The man laughed. “Whatever gave you such an idea?” he said.
“The telephone number you gave me was the secret call of the Secret Service,” said Willie.
Willie could feel his companion’s eyes fairly boring through him. “Look here,” the man said. “Where do you get all these funny ideas?”
“You needn’t try to deceive me,” said Willie. “I know you are a Secret Service man and I know you are watching those bargemen.”
“If you know so much,” said the man, “tell me how you know it.”
“That’s easy,” said Willie. “I worked with the Secret Service myself during the war and I know their secret number. The minute you gave me that number I guessed what you were and what you were up to.”
“What did you ever do for the Secret Service?” demanded Willie’s companion, plainly astonished.
“Do you remember the search for that German spy with the secret wireless? And do you remember that little bunch of boys from the Camp Brady Wireless Patrol that came here to help the Secret Service when you were so hard pressed?”
“I sure do. Were you one of those fellows?”
“Surest thing you know,” said Willie.