der man,
you're just a lad. I've heard of your deed in the mountains, in fact,
I keep track of all of you, even of General Sheridan himself. It's my
business to know men and what they do."

"I hope you're still making money," said Dick, smiling.

"I am. That's part of a merchant's duty. If he doesn't make money he
oughtn't to be a merchant. Oh, I know that a lot of you soldiers look
down upon us traders and contractors."

"I don't and I never did, Mr. Watson."

"I know it, Captain Mason, because you're a lad of intelligence. The
first time I saw you I noticed that the reasoning quality was strong in
you, and that was why I made you an offer to enter my employ after the
war. That offer is still open and will remain open at all times."

"I thank you very much, Mr. Watson, but I can't accept it, as I have
other ambitions."

"I was sure you wouldn't take it, but I like to feel it's always waiting
for you. It's well to look ahead. This war, vast and terrible as it
has been, will be over before the year is. Two or three million men who
have done nothing but fighting for four years will be out of employment.
Vast numbers of them will not know which way to turn. They will be
wholly unfit, until they have trained themselves anew, for the pursuits
of peace. Captains, majors, colonels and, yes, generals, will be
besieging me for jobs, as zealously as they're now besieging Lee's army
in the trenches before Petersburg, and with as much cause. When the war
is over the soldier will not be of so much value, and the man of peace
will regain his own. I hope you've thought of these things, Captain
Mason."

"I've thought of them many times, Mr. Watson, and I've thought of them
oftener than ever this winter. My comrades and I have agreed that as
soon as the last battle is fought we'll plunge at once into the task
of rebuilding our country. We amount to little, of course, in such a
multitude, but one can do only what one can."

"That's so, but if a million feel like you and push all together, they
can roll mountains away."

"You're not a man to come to Winchester for nothing. You've been doing
business with the army?"

"I've been shoeing, clothing and bedding you. I deliver within two weeks
thirty thousand pairs of shoes, thirty thousand uniforms, and sixty
thousand blankets. They are all honest goods and the price is not too
high, although I make the solid and substantial profit to which I am
entitled. You s