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
IThe Final Fight[1]
IIAlone in the High Mountain[18]
IIIThe New Birth of Manhood[29]
IVA Private in the Army of Work[38]
VThe Beginning of a Career[42]
VIA Captain in the Army of Work[48]
VIIThe "Sizing Up" of Guilford Duncan[59]
VIIIOn Duty[64]
IXOne Night's Work[70]
XAlliance, Offensive and Defensive[87]
XIThe Ways of Guilford Duncan[100]
XIIBarbara Verne[107]
XIIIA Battle and an Acquaintance[119]
XIVA Social Advance[129]
XVThe Coming Out of Barbara[141]
XVIA New Enemy[146]
XVIIAn Old Friend[160]
XVIIIDick Temple's Plans[168]
XIXDick Temple's Story[175]
XXIn the Summer Time[181]
XXIAn Interview with Napper Tandy[188]
XXIIUnder the Honeysuckles[198]
XXIIICaptain Will Hallam in the Game[202]
XXIVBarbara's Answer[214]
XXVTemple and Tandy[224]
XXVIA Pact with Barbara[242]
XXVIIMrs. Hallam Hears News[254]
XXVIIIThe Birth of a Great Railroad[265]
XXIXA Scrap of Paper[274]
XXXThe Mystery of Tandy[285]
XXXIOnly a Woman[293]
XXXIIThe Riddle Explained[298]
XXXIIIAt Crisis[304]
XXXIVA Cheer for Little Missie[316]
XXXVThe End of a Struggle[323]


A CAPTAIN IN THE RANKS


I