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been her text： 〃Friends？ oh； indeed； no man ever had more； and such
friends： Grant； Sherman； Sheridan； Johnston； Longstreet； Lee many's the
time they've sat in that chair you're sitting in〃 Hawkins was out of it
instantly； and contemplating it with a reverential surprise； and with the
awed sense of having trodden shod upon holy ground
〃They！〃 he said。
〃Oh； indeed； yes； a many and a many a time。〃
He continued to gaze at the chair fascinated； magnetized； and for once in
his life that continental stretch of dry prairie which stood for his
imagination was afire； and across it was marching a slanting flamefront
that joined its wide horizons together and smothered the skies with
smoke。 He was experiencing what one or another drowsing； geographically
ignorant alien experiences every day in the year when he turns a dull and
indifferent eye out of the car window and it falls upon a certain
station…sign which reads 〃Stratford …on…Avon！〃 Mrs。 Sellers went
gossiping comfortably along：
〃Oh； they like to hear him talk； especially if their load is getting
rather heavy on one shoulder and they want to shift it。 He's all air；
you know；breeze； you may sayand he freshens them up； it's a trip to
the country； they say。 Many a time he's made General Grant laughand
that's a tidy job； I can tell you； and as for Sheridan； his eye lights up
and he listens to Mulberry Sellers the same as if he was artillery。
You see； the charm about Mulberry is； he is so catholic and unprejudiced
that he fits in anywhere and everywhere。 It makes him powerful good
company； and as popular as scandal。 You go to the White House when the
President's holding a general receptionsometime when Mulberry's there。
Why； dear me； you can't tell which of them it is that's holding that
reception。〃
〃Well； he certainly is a remarkable manand he always was。 Is he
religious？〃
〃Clear to his marrowdoes more thinking and reading on that subject than
any other except Russia and Siberia： thrashes around over the whole
field； too； nothing bigoted about him。〃
〃What is his religion？〃
〃He〃 She stopped； and was lost for a moment or two in thinking； then
she said； with simplicity； 〃I think he was a Mohammedan or something last
week。〃
Washington started down town； now； to bring his trunk； for the hospitable
Sellerses would listen to no excuses； their house must be his home during
the session。 The Colonel returned presently and resumed work upon his
plaything。 It was finished when Washington got back。
〃There it is；〃 said the Colonel； 〃all finished。〃
〃What is it for； Colonel？〃
〃Oh； it's just a trifle。 Toy to amuse the children。〃
Washington examined it。
〃It seems to be a puzzle。〃
〃Yes； that's what it is。 I call it Pigs in the Clover。 Put them insee
if you can put them in the pen。〃
After many failures Washington succeeded； and was as pleased as a child。
〃It's wonderfully ingenious； Colonel； it's ever so clever and
interestingwhy； I could play with it all day。 What are you going to do
with it？〃
〃Oh； nothing。 Patent it and throw it aside。〃
〃Don't you do anything of the kind。 There's money in that thing。〃
A compassionate look traveled over the Colonel's countenance； and he
said：
〃Moneyyes； pin money： a couple of hundred thousand； perhaps。 Not
more。〃
Washington's eyes blazed。
〃A couple of hundred thousand dollars！ do you call that pin money？〃
The colonel rose and tip…toed his way across the room； closed a door that
was slightly ajar； tip…toed his way to his seat again； and said； under
his breath：
〃You can keep a secret？〃
Washington nodded his affirmative； he was too awed to speak。
〃You have heard of materialization…materialization of departed spirits？〃
Washington had heard of it。
〃And probably didn't believe in it； and quite right； too。 The thing as
practised by ignorant charlatans is unworthy of attention or respect…
where there's a dim light and a dark cabinet； and a parcel of sentimental
gulls gathered together； with their faith and their shudders and their
tears all ready； and one and the same fatty degeneration of protoplasm
and humbug comes out and materializes himself into anybody you want；
grandmother； grandchild； brother…in…law； Witch of Endor； John Milton；
Siamese twins； Peter the Great； and all such frantic nonsenseno； that
is all foolish and pitiful。 But when a man that is competent brings the
vast powers of science to bear； it's a different matter； a totally
different matter； you see。 The spectre that answers that call has come
to stay。 Do you note the commercial value of that detail？〃
〃Well； Ithethe truth is； that I don't quite know that I do。 Do you
mean that such； being permanent； not transitory； would give more general
satisfaction； and so enhance the priceof tickets to the show〃
〃Show？ Follylisten to me； and get a good grip on your breath； for you
are going to need it。 Within three days I shall have completed my
method； and thenlet the world stand aghast； for it shall see marvels。
Washington； within three daysten at the outsideyou shall see me call
the dead of any century； and they will arise and walk。 Walk？they shall
walk forever； and never die again。 Walk with all the muscle and spring
of their pristine vigor。〃
〃Colonel！ Indeed it does take one's breath away。〃
〃Now do you see the money that's in it？〃
〃I'mwell； I'mnot really sure that I do。〃
Great Scott； look here。 I shall have a monopoly； they'll all belong to
me； won't they？ Two thousand policemen in the city of New York。 Wages；
four dollars a day。 I'll replace them with dead ones at half the money。
〃Oh； prodigious！ I never thought of that。 F…o…u…r thousand dollars a
day。 Now I do begin to see！ But will dead policemen answer？〃
〃Haven't theyup to this time？〃
〃Well； if you put it that way〃
〃Put it any way you want to。 Modify it to suit yourself； and my lads
shall still be superior。 They won't eat； they won't drinkdon't need
those things； they won't wink for cash at gambling dens and unlicensed
rum…holes； they won't spark the scullery maids； and moreover the bands of
toughs that ambuscade them on lonely beats； and cowardly shoot and knife
them will only damage the uniforms and not live long enough to get more
than a momentary satisfaction out of that。〃
〃Why； Colonel； if you can furnish policemen； then of course〃
〃CertainlyI can furnish any line of goods that's wanted。 Take the
army； for instancenow twenty…five thousand men； expense； twenty…two
millions a year。 I will dig up the Romans； I will resurrect the Greeks；
I will furnish the government； for ten millions a year； ten thousand
veterans drawn from the victorious legions of all the agessoldiers that
will chase Indians year in and year out on materialized horses； and cost
never a cent for rations or repairs。 The armies of Europe cost two
billions a year nowI will replace them all for a billion。 I will dig
up the trained statesmen of all ages and all climes； and furnish this
country with a Congress that knows enough to come in out of the rain
a thing that's never happened yet； since the Declaration of Independence；
and never will happen till these practicall