“Whether I would or not, makes no difference. The point is that we got those smugglers. We made a good showing instead of appearing ridiculous. We owe it to you. I shall not forget it.”
Willie was too much embarrassed to make any reply. He turned to his work, determined to do even more to merit his Chief’s good-will. He had been lucky, mighty lucky. He realized that very well. It was a sobering thought. But another thought gave him more satisfaction. He couldn’t have had his luck if he had not put his pride in his pocket and started at the bottom. He could at least take credit for having sense enough to do that. He knew well enough now that he wouldn’t stay at the bottom. Indeed, he had already climbed up one rung of the ladder.
He was to step up another much sooner than he dreamed possible. For a few days later his big friend Sheridan came swinging into the office, this time dressed in his best, and looking very handsome.
He smiled at Willie, but said nothing until he reached the inner office. Then he said, “I’ve come to borrow an office boy.”
Willie pricked up his ears.
“I’m sorry,” said the Special Agent, “but I have only one, and he’s too valuable to lend. Can I help you in any other way?”
“If I can’t borrow him,” said Sheridan, “I’ll have to buy him. We’ve simply got to have him. There’s a counterfeiting case afoot and we are in great need of an intelligent boy to help trail some men we’re watching. We can’t use a man for this particular job. We must have a boy. There’s nobody else we know that will answer so well as your office boy for the job.”
The big detective turned to Willie. “The Chief of the Secret Service,” he said, “has a job for you that you’ll like.”
Willie’s eyes glistened. “What is it?” he asked.
“You’ll be rated as a clerk,” said Sheridan, “but you’ll really be doing Secret Service. The position will lead, when you are a little older and more experienced, to a full appointment as a Secret Service agent.”