Thereafter Willie got on excellently. In a few days’ time he felt quite at home in his job. His duties were simple enough. They were to do the ordinary tasks done by an ordinary office boy—to run errands, to distribute the incoming mail, to post outgoing mail, to wrap and unwrap packages, to look after the office supplies, such as pens and ink, and so on. In particular he was to receive visitors at the gate. All the remainder of his tasks were so trivial for a boy of Willie’s ability that Willie was inclined at first greatly to underrate his job. For he did not at once comprehend the full importance, either to himself or to his employer, of this matter of inquirers. Least of all did he see at first what bearing it might have on his own fortunes. Naturally cheerful and well-mannered, Willie tried to be polite to every one who called. In that respect he was so different from his predecessor that people who were familiar with the latter at once noticed the change. Willie’s first understanding of what his conduct might mean to him came when he unwittingly overheard a conversation between his Chief and a stranger he had just conducted to the Special Agent’s office. “Billy,” the visitor was saying, “where did you get that new office boy? He’s a peach. He was as courteous to me as though I were his rich uncle. And he’s very intelligent. He understood at once why I was here. When he found you could not see me right away, he came out and expressed regret at the delay and handed me a magazine to read while I waited. Then he went on about his work just as quietly and industriously as could be. Wasn’t a bit fresh. Didn’t try to pick up a conversation with me or anything. But he kept his eye on you, and the instant you were free, he stepped to the doorway and waited for your orders. Then he brought me in to you. And he didn’t say, ‘Mr. King will see you now.’ Instead he said, ‘Won’t you please step in. Mr. King is free now.’ He opened the gate and escorted me in himself, giving my name to you as I entered. He’s a peach. I’m minded to steal him from you.” That was all Willie overheard. It was enough. It set him to thinking. Evidently the man appreciated the fact that Willie had tried to make him comfortable. If he had not over-heard this conversation, Willie would never have given a thought to the occurrence. He had not made any special effort to be nice to the man. It was natural for Willie to treat people kindly. He had been brought up that way.