"What shall I do?" I asked; "what are the orders?" He took the papers in the case and wrote on the back of them:
Referred to Mr. Dana, Assistant Secretary of War, to be settled as in his judgment shall be best.
E. M. Stanton.
The man then turned his attention from the Secretary to me. I looked into the matter, and gave him back the money. The next day Mr. Stanton sent for me. I saw he was angry.
"Did you give that Jew back his money?" he asked in a harsh tone.
"Yes, sir."
"Well," he said, "I should like to know by what authority you did it."
"If you will excuse me while I go to my room, I will show my authority to you," I replied.
So I went up and brought down the paper he had indorsed, and read to him: