CAUTIOUSLY HE PROWLED ABOUT
Strong interest centers around the doings of Ted and his new-found friends both at the ranch and at the academy. Adventures are many. The boy is found to be cool in emergencies. He has qualities which bring respect and liking. The end of the story finds him suggested for an important mission to Chicago—and his youth is considered of great advantage by the gentlemen who wish to send him. The opening of 14 the present story finds Captain Wilson hailing Ted, ready to broach the subject and find out if the boy is willing or unwilling to undertake the mission:
The boy saluted. He stood at attention while the captain studied him for a few moments.
“Ted, boy, I come to you on very important business. Not as Scout to Scout, but as man to man. For you can safely refuse to do this—it will not count against you as Scout. Did Mr. Dean see you?”
“Yes sir,” the boy replied. “He told me that in all probability you would wish to see me in reference to an important matter. And he told me that when you did ask me, I was to be sure to decide with no other thought than that of either wanting or not wanting to do it. He doesn’t want my friendship for him or for anyone else to influence me.”
“That’s exactly it, Ted. What we are going to ask you to do, you must, first, want to do, second, feel that you can do, third, be sure it is in line with any convictions you may have. Now, I suppose you are even more anxious to know what it is all about?”
The boy nodded his assent but waited for the other to continue.
“Whatever we are going to tell you or 15 which you may gather you do under pledge of secrecy. And now let us go to meet Major Church. While we are on our way, bear with me for a few minutes while I go into all this for you.
“Germany, we all feel, is getting ready to make war. Most people cannot realize it, but we have fairly good proof gathered both in London and in Ottawa that it is so. We also know that over in the States a big army of so-called German Americans but who are Germans in reality, men who have never severed their allegiance to the Fatherland, are getting ready, preparing to invade Canada. They are also to have the help of many Irishmen who hate England.
“The reason for this conference is to get Canada to also prepare. The Germans are working quietly, secretly. We cannot get the evidence to show what they are doing although we have tried. Here in Canada, they simply will not believe, and cite the fact that Germany has repeatedly declared its friendship as the best kind of proof of our being all wrong.