e, with a fat, heavy face and pouches
under his eyes. His small eyes were set close together, but they
sparkled with shrewdness and cunning.

The big man presently noticed the lad who was sitting quietly in one
of the chairs against the wall. Dick's was an alien presence there, and
doubtless this fact had attracted his attention.

"Good day to you," said the stranger in a bluff, deep voice. "I take
it from your uniform, your tan and your thinness that you've come from
active service."

"In both the west and the east," replied Dick politely. "I was at
Shiloh, but soon afterward I was transferred with my regiment to the
east."

"Ah, then, of course, you know what is going on in Virginia?"

"No more than the general public does. I was at Cedar Run, which both we
and the rebels claim as a victory."

The man instantly showed a great increase of interest.

"Were you?" he said. "My own information says that Banks and Pope were
surprised by Jackson and that the rebel general has merely drawn off to
make a bigger jump. Did you get that impression?"

"Will you tell me why you ask me these questions?" said Dick in the same
polite tone.

"Because I've a big stake in the results out there. My name is John
Watson, and I'm supplying vast quantities of shoes and clothing to our
troops."

Dick turned up the sole of one of his shoes and picked thoughtfully at a
hole half way through the sole. Little pieces of paper came out.

"I bought these, Mr. Watson, from a sutler in General Pope's army," he
said. "I wonder if they came from you?"

A deeper tint flushed the contractor's cheeks, but in a moment he threw
off anger.

"A good joke," he said jovially. "I see that you're ready of wit,
despite your youth. No, those are not my shoes. I know dishonest men are
making great sums out of supplies that are defective or short. A great
war gives such people many opportunities, but I scorn them. I'll not
deny that I seek a fair profit, but my chief object is to serve my
country. Do you ever reflect, my young friend, that the men who clothe
and feed an army have almost as much to do with winning the victory as
the men who fight?"

"I've thought of it," said Dick, wondering what the contractor had in
mind.

"What regiment do you belong to, if I may ask? My motive in asking these
questions is wholly good."

"One commanded by Colonel Winchester, recently sent from the west. We've
been in only one battle in the east, that fought at C