“You bet he’s a good one,” said Willie, loyally.
“Well,” said the detective, “I’ll see you to-morrow in time for our little party. Good-bye.”
“Where shall I meet you?”
“Oh! I have some business in your neighborhood and I’ll stop for you some time in the late afternoon. Good luck to you. Take care of yourself. And remember not to give the thing away. We want to get these wool smugglers right.”
CHAPTER III
A TIP BY WIRELESS
So elated was Willie at the prospect of taking a further part in the wool smuggling case that he forgot his tattered appearance until he reached the Lycoming’s pier and attempted to enter it. Then he was brought up sharp by the curt query of the watchman: “What do you want?”
At first Willie did not comprehend why he was halted so peremptorily. But when he remembered about his ragged coat and torn cap he understood readily enough. He laughed, and stripping off his coat and cap, said: “No wonder you didn’t know me. I’m the fellow from Pennsylvania that’s visiting Mr. Mercer. He introduced us when I went out and I telephoned you to tell Mr. Mercer I couldn’t get back to supper. Don’t you remember me?”
“Sure I know ye now,” said the watchman, “but whativer be ye doin’ in thim togs?”
“Oh! I gave a newsy some money to get himself a better coat with,” laughed Willie, “and he gave me the old one. I put it on to see how I’d look.”
“Well, it does not improve your appearance,” replied the watchman, “and if ye want to keep out of trouble ye’d better wear it on a clothes hook in your cupboard, so ye had. Whativer happened to your pants, lad?”