"I'm a very little wheel in the machinery of the secret service."
"I _knew_," said Barbara, "the moment I saw you that you weren't _only_ a locksmith or a carpenter. Does Mr. Blizzard know what you are?"
"He can't prove it, unless you tell him."
"How often will he have to pose for you?"
"Heaven only knows. But I think"--and she looked the young man in the face, and smiled, for his face had charmed her--"I think that if ever I finish with Mr. Blizzard, I shall ask you to be my next model."
The admiration with which the young man regarded Barbara was no less frankly and openly expressed than was hers for him. "Until this moment," he said, "I have never understood the eager desire which some people have to sit for their portraits. Whenever _you_ say."
"Just because a man belongs to the secret service," returned the youth, "is no reason why he shouldn't attempt once in a while to do something really useful."
And he knelt once more and took up his work where he had left off. Barbara stood by and watched him at it. "I would like to do his hands, too," she thought, "when I can get round to it." They were very strong, square, able hands. She found herself wishing to touch them. And since this was a wish that she had never experienced for any other pair of hands, she wondered at herself with a frank and childish wonder.
She slipped out of her overall, and with swift touches adjusted her hat at a small mirror. The secret-service agent once more rose from his knees.
"Good-by," said Barbara, "and thank you, and don't forget."
She shook hands with him, and his firm strong clasp, literally swallowing her own little hand, was immensely pleasant to her and of a fine friendliness.
"Good-by, Bubbles. See you in the morning."
She was gone. The man resumed his work. The boy watched.
[Illustration: Harry, the workman, ... rose to his feet, and turned to Barbara with a certain quiet eagerness]
"You won't leave Blizzard up to me all alone, will you? Not _now_, you won't?"
"No, Bubbles, not now. Whenever he's posing in this room, you and I won't be far off."
"Because," said Bubbles, smiling with relief, "I'd do my best, but if it came to a show-down with _him_ there ain't a thing I _could_ do."
"One time or another," said Harry, "we'll _get_ him. You and I will."