he pleasure of meeting you at some time, and I
am,

"Very sincerely yours,
"Robert Wingate."

"That's a fine letter, isn't it?" said Ted, when he finished. He spoke
in a low voice--he did not trust his feelings.

"Yes, it's fine. Sir Robert is a great man. He does things in a big
way. But I think you want to go home now, so go."

And Ted did.

CHAPTER XI

TED GOES BACK

"But, Ted, it would be impossible for us to go on Saturday. I am not
so sure that we can go at all, it will require a lot of thinking."

Mrs. Marsh had heard the wonderful news and Ted's sudden plan for them
to go out to Big Gulch or Wayland. She was trying to show Ted how
impossible it was for them to do it and he was only just beginning to
acknowledge that perhaps Saturday would be too soon.

"Well, I tell you, mother. Maybe Saturday is too soon, but you will be
ready in two weeks--that is plenty of time. I know that Helen will be
able to do whatever she wants to do out there--and this money, after
we have repaid the Deans, will help to tide over the time until we are
settled. We shall hear what Helen says--and I shall speak to Mr. and
Mrs. Dean when I get out there."

Helen was told the news almost before she passed the doorstep. She was
astonished and glad and cried all in the same minute.

"How wonderful!" she finally managed to say.

Then she was told of Ted's plan. The boy had thought that she might
need convincing, but she agreed almost at once.

"I know I can obtain a position in my line of work out there. It is a
land of opportunity and we should grasp the chance to get out there."

All that remained was for Ted to get the opinion of the Deans.

Ted went down to say good-bye to Strong and Walker the next day. Both
men were very busy, but the three had lunch together and Ted promised
to write to both of them.

"You may have to write both of us at the front--we shall go off to the
war--that is, Walker will. It may be my bad luck to have to stay on
duty here, although I have asked to be relieved."

"Well, Ted," said Walker, "I shall see you at the train."

"And I will try to do so," added Strong.

The boy told both his friends of the plan to bring his mother and
sister out West. They agreed that it was a good plan.

His mother and sister, and Walker and Strong saw him depart. It was
just a year before that Ted had left, what a big