acefully and happily with
the people in his own walk of life, possessed a curious genius for
making himself popular with the so-called "working classes."

At first the workmen at the new National Guard camp paid no especial
attention to the delicate looking boy who suddenly appeared among them.
But in a short time Billy proved unexpectedly useful.

For one thing he made no effort to talk. He merely stood about in places
where he thought he might be of service, doing what he was told and
asking no questions. Several times he displayed an intelligent
initiative. And when each man is trying to do the work of two or three,
every small saving of unnecessary effort through some one else counts.

At the present time there were fifteen hundred laborers employed on the
cantonment. They were building barracks and small wooden bungalows and
large store-houses for provisions and supplies from the ordnance and
quartermaster departments. Every hour or so freight had to be unloaded
from cars, so that they might be removed from the tracks and others take
their place.

The soldiers were more often employed in the construction of roads and
the clearing away of a century's growth of underbrush.

There was little in the camp that escaped Billy's quiet observation. The
very fact that he did not talk, when ordinarily he had a passion as well
as a gift for conversation was in itself a suspicious circumstance.

For once in his life Billy was finding it more worth while to listen and
receive information rather than to impart his own ideas.

At first the great drawback was that the laborers did not have time, or
else they did not feel the inclination to talk at all seriously. They
would simply exchange jokes with one another, or sing snatches of
popular songs.

The laborers belonged to a company under bond to the government that
there would be no traitors employed at the war camps. Therefore if the
men held any views connected with the war, they gave no expression to
them. Moreover, the officers and soldiers were constantly in and out
among the men at all hours. Nevertheless, Billy became more and more
convinced that if a man were willing to sacrifice his own life in case
he were discovered, it was impossible even with the strictest
regulations to avoid the peril of a spy.

One day at lunch time the boy was sitting alone in the shadow made by a
pile of lumber, which afforded a little relief from the heat of the noon
sun, when two of hi