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 a louder and sterner tone, "and no time to waste on you. If you have raised up men to rebel against the best government under the sun, you can take the consequences"

"But, my dear sir," broke in the mother, "he is a mere boy of nineteen, who ran away three years ago and entered the service"

"I don't want to hear another word from you!" he yelled in rage. "I have no time to waste—go at once. I'll do nothing for you."

"But I bring you an order from the President," protested the mother.

"Yes, I know it," he answered, with a sneer, "and I'll do with it what I've done with many others—see that it is not executed—now go."

"But the President told me you would give me a pass to the hospital, and that a full pardon would be issued to my boy!"

"Yes, I see. But let me give you some information. The President is a fool—a d fool! Now, will you go?"

With a sinking sense of horror, Mrs. Cameron withdrew and reported to Elsie the unexpected encounter.

"The brute!" cried the girl. "We'll go back immediately and report this insult to the President."

"Why are such men intrusted with power?" the mother sighed.

"It's a mystery to me, I'm sure. They say he is the greatest Secretary of War in our history. I don't believe it. Phil hates the sight of him, and so does every army