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withdrawn.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.

"It seems silly to distrust Pfeffer, Lucky, still when you get to a
station, say Winnipeg, I would telegraph your mother that you are
coming. If any questions should be asked of her, she should say that
she knows you are coming. See? It is best to be safe and to guard
against everything."

Early morn saw Ted on the train. It was announced to those who made
inquiries that Ted had been called home. Mr. Pfeffer received the
information with private wonder and doubt.

He took occasion to stroll down to the telegraph office later that
same day.

"Hello, Peter," he said to the operator.

Peter turned around to see if anyone was about, then brought out a
copy of the coded telegram.

"Easy code, professor--what does it mean?" His copy already had
translated the words properly.

"It may mean nothing or it may mean everything. The boy is going to
Chicago--perhaps Chicago is No. 2--perhaps not. Peter, you had better
send a telegram. Better be sure, eh?"

"Why would they be sending a child and for what?" Peter was
incredulous.

"Did the boy send a telegram?" Mr. Pfeffer asked. "I had better see
them all."

But there was none that had been sent that morning to Chicago.

A long wire, also in code, went forward from Mr. Pfeffer to Chicago.
Then that worthy strolled back to the Academy.

CHAPTER II

PLANS ARE MADE TO MEET TED

In a room in one of the West Side streets of Chicago, in an
old-fashioned office building, which also rented rooms to lodges and
societies, eight men were engaged in earn