They stepped into an express elevator and were shot upward to the twenty-fifth floor. They walked down a long corridor and came to a door which bore the name “Coastwise Steamship Company.” Willie was glad that he had asked no questions. They entered the office, but were held up by a pompous office boy, who demanded to know their business. Willie’s companion took a card from his pocket and began to write on it. Willie saw that the card was engraved with the name of “Franklin P. Sheridan, United States Secret Service.” And on the face of the card Sheridan wrote this message: “Would like to see Mr. Morgan at once on a matter of importance.”
When the office boy looked at the card, his eyes nearly popped out of his head. Willie heard him mutter to himself, “Gee! He’s a Secret Service man!” The way the lad lost his dignity and bolted into Mr. Morgan’s office made both Willie and his companion laugh. A moment later the office boy came hustling out.
“Mr. Morgan wants to know if you will please step right in,” said the lad who led the way and threw open the door for them. Then reluctantly, and with many a backward glance, he withdrew.
Mr. Morgan rose to greet his visitors. “Mr. Sheridan?” he asked.
“Yes, Mr. Morgan,” said the Secret Service man, taking the steamship manager’s extended hand. “And this is my assistant, Mr. Willie Brown.”
“Indeed!” said Mr. Morgan, with a world of astonishment in his tone. “What can I do for you, Mr. Sheridan?”
“I have reason to think,” said the Secret Service man, “that the captain of one of your lighters has some stolen cotton in his possession. Have you carried any lately?”
“Yes,” replied Mr. Morgan. “The lighter Dixie has carried several loads this week from one of our steamers to a New Haven Railway pier.”
“That’s the very barge we had in mind,” said Sheridan.
“Have you examined her?” asked the steamship manager with interest.