"At once," answered Ted.

"The sooner they come the better, although I suppose it will be every bit of two weeks."

Ted started to leave his friends to rejoin Red and the rest. Dean caught up with him about one hundred yards from the house.

"You know, Ted," he started without any preamble, "I feel as if my country is calling me. I cannot think of going until the child is born and Mrs. Dean is well. But I shall have to, hard as it may be. That is one reason why I shall be glad to have your sister and your mother here. They will be company for Mrs. Dean. She agrees with me that I should go. She is the bravest, best woman in the world." He stopped for a minute. "I shall see you later, as soon as Mrs. Dean takes her rest. I want to know all about Chicago and what happened."

He returned to the house while Ted joined the men.

They were in the midst of a discussion of the war. Ted listened. Smiles and several of the other men were leaving in three days—off for the war. Red was not going—he was American. "I may go later, if they need me," he said. There was to be a great shortage of men at the ranch.

Dean had made Pop the new foreman to take Smiles' place. Pop was not in the conversation, he was sitting by himself and he showed every desire to be left alone. After a little while, he left the room.

It made the war very near and Ted felt very lonely to hear that these friends of his were going off, some of them never to return.



CHAPTER XII

THE MARSHES REUNITED

Pop entered the house. He wanted advice and he wanted it bad. He knew that ordinarily he would have gone to Mrs. Dean—a woman would help so much at a time like this. But Dean met him in the hall.

"Hello, Pop—what's the trouble?" asked Dean.

"Hello, Jack. I can't say whether it's trouble or not. What I want is advice. Maybe you can give it to me, although I figured Mrs. Dean would be better."

"Tell me, I may be able to help." Dean was surprised at the agitation of the older man.

Pop told his story. He did not keep any of the details from Dean. The latter listened, his astonishment growing all the time.

"You see, Jack, it's this way. If they come here, my wife will see me. She probably hates me. I cannot hope that she will understand. On the other hand, I want so much to be with her, I am going to be foreman and that means I can support her comfortably. But I probably would make her miserable if I entered into her life again. What do you say?"

"Let us ask Mrs. Dean. She will give you the right answer."

Mrs. Dean listened. There was no hesitation in her answer.

"Go to Chicago at once. You need not worry about how your wife will take it, nor as to how she feels. I know. She understands better than you can ever suppose. Jack, dear, whoever said that God did not weave our lives? How closely our friends here have been interwoven with our lives, how much we have been of service to each other.

"Go to Chicago on the first train," she finished.

"Yes, and we shall tell Ted. Bring them back with you," added Dean.

Pop left the house, much relieved. He was happy that his duty was what his inclination was—what he craved to do. He joined the other men.

Without giving any explanation he told Smiles he would have to be away for about ten days and that he had already arranged for the same with John Dean.

Early the next morning he was off. He asked Red to take him down. To Red he explained the whole thing, that he was coming back with his folks.

"I understand a whole lot of things now. How queerly you acted at times. I guess I'll call you Marsh, now."

"Yes, and it's up to you to explain. I shall wire you before you do so. If my wife should decide that she does not want me, I am not coming back. If she decides she will forgive me, I will telegraph you and you can let it out casually."

"I will be glad to do so," answered Red. "Is Jack going to tell Ted?"

"Yes, that's the plan."

"The boy will be glad. He likes you a lot. But, mostly glad, because it will make his mother happy."

"I hope so much that it will," the older man answered.

We are not going into details as to the meeting between the Marshes. We, who are acquainted with so much of their story, can imagine what happened. Bill Marsh left home because he felt he could not hold his head up nor his wife's respect. He had been very foolish, and it was this foolishness, this false pride, even a lack of faith in the understanding of his wife that had made him stay away. Who should have known him better than his own wife? It was harder to make Helen understand. She asked some searching questions, but in the end she realized the fine manliness of her father.

The two, mother and daughter, marveled at the coincidence of the father being at the same place as Ted.

"The world is a small place, isn't it?" said Mrs. Marsh.

It did not take very long for them to be ready to leave. Marsh helped where he could and a week after he arrived they left for Big Gulch. Red had paved the way, in accordance with their plan.

Ted was too surprised to make any comment when he heard the news. At first he was furiously angry at his father. Boylike, he could not forgive certain things which an older person could. It was Mrs. Dean, even more than Red and John Dean, who made him see and understand.

Then the Marshes came to Big Gulch. Matters adjusted themselves. It was a busy time for all. Smiles was off, smiling and glad. So were the other men who were to go. Brave men, all of them, doing their duty as they saw it. Pop took up his duties as foreman.

Then the child was born to the Deans. A girl, which seemed like a squalling, ugly baby, much like any other baby, to Ted. But to say so to the mother or to the father or to Mrs. Marsh or to Helen, would have been a great, an awful insult.

The men came in to see the heir apparent. They seemed clumsy, uncouth, sheepish creatures and all of them were glad to get away, including Pop and Ted.

With the excitement subsiding, things began again to take a normal aspect. Mrs. Dean began to sit up, the child began to look more like a human being, it had been decided that Helen was to rest for a few months and then continue her studies at the nearest preparatory school, with the purpose of entering college. John Dean was to leave for the front in two weeks.

Our story is almost complete. Ted received a great welcome at the Academy. The boys had heard of what he had done, of his reward and the letter he had received from Sir Robert Wingate. For one whole day his coming made the Great War an even smaller event. Captain Wilson had gone to Ottawa, he had been promoted to be a major. Some of the instructors were gone and even one or two of the older students. Those who were left spoke only of the time when they, too, could go and they were bemoaning their misfortune in being young.

Ted heard from the folks at home. He heard from Helen and somehow he got the impression that all she spoke about was Red and what a fine man he was. A letter from Red made no mention of Helen, but he did say that he was getting down to the serious business of thinking of the future. Even as young as Ted was, he could guess that they had become great friends and he was glad. His father wrote him that he had placed his $1,000.00 in the bank for him, he having settled all the debts and accounts himself. It was a fine letter and it removed what resentment still remained with Ted against his father. His mother also wrote, saying she was wonderfully happy and he got a short note from John Dean before he left. He also heard from Walker, who told him he was off for the war, but that Strong had to stay.

Syd Graham and Ted were inseparable. They did many things together and the plans for the future each of the boys made included the other. There was, of course, a great deal more of military training and many times the boys at the Academy were called upon for some duty or other.

So the days went. Ted received a fall vacation and he went home. There was news from the front. Dean had been wounded, so the report came, not seriously, but enough to disable him, and he was returning home. He would always limp. In that awful charge when so many Canadians had been wounded and killed, Smiles had lost his life. It made Ted very sad to think that he would never see the happy, smiling ex-foreman again. Helen was at school. Ted pumped Red Mack as to Helen and found his suspicions confirmed. He teased Red unmercifully and it was one time when Red was flustered. The Dean baby was a healthy, lusty youngster of a few months.

Ted Marsh has his life before him. This story is but one incident of his early life. But for later events we must look elsewhere.



* * * * *



THE FRIENDLY ANIMAL SERIES

A series of 9 books of friendly, likeable fun-loving animals, written by well known authors of children's books. Each book 64 pages, with lithograph cover in five colors and a number of full page illustrations. Size 8-1/2 x 6-1/4—64 pages—each 15c.

Written by Elizabeth Billings Stuart Illustrations by Elsie M. Kroll

THE FAIRY AND THE BUNNY-TAIL

Bunny-Tail is a dear little Bunny, who is always finding something that turns every-boy's trouble into happiness. The fairy JOY gives him a magic password, which makes him quite safe in the company of any of the forest animals or in the presence of hunters.

TRICKY MR. FOX

Tricky Mr. Fox is a sly animal, whose adventures lead him into many pitfalls and mishaps. He becomes the captive of a little Indian boy and later his adoring companion. Tricky Mr. Fox proves his devotion and quick wits by saving the little boy's life when a fire threatens.

TEDDY BEAR, THE TOY MAKER

Brownie Bunny is a harum-scarum Bunny, full of mischief and merry pranks. He lives with Teddy Bear and makes Teddy Bear's life delightfully miserable until Bunny-Tail persuades him to become a Boy Scout. After this transformation he performs many thrilling and heroic deeds.



LUCKY, THE BOY SCOUT

By ELMER SHERWOOD

A Fascinating Story. Its Action Covers Chicago and the Far West of Canada.

There comes the rumbling of the Big War. German plots are many. Ted's share in following these plots, his life at the Double X Ranch and at Wayland Academy, make this a book that will hold the absorbed attention of the reader.

Those who are readers of the Lucky Series know that none of the books are namby-pamby—there is in all of them the true strain of things worthwhile. Honor, faith and courage hold their rightful place.

WHITMAN PUBLISHING COMPANY

RACINE



Good Books for Boys and Girls

THE CAMPFIRE GIRLS AND AUNT MADGE

THE CAMPFIRE GIRLS' WEEK-END PARTY

Delightful stories that are sure to be well liked. The titles would indicate that they are purely girls' stories but boys will find them equally interesting. Be sure to read them.



LUCKY, THE YOUNG NAVYMAN

By ELMER SHERWOOD

This book follows the story of Lucky, the Young Soldier.

It deals with Ted Marsh and his service to the American Navy. A book complete in itself in which Mr. Sherwood has brought to play many of the incidents of today.

Great things are happening every day. Ted's great fortune is to have a big share in them.

A story as good as Lucky, the Boy Scout and Lucky, the Young Soldier.

WHITMAN PUBLISHING COMPANY

RACINE



THE FRIENDLY ANIMAL SERIES

LAMMIE AND MRS. FUSSY-CAT

"If you read this book written about me," said Lammie, "you will wish there were a hundred books to the series the same as mine. Dear me! that was a day! Read the book. You'll just laugh at the pictures. Especially the one where I am riding the little wooden-legged squirrel on my back."

LAMMIE WANTS TO LEARN

"Can you do tricks on a pumpkin, the way I can?" asked Lammie. "If you don't believe I can do them, just look at the picture that Warner Carr drew of me the day he caught me out in the garden. My, but I was having a good time until I happened to take a big mouthful of horseradish."

LAMMIE ON A FROLIC

"Doing tricks on a pumpkin is nothing compared to doing a buck-jump," said Lammie. "Just watch me," and he wheeled around on one toe and then jumped straight up in the air, kicking out all four feet at once. "Do you see that field over there? Well, that's where I go every day to eat white clover and I have the best of times, too."



COMING!!

TED MARSH & THE ENEMY

TED MARSH—THE YOUNG VOLUNTEER

Two great books of present day events. Ted's coolness and daring stand him in good stead and he proves of great value in the service of the Government.

The Lowest Priced And Best Series Of Boys' Books



THE BUNNY-TAIL SERIES

by ELIZABETH BILLINGS STUART

With Full Page Illustrations in Color and in Black and White

Winkie Bunny-Tail Brownie Bunny and Teddy Bear Mr. Rusty Fox Twinkle Squirrel and Muffle Face Fifteen Little Bunny-Tails

"Oh, mother," said little Goldi-locks one day as they were hurrying through a big Department Store, "do please stop a minute and look at these books."

"Which ones, my dear?" asked her mother.

"The Bunny-Tail Series, of course. All the children are reading them. Even Teacher told us a story out of one of them the other day. Couldn't you buy them for my birthday present?" coaxed the sweet little girl. "Just see this picture where the Bunnies are all dressed up and are having a dancing party!"

Just then a dainty clerk stepped up and smiled as she saw the interested little girl.

"It's really wonderful," said she, addressing the mother, "how the children love Mrs. Stuart's Bunny-Tail Books. We sell so many of them, all the year 'round. I have read them all to my little nephew and he just dotes on them."

Five Titles, Cloth, Size 8-3/4 x 6-1/2. Colored Jackets, 64 Pages.



ARABIAN NIGHTS STORIES

Retold by ELIZABETH BILLINGS STUART

With 4 Color and 8 Black and White Illustrations

by Elsie M. Kroll

"Tomorrow is Jack's birthday and I don't know what to buy him," said Jill.

"Does he like books?" asked Phil.

"He reads all the time," answered Jill.

"Then why don't you buy him a nice book for his birthday?" asked Phil.

"I'd love to, but I have only thirty-five cents to spend, and I couldn't get a nice enough book for that. He likes lots of pictures—colored ones, too."

"I know the very book you want," said Phil, all excitement. "It's called 'Arabian Nights Stories,' by Mrs. Stuart. You know her, don't you? She's the one who wrote 'Winkie Bunny-Tail' and all the rest of the Bunny-Tail Series."

"Goody, goody!" said Jill. "Just to think what a lovely birthday present it will make, and for only thirty-five cents!"



THE FAMOUS ANIMAL STORIES

(For Children from Three to Ten Years of Age)

"Never Have Animal Stories Made More Fascinating Reading"

Hazel Squirrel Tommy Turtle Happy Bunny Baby Pony Bobby Bear Famous Rover

This series is an innovation in the field of children's books. Six wonderful animal stories written by Howard M. Famous, each beautifully illustrated with a full-page colored frontispiece and a number of full-page black and white illustrations.

Never have animal stories made more fascinating reading. The books are the kind that will sell all the year round—the children will demand them. Mr. Famous is at his very best in all these stories—and we predict that the doings of his animal folks will become known throughout the world.

Six Titles, Cloth, Size 7-1/4 x 5, Colored Jacket, 128 Pages.

THE END