rryboat, as they crossed to Hoboken,
he was more sociable.

"Don't think any more about those letters now," he said. "The proper
authorities will look after them."

"Yes, sir."

"And whatever they set you to doing, put your mind on your work first
of all. Keep your eyes and ears open--there's no law against that--but
do your work. It's only in dime novels that youngsters like you are
generals and captains and famous detectives."

"Yes, sir," said Tom.

"What I mean is, don't get any crazy notions in your head. You may land
in the Secret Service yet. But meanwhile keep your feet on the earth--or
the ship. Get me?"

Tom was sensible enough to know that this was good advice.

"Your finding these letters was clever. If there are any spies in the
camps they'll be rounded up double quick. As for spy work at sea, I'll
tell you this, though you mustn't mention it, there are government
sleuths on all the ships--most of them working as hands."

"Yes, sir," said Tom.

"I'm going across on a fast ship to-morrow myself," continued Mr. Conne,
greatly to Tom's surprise. "I'll be in Liverpool and London and probably
in France before you get there. There's a bare possibility of you seeing
me over there."

"I hope I do," said Tom.

The transport _Montauk_ was one of the many privately owned steamers
taken over into government service, and Tom soon learned that outside
the steward's department nearly all the positions on board were filled
by naval men. Mr. Conne presented him to the steward, saying that Tom
had made a trip on a munition carrier, and disappeared in a great hurry.

Tom could not help feeling that he was one of the least important things
among Mr. Conne's multitudinous interests, and it must be confessed that
he felt just a little chagrined at finding himself disposed of with so
little ceremony.

But, if he had only known it, this good friend who stood so high in that
most fascinating department of all Uncle Sam's departmental family, had
borne him in mind more than he had encouraged Tom to think, and he had
previously spoken words of praise to the steward, which now had their
effect in Tom's allotment to his humble duties.

He was, in a word, given the best position to be had among the
unskilled, non-naval force and became presently the envy of every
youngster on board. This was the exalted post of captain's mess boy, a
place of honor and preferment which gave him free entrance to that holy
of holies, "th