“How long have you lived in that apartment house on Riverside Drive?”
“For about five years.”
“Do you know any of the other tenants in the house?”
“No—that is, none personally.”
“Is your time fully occupied?”
“No, indeed it isn’t, I’ve nothing to do at all, nothing except to try to amuse myself.”
“Good,” said Mr. Fleck. “Now would you be willing to help in some secret work for the United States Government, some work of the very highest importance?”
“Would I?” cried Jane, her eyes shining. “Gladly! Just try me.”
“Don’t answer too quickly,” warned Mr. Fleck. “Remember, it will be real work, serious work, not always pleasant, sometimes possibly a little perilous. Remember, too, it must be done with absolute secrecy. You must not let even your parents know that you are working with us. You must pledge yourself to breathe no word of what you are doing or are asked to do to a living soul. Everything that we may tell you is to be buried forever from everybody. No one is to be trusted. The minute one other person knows your secret it will no longer be a secret. Can we depend upon you?”
“You may absolutely depend on me,” said Jane slowly and soberly. “I give you my word. I have been eager for ever so long to do something to help, to really help. My father is doing all he can to aid the government. He’s on the Shipping Board.”