"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.
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