CHAPTER XIIITED IS CHOSEN FOR A MISSION
IT was a notable array of gentlemen and ladies who inspected the six corps of Scouts after the military drills were over. As they passed up and down the lines the Scouts, who stood at attention, eyes ahead, heard the expressed admiration and every one of them was proud and glad.
Later on Colonel Graham made a short speech.
“Scouts,” he said, “you are the future manhood of your country. Big things may come for you to do. I am proud of Wayland and the boys in it, and I want to say to you all, as man to man, that come such time as may, and there are clouds now in the sky, Canada, I know, will have reason to be proud of you.
“May I add another word? I have heardthat opportunity has been given to one of you to be of service. I know that none of you would have failed, had the opportunity come. Each of you would have welcomed it. But opportunity, Scouts, hardly ever comes; it is everywhere, all about you, ready for you to grasp. It is the quick-witted man or woman, boy or girl, who sees it. Theodore Marsh, his wits ready, saw one thing, then another thing, and made one and one two. Great praise I have for him. I know, too, that all of you must also be proud of him. I thank you.”
There was the call, and the Scouts broke up. Excited words could be heard everywhere and many good-natured comments were fired at Ted, who stood aside modestly, even bashfully.
A little later, luncheon having been served, the men guests retired to the office of the dean. It was plain to almost all of the boys that the conference, now to be held, was the main purpose of their meeting at the school.
Mrs. Dean and Ted went off for a walk. Ted welcomed the opportunity, for he wanted to talk of his mother and his sister.
“Well, Ted, when did you write last?” asked Mrs. Dean. She seemed to feel and sense the fact that Ted would want to talk about his family and so made it very easy for him.
“I write twice a week, Mrs. Dean. I hear from them about that often, sometime from Helen, sometime from mother. They say they miss me, but no more than I miss them, I’ll bet.”
“Your mother is a fine woman, Ted. Did she write you how she sent the $100 insurance that she collected to Mr. Dean, because she did not want to owe any money, it made her so uncomfortable. You know the sum Mr. Dean is sending every month is only accepted by your mother on condition that it be paid back by the three of you, when the time comes. She would not take it any other way.
“And, my boy,” Mrs. Dean smoothed into place a stray lock of Ted’s hair, “I am so glad that you will make good, for her sake. Helen, too, I know, will give her much reason for pride. It is a wonderful thing for a mother to be proud of her children.”
They walked slowly on.
“I am going to make good,” Ted said, very soberly. “For your sake and for my mother’s sake. I owe you so much.”
Mrs. Dean continued: “I am worried, Ted, very much worried. As you know, there is talk of war between Germany and England. If there is, Mr. Dean would have to go. I would not have him stay even if he could, and I am desperately afraid.”
It seemed to do Mrs. Dean as much good as it did Ted to talk. So they spoke of the Chicago they both loved, the Settlement, and of the many things that had happened lately.
She brought greetings from the boys at the ranch, which made Ted very happy.
In the dean’s office, around a table, sat Mr. Oglethorpe, Captain Wilson, Mr. Dean, Colonel Graham, a Mr. Smythe, who came from Toronto, and another man who was addressed as Major Church. There were several other men present, who sat and listened.
Major Church seemed to be the leader and acted as chairman.
Mr. Smythe: “War is a matter of days. Germany has an army over on the Americanside. They pose as German-Americans, but they are actually Germans, armed and ready. We must watch, keep ever on the watch. We must also watch the Germans on our own side. These Germans are brave and wise, as well. Dislike them as we do, they are strong men, and we must not and cannot despise their wonderful ability.”
Colonel Graham: “If we could but know their plans, or even get an inkling of them. It is almost of no moment for them to get into Canada, except that we would become the laughing stock of the world should they capture Toronto or Montreal or Quebec. They would enter today, then tomorrow they would declare war.”
“Aye,” said Major Church, “the States will be neutral and honestly so, but the Washington Government cannot take any note of such trouble in an apparent time of peace.”
“When I was in Chicago, just before I met Sands, I found out one thing. That the headquarters of Germans in America would most likely be in Milwaukee. It is a city essentially German; sympathy would be with them. But it’s one thing to know that—anotherthing to know the one or two concrete things they might do. That they are meeting and planning, we are sure. To plan to get into one of these meetings is the big object of this conference. Is it not so, Major?” John Dean turned to the chairman inquiringly.
“It is, Mr. Dean. Our big asset now is that they do not know we suspect anything. They must continue not to, until the time comes. For, if they did, it might go further and upset the plans of the Cabinet in London. Who could find out these things for us, and yet not arouse suspicion?”
Many men were suggested, but none of them were satisfactory.
Suddenly Captain Wilson spoke: “I have just the one for it, if he will do it. He is not Canadian, not even English, but he might want to do it.” He turned to John Dean—“I am speaking of Ted. He has a good head, is cool and his youth would be a tremendous advantage and make it unlikely for them to suspect him.”
Every one of the men looked at Dean for his opinion. He was thoughtful for many minutes.
“It is up to Ted,” he finally said. “If he agrees to do it, I know he will bring us some information. But you, Mr. Smythe, will have to get information from the service as to where the enemy’s headquarters are at present.”