edar Run against
Jackson."

Watson again looked at Dick intently. The boy felt that he was being
measured and weighed by a man of uncommon perceptions. Whatever might be
his moral quality there could be no question of his ability.

"I am, as I told you before," said Watson, "a servant of my country. A
man who feeds and clothes the soldiers well is a patriot, while he who
feeds and clothes them badly is a mere money grubber."

He paused, as if he expected Dick to say something, but the boy was
silent and he went on:

"It is to the interest of the country that it be served well in all
departments, particularly in the tremendous crisis that we now face. Yet
the best patriot cannot always get a chance to serve. He needs
friends at court, as they say. Now this colonel of yours, Colonel
Winchester--I've observed both him and you, although I approached you
as if I'd never heard of either of you before--is a man of character and
influence. Certain words from him at the right time would be of great
value, nor would his favorite aide suffer through bringing the matter to
his attention."

Dick saw clearly now, but he was not impulsive. Experience was teaching
him, while yet a boy, to speak softly.

"The young aide of whom you speak," he said, "would never think of
mentioning such a matter to the colonel, of whom you also speak, and
even if he should, the colonel wouldn't listen to him for a moment."

Watson shrugged his shoulders slightly, but made no other gesture of
displeasure.

"Doubtless you are well informed about this aide and this colonel," he
said, "but it's a pity. If more food is thrown to the sparrows than they
can eat, is it any harm for other birds to eat the remainder?"

"I scarcely regard it as a study in ornithology."

"Ornithology? That's a big word, but I suppose it will serve. We'll
drop the matter, and if at any time my words here should be quoted I'll
promptly deny them. It's a bad thing for a boy to have his statements
disputed by a man of years who can command wealth and other powerful
influences. Unless he had witnesses nobody would believe the boy. I tell
you this, my lad, partly for your own good, because I'm inclined to like
you."

Dick stared. There was nothing insulting in the man's tone. He seemed
to be thoroughly in earnest. Perhaps he regarded his point of view as
right, and Dick, a boy of thought and resource, saw that it was not
worth while to make a quarrel. But he resolved to reme