“‘Lake Reports No. 2 place. See H.’
“H is Strong. No. 2 is Chicago. Strong is our chief operative there. Ted will have to see him to get his information and also such help as he may need. But one thing we know—their headquarters just now are at Chicago.”
“I am glad of it,” said Ted. “Since Chicago is my home town, I can do things there and may be successful.”
“Suppose,” said John Dean, “you start tomorrow, Ted. You see, speed is the thing. That will give you a chance to see your mother and sister, too.”
“I need hardly say,” said the major, “that even your mother had best not know about this, unless it should be actually necessary. Secrecy is imperative.”
“I know that, sir,” Ted replied.
“One thing more,” Major Church added, and he spoke to the men in the room. “No matter who asks about Ted, he has gone home to see his mother; someone is not well, let us say. The slightest hint or suspicion as to the purpose of his trip would frustrate it. Will you, Mr. Smythe, telegraph to Toronto, and tell the chief just what has been done?”
Mr. Smythe nodded his head.
Ted went out first. As he closed the door, another door far down the hall opened, a head came out, a very German head—the head of Mr. Pfeffer, instructor in that language. Quietly and quickly it was withdrawn. Ted did not observe this; if he had, it probably would not have had any meaning for him. Mr. Pfeffer was a very curious gentleman, he would have given much to know the purpose of the meeting; even now, he was debating with himself whether he should do some innocent questioning of Ted. He decided against it.
Just before retiring, Captain Wilson came into Ted’s room.