Ted Marsh on an Important Mission — A Reader’s Guide

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In Category - Childrens Adventures

Authors: Sherwood, Elmer, 1884-, Carsey, Alice [Illustrator] Digital Source: Project Gutenberg Gutenberg Release Year: 2009 First Publication Year: Not confirmed

Key Word: Detective and mystery stories; Boys -- Juvenile fiction; Boy Scouts -- Juvenile fiction Target Reader: Readers of public-domain and historical texts

Book Edition: Project Gutenberg digital edition Book Language: en

Edition facts

Words 21,080

Reading time 92 min

Text sections 3

The catalog record for Ted Marsh on an Important Mission — A Reader’s Guide provides practical reading context through 21,080 words, 1 hr 32 min estimated reading time, and 3 detected text sections.

The text analysis averages about 13.2 words per sentence, while the detected sections provide another way to judge how the source is divided.

Project Gutenberg metadata also associates the work with “Detective and mystery stories,” connecting these edition facts with the source record’s subject description.

Source: Project Gutenberg record #28769

Elmer Sherwood's 1910 boys' adventure opens with Ted Marsh, a former newsboy and Boy Scout, being recruited for a secret mission to Chicago. The excerpts show a spy plot involving German and Irish conspirators, with Ted eavesdropping on plans for an invasion of Canada. The narrative relies on a recap of prior events and emphasizes Ted's resourcefulness.

Editorial Edition Score 4.6/5

★★★★★ ★★★★★

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How this score is calculated

Description quality20 pts
Title & short description10 pts
Source metadata20 pts
Text length15 pts
Chapters / structure15 pts
EPUB file integrity20 pts

Total of 100 points, scaled to a 2.5-5.0 range. Editions with an empty description or a missing EPUB file are not scored.

Edition quality

File: pg28769

Read the Text

There was a discussion as to the telegram. "Who is Strong?" asked O'Reilly.

"He is the chief operative--secret service man--stationed in Chicago by the Government at Ottawa. We have him watched. We have even instructions out that if he becomes dangerous he will disappear very suddenly."

"That is bad business," said a little man named Heinrich.

"Bad business nothing!" answered Schmidt. "No one must stand in the forward way. Germany first, last, forever. What is Strong, what are you, what am I--poof, nothing! But Germany--ah--" the speaker's eyes gleamed.

"It will give those who are suspicious ground for proof that their suspicions are more than suspicions," answered Heinrich.

"Let us not wander from the point, gentlemen," another man interrupted. "As I gather from the telegram, this boy may be coming to see Strong. Now, we must first make sure of that fact, then find out what it is he is coming for and stop him in his attempt, if it concerns us."

"O'Reilly," asked Mr. Winckel, a man with spectacles which carried thick lenses, "can you or one of your friends, perhaps, meet the boy and pose as this man Strong? Schmidt, you or Feldman had better go to Milwaukee and try to place the boy and get such information as you can. But do not let him suspect you."

"I'll go," said Schmidt.

"When is he due?" asked Mr. Winckel.

"Why, I should think it would be some time tonight," answered Schmidt. "I'll look and make sure."

"Find out his home address," added Winckel. "Telegraph it to us and one of us will hurry up and find out if his mother really expects him. How about your part, O'Reilly?"

"I'll see to it," answered the Irishman.

"That is finished now. Oh, yes, one more thing, Schmidt, better have Strong watched even more closely. What is the other business?" It could be seen that Mr. Winckel was the moving spirit.

"Tomorrow, eight o'clock, here--the chief will come from Washington. When Captain Knabe comes, he will tell us just when the day will be. It is very soon, very soon; the long wait is over. Then, too, he will tell us what we shall do. You will all be here? Now we shall go to our work."

They broke up. They were very thorough, each man had his work assigned and would see it carried through.

We shall turn to John Strong, who early that morning had been slipped a memorandum in code by the waitress serving breakfast to him, announcing that Ted was to come and to meet him. Also, Ted's home address.

John Strong was a clean-cut Canadian, hair graying at the temples. No one knew better than he how carefully he was watched. That he was able to be as useful to his government as he was, showed his ability.

He decided at once that he would not meet Ted. That would show one thing--the important thing to those who would want to know. How could he get to the boy's mother without being observed?

To the girl who waited on him he whispered that he wanted her to arrange for two cars to wait at the main entrance of the Hotel La Salle at ten o'clock.

He strolled out and immediately felt himself shadowed. He reached the hotel, looked at the register very carefully, as if there was something there he wanted to see, then turned to the cigar-stand. Turning around, he saw another man looking just as carefully at that register. He smiled. Now he knew one of those who were watching him. He pulled out some memorandum slips from his pocket and made some notations. As if by accident he left one of the slips on the case, lighted his cigar, bought a newspaper, and sat down and lounged.

Another man came to the cigar counter, also bought some cigars, picked up some matches, and with it the slip of paper.

At five minutes past the hour Strong strolled to the door, made a frantic dash for the machine, which seemed very slow to start. A moment later two men entered the machine immediately next, gave the driver instructions to follow the first machine, which by now had dashed off.

The first car went south. You may remember that Mrs. Marsh lived north. The second car followed. The occupants could never suspect the innocent appearing chauffeur of that second car, as he swore and raved at the policeman who had ordered him to stop to let the east and west traffic go by at the side street. The frantic men inside were assured that he would make up the lost time; that he knew the number of the car he was following. But he never found that car. He became very stupid, although always pleasant.

Continue Reading →

The story begins not with action but with a summary of Ted Marsh's earlier adventures, establishing him as a resourceful newsboy who saved his mother from a fire and was taken west by a Canadian rancher. The opening chapter then jumps to Captain Wilson hailing Ted, ready to propose the mission that gives the book its title. This recap, unusual for a series installment, suggests the author expected new readers to need catching up.

The excerpts reveal a plot centered on espionage: Ted overhears a meeting of German and Irish conspirators planning an invasion of Canada, with detailed troop numbers and logistics. The boy's youth is explicitly cited as an advantage for the mission, and his cautious, methodical approach—stretching stiff muscles, studying locked windows—shows a protagonist who thinks before acting.

A Recap That Sets the Stage

The first chapter devotes several paragraphs to summarizing Ted's backstory: his life as a newsboy in Chicago, the fire that nearly killed him, his rescue by John Dean, and his time at the Double X Ranch and Wayland Academy. This recap, introduced with the phrase “To those of us who have read Ted Marsh the Boy Scout,” signals that the book is part of a series but aims to be accessible to newcomers. The author uses this summary to establish Ted's character—cool in emergencies, respected by others—before the mission is even mentioned. Readers who start here will notice that the plot hinges on Ted's past connections: his familiarity with Chicago and his reputation for reliability. The recap also introduces the mystery of Ted's absent father, a detail that may become relevant later.

Eavesdropping on a Conspiracy

The middle excerpt places Ted in a tense situation: hidden, he listens to a meeting of conspirators discussing an invasion of Canada. The dialogue is specific and tactical: “thirty thousand men in Canada, eager for the call,” “one hundred and fifty thousand men on Windsor and Toronto,” and the need for secrecy from “United States officials.” The conspirators include Germans (Winckel, Knabe, Schmidt) and an Irishman named O'Reilly, who insists his men will not fight against the United States. This detail adds a layer of political nuance. Ted's physical discomfort—stiff muscles, aching bones—underscores his endurance. He does not immediately act but stores the information, showing a strategic mind. The scene ends with Ted deciding to infiltrate Winckel's house, despite the risk.

Ted's Methodical Approach to Danger

After the meeting, Ted's actions are deliberate and cautious. He checks a telephone directory for Winckel's address, hails a taxi despite his newsboy clothes, and alights two blocks early to avoid detection. He studies the house, noting locked windows and doors, and rejects the idea of removing a window glass for fear of noise. The narrative reveals his internal debate: should he call the police? He decides against it, reasoning that Strong (presumably his contact) would not want publicity. This moment of hesitation makes Ted more believable as a boy thrust into adult danger. He ultimately chooses to enter, but only after weighing the odds. The prose stays close to his perspective, using phrases like “he decided” and “he felt fairly certain” to keep readers inside his head.

The Role of the Illustrations

The book includes four illustrations by Alice Carsey, listed in the contents: “He Sprang at Ted and Barked His Delight,” “Cautiously He Prowled About,” “Ted Frees the Prisoners.” These captions hint at key moments not fully covered in the excerpts—particularly the rescue of prisoners, which suggests a climax involving captivity. The first illustration, placed opposite the title page, shows a dog greeting Ted, indicating that animals may play a part in the story. The second, “Cautiously He Prowled About,” likely depicts Ted's reconnaissance. Readers can use these visual cues to anticipate turning points. The illustrations, typical of boys' adventure books from the period, emphasize action and suspense, complementing the text's focus on Ted's resourcefulness.

The excerpts present a story that balances recap with forward momentum. Ted's mission is clear—gather intelligence on a conspiracy—but the outcome remains uncertain. Readers should note how the author uses Ted's youth as both a plot device and a source of tension: he is underestimated by adults, yet his careful planning and physical endurance make him effective. The incomplete excerpts leave questions about the prisoners, the role of Strong, and the fate of Ted's father, inviting speculation without resolution.

Ted’s lantern-lit eavesdropping reminds me of how I felt reading The Boy Volunteers with the French Airmen — that same hush of boys moving through adult danger, trusting only their own quick wits. Both books made me think of my own childhood afternoons, mapping secret routes in the backyard, long before the world asked anything of me. The Boy Volunteers with the French Airmen — Context and Discussion