BUBBLES 193 



as a river pilot he declared that the man in the 

 bow was a better boatman than he. 



"Then why didn't you give him the controlling 

 paddle?" I asked. 



"I expected trouble and was afraid of his los- 

 ing his nerve." 



Before we reached Charlotte he returned to the 

 subject which I had not dared to reopen and gave 

 me valuable hints regarding the location of big 

 blocks of the bonds I needed. 



Often chance brings about the pleasantest 

 friendships and fate was good to me on my home- 

 ward journey from Charlotte. Between Rich- 

 mond and Washington I had so pleasant a con- 

 versation with a man who sat beside me in the 

 car that I inquired his name. 

 Stone," was the reply. 



'Are you by any chance Gen. Charles P. 

 Stone?" and his smile gave the answer I hoped 

 for. It was then less than five years after Appo- 

 mattox and less than nine since Gen. Winfield S. 

 Scott had put his favorite, General Stone, in mil- 

 itary command of Washington. I gave my new 



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