“Suppose,” said Colonel Graham, “Mr. Smythe finds out from Toronto where the headquarters are? They may know that.”
Smythe left the room at once to do so.
Major Church turned to Dean. “Shall we go and talk to the boy?”
“I think, gentlemen, I will be excused. It will be better if I am not present when you ask him. I do not want him to feel that I am trying to influence his decision. He is a loyal lad and he would not say no should I be there. You ask him. But explain it carefully. Let him make up his own mind.”
When Ted and Mrs. Dean returned from their walk Mrs. Dean went to her room. Captain Wilson greeted Ted.
“You see, Lucky—I am superstitious, Ted—so I’ll call you Lucky—I come to you on very important business. Not as Scout to Scout, but as man to man. Come and meet Major Church, both of us want to talk to you.”
They went into a small room. Major Church put aside some papers on which he had been busily engaged.
Captain Wilson introduced Ted.
“I have heard of you, young man; you are a credit to the school. We have called you before us because of those qualities you have already shown that you possess.
“I don’t know how much you do know, lad, but war with Germany is near. On the other side of the border there are many Germans who, masquerading as German-Americans, are Germans in reality. They are well armed, too. We have reason to believe that they are planning some attempt against Canada and that they intend to carry out that attempt just before a declaration of war. We also believe that the meeting of the prime movers is held in Milwaukee, possibly in Chicago. It is important for us to know their plans.”