"Joe," continued the gentleman, "get the young man his property." Very sheepishly Joe went behind the pillar and, bringing out the suitcase, handed it to Barry. "Now, I will introduce myself," said the stranger, with an engaging smile. "My name is Felix Conway. I am the correspondent of a New York newspaper, and if you ever need any assistance while you are in Washington, don't fail to call on me." "Thank you," was the grateful reply, "I am not likely to forget you." "Now, Joe," said the correspondent, turning to the second boy again, "why did you take Mr. Wynn's suitcase?" Joe gazed at the floor in an embarrassed manner for a moment and then, raising his head, said defiantly: "I couldn't help it. He looked so green that I simply couldn't resist hiding his bag." "Well," said Mr. Conway, "if you hope to be respected in this world, you'll have to resist a good many temptations." At this point in the conversation, Congressman Carlton, of all persons in the world, came along. He recognized Barry at once, and going over, shook his hand warmly. He also talked pleasantly with Mr. Conway concerning matters in which they were both interested. "Barry," he said, finally, "I'm awfully busy this afternoon, but I'm going to put you in care of Joe Hart here. He'll take you to a pleasant boarding-house and see that you are properly installed. Report to me here in the Capitol at ten o'clock in the morning. In the meantime, Joe will post you on your duties. You will find him a very nice boy." "Yes," said Barry, gazing at Joe somewhat skeptically, "I suppose I will find him to be a very nice boy." CHAPTER II THE NAVAL REPAIR STATION Mr. Carlton had only gone a few yards when Barry suddenly remembered the bulky manilla envelope that had been entrusted to his care as the train was leaving Cleverly. He ran after the Congressman and handed him the package. Mr. Carlton opened it in the boy's presence and his eyes lighted with pleasure. "It's just what I've been waiting for, Conway," he said to his newspaper friend. "Good; then you can present the whole business to the Secretary today." "Precisely; that's what I intend to do." "Suppose you take Barry along with you," suggested the correspondent. "A good idea. I might want to send for some papers." "Would he know where to go?" asked Conway, laughingly. "You know he's a stranger in a strange land." "That's easily fixed," smiled the Congressman. "How?" "We'll take Joe along as a guide for Barry." The two men and boys boarded a Pennsylvania Avenue trolley and were soon proceeding to the other end of the thoroughfare. "My boy," said Mr. Carlton to Barry, "I think we might as well take you into our confidence." "Yes, sir."