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 G.o.d 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 fl.u.s.tered. The Dean baby was a healthy, l.u.s.ty 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 ill.u.s.trations. Size 8-1/2 x 6-1/4--64 pages--each 15c.
Written by Elizabeth Billings Stuart Ill.u.s.trations 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 pa.s.sword, 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.