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Ward to the extent of half a million。 He went on to recall many such
cases。 He told of one man who had come to the office on the eve of
departure for Europe and handed Ward a check for fifty thousand dollars；
saying：
〃I have no use for it at present。 See what you can do with it for me。〃
By and by this investor； returning from Europe； dropped in and said：
〃Well； did anything happen？〃
Ward indifferently turned to his private ledger； consulted it； then drew
a check for two hundred and fifty thousand dollars； and handed it over；
with the casual remark：
〃Well； yes； something happened； not much yeta little too soon。〃
The man stared at the check； then thrust it back into Ward's hand。
〃That's all right。 It's plenty good enough for me。 Set that hen again；〃
and left the place。
Of course Ward made no investments。 His was the first playing on a
colossal scale of the now worn…out 〃get rich quick〃 confidence game。
Such dividends as were made came out of the principal。 Ward was the
Napoleon of that game； whether he invented it or not。 Clemens agreed
that； as far as himself or any of his relatives were concerned； they
would undoubtedly have trusted Ward。
Colonel Grant followed him to the door when he left； and told him that
the physicians feared his father might not live more than a few weeks
longer； but that meantime he had been writing steadily； and that the
first volume was complete and fully half the second。 Three days later
the formal contract was closed； and Webster & Co。 promptly advanced。
General Grant ten thousand dollars for imminent demands； a welcome
arrangement； for Grant's debts and expenses were many； and his available
resources restricted to the Century payments for his articles。
Immediately the office of Webster & Co。 was warm with affairs。
Reporters were running hot…foot for news of the great contract by which
Mark Twain was to publish the life of General Grant。 No publishing
enterprise of such vast moment had ever been undertaken； and no
publishing event； before or since； ever received the amount of newspaper
comment。 The names of General Grant and Mark Twain associated would
command columns； whatever the event； and that Mark Twain was to become
the publisher of Grant's own story of his battles was of unprecedented
importance。
The partners were sufficiently occupied。 Estimates and prices for vast
quantities of paper were considered； all available presses were
contracted for； binderies were pledged exclusively for the Grant book。
Clemens was boiling over with plans and suggestions for distribution。
Webster was half wild with the tumult of the great campaign。
Applications for agencies poured in。
In those days there were general subscription agencies which divided the
country into districts； and the heads of these agencies Webster summoned
to New York and laid down the law to them concerning the； new book。 It
was not a time for small dealings； and Webster rose to the occasion。 By
the time these men returned to their homes they had practically pledged
themselves to a quarter of a million sets of the Grant Memoirs； and this
estimate they believed to be conservative。
Webster now moved into larger and more pretentious quarters。 He took a
store…room at 42 East 14th Street； Union Square； and surrounded himself
with a capable force of assistants。 He had become； all at once； the most
conspicuous publisher in the world。
CLV
DAYS WITH A DYING HERO
The contract for the publication of the Grant Life was officially closed
February 27； 1885。 Five days later； on the last day and at the last hour
of President Arthur's administration； and of the Congress then sitting； a
bill was passed placing Grant as full General； with full pay； on the
retired army list。 The bill providing for this somewhat tardy
acknowledgment was rushed through at the last moment； and it is said that
the Congressional clock was set back so that this enactment might become
a law before the administration changed。
Clemens was with General Grant when the news of this action was read to
him。 Grant had greatly desired such recognition； and it meant more to
him than to any one present； yet Clemens in his notes records：
Every face there betrayed strong excitement and emotion except one…
General Grant's。 He read the telegram； but not a shade or
suggestion of a change exhibited itself in his iron countenance。
The volume of his emotion was greater than all the other emotions
there present combined； but he was able to suppress all expression
of it and make no sign。
Grant's calmness； endurance； and consideration during these final days
astonished even those most familiar with his noble character。 One night
Gerhardt came into the library at Hartford with the announcement that he
wished to show his patron a small bust he had been making in clay of
General Grant。 Clemens did not show much interest in the prospect； but
when the work was uncovered he became enthusiastic。 He declared it was
the first likeness he had ever seen of General Grant that approached
reality。 He agreed that the Grant family ought to see it； and that he
would take Gerhardt with him next day in order that he might be within
reach in case they had any suggestions。 They went to New York next
morning； and called at the Grant home during the afternoon。
》From the note…book：
Friday； March 20； 1885。 Gerhardt and I arrived at General Grant's
about 2。30 P。m。 and I asked if the family would look at a small
clay bust of the General which Gerhardt had made from a photograph。
Colonel Fred and Jesse were absent to receive their sister； Mrs。
Sartoris； who would arrive from Europe about 4。30； but the three
Mrs。 Grants examined the work and expressed strong approval of it；
and also great gratification that Mr。 Gerhardt had undertaken it。
Mrs。 Jesse Grant had lately dreamed that she was inquiring where the
maker of my bust could be found （she had seen a picture of it in
Huck Finn； which was published four weeks ago）； for she wanted the
same artist to make one of General Grant。 The ladies examined the
bust critically and pointed out defects； while Gerhardt made the
necessary corrections。 Presently Mrs。 General Grant suggested that
Gerhardt step in and look at the General。 I had been in there
talking with the General； but had never thought of asking him to let
a stranger come in。 So Gerhardt went in with the ladies and me； and
the inspection and cross…fire began： 〃There； I was sure his nose was
so and so；〃 and； 〃I was sure his forehead was so and so；〃 and；
〃Don't you think his head is so and so？〃 And so everybody walked
around and about the old hero； who lay half reclining in his easy
chair； but well muffled up； and submitting to all this as serenely
as if he were used to being served so。 One marked feature of
General Grant's character is his exceeding gentleness； goodness；
sweetness。 Every time I have been in his presencelately and
formerlymy mind was drawn to that feature。 I wonder it has