You ride at Rock Creek--yes ?" "What do you do for a living, Mr.Breunig ?" asked Armitage.
"I was in the army, but served out my time and was discharged a few months ago and came to Washington to see where they make the government--yes?
I am going to South America.

Is it Peru?
Yes; there will be a revolution." He paused, and Armitage met his eyes; they were very blue and kind,--eyes that spoke of sincerity and fidelity, such eyes as a leader of forlorn hopes would like to know were behind him when he gave the order to charge.

Then a curious thing happened.

It may have been the contact of eye with eye that awoke question and response between them; it may have been a need in one that touched a chord of helplessness in the other; but suddenly Armitage leaped to his feet and grasped the outstretched hands of the little soldier.
"Oscar!" he said; and repeated, very softly, "Oscar!" The man was deeply moved and the tears sprang into his eyes.

Armitage laughed, holding him at arm's length.
"None of that nonsense! Sit down!" He turned to the door, opened it, and peered into the hall, locked the door again, then motioned the man to a chair.
"So you deserted your mother country, did you, and have borne arms for the glorious republic ?" "I served in the Philippines,--yes ?" "Rank, titles, emoluments, Oscar ?" "I was a sergeant; and the surgeon could not find the bullet after Big Bend, Luzon; so they were sorry and gave me a certificate and two dollars a month to my pay," said the man, so succinctly and colorlessly that Armitage laughed.
"Yon have done well, Oscar; honor me by accepting a cigar." The man took a cigar from the box which Armitage extended, but would not light it.