Ted Marsh on an Important Mission

by Elmer Sherwood

  NOVELTIES AND TOYS A. CHRISTENSEN

  Ted opened the door. A man was inside, his feet perched upon a deskand he was reading a German newspaper.

  "Paper, sir?" Ted asked him.

  "No," was the answer. He did not even glance up.

  "I have a Staats-Zeitung and a Wochen-Blatt," coaxed Ted. All thistime he was taking stock of the room.

  "A Wochen-Blatt? I'll take one," the man became interested. He offereda half dollar to Ted.

  "I haven't the change, but I will get it for you." Ted was fightingfor time, so that he could form impressions.

  "And run away with my money?" the man sneered. "Not on your life. I'llwait until later."

  "You can hold all my papers. I'll come back."

  The man grudgingly gave the boy the money. At the corner store Tedfound his two friends; the automobile had long since left.

  "Good work," Strong commented, after hearing Ted. "Now, how can we getthat fellow out of the building for half an hour?"

  "When I suggested going out for the change," volunteered Ted, "hedidn't want to trust me and said: 'I'll wait until later.' Perhaps heintends going out."

  "Well, here is one way to coax him to go a little sooner. A Germanwants what he wants when he wants it, and he never stops wanting ituntil he gets it. When you go back, Ted, insist on being paid twice asmuch as the paper sells for. He probably will not pay it. He willconsider it a holdup. But he will want that paper and it may hurry hisdeparture. It is almost lunch-time anyway.

  "Walker, you go to all the news-stands within three square blocks andalso any stores you may see that sell newspapers and buy up anyWochen-Blatts they have. That ought to keep our friend busy trying toget what he wants and so give us more time. We will all meet in Room418. I'll steal up while you two are wrangling over your high-handedoutrage, Ted. Walker can come any time. There is small chance that hewill be recognized. You see," Strong added, his eyes smiling, "that'sthe value of having the ordinary face Walker has. He looks likeseventy-five million other folks, so no one would notice him."

  Ted rushed back to the office. "Everybody is poor around here or elsethey don't want to make change. My, what trouble." He was counting outthe change and he now placed but forty cents on the man's desk.

  The man picked up the money and for a moment it looked as if he wouldnot count it, but he did.

  "Hey, boy, another nickel! You're short here."

  "No, I'm not. I took a nickel for all the trouble I had in makingchange." Ted felt mean and he knew his argument was a poor one, but hewas doing it for a purpose.

  "Five cents, or I don't want the paper." He made a threatening motiontoward Ted.

  Ted laughed at him. He threw the dime on the desk, picked up his paperand backed out of the door. The man was muttering fiercely inGerman.

  Out on the street our hero watched from a nearby door. It was justmid-day and people were hurrying for their lunch. But it was at leasttwenty minutes before he saw his man walk out of the building. Hewatched him and saw him stop at one, then at another stand and try toobtain the desired paper. He was not successful and Ted saw him strollfurther down the street.

  Two minutes later Ted was in Room 418. Walker joined them almost atthe same time.

  Ted was introduced to the man to whom he had sold a paper a littleearlier and then the party got down to business.

  "Walker, jump down and try the door," said Strong. "Here is the key."

  But a new problem presented itself when Walker reported back that thekey would not fit the lock and Strong, incredulous, had proven thetruth of it for himself.

  "Phew!" whistled Strong. "They must have changed the lock. Theyfigured the old one was too easy for anyone who had a mind to enter.Come on, Walker, we'll try the window."

  But they found no way of entering through the window. It was securelyfastened. Walker, with one foot on the edge of the fire-escape and theother on the ledge of the next room's window and holding himselfsecure with one hand, attempted to open that window also, but found itjust as securely locked.

  "There is still one way before we think of any rough stuff," saidStrong. With the other three he went down to the third floor.

  "Here, Ted, get on my shoulders and try the fanlight. Let's pray thatit opens."

  It opened so very easily that they all laughed. But they found thatneither Walker, Strong nor Bronson could get through. But Ted could.

  "Well," said Bronson, "I reckon it's up to the boy, isn't it?"

  "It certainly is," said Strong.

  Walker now very quickly, yet very clearly explained the workings andthe manipulations of the dictaphone. Ted listened carefully as he wastold how the wires should be laid and connected.

  "You see, Ted," Walker continued, "the whole thing is alreadyprepared. We knew how little time we would have when the time didcome, so we did everything we could beforehand. You will find a placefor these wires on the wall behind the steam-pipes. The floor mouldingrunning along the window wall will move if you remove the screws--fourof them. Then count off the sixteenth floor board--you work it thisway," Walker showed Ted how, "and it will pry loose. It is all verysimple and should take no more than twenty minutes. It would take meten.

  "The floor-board has a little groove into which the wires will fit.You will find that where this board ends is another piece of mouldingwhich will most surprisingly give way to your magic fingers, and thescrewdriver, as did the moulding at the other end. On the big cabinetthat is there, try that corner of it nearest you and against the wall,and there you will find that your wires will fit snugly. Your handsare small and can get in there, back of the cabinet. You just can't gowrong. On top of the cabinet see that the mouthpiece or, rather, thelistener, is propped up so that it faces the table. If you have anydoubts call out--we will be here. You will also find that it will notbe seen, for the cabinet is high."

  "Be careful, Ted, about leaving things just as they were. It all willfit back snugly. Be twice as careful as you are quick," Strong warnedhim.

  "I shall be up here, Bronson will be one flight below, and the beggaris watching in the street. Walker will be up above passing the wiresdown to you."

  More than fifteen minutes had already been consumed. Strong had warnedTed to open the window of Room 420 and, should a warning come, hide inthat room. A rope would be passed down for him from the window above.

  Ted got to work at once. He found it even more simple than Walker hadtold him. In fifteen or twenty minutes he called out. "I think I amthrough." He took another look about. He had carefully seen toeverything and there was no sign of any disturbance.

  "Wait a minute," said Strong. There was a pause. Then he heard Strongspeaking to him again, "Say something right out, not too loud, justordinary conversation."

  "Want to buy a paper? News, Post, American, Staats-Zeitung?" said Tedto the empty air.

  There was another pause, then he heard Walker say to Strong, "It'sfine and distinct, old man."

  Ted took another look about. He lifted himself on the door-knob andthen eager hands helped him out. Walker ran down the fire escape totake a look around the room and Strong hoisted himself up on the knoband also looked about. Ted's work had been thorough and neither ofthem made any criticisms.

  "Well, that's something of a relief," said Walker. Ted closed thefanlight.

  "Nothing to do until tonight," and Walker grinned.

  "Let's eat," said Strong. "Coming with us, Bronson?"

  "Certainly," was the answer.

  CHAPTER VI

  STRONG SEEMS CHECKMATED

  Ted was too excited to eat.

  "Better eat, lad," said Walker. "We do not know when we will getanother chance today. If no one else seemed to be following hisadvice, he himself considered it good enough to heed. He was eatingenough for two.

  "I imagine it is going to be risky business tonight," Bronsonremarked. "I wish I could be with you."

  "It's either going to be that, or it is going to
be very simple,"Strong answered.

  "That is the trouble with all adventure, these days," Walkercomplained. "It's always so very simple."

  "I consider this extremely interesting and exciting," replied Strong."It is like a tremendous game of chess with enough elements of dangeradded to suit the most exacting. Don't imagine that we shall not be indanger every second tonight. These Germans are cold-blooded. If weshould happen to be in their way, should they find out how much weactually know, we can say good-bye; the sun would rise tomorrow, butwe might not."

  He turned to Ted. "Well, lad, are you afraid?"

  "I'm going to stick, of course," was the reply.

  "Well, comrades, here is the plan. The keys you see here, one for eachof us, are for Room 420. We shall separate. At six-thirty we must allplan to be in that room. No noise must be made when you come; no soundmust be made while you are there."

  "We had better make sure we do all our sneezing outside, eh?" Everyone laughed with Walker.

  "It will be your last sneeze, if it's inside," Strong laughinglywarned him. "The least sound, a scraping chair, would be heard. Stayin Room 420; the fire escape makes 418 dangerous, if anyone should becurious and decide to come up and look into that room. Of course,there will be no lights turned on.

  "Should any of us fail to get there, he who does must make everyeffort to get the import of the conversation."

  "Can I do anything, before I leave for New York tonight?" askedBronson.

  "No, I guess not. Get your room into shape for us. Put the chairswhere we cannot stumble over them. How long will you be gone?"

  "I don't know. These Germans certainly keep us busy. Some of ouroptimists are turning pessimists, now that Austria is declaring waragainst Servia. They are beginning to think that perhaps there issomething in this war-talk. I have to go to them and tell them justhow much there really is in it. I had much rather stay--wish Icould."

  "I know that, Bronson, and there is no one I would rather have. Butperhaps you will be of better service there. I shall code Wright theinformation we get tonight, if we get it. They will have it at the NewYork office."

  Strong and Walker returned to the Adams street office; Ted went home.He was glad of the chance to see more of his mother; Helen, he knew,would not be home. Ted was very fond of his pretty, efficient sister,and proud of her rapid rise at the store.

  He found his mother there when he reached home. He explained thereason for his wearing the newsboy's clothes.

  Ted spent a quiet, comfortable afternoon with her. Many things theystill had to talk about and the mother realized how much it was thedesire of Ted to have her and Helen come out to that great West, aland where contentment and opportunity, at least, were more likely tobe found than in this place, in which she had lived so many years.

  * * * * *

  About three o'clock, only a half hour after he had been at Adamsstreet, Strong was called to the telephone. He had been busy at areport, the call was unexpected and could only come from his secretaryor from Ted, the only two besides Walker who knew of this newlocation.

  It proved to be his secretary.

  "A messenger boy came here a little while ago with a message for you,"she said.

  "Read it."

  "'A meeting is to be held at W.'s house. If you will come, can getyou in. 4:30!' It is signed 'J.'," she added.

  There was a pause. She continued: "It looks as if it comes from Jones.It is his writing, beyond doubt, but he signed his initial instead ofhis number."

  "I'll come right over," Strong answered, and his voice soundedperplexed.

  Charles Jones was an operative, employed as a butler by the Winckelhousehold. He had so often given proof of profound stupidity ineverything except his duties in the household that Herr Winckel wouldhave laughed at any suspicion of his being anything else but a butler.Herr Winckel was so fond of saying and repeating that the man had abutler mind it could never grasp anything outside of that.

  In reality, Jones was shrewd, keen, able to obtain information withoutcreating suspicion. He had been one of Strong's best men and thelatter felt he could count on him.

  Could it be a trap, he wondered?

  Strong was uncertain as to what he should do. To miss this meeting,which perhaps was important; to go there, on the other hand, andendanger the chances of his getting to that night meeting?

  "I wish I knew what to do, Walker." Together they went over the phasesof it as they walked down to the office.

  "I'd go," advised Walker. "You say that the boy could do his part. Ifthey do want you out of the way, should this be a trap, they will holdus until morning; they would not dare hold us any longer. And, if theydo, they will not feel the need for carefulness and the boy will thushave a better chance. It works well both ways."

  When they came to the office, Strong read the message again.

  "We'll go, Walker," he decided. "Dress up. Be sure not to carry anypapers."

  Two men came out of one of the inner offices a few minutes later. Theywould have been taken anywhere for two English servants; they mighthave been valets, footmen, even butlers. Each one looked the otherover critically, but the disguise was thorough.

  At fifteen minutes past the hour they reached the Winckel house,knocked at the servants' entrance. The maid answered and they askedfor Mr. Jones. They appeared to be very superior, upper-classservants. Very English, too. She escorted them in and then opened adoor for them to enter. They passed through. As they did, each one ofthem was pounced upon. They struggled against the sickening smell ofthe chloroform held tightly against their noses. Then they knewnothing more for a while.

  An hour later they awoke with a feeling of nausea and the smell ofchloroform all about them. They found themselves tied hand and footand unable to move. From all appearances they seemed to be in thecellar of the house.

  "Are you there, chief?" asked Walker, in a sick and very low voice.

  "Yes, I'm here; going to stay awhile, I guess."

  "I wonder what happened? Suppose they got on to----?"

  "They are probably gloating somewhere within earshot," Strong warnedhim in a whisper. "They certainly have us out of the way for the timebeing," he added, ruefully.

  "Well, there's nothing to do; we're caught," Walker said, in hisordinary voice. Then, in a voice so low Strong could barely hear him,he inquired, "Are you pretty well tied? Can you do anything?"

  "Can't even move," was the answer.

  "Same here," Walker said dejectedly. "They made a good job."

  At five o'clock Ted left home for downtown. He stopped off to buy someof the late editions of the newspapers and proceeded to themeeting-place. He made his rounds through several buildings and atlast reached that particular one.

  There was no one watching, however. With Strong out of the way theGermans felt quite secure.

  At five-thirty he had already let himself into Room 420 and waspreparing to make himself comfortable. He picked up the dictaphoneevery few minutes, but for a long time heard nothing. Things seemedquiet and he began to wonder where Strong and Walker were, what wasdelaying them. His heart was going at a great rate because of theforced quiet and the excited state of his mind.

  Things would depend on him if the two men did not come. Would he beable to carry out the plans?

  "I can only do my best," the boy said to himself. And there was astrong determination to make that best count.

  It was now half past seven. He lifted the dictaphone oftener. Verysoon he heard voices, very indistinct, but as he listened they becameclearer and clearer. Then he began making out the words and the senseof the conversation.

  "Yes," said one voice. "We found out that this man Jones, who wasWinckel's butler, was one of their men. He dropped a card which youngWinckel found. That was enough to warrant his being watched, althoughwe did nothing for several days except to see that he got no furtherinformation.

  "Today, at the point of a gun, we forced him to write a note to Strongtelling him tha
t there was to be a meeting at Winckel's house atfour-thirty and that he could get him in. Strong with another mancame. We trapped them, bound them and they are now in the cellar outof harm's way."

  Ted welcomed the information. At least he knew just what to expect.

  "It's almost time for our friends to be here, isn't it? What time isCaptain Knabe coming?" said a voice.

  "At about fifteen minutes after eight. He is coming with Winckel."

  "Say, Schmidt, it was a good piece of business to get Strong out ofthe way. He is too dangerous and resourceful to suit us." This fromO'Reilly.

  "He has been a nuisance, hasn't he?" answered Schmidt. "Hello,friends," he said to some new-comers. "I have just been tellingO'Reilly about our little affair this afternoon."

  There was the sound of a number of voices and of some laughing. Thenmore men came into the room, there was the scraping of chairs as menseated themselves.

  Then there was quiet as two men entered. Greetings were exchanged andTed realized that the two were Winckel and Captain Knabe.

  As Captain Knabe was introduced to some of the men, Ted wrote thenames down.

  "Let us get down to business, friends," said one, who seemed to be thechairman. "Captain Knabe has come here from Washington, his time justnow is important. Even more important is the need for immediateaction. Captain Knabe, gentlemen."