face."

Strong turned to Ted.

"Dear lad," he said, "what you did isn't the kind of thing that can
appear in the newspapers, but it is the kind about which history is
made. It is a big job you have accomplished. The men who sent you down
to us made no mistake in their judgment as to what you could do. Sir
Robert Wingate wanted to know all about you, I must have talked to him
for more than twenty minutes on the telephone.

"Walker and I go to Ottawa on a late train today. They want to see me,
to go fever details.

"Well, let's get busy with the last threads of what happened last
night--we have to put it down on black and white for future,
reference. When do you want to return to Wayland, Ted?"

"I should like to go by Saturday, if it can be arranged," answered
Ted.

"Well, I think it can be done. I shall return tomorrow night or early
the following morning. You will be free for these two days. Have a
good time; remember, we pay all your expenses--nothing is too good
for you. If you can, come down the day after tomorrow. I may have some
news for you."

"I shall be glad to come down," answered Ted, as he wondered at the
news to which Strong had reference.

They spent a half hour or more going over the events of the evening,
Strong's secretary taking notes. Then Ted left and returned home.

That afternoon he took his mother to the ball game and saw the Cubs
defeat the Giants. He tried to explain the game to his mother, who
pretended an interest and tried hard to understand. But she found her
truant fancy going elsewhere--it centered about this boy of hers, her
daughter and also about the husband who could not endure the
troubleous times, not because of the hardship to himself so much as
the hardship to her and the child.

Ted's interest was not divided, however, except in rare moments when
he would turn to his mother and accuse her of lack of interest. She
would flush guiltily and pretend that she was interested. She would
ask a question or two, but her very questions convicted her, showed
her inability to understand, and Ted gave it up as a hopeless job and
comforted himself in the belief that only men understood the game, it
was too deep for women, excepting one or two, who knew something.

As they rode home the boy and the mother discussed the improvement in
their condition.

"We will never have to worry any more, mother, not as long as I am
able," the boy said, with all of youth's surety and confidence.