Dick Kent on Special Duty

In Short

This juvenile adventure novel follows Dick Kent, a young man recruited by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police to investigate the murder of a recluse named Dewberry. When a prospector is found dead, the trail leads to a mysterious road-house and a long-lost diary detailing a hidden fortune. As Dick and his companions, Sandy and Toma, navigate the dangers of the North, they encounter desperate criminals and uncover a tragic chain of events. It remains a classic example of early 20th-century frontier fiction, focusing on courage, loyalty, and the pursuit of law and order.

The Story

The narrative begins with a crime: Dewberry, a quiet prospector, is murdered for a mysterious "poke" he carries around his neck. Suspicion initially falls on a local character known as “Rat” MacGregor, but Corporal Rand of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police suspects the truth is far more complex. He enlists three young men—Dick Kent, Sandy MacClaren, and an Indian youth named Toma—to go undercover at a remote road-house operated by a man named Frischette.

As the boys embed themselves at the road-house, they observe erratic behavior from Frischette and his associates. They realize the stolen poke is only a small part of a larger conspiracy. Soon, two dangerous criminals named Burnnel and Emery emerge, looking for a hidden cache that has turned the region into a hunting ground. A series of confrontations follows, involving traps, dramatic escapes, and the discovery of a "key" that once belonged to Dewberry.

The mystery deepens when it is revealed that Dewberry was not merely a simple prospector, but a man of sophisticated tastes who had spent years converting his gold into rare gems. He had kept an iron chest of immense value hidden at his cottage. A young man named Reynold, the son of a local, had discovered a notebook detailing this wealth and sold the information to the very criminals who later committed the murders. This revelation ties the disparate threads of the story together, explaining why Dewberry was targeted and why the villains were willing to kill to secure the key to his treasure.

The climax involves a tense pursuit through the wilderness. Dick and his friends, though young and inexperienced, use their wits to outmaneuver the hardened outlaws. Through a combination of surveillance and a final, daring confrontation, they secure the evidence needed for Corporal Rand to make the arrests. The story concludes with the boys reflecting on the gravity of their experience. The "treasure" itself, once an object of obsession that ruined lives, is left behind as they look toward their futures, with the boys considering careers in the police force. They leave the wilderness having matured, recognizing that their adventure was less about the gold and more about the responsibility of standing on the side of justice.

How It Unfolds

The investigation commences Corporal Rand recruits Dick, Sandy, and Toma to infiltrate a remote road-house. The boys pose as young prospectors to gather intelligence on the murder of Dewberry.

The plot thickens The boys witness suspicious activity involving a mysterious box and the arrival of two menacing outlaws, Burnnel and Emery. Their attempts to trap the culprits lead them into a dangerous game of cat and mouse.

The truth is revealed The discovery of a hidden diary and a specific set of keys exposes Dewberry’s secret life as a collector of precious stones. The boys realize that a young man’s thoughtless betrayal of this secret directly caused the string of violent crimes.

The final confrontation Dick and his friends track the outlaws through the bush, risking their lives to retrieve stolen property. After a final skirmish, the criminals are apprehended, and the cycle of greed is broken.

The People

Dick Kent is the resourceful leader of the trio. He is level-headed and capable of formulating complex plans, such as using a "dummy" roll of money to bait the thieves. He matures from an eager helper into a capable investigator.

Sandy MacClaren serves as Dick’s loyal companion. While occasionally impulsive, his ability to analyze the motives of their adversaries proves vital. He eventually decides to pursue a career in the Mounted Police.

Toma, the young Indian guide, provides essential knowledge of the terrain and tracking skills. He is observant and often notices dangers before the others, acting as the group’s quiet anchor in the wilderness.

Corporal Rand is the professional mentor. He is a man of high integrity who recognizes that the boys’ youthful perspective allows them to succeed where his own official presence might fail. He ends the story having successfully restored order to his district.

The Outlaws (Burnnel, Emery, and the others) are driven by pure avarice. They represent the corrupting influence of the treasure, and their ultimate failure highlights the futility of their violent methods.

In Its Own Voice

“Rat” MacGregor dropped to the floor and crawled on hands and knees to the bunk wherein Dewberry, weary after hours of heavy mushing over an almost unbroken trail, now slept the sleep of the just.

The book introduces the central conflict by showing the initial attempt to rob the sleeping prospector.

“I’m not sure.” Corporal Rand pursed his lips. “But one thing is slowly dawning upon me.”

The detective hints at the deeper, more sinister reality behind the murder that the boys must help uncover.

“I wonder if you realize what you’ve done,” Rand spoke softly. “When you sold those copies you signed Dewberry’s death warrant.”

The corporal confronts the individual whose greed acted as the catalyst for the entire series of tragedies.

What It's Really About

At its heart, the story is a cautionary tale about the corrupting power of greed. The treasure, while valuable, acts as a "poisoned chalice" that brings out the worst in everyone who seeks it—from the petty thief to the desperate murderer. The narrative argues that material wealth, when pursued without honor, leads only to tragedy and social decay. Furthermore, it explores the transition from youth to adulthood, suggesting that true wisdom lies in the ability to distinguish between what is worth fighting for and what is merely a burden. The characters find that their worth is measured not by the gold they might have recovered, but by the integrity they maintain while upholding the law.

Why Read It Today

Readers who enjoy classic, fast-paced adventure stories set against the backdrop of the early 20th-century Canadian North will find this book engaging. It offers a glimpse into a time when the wilderness was a vast, untamed landscape, and the "Mounties" represented the thin line between civilization and chaos. The prose is clean and direct, moving from one plot beat to the next with urgency.

However, modern readers should be prepared for the period-specific language and attitudes, particularly regarding the depiction of the indigenous character and the somewhat formal, melodramatic dialogue typical of the era. The pacing is that of a serial—action-heavy and occasionally thin on character introspection—which is common for books of its time. Despite these conventions, the core mystery is well-structured, and the sense of camaraderie among the three young protagonists remains compelling. It is a satisfying read for those interested in the history of juvenile fiction or anyone looking for a brisk, clean adventure that prioritizes plot and moral growth over modern complexity. The story leaves the reader with a sense of the vastness of the North and the realization that even in the most isolated corners of the world, human choices have profound consequences.