“I don’t,” said Willie, “but I read lots of other things. I wouldn’t want to agree not to read. I can’t go to school any longer, and if I am to go on learning, I must continue to read.”
“That’s all right so long as it doesn’t interfere with your work. Now if I give you a job, will you be on hand during office hours, attend promptly to the work you are given to do, and answer that buzzer promptly when it rings?”
“Absolutely,” answered Willie.
“Then I guess you’re hired. Report here to-morrow at eight o’clock.”
“Do you really mean it?” cried Willie, so delighted that he could hardly keep from throwing his hat in the air.
“Surest thing you know. Now, be sure you’re on time—to-morrow and every other day. Good-bye. I’ll see you in the morning. I’m obliged to you, Frank,” and the Special Agent nodded good-bye to his visitors.
All the way out of the building Willie walked on air. This beautiful structure was going to be his headquarters after all. Here he was going to build his fortune. At last he had his chance. To be sure, his chance was only that of an office boy, but Willie no longer cared about that. He had seen a light.
CHAPTER VIII
IN THE ARMENIAN QUARTER
Willie was determined that that light should not fail. He meant to keep it burning brightly. He determined never to forget that the point was not where he started in the race, but where he ended. The main thing was to get into the race. And now he was in. He remembered that somebody had said there were three secrets of success: first, work; second, more work; third, still more work. That made Willie happy, because he knew he could work as hard as anybody, and he believed he could learn to work as effectively as anybody. At any rate, he meant to try. He was going to think of nothing but his work—that is, after he got to work. To-day, he was going to celebrate with Roy. And so, after parting with his big friend, Sheridan, he made haste to reach the Lycoming.
“Talk of angels and they are sure to appear,” laughed Roy, as Willie came bustling into the Lycoming’s wireless cabin. “We were just talking about you and hoping we should see you soon. Mr. Robbins was good enough to come up to chat with me. His big rush is over now.”