Washington State journal and Adams County news. [volume] (Ritzville, Wash.) 1906-1907, 1907-07-03

saddle. richly mounted with silver ana
otherwise decorated to please the fam
cy of the dandy Federal officer from
whose dead horse Duncan had cap
tured 1t after its owner had been left
stark upon the field in the Wilderness.
1t brought him now a good price in
money. and to this the purchaser gen
erously added little store Of pro-
visions, including, for immediate use,
some fresh meat, the first that had
passed Duncan's lips for, more months
past than he could count upon the fin
gers of one hand.
A little later the young man sold his
pistols, but as he p- mi Onward to-
ward the Ohio river he found that both
travelling and living in Il prosperous
country We're far more expensive than
travelling and living in war desolated
and still moneyless Virginia.
His little store Of funds leaked out of
his pockets so fast that, economic as
he might he found it necessary to ask
for work here and there on his jour
ney. 1t was springtime. and the farm
ers were glad enough to employ him
for day or two each. The wages
were mcager enough, but Duncan ac-
cepted them gladly, the more so be-
cause the farmers in every case gave
him board besides. Now and then he
secured odd jobs as an assistant to me-
chanics. In one case he stocked the fur
naces of coal mine for a week.
But he did not remain long in any
employment. AS soon as he had q
trif1e of money or little stock Of pro-
visions to the good he moved onward
toward the river.
His one dominating and ever grow
ing purpose was to reach Cairo. What
fortune might await him there he knew
not at ALL but since he had scratched
that address on the butt of pistol the
desire to reach Cairo had daily and
hourly grown upon him until it was
now almost a passion. The name
"Cairo" In his mind had become a
synonym for opportunity"
1t was about the middle of May when
the toilsome foot journey ended at
Wheeling. There Duncan, still wearing
his tattered uniform, made diligent in
quiry as to steamboats, going down the
river He learned that one of the great
coal towing steamers from Pittsburg
was expected within a few hours, push
ing acres Of coal laden barges before
her, and he was encouraged by the in
formation. volunteered on every hand,
that the work Of firing up under the
boilers Of these coal towing boats was
SO severe that goodly number Of the
stokers always abandoned their en-
ployment in disgust Of it and deserted
the boat II she made a landing at
Wheeling, as this approaching one
must do for the reason that a number
Of coal laden barges had been left
there for her to take in tow.
1t was Guilford Duncan's hope to Sc
cure place on her as a stoker or coal
passer. to take the place of some one
Of the deserters. This might enable
him, he thought. to earn little money
on the way down the river instead of
depicting his slenderly stocked purse
by paying steamboat fare.
Wllu SuCu prOSpecI Ill mlHu ue veil
tured to go into the town and purchase
a pair of boots and suit of clothes fit
to wear when he should reach Cairo
His wornout uniform would answer all
his purposes while serving as stoker.
When the steamboat, with her vast
feet Of barges, made landing Gull
ford Duncan was the first man to leap
aboard in search of work. Unfortu-
nately for him, there We're few or no
deserters from In front Of the furnaces
on this trip He could not secure~em-
ployment as a stoker earning wages,
but after some persuasion the steam
er's captain agreed to let him work
his passage" to Cairo-that is to say,
he was to pay no fare. receive no
wages and do double work in return
for his passage down the river and for
the coarse and unsavOry food neces-
sary for the maintenance Of bis
strength.