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.