A CAPTAIN IN THE RANKS
A Romance of Affairs
by
GEORGE CARY EGGLESTON
Author of "DOROTHY SOUTH," "RUNNING THE RIVER," "THE MASTER OF WARLOCK," Etc.
[Illustration: "You have saved the Railroad." Page 336.]
A. L. Burt Company, Publishers, New York
Copyright, 1904, by A. S. Barnes & Co.
TO
Mable
_On her wedding day, I dedicate this story with affection_
September 8, 1904
PREFACE
This story is intended to supplement the trilogy of romances in which I have endeavored to show forth the Virginian character under varying conditions.
"Dorothy South" dealt with Virginia life and character before the Confederate war.
"The Master of Warlock" had to do with the Virginians during the early years of the war, when their struggle seemed hopeful of success.
"Evelyn Byrd" was a study of the same people as they confronted certain disaster and defeat.
The present story is meant to complete the picture. It deals with that wonderful upbuilding of the great West which immediately followed the war, and in which the best of the young Virginians played an important part.
The personages of the story are real, and its events are mainly facts, thinly veiled.
CONTENTS
CHAPTER PAGE
I THE FINAL FIGHT 1
II ALONE IN THE HIGH MOUNTAIN 18
III THE NEW BIRTH OF MANHOOD 29
IV A PRIVATE IN THE ARMY OF WORK 38
V THE BEGINNING OF A CAREER 42
VI A CAPTAIN IN THE ARMY OF WORK 48
VII THE "SIZING UP" OF GUILFORD DUNCAN 59
VIII ON DUTY 64
IX ONE NIGHT'S WORK 70
X ALLIANCE, OFFENSIVE AND DEFENSIVE 87
Table of contents (by pages)
- 1: A Captain in the Ranks by George Cary Eggleston
- 2: The guns were few in number now
- 3: Duncan touched his cap to Colonel Cabell and said Colonel
- 4: Duncan immediately obeyed the order
- 5: There was a detached Federal gun there doing its work
- 6: These marauders played havoc in an extraordinary way
- 7: At this moment Guilford Duncan
- 8: In the meanwhile Guilford Duncan
- 9: There's half an acre of grass here
- 10: They fought upon instinct alone
- 11: Receiving in return only Confederate treasury notes
- 12: You axed fer a dinner an' a hoss feed
- 13: But Si Watkins ain't no tavern keeper an' he ain't no Yankee
- 14: Surely I ought to get enough for them to pay my way to Cairo
- 15: Not only without a patrimony and without a home
- 16: That's the way to meet obstacles
- 17: But Duncan accepted them gladly
- 18: He could not secure employment as a stoker earning wages
- 19: Tore away the burning bunches of lint cotton
- 20: How far does your freight extend up and down the levee
- 21: Living upon the scant salary that the clerkship afforded
- 22: Then Captain Hallam's steamboats
- 23: But Captain Will Hallam was accustomed to say that
- 24: Captain Hallam thought he understood
- 25: Captain Hallam asked him to sit
- 26: Captain Hallam handed it to Duncan
- 27: Captain Hallam wished to secure her immediate release
- 28: And as for the sleeping among lumber piles
- 29: Said Captain Hallam as he passed out of the office
- 30: Guilford Duncan had never in his life kept a diary
- 31: At least that is true of all of them except Captain Hallam
- 32: Therefore they did not understand Guilford Duncan
- 33: Who was also sole pilot of the tug
- 34: Duncan encountered Captain Will Hallam
- 35: By his night's heroic endeavor
- 36: Captain Hallam did not utter the thought that was in him
- 37: Perhaps you don't care for a bigger salary
- 38: At this point Hallam uttered a low chuckle
- 39: I have suggested to the car builder
- 40: The war has been costly enormously costly
- 41: Or as Duncan felt the need of them
- 42: Were lured into the gambling dens
- 43: Guilford Duncan also attended one of the entertainments
- 44: And while I talk to Corydon about his behavior
- 45: Barbara educated herself upon lines which she deemed womanly
- 46: And she scorned all false pretenses
- 47: So Barbara took matters into her own hands
- 48: When Robert had thrashed a boy
- 49: Guilford Duncan for teaching it that law is supreme
- 50: Presently Barbara Verne entered
- 51: I wonder if anybody took Barbara Verne
- 52: Guilford Duncan was still thinking of Barbara Verne
- 53: So when Guilford Duncan called upon her
- 54: Barbara was simply her own sweet
- 55: Duncan hurriedly took his leave
- 56: Guilford Duncan is rising rapidly in my estimation
- 57: Nobody had dreamed of seeing Barbara Verne there
- 58: As Hallam one day explained to Duncan
- 59: Napper Tandy was a very greedy money getter
- 60: He sent a telegram to Captain Will Hallam
- 61: Ready for shipment upon orders
- 62: Duncan signed that letter with all needed circumspection
- 63: For the telegraphic controversy
- 64: As Guilford Duncan liked to think
- 65: Davidson will permit me to explain Never mind Davidson
- 66: Haven't you suggested your plans to Davidson
- 67: A far better salary awaits you
- 68: After Guilford Duncan had choked out the words Thank you
- 69: We have several unused boilers
- 70: And to become the mistress of Robinet
- 71: Were the readiest to meet hardship
- 72: Guilford Duncan's attitude seemed a gracious condescension
- 73: And Barbara could not understand
- 74: His relations with Will Hallam were closer than ever
- 75: But Tandy had said nothing whatever about that
- 76: Tandy could never have composed it
- 77: And that there will be an abundant traffic for the road
- 78: That scoundrel Tandy Stop
- 79: Barbara was obviously surprised
- 80: Nevertheless Guilford Duncan sent
- 81: Answered Guilford Duncan resolutely
- 82: He had scarcely begun to write when Hallam stopped him
- 83: Tandy would stick to his story
- 84: I care only for Guilford Duncan in this case
- 85: But Duncan observed with pleasure
- 86: That question at last gave Barbara courage to speak
- 87: More than from all the pulpits
- 88: Tandy welcomed the visitor cordially
- 89: And so he wanted Tandy to go on talking
- 90: Interest is high and dividends large
- 91: Any communication between him and Hallam
- 92: Every street is a long embankment
- 93: Hallam and Stafford own the whole thing
- 94: I have paid my debt to Guilford Duncan
- 95: We simply must do something for Old Napper Tandy
- 96: Duncan himself sat with Barbara
- 97: My reputation for integrity will be gone for good
- 98: Wait till you see what Captain Hallam and Mr
- 99: HALLAM HEARS NEWS As Guilford Duncan sat late that night
- 100: Only that your friend Temple wants to be there
- 101: You know Tandy is fond of playing tricks
- 102: Hallam will entertain you in my absence
- 103: Duncan spoke very seriously now
- 104: But he generally gets over the colic
- 105: Were the subscriptions of counties
- 106: Tandy also worked in the county towns
- 107: If I press Tandy and call in these loans
- 108: Tandy was announced as waiting in the bank parlor to see Mr
- 109: Tandy became placative and apologetic
- 110: Tandy sat gazing vacantly at Duncan
- 111: If Leftwich cherished resentment on that account
- 112: Leftwich will return this paper to you
- 113: Tandy hesitated for a time before answering
- 114: Tandy seemed quite at ease again financially
- 115: Tandy interested in any business at Paducah
- 116: If the road should be diverted to Paducah
- 117: But how are we to get rid of Tandy
- 118: Stafford was about ten years younger than Hallam
- 119: After consultation with Temple
- 120: He instantly telegraphed Hallam
- 121: Opened the circuit and called Barbara
- 122: They will deflect road to Paducah
- 123: Barbara inquired concerning the freight
- 124: Barbara urged the teamsters to their best endeavors
- 125: Duncan understood and was wise enough to obey
- 126: The teamsters had been obliged to abandon their wagon
- 127: Regardless of rain and weariness
- 128: Were making griddle cakes with astonishing rapidity
- 129: So that the making of griddle cakes had about ceased
- 130: At the crib she studied the situation critically
- 131: Under the escort of Duncan and Captain Will Hallam
- 132: And the other with Mary Tudor as Queen
- 133: Irving insisted that Darnley came naturally in sequence
- 134: A Romance of the Gunpowder Treason
- 135: Catharine of Aragon and Anne Boleyn