rb in intelligence,
plodded efficiently through a battle just as he had plodded efficiently
over the circuit of Jason's Methodist father.

And Jason, cool and clear-headed, with his wonderful long strong hands,
sawed and sewed and probed and purged his way through field hospital
after field hospital, until the men began to hear of his skill and to
ask for him when the fear of death was on them. His work absorbed him
more and more, until months went by, and he neglected to write to his
mother! Just why, who can say? Each of us looking into his heart,
perhaps can find some answer. But Jason was young, and work and world
hungry. He did not ask himself embarrassing questions. The months
slipped into a year, and the first year into a second year. Still Jason
did not write to his mother, nor did he longer hear from her.

In November of the second year Jason was stationed in a hospital near
Washington. One rainy morning as he made his way to the cot of a man who
was dying of gangrene, an orderly stopped him.

"This is Dr. Jason Wilkins?"

"Yes."

"Sorry, Doctor, but I've got to arrest you and take you to Washington--"

Jason looked the orderly over incredulously. "You've got the wrong man,
friend."

The soldier drew a heavy envelop carefully from his breast pocket, and
handed it to Jason. Jason opened it uneasily, and gasped. This is what
he read: "Show this to Surgeon Jason Wilkins, ---- Regiment. Arrest him.
Bring him to me immediately.--A. LINCOLN."

Jason whitened. "What's up?" he asked the orderly.

"I didn't ask the President," replied the orderly dryly. "We'll start at
once, if you please, Doctor."

In a daze, Jason left for Washington. He thought of all the minor
offenses he had committed. But they were only such as any young fellow
might have committed. He could not believe that any of them had reached
Mr. Lincoln's ears, or that, if they had, the great man in the White
House would have heeded them.

Jason was locked in a room in a Washington boarding-house for one night.
The next day at noon the orderly called for him. Weak-kneed, Jason
followed him up the long drive to the door of the White House, and into
a room where there were more orderlies and a man at a desk writing. An
hour of dazed waiting, then a man came out of a door and spoke to the
man at the desk.

"Surgeon Jason Wilkins," said the sentry.

"Here!" answered Jason.

"This way," jerked the orderly, and Jason found himself in the inner