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BARRY WYNN
Or
The Adventures of a Page Boy in the United States Congress
[Illustration]
[Illustration: Barry stood for a moment undecided which way to turn
_See page 6_]
BARRY WYNN
Or
The Adventures of a Page Boy in the United States Congress
by
GEORGE BARTON
Author of "The Mystery of Cleverly," "Adventures
of the World's Greatest Detectives," etc.
Illustrated by John Huybers
[Illustration: Logo]
Boston
Small, Maynard and Company
Publishers
Copyright, 1912
by Small, Maynard and Company
(Incorporated)
Entered at Stationers' Hall
The University Press, Cambridge, U. S. A.
TO
HERBERT AND GEORGE
CONTENTS
CHAPTER PAGE
I UNDER THE BIG DOME 1
II THE NAVAL REPAIR STATION 13
III THE NEW PAGE 28
IV VISIONS OF GREATNESS 45
V A WINK AND A NOD 56
VI HUDSON STRIKES A SNAG 70
VII BARRY STUMBLES 87
VIII AN UNEXPECTED MOVE 100
IX ON THE TRAIL OF JOE HART 112
X SUSPENSE 128
XI DISCORD AND DEFEAT 138
XII SMITHERS TO THE RESCUE 153
XIII A LITTLE PILGRIMAGE 168
XIV BARRY FALLS A SECOND TIME 183
XV BARRY REDEEMS HIMSELF 199
XVI A CALL OF THE HOUSE 213
XVII THE MISSING BILL 231
XVIII RUMORS OF WAR 243
XIX SORELY TEMPTED 252
XX HUDSON PLAYS POLITICS 267
XXI CONWAY MAKES A HIT 279
XXII PROOF CONCLUSIVE 287
XXIII WHAT BARRY OVERHEARD 296
XXIV THE LAST STAND 309
XXV A RACE AGAINST TIME 323
XXVI THE HOME COMING 340
ILLUSTRATIONS
Barry stood for a moment undecided which way to
turn _See page 6_ _Frontispiece_
"I want you to make a solemn promise to me" _Page_ 126
His eyes were never removed from the boy's face
for a moment " 264
The young page boy was enjoying it to the fullest " 332
_See page 331_
BARRY WYNN
OR
THE ADVENTURES OF A PAGE BOY IN THE
UNITED STATES CONGRESS
BARRY WYNN
CHAPTER I
UNDER THE BIG DOME
Barry Wynn grabbed the rail of the day coach of the Washington Express
and swung himself on to the platform of the car with the ease and
enthusiasm of a healthy boy of fifteen. The world had suddenly expanded
for him and he was aglow with life and vitality. He had been appointed a
page in the National House of Representatives, and now, in response to a
telegram from Congressman Carlton, he was about to go to the Capitol to
take the oath of office and assume the duties of his position.
His heart was swelling with the thought of the big things in the future.
He had studied the history of his country in the Cleverly schools and he
had also an intelligent idea of the great organization which we call the
United States Government. He had not neglected to read the debates of
Congress in the daily newspapers and now he was to be in the midst of
great events, to be a part of our great central law-making machine at
Washington. He was dwelling on this thought when his attention was
attracted by a voice from the crowd on the platform.
"Barry! Barry!" it shouted above the puffing of the locomotive, "Wait a
minute."
The call came from Mr. Smithers who had been his school teacher and who
now was also the President of the local Board of Trade. Barry leaned
over the platform and Mr. Smithers, making his way through the throng,
handed the boy a bulky manilla envelope fastened with rubber bands.
"Give this to Congressman Carlton as soon as you arrive in Washington,"
he said.
"All right," replied Barry.
"Be careful with it," continued the man; "it contains a matter of vital
importance to the people of Cleverly."
"You can depend on me," was the confident response.
The conductor gave the final warning, the bell began to clang, and the
train steamed out of the station with Barry standing on the platform
waving good-bye to his faithful friends. His eyes were so dimmed with
tears that could not be suppressed that he scarcely recognized the
upturned faces that were shedding their good will upon him in such
generous measure. One exception to this was his mother. She seemed to
stand out from the crowd, fluttering a little lace handkerchief until
the station at Cleverly became a mere speck in the distance.
The journey in itself was uneventful, although it furnished constant
interest and amusement for the boy who was about to get his first large
view of the world. Thoughtful ones at home had provided him with a
dainty box of lunch, and before long he was attacked with the pangs of
hunger and devoured every last scrap of the cake and fruit and
sandwiches.
Finally, after a ride of nine or ten hours the city of Washington began
to come in view. The outlying section was not very inviting, but as the
train came near to its destination the view improved. A sudden turning
of the train brought the magnificent dome of the Capitol into the range
of his vision. Barry gasped with wonder and delight. It was as though
some magician had waved his wand over vacant space and suddenly brought
the wonderful creation into being. In all of the time he was in
Washington Barry never lost his sense of delight at each recurring sight
of that noble specimen of architecture. To him the solidity and beauty
of the Capitol seemed symbolic of the strength and splendor of the
Republic.
As the train came nearer and nearer to the new Union Station the boy was
enabled to get a closer view of the great structure which stood outlined
on the horizon in all of its majestic proportions. He had an instinctive
sense of the beautiful and the symmetrical pile of marble filled him
with an unexplainable joy. The main building, with its two finely
designed wings, more than realized Barry's anticipations. But it was
the dome rather than the Capitol itself, which kept him under its magic
spell. He felt for the first time the full force of the poet's words,
that "a thing of beauty is a joy forever." The vaulted roof of the
rotunda, with its gradual swelling sprang into the air so gracefully
that one could hardly look upon it as a thing of iron and steel and
marble. And overtopping it all was the colossal statue of Freedom,
typifying everything for which the Republic was founded and maintained.
The cry of "All out for Washington" brought to an end Barry's
meditations, and also announced the fact that he had finally reached his
destination. He picked up his suitcase and hastened out of the train and
into the great Union Station which burst upon his astonished vision like
another scene from the Arabian Nights. It was so great and so impressive
that it fairly took his breath away. In a few minutes he was seated in a
trolley car and on his way toward the Capitol. He was so eager to see
everything that was to be seen on the way that he almost twisted his
neck out of shape. In a very short time the car reached the foot of the
hill where the great edifice is located. When Barry alighted he stood
for a moment undecided which way to turn. There seemed to be all sorts
of entrances to the building. He chose the nearest one, which led him to
the basement of the great structure. Looking about, he saw an elevator
standing with the door invitingly open. Without further ado, he hustled
into the door. The attendant turned to him with a smile:
"Have you got your credentials?" he asked, tauntingly.
"My credentials," retorted Barry; "what do you mean?"
"I simply want to know whether you are a member of the Supreme Court."
"Why?"
"Because this elevator is for the exclusive use of members of the
Supreme Court."
And so it proved to be. Barry turned aside a little bit confused at his
first lesson in American democracy. Finally he found an elevator that
was used by the public. He boarded it and in a few minutes found himself
standing in the centre of the rotunda of the Capitol. It is, as most
boys are aware, the great hall which stands in the centre of the Capitol
between the House of Representatives and the United States Senate.
Barry set his suitcase on the floor and gazed up at the interior of the
vast dome, spellbound with wonder and delight. The light, coming through
the windows of the great ceiling, revealed a wilderness of art. In the
very centre he beheld the marvelous allegorical fresco called the
"Apotheosis of Washington." Beneath this were designs in panels and
medallions showing Raleigh, Columbus, Cabot, La Salle, and the other
great characters that Barry had studied about in school, and below these
he gazed on a series of brilliant pictures showing scenes in the
Revolutionary war.
How long he remained there in this attitude of wrapt admiration he
could not tell, but when he glanced down at the floor to look for his
suitcase, he found that it was gone. He rushed over to a gray-coated
guide:
"Did you see anything of my suitcase?" he cried in alarm.
"Your suitcase," smiled the man; "I didn't know you had one."
"I had a minute ago," said Barry; "I set it on the floor here and now it
is gone."
"Where could it go to if you had it by your side?"
"Why, I was looking at the pictures in the ceiling," said the agitated
boy, "and someone must have crept along and stolen it."
"Well, I didn't see anything of it," was the calm response.
In despair, Barry ran from one person to another until the marble space
below the dome was a scene of unusual excitement. In the midst of the
agitation a bright-looking, well-dressed young man came striding across
the hallway leading from the House of Representatives. He noticed the
stir, and something about Barry's manner attracted him. He went up to
the boy and said in kindly tones:
"What's the trouble, my son?"
Barry explained as best he could.
"Do you expect to meet someone here?" asked the stranger.
"I do. I was to report to Congressman Carlton."
"Why, I know him well," was the comment of the young man. "He is one of
my best friends. We will have to see if we can't recover your suitcase
for you."
At that moment the alert young man happened to see a red-headed
youngster peeping from behind one of the pillars that supported the
dome. Instantly he understood the situation.
"Joe," he called, in authoritative tones, "come here at once."
Joe, thus called, responded obediently. The stranger took Barry by the
arm, and pointing to the other, said:
"This is Mr. Joseph Hart, one of the pages of the House of
Representatives. Joseph, I want you to meet Mr. Barry Wynn, who is to
become your associate."
"Hello," said Joe.
"How are you?" greeted Barry, taking the outstretched hand.
"Joe," continued the gentleman, "get the young man his property."
Very sheepishly Joe went behind the pillar and, bringing out the
suitcase, handed it to Barry.
"Now, I will introduce myself," said the stranger, with an engaging
smile. "My name is Felix Conway. I am the correspondent of a New York
newspaper, and if you ever need any assistance while you are in
Washington, don't fail to call on me."
"Thank you," was the grateful reply, "I am not likely to forget you."
"Now, Joe," said the correspondent, turning to the second boy again,
"why did you take Mr. Wynn's suitcase?"
Joe gazed at the floor in an embarrassed manner for a moment and then,
raising his head, said defiantly:
"I couldn't help it. He looked so green that I simply couldn't resist
hiding his bag."
"Well," said Mr. Conway, "if you hope to be respected in this world,
you'll have to resist a good many temptations."
At this point in the conversation, Congressman Carlton, of all persons
in the world, came along. He recognized Barry at once, and going over,
shook his hand warmly. He also talked pleasantly with Mr. Conway
concerning matters in which they were both interested.
"Barry," he said, finally, "I'm awfully busy this afternoon, but I'm
going to put you in care of Joe Hart here. He'll take you to a pleasant
boarding-house and see that you are properly installed. Report to me
here in the Capitol at ten o'clock in the morning. In the meantime, Joe
will post you on your duties. You will find him a very nice boy."
"Yes," said Barry, gazing at Joe somewhat skeptically, "I suppose I will
find him to be a very nice boy."