"Listen, kid," the man interposed kindly, "get that detective idea out of your head until you're--well say, twenty-four years old anyhow. You have to learn, kid, and it takes long, hard years--it's just another kind of school. But right now I can use a kid like you--you can be of some use to me. If you do your work right--keep your eyes open, your mouth shut and remember everything, I might consider you for the job as office boy at fifteen dollars a week. In the mean time, I'm to have you sent to the Delafield Reformatory where you're going to play the part you almost had in real life--a boy unjustly sent there and a boy who'd make a break for freedom at the first opportunity." "Then--then you ain't gonna send me for real!" Skippy stammered joyfully. "I'm just sorta gonna play de--_detective_?" "You're going to help _me_!" answered Conne with the hint of a smile on his face. "You're going to play the part of a reform school kid as I told you before. And I'm counting on you to play it with the same kind of energy that made you sling up your arm so that you could get in here to see me. That's why I'm going to trust you to do this thing for me! You've got ingenuity--know what that means, kid?" "Yeah," Skippy smiled, "it means havin' swell ideas that go through." "In a measure, yes. Anyway, you've the idea and you have ingenuity, whether or not you know what it means. But the question is, can I count on you not to let anyone know (except those whom I authorize to keep in touch with you) who you are, nor the part you're playing? You may have to play it a month, perhaps longer--I can't tell you how long, kid. Think you could play it without betraying your game by a look or a word?" "Gee, Mr. Conne--gee, is it sorta dangerous like? I mean I can do that about keepin' my mouth shut an' all--I learned that when my father got in trouble--nobody could make me tell a thing. I mean will it be dangerous if I _did_ tell? Not that I would--honest, Mr. Conne!" "That's what I thought, kid. I wouldn't have asked you otherwise. And as for its being dangerous," said Mr. Conne tipping his cigar so that the lighted end stood dangerously near his nose, "I wouldn't allow you to do it if it was. Of course there's bound to be a minimum of danger in anything of this kind, but we'll prepare you for that. If you stick and keep your mouth shut there's nothing to be feared. One of my men will be on hand as soon as the conditions warrant it. If your aunt consents, I'll assume full responsibility for you." "Aw, my aunt don't care so long's I ain't no expense to her. I gotta terrible appetite, Mr. Conne, an' she says I eat her out of house an' home an' besides she wants back the six dollars she paid out for my suit. She wants it to pay on insurance, she says."