out, but may not succeed. + +"11:15 p.m. Ted." + +Having mailed the letter he hurried back to the house. Cautiously he +prowled about, trying to find a way into the basement. There was no +way. + +At any ordinary time Ted would have said it was impossible to get up +on that ledge, but he managed it now. The house entrance was through a +wide door, but one had to go down three steps and it made the floor an +English basement. The floor above that was much higher than most +ground floors and yet lower than most second floors. Ted crept along +the narrow ledge holding on to such supports as were there. He reached +a big window and by careful manipulation and urging the boy managed to +force it open. + +He crawled in. Spot's suit was very useful now, for it held matches. +Ted did not intend to use any unless he had to, but the building was +strange to him and the occasion for the use of them might arise. He +knew that he would have two floors to travel, the one to the basement +and the one to the cellar. He got down the one floor without mishap. +He was about to begin the exploration of that floor for the entrance +to the cellar, when he heard the key being inserted into the street +door. + +His heart leaped within him. Two people entered, a man and woman. They +switched on a light. If these people had come thirty seconds earlier +he would have been caught coming down the stairs, Ted thought, as he +crouched behind the turn of the staircase. + +"It was nice of you to see me home, Mr. Erkin," said the young lady. +"Will you be good enough to let the light burn, as some of the folks +are not in yet? Come and see me some time." + +"Good-night, thank you, I will," the man answered and left. + +The boy thought, "Well, I certainly should be called Lucky. Here I +wonder how to find an entrance to the cellar and they are kind enough +to turn on a light for me." + +It was fairly easy for Ted to find his way now, but because of the +light he had to use even greater care. + +The cellar seemed deserted, when he got there. It was pitch dark and +it took several minutes for him to grow accustomed to the extreme +darkness. Then he heard the faint murmur of voices. + +Strong and Walker had slept fitfully and had been wide awake at +various times. Strong had again been awakened and was insisting that +Walker listen to him. + +As Ted drew nearer, he heard Strong say, "I don't think, the way I +feel, I shall ever be able to move again. But if I knew that Ted was +just the least bit successful I could be forever content." + +"The poor child--if he did anything at all," Walker answered, "it +would be wonderful. It's a man's job, what, then, could a boy do?" + +As if in answer to the question, they heard a low voice call, "Mr. +Strong, Mr. Strong!" + +"Who is that?" the startled voice of Strong demanded. + +"It's me, Ted!" said that ungrammatical young man, a bit excitedly. + +[Illustration: TED FREES THE PRISONERS] + +"God bless you, boy. Is it really you? Have you a match?" + +Ted struck one. Hurriedly he untied the two men, who were already +questioning him excitedly and to whom he whispered assurances. + +As they turned the corner (having left the building without trouble) +Strong looked back. An auto passed north on Michigan avenue. + +"That's Winckel's car," he said. "We weren't any too soon." + +Ted told the two men of the night's adventures and they both listened +eagerly. Strong was laboring under great excitement as the boy went on +with his story. When Ted was through he placed his hand on Ted's +shoulder and said, quietly and very impressively, to him: + +"I simply can't tell you the things I long to say. You're going to be +a man, my boy! This is a day's work of which you will always be +proud. + +"Knowing what we know, we can go to sleep tonight, awake in the +morning with a plan as to just what we will do. I could almost cry +with contentment. This news you bring is what we have long striven to +learn, and along comes Ted Marsh--Lucky, the Boy Scout--and makes +Canada and England his very grateful and humble servants. + +"There are several things we know we can do now," he added. "We had +best take a night to sleep it over." + +"You are a wonder, Ted, my friend," added Walker. + +"Come, let us go," said Strong. + +"We are all weary. I hate to leave you. I'd like to celebrate, but I +guess we had better postpone it until tomorrow. See you at eight." + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +WINCKEL CALLS A HALT + + +There were glaring headlines in the newspapers the next morning. War +was on. People who had doubted all along, who could not believe it +possible, now had to believe. And, although England was as yet not +involved, no one was optimistic enough to imagine that she would stay +out of it. + +Around newspaper offices, everywhere, excited, eager groups discussed +it all. Many a man heard the thrilling call of his native land and +many listened and made plans to return to either Germany, Russia, +England or France. + +Yet neither in headlines nor in the ordinary run of news, was there +mention made of the events of our story. Silent, powerful forces were +at work to keep it quiet. + +The automobile of Herr Winckel stopped before his house and from it +Schmidt, O'Reilly and the owner alighted. They made their way to the +cellar, a precaution as to the safekeeping of the prisoners. O'Reilly +and Schmidt were to be guests of Winckel for the night. Much work had +been planned for the morning. + +"Quiet, aren't they?" said Schmidt, as Winckel started to turn on the +light. + +"I guess they are asleep," remarked O'Reilly. The light glared. A +moment's hush. There were astonished and wondering exclamations. The +ropes which had held the prisoners tied, were strewn about, but the +prisoners were nowhere. + +"What can it mean?" exclaimed Winckel, searching vainly for an +explanation. + +Wild guesses were made by the three as to how the escape was made. + +"Well," said Winckel after awhile, "never mind how they escaped, the +important thing is--how much have they found out of our plans." He +showed plainly how disturbed he was. + +"How can they have found out about our plans? Pretty far fetched to +imagine that they could have obtained any information--the chances +are that they did not escape until late this evening." + +O'Reilly interrupted Schmidt. "Is there any way in which we can find +out the last time someone in the house saw the prisoners?" + +"Good idea," said Winckel. "We shall soon find out." + +The household was awakened. Inquiries and investigation showed that +Lauer, a trusted employee of Winckel, had taken a last look at the +prisoners at about ten o'clock. He was certain of that; he had heard +their voices, although he could not make out what they spoke about. + +There were sighs of relief from Schmidt and O'Reilly, who felt that +the situation was covered, but Winckel was more skeptical and less +canny. + +"I will admit that they were here until ten o'clock and later. I will +even admit that they were not listening at the conference. But how was +their escape managed and why after ten? Did they have outside help and +how did the outside help know of their imprisonment here? + +"Both of you gentlemen may be tired and may wish to retire. Please do +so, if you want to. I am going down to our meeting place to see what I +can see. A little late, I will admit, and it may not do us much good, +but there is always a chance. It is important for us to find out if we +have blundered, if our plans have been disclosed." + +Both Schmidt and O'Reilly insisted on accompanying Winckel and the +three left the house in the next five minutes. + +They reached the building in about twenty minutes. No policeman was +about to see them violate the speed laws on the way. An immediate and +careful search of the room was made, to see if anyone had been there +since they left and also for any clue as to the probable leak. + +"Nothing seems wrong as far as I can see," O'Reilly started to say. +"Hello, what is this?" He had discovered the cleverly concealed wires +of the dictaphone. Winckel and Schmidt joined him on the instant. They +traced the wires and soon found out the whole layout. + +"Mischief is certainly afoot," exclaimed Schmidt. The other men said +nothing, but studied the proposition. + +"There still is a chance," said O'Reilly In an unconvincing manner--as +if he wanted to believe something his better sense did not permit him +to do, "that this outfit was not used since Strong and the other man +had been kept from it." + +A sickening thought at the same instant came to Schmidt. "O'Reilly, we +talked about the prisoners, how we had trapped them, where they +were--and all the time someone was listening. That someone heard all +we had to say and then, after we were all through, he went up to +Winckel's house and rescued them." + +Winckel said nothing for many minutes; he seemed lost in thought. The +other men waited for him to speak. Finally he did. + +"We are a lot of dunces. We were so sure of ourselves, we felt we were +so wise. Pride goeth before a fall and we fell. We must give up our +plans. It is up to both of you to get busy, we still have time to keep +out of trouble. There is a ray of comfort in that, at least." + +"I hate to think what Knabe and the others at the embassy will think," +was the rueful comment of Schmidt. + +"Don't let that bother you. This plan has failed, we must plan +again--when again we match wits, let us hope we shall be more careful +and consequently more successful. Come, enough of post mortems, let's +get busy." + +It was a busy night for all of them. There were many men who had to be +seen and who in turn had to see others. It was, so they explained to +the others, a matter of life and death that all preparations cease at +once, as there would be close and careful watch kept. There was much +telephoning and telegraphing to the friends who were in other cities. + +There can be nothing but thorough admiration for the effective, +capable way these men went about calling a halt to all activities. +Like a perfect, well oiled machine which slows down and then ceases +its movements, until there is something tremendously impressive in its +inaction and silence; like a well-drilled army which retreats +magnificently and in its very retreat almost gains a victory, so much +like all this, was the action and the work of these men at this time. +They were obeyed as only the Germans know how to obey. By morning, +there was no sign, no clue to their plans and activities. One thing +only remained to prove the danger to Canada that had been. Arsenals +and warehouses holding weapons and vehicles of war were found at the +places shown on the list that Ted had copied. + +At Ottawa and a little later in London and in Washington, the +powers--the men at the helm--found out that what would in all +probability have been a successful invasion of Canada had been +checked. And they found out, too, just how and in what way it had been +done. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +AT OTTAWA + + +"Come in, both of you," Strong called from the inside office. Ted had +shown up at Strong's office early the next day. He found Strong at his +desk and he found afterwards that he had been there for more than two +hours. His secretary told Ted that he was telephoning long distance +and that Ted should wait. When the operative was through talking, he +came out and saw Ted. + +"Sit down a few minutes, Ted, I shall be busy," he had said. He had +returned to his office and proceeded to do some further telephoning. +Walker had come in a little later and the two were busy going over the +evening's events when Strong called out as above. + +"Well, Ted, I guess we are going to have war. At least we won the +first victory, or rather you did." + +Ted fidgeted at the praise and grinned sheepishly. + +"I wonder," said Walker, "if they have, found the dictaphone as yet." + +"You can safely figure on the fact that they did. They started a +little investigation when they found that the birds had flown. But it +does not matter how much they know we know, now. It's a fight in the +open from now on. I'm thankful for that. + +"I have already notified Ottawa, New York, and the different capitals +of the provinces. Washington also knows, our embassy has already +notified them as to the location of the arsenals. They are going to +issue orders from Ottawa to confiscate those in our own country at +once. + +"Ottawa wanted all the facts and it got them. I expect to hear further +from them in the course of the day." + +"I wonder," said Walker, "if our friends will be polite enough to +return my dictaphone. They should, it does not belong to them and they +probably 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 can +appear in the newspapers, but it is the kind about which history is +made. It is a big job you have accomplished. The men who sent you down +to us made no mistake in their judgment as to what you could do. Sir +Robert Wingate wanted to know all about you, I must have talked to him +for 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 last +night--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," answered +Ted. + +"Well, I think it can be done. I shall return tomorrow night or early +the following morning. You will be free for these two days. Have a +good time; remember, we pay all your expenses--nothing is too good +for you. If you can, come down the day after tomorrow. I may have some +news for you." + +"I shall be glad to come down," answered Ted, as he wondered at the +news 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 Cubs +defeat the Giants. He tried to explain the game to his mother, who +pretended an interest and tried hard to understand. But she found her +truant fancy going elsewhere--it centered about this boy of hers, her +daughter and also about the husband who could not endure the +troubleous times, not because of the hardship to himself so much as +the hardship to her and the child. + +Ted's interest was not divided, however, except in rare moments when +he would turn to his mother and accuse her of lack of interest. She +would flush guiltily and pretend that she was interested. She would +ask a question or two, but her very questions convicted her, showed +her inability to understand, and Ted gave it up as a hopeless job and +comforted himself in the belief that only men understood the game, it +was too deep for women, excepting one or two, who knew something. + +As they rode home the boy and the mother discussed the improvement in +their condition. + +"We will never have to worry any more, mother, not as long as I am +able," 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 father +was one of us. He was a fine man, but things were against him, too +much 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 so +that Helen would not have to wait. A brilliant idea came to Ted as +they prepared. "Mother," he said excitedly, "let's not eat at home +tonight. We are going to the theater, so let us have supper out." + +At first the mother demurred, but she gave way--there was great +temptation in the unusual treat. When Helen came home and was told the +plan she was even more excited than they; it was so unusual an +adventure. You can readily believe that it was a happy party of three +that repaired to one of the many nice restaurants in the loop and +afterward to the theater. They did not reach home until late in the +night. On the way home they discussed what the news could be that +Strong 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 and +gave him a hearty welcome. She was greatly interested in his story of +his year in the West and wanted to know all about Mrs. Dean. It was a +great 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 not +realized how much the place meant to him until now, Syd Graham and the +rest of the boys seemed very dear, very desirable. + +"I hope," he said to himself, "that nothing will keep me from going on +Saturday." + + + + +CHAPTER X + +TED RECEIVES A REWARD + + +Sir Robert Wingate listened while John Strong told the story of the +plotting and counterplotting in Chicago. Many times he made +memorandums. He asked questions once or twice, but in the main he just +listened. When Strong finally completed his account, Sir Robert said: + +"We took immediate action at our end and the results are more than +satisfying. Strong, I do not want you to think for a minute that the +importance of what you men have done is underestimated. The excitement +of the Great War, the necessity of secrecy as to what you have +accomplished--all these facts may give you an idea that we do not +consider your work as important as it is. We do, however. Now, as to +this boy, Theodore Marsh. He must be an unusual youngster with a good +head. He will bear watching." + +"Unfortunately for us, he is American. Those are the kind of boys +Canada could use to advantage. Not only is he American, but loyally +so. + +"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 latter +nodded his head understandingly. + +"I think we will also give a more practical acknowledgment of the +value of his service. The Government, I am sure, will be glad to give +a reward of $1,000.00 to him. When you go back to Chicago, you will +give him a letter from me which will also hold a check for that +amount." + +You would think that both Strong and Walker were the ones who were +receiving the money, they showed how glad they were. + +Strong could not complete his work until late in the afternoon. Walker +and he boarded a train which brought them into Chicago about three +o'clock the next afternoon. + +"This letter and the enclosure will be a great surprise to Ted, won't +it?" 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 of +letting 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 Strong +would not arrive until the afternoon. + +Promptly at two Ted showed up. Strong saw him as he opened the door +and greeted him warmly. + +"Hello, Ted; it's good to see you. We certainly shall miss you when +you go back to Wayland. But I guess you will be glad to be back, won't +you?" + +"I certainly will. I am going by way of Big Gulch and shall stop off +at 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?" asked +Strong, 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," remarked +Walker. + +"Well, Ted, they were very nice at Ottawa. I understand the Government +is going to honor you in some way for your service; they even spoke of +doing the same thing for both Walker and myself." + +Strong gave Ted an outline of what had happened, but made no mention +of the letter from Sir Robert. Walker was tempted to remind him, +thinking that he had forgotten, but he remembered that Strong had said +he wished to handle that end himself. + +"I suppose you will be busy packing and getting ready tomorrow. You +leave at four on Saturday afternoon? Come down and see us before you +go. When we need your services again, we'll have you come on." + +Ted got up to go. As he opened the door, Strong called to him. + +"I say, Ted, I almost forgot another thing which probably is not very +important. 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 he +opened it, he saw the check. He looked at it a little dazed. He saw +his name as if in a haze--then he saw the amount. + +"One thousand dollars--and for me?" He stammered the words, he was +almost stricken dumb. + +"Yes, for you--to do with as you will. You certainly deserve it," said +Strong. + +"Every bit of it," added Walker. + +Ted had a feeling as if he wanted to cry. He did. Walker patted him on +the shoulder understandingly, while Strong looked out of the window +and pretended he did not see. + +"There is a letter which you might be glad to read and which I think +will be almost as welcome as the money." Strong turned round and faced +him 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 spoke +in a low voice--he did not trust his feelings. + +"Yes, it's fine. Sir Robert is a great man. He does things in a big +way. 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 not +so 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 them +to go out to Big Gulch or Wayland. She was trying to show Ted how +impossible it was for them to do it and he was only just beginning to +acknowledge that perhaps Saturday would be too soon. + +"Well, I tell you, mother. Maybe Saturday is too soon, but you will be +ready in two weeks--that is plenty of time. I know that Helen will be +able to do whatever she wants to do out there--and this money, after +we have repaid the Deans, will help to tide over the time until we are +settled. We shall hear what Helen says--and I shall speak to Mr. and +Mrs. Dean when I get out there." + +Helen was told the news almost before she passed the doorstep. She was +astonished 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 might +need convincing, but she agreed almost at once. + +"I know I can obtain a position in my line of work out there. It is a +land 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. Both +men were very busy, but the three had lunch together and Ted promised +to write to both of them. + +"You may have to write both of us at the front--we shall go off to the +war--that is, Walker will. It may be my bad luck to have to stay on +duty 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 and +sister out West. They agreed that it was a good plan. + +His mother and sister, and Walker and Strong saw him depart. It was +just 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 would +meet him--and that he would bring his horse down so that they could go +back to the ranch on horseback. Of course, in all likelihood, it would +be the Packard that would come down for him, for the distance was long +and it would mean a lot of extra trouble for Red or anyone to lead his +horse down all the way. The trip to Big Gulch seemed long because of +the boy's eagerness to see his friends. He awakened very early on the +second morning when the train was due. When the train finally reached +the station, he eagerly looked out to see who was there. But he could +see no one until he stepped from the train. + +There stood Red and next to him Pop. There were three horses and one +of them was his. + +Glad greetings were exchanged. + +"My, I'm glad you came for me on horseback. I hoped you would, but it +seemed 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 the +men listened with different interest. When Ted came to that part where +it had practically been settled that his mother and Helen were to come +out, a queer look came into Pop's eyes which neither of them saw. The +older 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," remarked +Red. + +Some time in the afternoon they reached the ranch. Smiles was there +and so were the other men and they gave Ted a great welcome. + +So did Wolf, who had grown wonderfully, and who, while he did not +look like any particular kind of dog, showed himself to have an +individuality, 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 to +see how the dog tried to pay attention to both Red and Ted, and it +made the men laugh at his double devotion. + +Ted hurried to the house where Mrs. Dean was waiting for him. She +showed 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 merely +mentioned some of the things that had happened. + +"Ted, dear," said Mrs. Dean, "I want to tell you that we are going to +have a little stranger in this house, soon." Then Ted knew why he had +hesitated about blurting out his news--there was an even bigger event +to 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 his +news, what had been done, he showed Sir Robert's letter and then spoke +of his plan for his mother and sister. + +"How wonderful," said Mrs. Dean, while John Dean looked tenderly at +her. + +"I'm proud of you, Ted. I counted on you, but you did much more. I +heard from Strong, but I did not know what had been accomplished. As +to your mother and sister--they must come out here--the wonderful +thing is that Mrs. Dean will need your mother's help very soon and it +all 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. When +do you expect to write home?" + +"At once," answered Ted. + +"The sooner they come the better, although I suppose it will be every +bit of two weeks." + +Ted started to leave his friends to rejoin Red and the rest. Dean +caught up with him about one hundred yards from the house. + +"You know, Ted," he started without any preamble, "I feel as if my +country is calling me. I cannot think of going until the child is +born 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 your +mother here. They will be company for Mrs. Dean. She agrees with me +that I should go. She is the bravest, best woman in the world." He +stopped for a minute. "I shall see you later, as soon as Mrs. Dean +takes 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--off +for the war. Red was not going--he was American. "I may go later, if +they need me," he said. There was to be a great shortage of men at the +ranch. + +Dean had made Pop the new foreman to take Smiles' place. Pop was not +in the conversation, he was sitting by himself and he showed every +desire 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 these +friends 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 knew +that ordinarily he would have gone to Mrs. Dean--a woman would help so +much at a time like this. But Dean met him in the hall. + +"Hello, Pop--what's the trouble?" asked Dean. + +"Hello, Jack. I can't say whether it's trouble or not. What I want is +advice. Maybe you can give it to me, although I figured Mrs. Dean +would be better." + +"Tell me, I may be able to help." Dean was surprised at the agitation +of the older man. + +Pop told his story. He did not keep any of the details from Dean. The +latter listened, his astonishment growing all the time. + +"You see, Jack, it's this way. If they come here, my wife will see me. +She probably hates me. I cannot hope that she will understand. On the +other hand, I want so much to be with her, I am going to be foreman +and that means I can support her comfortably. But I probably would +make her miserable if I entered into her life again. What do you +say?" + +"Let us ask Mrs. Dean. She will give you the right answer." + +Mrs. Dean listened. There was no hesitation in her answer. + +"Go to Chicago at once. You need not worry about how your wife will +take it, nor as to how she feels. I know. She understands better than +you can ever suppose. Jack, dear, whoever said that God did not weave +our lives? How closely our friends here have been interwoven with our +lives, how much we have been of service to each other. + +"Go to Chicago on the first train," she finished. + +"Yes, and we shall tell Ted. Bring them back with you," added Dean. + +Pop left the house, much relieved. He was happy that his duty was +what his inclination was--what he craved to do. He joined the other +men. + +Without giving any explanation he told Smiles he would have to be away +for about ten days and that he had already arranged for the same with +John Dean. + +Early the next morning he was off. He asked Red to take him down. To +Red he explained the whole thing, that he was coming back with his +folks. + +"I understand a whole lot of things now. How queerly you acted at +times. I guess I'll call you Marsh, now." + +"Yes, and it's up to you to explain. I shall wire you before you do +so. If my wife should decide that she does not want me, I am not +coming back. If she decides she will forgive me, I will telegraph you +and you can let it out casually." + +"I will be glad to do so," answered Red. "Is Jack going to tell Ted?" + +"Yes, that's the plan." + +"The boy will be glad. He likes you a lot. But, mostly glad, because +it will make his mother happy." + +"I hope so much that it will," the older man answered. + +We are not going into details as to the meeting between the Marshes. +We, who are acquainted with so much of their story, can imagine what +happened. Bill Marsh left home because he felt he could not hold his +head up nor his wife's respect. He had been very foolish, and it was +this foolishness, this false pride, even a lack of faith in the +understanding of his wife that had made him stay away. Who should have +known him better than his own wife? It was harder to make Helen +understand. She asked some searching questions, but in the end she +realized the fine manliness of her father. + +The two, mother and daughter, marveled at the coincidence of the +father being at the same place as Ted. + +"The world is a small place, isn't it?" said Mrs. Marsh. + +It did not take very long for them to be ready to leave. Marsh helped +where he could and a week after he arrived they left for Big Gulch. +Red had paved the way, in accordance with their plan. + +Ted was too surprised to make any comment when he heard the news. At +first he was furiously angry at his father. Boylike, he could not +forgive certain things which an older person could. It was Mrs. Dean, +even more than Red and John Dean, who made him see and understand. + +Then the Marshes came to Big Gulch. Matters adjusted themselves. It +was a busy time for all. Smiles was off, smiling and glad. So were the +other men who were to go. Brave men, all of them, doing their duty as +they saw it. Pop took up his duties as foreman. + +Then the child was born to the Deans. A girl, which seemed like a +squalling, ugly baby, much like any other baby, to Ted. But to say so +to the mother or to the father or to Mrs. Marsh or to Helen, would +have been a great, an awful insult. + +The men came in to see the heir apparent. They seemed clumsy, uncouth, +sheepish creatures and all of them were glad to get away, including +Pop and Ted. + +With the excitement subsiding, things began again to take a normal +aspect. Mrs. Dean began to sit up, the child began to look more like a +human being, it had been decided that Helen was to rest for a few +months and then continue her studies at the nearest preparatory +school, with the purpose of entering college. John Dean was to leave +for the front in two weeks. + +Our story is almost complete. Ted received a great welcome at the +Academy. The boys had heard of what he had done, of his reward and the +letter he had received from Sir Robert Wingate. For one whole day his +coming made the Great War an even smaller event. Captain Wilson had +gone to Ottawa, he had been promoted to be a major. Some of the +instructors were gone and even one or two of the older students. Those +who were left spoke only of the time when they, too, could go and they +were bemoaning their misfortune in being young. + +Ted heard from the folks at home. He heard from Helen and somehow he +got the impression that all she spoke about was Red and what a fine +man he was. A letter from Red made no mention of Helen, but he did say +that he was getting down to the serious business of thinking of the +future. Even as young as Ted was, he could guess that they had become +great friends and he was glad. His father wrote him that he had +placed his $1,000.00 in the bank for him, he having settled all the +debts and accounts himself. It was a fine letter and it removed what +resentment still remained with Ted against his father. His mother also +wrote, saying she was wonderfully happy and he got a short note from +John Dean before he left. He also heard from Walker, who told him he +was off for the war, but that Strong had to stay. + +Syd Graham and Ted were inseparable. They did many things together and +the plans for the future each of the boys made included the other. +There was, of course, a great deal more of military training and many +times the boys at the Academy were called upon for some duty or +other. + +So the days went. Ted received a fall vacation and he went home. There +was news from the front. Dean had been wounded, so the report came, +not seriously, but enough to disable him, and he was returning home. +He would always limp. In that awful charge when so many Canadians had +been wounded and killed, Smiles had lost his life. It made Ted very +sad to think that he would never see the happy, smiling ex-foreman +again. Helen was at school. Ted pumped Red Mack as to Helen and found +his suspicions confirmed. He teased Red unmercifully and it was one +time when Red was flustered. The Dean baby was a healthy, lusty +youngster of a few months. + +Ted Marsh has his life before him. This story is but one incident of +his early life. But for later events we must look elsewhere. + + + + * * * * * + + + +THE FRIENDLY ANIMAL SERIES + +A series of 9 books of friendly, likeable fun-loving animals, written +by well known authors of children's books. Each book 64 pages, with +lithograph cover in five colors and a number of full page +illustrations. Size 8-1/2 x 6-1/4--64 pages--each 15c. + +Written by Elizabeth Billings Stuart Illustrations by Elsie M. Kroll + +THE FAIRY AND THE BUNNY-TAIL + +Bunny-Tail is a dear little Bunny, who is always finding something +that turns every-boy's trouble into happiness. The fairy JOY gives +him a magic password, which makes him quite safe in the company of any +of the forest animals or in the presence of hunters. + +TRICKY MR. FOX + +Tricky Mr. Fox is a sly animal, whose adventures lead him into many +pitfalls and mishaps. He becomes the captive of a little Indian boy +and later his adoring companion. Tricky Mr. Fox proves his devotion +and quick wits by saving the little boy's life when a fire threatens. + +TEDDY BEAR, THE TOY MAKER + +Brownie Bunny is a harum-scarum Bunny, full of mischief and merry +pranks. He lives with Teddy Bear and makes Teddy Bear's life +delightfully miserable until Bunny-Tail persuades him to become a +Boy Scout. After this transformation he performs many thrilling and +heroic deeds. + + + + +LUCKY, THE BOY SCOUT + +By ELMER SHERWOOD + +A Fascinating Story. Its Action Covers Chicago and the Far West of +Canada. + +There comes the rumbling of the Big War. German plots are many. Ted's +share in following these plots, his life at the Double X Ranch and at +Wayland Academy, make this a book that will hold the absorbed +attention of the reader. + +Those who are readers of the Lucky Series know that none of the books +are namby-pamby--there is in all of them the true strain of things +worthwhile. Honor, faith and courage hold their rightful place. + +WHITMAN PUBLISHING COMPANY + +RACINE + + + + +_Good Books for Boys and Girls_ + +THE CAMPFIRE GIRLS AND AUNT MADGE + +THE CAMPFIRE GIRLS' WEEK-END PARTY + +Delightful stories that are sure to be well liked. The titles would +indicate that they are purely girls' stories but boys will find them +equally interesting. Be sure to read them. + + + + +LUCKY, THE YOUNG NAVYMAN + +By ELMER SHERWOOD + +This book follows the story of Lucky, the Young Soldier. + +It deals with Ted Marsh and his service to the American Navy. A book +complete in itself in which Mr. Sherwood has brought to play many of +the incidents of today. + +Great things are happening every day. Ted's great fortune is to have a +big share in them. + +A story as good as Lucky, the Boy Scout and Lucky, the Young Soldier. + +WHITMAN PUBLISHING COMPANY + +RACINE + + + + +THE FRIENDLY ANIMAL SERIES + +LAMMIE AND MRS. FUSSY-CAT + +"If you read this book written about me," said Lammie, "you will wish +there were a hundred books to the series the same as mine. Dear me! +that was a day! Read the book. You'll just laugh at the pictures. +Especially the one where I am riding the little wooden-legged squirrel +on my back." + +LAMMIE WANTS TO LEARN + +"Can you do tricks on a pumpkin, the way I can?" asked Lammie. "If you +don't believe I can do them, just look at the picture that Warner Carr +drew of me the day he caught me out in the garden. My, but I was +having a good time until I happened to take a big mouthful of +horseradish." + +LAMMIE ON A FROLIC + +"Doing tricks on a pumpkin is nothing compared to doing a buck-jump," +said Lammie. "Just watch me," and he wheeled around on one toe and +then jumped straight up in the air, kicking out all four feet at once. +"Do you see that field over there? Well, that's where I go +every day to eat white clover and I have the best of times, too." + + + + +COMING!! + +TED MARSH & THE ENEMY + +TED MARSH--THE YOUNG VOLUNTEER + +Two great books of present day events. Ted's coolness and daring stand +him in good stead and he proves of great value in the service of the +Government. + +The Lowest Priced And Best Series Of Boys' Books + + + + +THE BUNNY-TAIL SERIES + +by ELIZABETH BILLINGS STUART + +With Full Page Illustrations in Color and in Black and White + + Winkie Bunny-Tail + Brownie Bunny and Teddy Bear + Mr. Rusty Fox + Twinkle Squirrel and Muffle Face + Fifteen Little Bunny-Tails + +"Oh, mother," said little Goldi-locks one day as they were hurrying +through a big Department Store, "do please stop a minute and look at +these books." + +"Which ones, my dear?" asked her mother. + +"The Bunny-Tail Series, of course. All the children are reading them. +Even Teacher told us a story out of one of them the other day. +Couldn't you buy them for my birthday present?" coaxed the sweet +little girl. "Just see this picture where the Bunnies are all dressed +up and are having a dancing party!" + +Just then a dainty clerk stepped up and smiled as she saw the +interested little girl. + +"It's really wonderful," said she, addressing the mother, "how the +children love Mrs. Stuart's Bunny-Tail Books. We sell so many of them, +all the year 'round. I have read them all to my little nephew and he +just dotes on them." + +Five Titles, Cloth, Size 8-3/4 x 6-1/2. Colored Jackets, 64 Pages. + + + + +ARABIAN NIGHTS STORIES + +_Retold by ELIZABETH BILLINGS STUART_ + +With 4 Color and 8 Black and White Illustrations + +by Elsie M. Kroll + +"Tomorrow is Jack's birthday and I don't know what to buy him," said +Jill. + +"Does he like books?" asked Phil. + +"He reads all the time," answered Jill. + +"Then why don't you buy him a nice book for his birthday?" asked Phil. + +"I'd love to, but I have only thirty-five cents to spend, and I +couldn't get a nice enough book for that. He likes lots of +pictures--colored ones, too." + +"I know the very book you want," said Phil, all excitement. "It's +called 'Arabian Nights Stories,' by Mrs. Stuart. You know her, don't +you? She's the one who wrote 'Winkie Bunny-Tail' and all the rest of +the Bunny-Tail Series." + +"Goody, goody!" said Jill. "Just to think what a lovely birthday +present it will make, and for only thirty-five cents!" + + + + +THE FAMOUS ANIMAL STORIES + +(For Children from Three to Ten Years of Age) + +_"Never Have Animal Stories Made More Fascinating Reading"_ + + Hazel Squirrel + Tommy Turtle + Happy Bunny + Baby Pony + Bobby Bear + Famous Rover + +This series is an innovation in the field of children's books. Six +wonderful animal stories written by Howard M. Famous, each beautifully +illustrated with a full-page colored frontispiece and a number of +full-page black and white illustrations. + +Never have animal stories made more fascinating reading. The books are +the kind that will sell all the year round--the children will demand +them. Mr. Famous is at his very best in all these stories--and we +predict that the doings of his animal folks will become known +throughout the world. + +Six Titles, Cloth, Size 7-1/4 x 5, Colored Jacket, 128 Pages. + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TED MARSH ON AN IMPORTANT MISSION*** + + +******* This file should be named 28769.txt or 28769.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/8/7/6/28769 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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