bayonets!

Luckily, Brant had taken advantage of his first gratified ejaculation to
shake him warmly by the hand, and then, with both hands laid familiarly
on his shoulder, force him down into a chair. Luckily, for by that time
Jim Hooker had, with characteristic gloominess, found time to taste the
pangs of envy--an envy the more keen since, in spite of his success as a
peaceful contractor, he had always secretly longed for military display
and distinction. He looked at the man who had achieved it, as he firmly
believed, by sheer luck and accident, and his eyes darkened. Then,
with characteristic weakness and vanity, he began to resist his first
impressions of Clarence's superiority, and to air his own importance.
He leaned heavily back in the chair in which he had been thus genially
forced, drew off his gauntlet and attempted to thrust it through his
belt, as he had seen Brant do, but failed on account of his pistols
already occupying that position, dropped it, got his sword between
his legs in attempting to pick it up, and then leaned back again, with
half-closed eyes serenely indifferent of his old companion's smiling
face.

"I reckon," he began slowly, with a slightly patronizing air, "that we'd
have met, sooner or later, at Washington, or at Grant's headquarters,
for Hooker, Meacham & Co. go everywhere, and are about as well known as
major-generals, to say nothin'," he went on, with a sidelong glance at
Brant's shoulder-straps, "of brigadiers; and it's rather strange--only,
of course, you're kind of fresh in the service--that you ain't heard of
me afore."

"But I'm very glad to hear of you now, Jim," said Brant, smiling,
"and from your own lips--which I am also delighted to find," he added
mischievously, "are still as frankly communicative on that topic as of
old. But I congratulate you, old fellow, on your good fortune. When did
you leave the stage?"

Mr. Hooker frowned slightly.

"I never was really on the stage, you know," he said, waving his hand
with assumed negligence. "Only went on to please my wife. Mrs. Hooker
wouldn't act with vulgar professionals, don't you see! I was really
manager most of the time, and lessee of the theatre. Went East when
the war broke out, to offer my sword and knowledge of Ingin fightin' to
Uncle Sam! Drifted into a big pork contract at St. Louis, with Fremont.
Been at it ever since. Offered a commission in the reg'lar service lots
o' times. Refused."

"Why?" asked Brant de