"By the way, Hudson, I am going to introduce a bill in the House in a few days to appropriate a million dollars for a Naval Repair Station at Cleverly. I know that you are a member of the Committee on Naval Affairs, and I wish you would help me to put this measure through. We need it and it's a just and proper appropriation." Mr. Carlton stooped down to pick up a paper, when Congressman Hudson, turning to the clerk, said: "Oh, we will help you with it, won't we, Joel?" As he said this he deliberately winked at the sallow-faced man, and in return he nodded and replied: "Yes, certainly we will help Mr. Carlton." And after that they both withdrew. As the door closed Mr. Carlton turned to the boy and said: "Those are good people to know, Barry. Both the Congressman and the clerk have considerable influence in legislation and they have the power to either help or hurt you." "I suppose they have," responded Barry. He longed to tell his friend of the sign that had passed between the two men, but he was afraid that if he mentioned it, Mr. Carlton might think that he was very presumptuous. Besides that, he thought that possibly he might have been mistaken. However, he said finally, with a great deal of diffidence: "I can't say, Mr. Carlton, that I am very much attracted by either of those men." "Well, Barry," said the Congressman, a little coldly, "you must take people as you find them in this world, and not as you think they should be." All the same, Barry did not relish the recollections of the wink that had passed between the two men. CHAPTER VI HUDSON STRIKES A SNAG Joe Hart went to great pains to show his growing regard for Barry. He instructed him in his work as page and pointed out various ways of making himself useful to the members of Congress. One of these ways was to familiarize himself with the numerous public documents issued by the Government. Every member, said Joe, had calls for bills and reports from time to time, and if a page boy could tell a member where to put his hands on a certain paper at a given time, the value of the page would be immensely enhanced in the eyes of the member. Barry took the advice to heart and determined to profit thereby. One morning, when Barry was on his way to the Capitol, it occurred to him that it would be a good thing to call upon Congressman Carlton and ascertain whether there was anything he could do for him. He found the Congressman at his desk in his office immersed in a great heap of correspondence that was before him. "Good morning, Mr. Carlton," said Barry. "I don't want to disturb you. I just dropped in to ask whether there was anything I could do for you before I went to the House." The Congressman paused for a moment and looked at Barry, while he tried to recall some particular thing that he was very anxious to have done. It came to him quickly.