Part 30 (2/2)
”But what?”
”Why, you see, General, I'm nothing but a recruit, I've never even worn a uniform.”
”What?” exclaimed the General. Tom told him how he had come to take part in the raid, how he had been sworn into the service just before his departure. ”Well,” said the General at last, ”that really makes no difference. You're officer caliber, and that's enough.”
”All the same, General, I think I'd like to go to my company, and get some experience. Company B is in the fight now, isn't it?”
”Experience!” exclaimed the General.
”Experience as a soldier, I mean,” Tom replied.
”Of course, of course,” the General answered, laughing. ”Yes, Company B is in the fight. All right, my boy, all right. We'll send you there-for experience!-and then North you go and learn the business of being an officer.”
”Thank you, sir.”
The interview was at an end. They stood up and shook hands. Tom suddenly remembered Star. ”By the way, sir,” he said. ”A private doesn't generally have a Kentucky thoroughbred, does he?”
”Not generally.”
”Well, sir, I have one, but I guess the time for Star and me to part has come. Will you take it? The person who gave Star to me is a good Northerner. The ... the person would be proud to have the horse ridden by a General.”
”Do you think that the person”-the General smiled-”would be any prouder to have a General riding the horse than she-pardon me!-than to have you riding it?”
”I don't know, sir,” replied Tom, with a grin. ”But I know she'll be mighty proud just the same.”
”All right, my boy.” The General called one of his aides and instructed him to see that Tom reached Company B. They shook hands again and Tom walked out of the headquarters building to find Bert waiting for him. The railroad raid had ended.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
THAT CERTAIN PERSON
Long years of warfare pa.s.sed; then came the day when war was over, and Captain Tom Burns strolled down the avenue in Was.h.i.+ngton, linked arm in arm with Brown and Knight. Behind them sauntered the surviving members of the raiders. Each of them wore a medal of honor, which had been pinned to their coats that afternoon.
”You're going straight home, I suppose, Tom?” asked Brown.
”No-no, I'm going to Albany. Someone I have to see there. I was home on a furlough just a few weeks ago.”
”It's just about my train time,” said Knight. ”I'll have to be getting to the station.”
”Wait a minute while we say good-by to the boys, and I'll go with you,” said Tom. They stopped while the others came up. The moment of parting had come, and silence fell over them. Some of the men had escaped from prison camps, others had been exchanged, and this meeting had been a great event in their lives. For two days they had lived their experiences once again, exchanging stories and discussing the raid.
”Good-by, boys,” said Knight, breaking the pall of silence. ”You all have my address. Let me know when you're around my part of the country.”
”Same goes for me,” said several of them. ”Don't forget, now. Good-by, Tom.
'By, Knight. Here, let's shake that paw again. Drop me a line, eh?”
”'By, boys,” said Tom, untangling, himself from the group. He looked back and waved.
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