“Sure,” said Willie, too much astonished even to question the man.
“Run to the nearest ’phone. There’s one in that building over there. Call this number and say that Sheridan wants a man to help him at once in the neighborhood of South Street and Coenties Slip. If there’s any answer, try to find me. I’ll probably be in some of these sailors’ hangouts along the water-front. There’ll be another dollar in it if you get me.”
Into Willie’s hand the man thrust the crisp dollar bill and a piece of cardboard. Then he turned abruptly away and hurried up South Street. Willie shoved the bill into his pocket and took a look at the telephone number on the piece of pasteboard. Then he gave a sharp cry. The figures in his hand were the secret call of the United States Secret Service in New York. He knew that number because it had been given to him when he was engaged in the search for the secret wireless.
CHAPTER II
AN ADVENTURE WITH A SECRET SERVICE MAN
Willie was fairly paralyzed with astonishment. For a moment he stood staring dumbly at the card in his hand. Then he comprehended the situation. The man who had given him the cardboard was not a tramp, but a Secret Service agent; and his name was Sheridan. Something crooked was afoot among the bargemen, even as Willie had fancied might be the case. Sheridan was trailing the conspirators and needed help. At that thought, Willie’s indecision dropped from him like a cloak. He must act. Like a shot he started for the place Sheridan had pointed out, where there was a public telephone.
As he ran, he looked up South Street. The thoroughfare was full of vehicles and people. Still Willie could distinguish the bargemen from the remainder of the crowd, although they were now well up the street. Sheridan was not far away, and yet Willie had almost more difficulty in recognizing him than in distinguishing the bargemen farther up the street. Of course, there were several of the latter, and that made a difference. Sheridan was a single individual. But Willie quickly divined why there was this difference. Sheridan was keeping in close to the buildings, where he was much less conspicuous than persons in the middle of the walk.
Willie had no time to consider the matter, however, for he had reached the place where he was to telephone. He took a last, sharp look up the street, and saw the bargemen just entering a door. Willie tried to determine exactly which building they were entering. Then he turned and stepped through the door before him.
He found himself in a typical South Street ship-chandlery. About him were ropes, compasses, lanterns, rubber coats, chains, anchors, and other nautical equipment. A clerk stepped forward.
“Do you have a public telephone?” inquired Willie.
“In the booth over there,” said the clerk, pointing across the room.