Mrs. Marsh wiped an unbidden tear from her eye.

"I am very happy, dear. And yet, I would give so much if your father
was one of us. He was a fine man, but things were against him, too
much so."

Ted did not answer, he felt that nothing he could say would help.

After a long period of quiet, the boy spoke a little more quietly:
"Never mind, mother, you have Helen and me."

"I am happy in my riches," answered the mother proudly.

When they reached home, both of them began to get the supper ready so
that Helen would not have to wait. A brilliant idea came to Ted as
they prepared. "Mother," he said excitedly, "let's not eat at home
tonight. We are going to the theater, so let us have supper out."

At first the mother demurred, but she gave way--there was great
temptation in the unusual treat. When Helen came home and was told the
plan she was even more excited than they; it was so unusual an
adventure. You can readily believe that it was a happy party of three
that repaired to one of the many nice restaurants in the loop and
afterward to the theater. They did not reach home until late in the
night. On the way home they discussed what the news could be that
Strong would have for Ted.

The next day Ted spent at the Settlement, renewing old acquaintances.
Miss White, who had taken Mrs. Dean's place, was glad to see him and
gave him a hearty welcome. She was greatly interested in his story of
his year in the West and wanted to know all about Mrs. Dean. It was a
great day for Ted and the pleasantest of his stay in Chicago.

On his way home that night Ted began to wish for Wayland. He had not
realized how much the place meant to him until now, Syd Graham and the
rest of the boys seemed very dear, very desirable.

"I hope," he said to himself, "that nothing will keep me from going on
Saturday."

CHAPTER X

TED RECEIVES A REWARD

Sir Robert Wingate listened while John Strong told the story of the
plotting and counterplotting in Chicago. Many times he made
memorandums. He asked questions once or twice, but in the main he just
listened. When Strong finally completed his account, Sir Robert said:

"We took immediate action at our end and the results are more than
satisfying. Strong, I do not want you to think for a minute that the
importance of what you men have done is underestimated. The excitement
of the Great War, the necessity of secrecy as to what you have
accomplished--all these facts may give you an