"
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.
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