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.
"h.e.l.lo, 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 Sat.u.r.day 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 Sat.u.r.day. I am not so sure that we can go at all, it will require a lot of thinking."