Willie took it, thrust the package of papers into the inside pocket of his coat, buttoned the coat up tight, and bolted out of the office. When Willie was gone, the Special Agent turned to the Secret Service man. “Tell me all you know about the lad, Frank,” he said. “Your Chief telephoned me you were coming and put in a good word for the kid. Is he really any good?” “My own opinion is that he’s a very unusual boy, though I wouldn’t dare say that where he could hear me. I’ve known him only a couple of days, but I happen to know a great deal about that business with Sanders. Those Germans had us worried sick, Mr. King, absolutely sick. The increase in crimes against the government, after we declared war upon Germany, was so tremendous that our force of operatives was ridiculously inadequate. We couldn’t begin to cope with the situation. Those spies were sending out news of every movement made by our naval vessels and transports, and we simply didn’t have the men to run them down. Then these boys came from Pennsylvania, to help us. I no longer remember how they were brought here: but they established a wireless watch, caught and deciphered the spy messages, and finally located the German wireless outfit itself. And we got the spies, too. Between you and me, those boys did some mighty fine detective work. Of course, they had an older man working with them, but the boys themselves displayed an unusual amount of initiative and judgment.” “I’m mighty glad to hear all this. You see what sort of an office boy I have. If you are sure Willie Brown would be an improvement, I’ll transfer my present boy to another post and try Willie.” “Well, I’ll tell you what I know about him myself,” and the Secret Service man related the incidents of the past two days. “If he proves to be half as good as he sounds,” commented Mr. King, “I’ll be indebted to you to my dying day. Hello, here he is back again. He didn’t waste any time.” Willie came into the office and handed Mr. King a piece of paper. “What is this?” asked the Treasury Agent. “A receipt for the papers,” replied Willie. “I didn’t ask you to get me a receipt,” said Mr. King. “I know you didn’t,” replied Willie. “I got that receipt for myself. It’s proof that I did my job right.” “Do you always do things as clever as that?” “That wasn’t clever, Mr. King. That was common sense. Sometimes I make mistakes, Mr. King. But I always do the best I know how.” “You admit that you make mistakes? And then you come asking for a job?” And the Special Agent looked very stern. “I guess a fellow who didn’t make mistakes sometimes wouldn’t make much of anything else,” said Willie. “Well, you didn’t make the mistake of lying to me,” said Mr. King. “If there’s anything I hate, it’s a boy who lies.” And now his face was full of smiles. “If you’ll give me a job,” said Willie, “I’ll engage to tell you the truth—always.”