BUBBLES 195 



"Next time I am in New York. My first call 



will be here as usual." 



"When is that likely to be, General?" 



"Ten years, or perhaps twenty. I am going 



to Egypt to reorganize the army of the Khed- 



5> 



ive. 



He was the best raconteur I ever met, but I will 

 make no attempt to illustrate this and will only 

 crudely outline two or three incidents of the hun- 

 dreds that impressed through his telling. 



Washington was in danger at the outbreak of 

 the war and troops from the North for its de- 

 fense had to pass through disaffected Maryland. 

 Railroad tracks were torn up to prevent the pas- 

 sage of soldiers and one of Stone's most im- 

 portant duties was to send out workmen, with 

 guards to protect them, to restore the tracks. 

 An engineer arriving from the North with an 

 engine and freight cars was ordered to return 

 with rails and workmen. The engineer refused 

 to get into his cab and a soldier was ordered to 

 shoot him if he hesitated. Then Stone ordered 

 two soldiers to get on the tender and instructed 



