retreat without attempting to see Captain Gary. In his
unwashed, uncombed condition, the contrast between himself and those
around was embarrassing enough even to his crude conception.

He stood gazing about in a half helpless manner, not knowing to whom to
apply for information.

"Where can I find Captain Gary?" he asked at length of a porter who
happened to be lounging near.

The negro inspected Ralph from head to foot, then demanded: "Do he stop
yere?"

"Yes. I have a letter for him."

"Oh! Dat all is it?" The porter had found it hard to reconcile
Ralph's appearance with any other connection with a guest of the hotel
than a menial one. "Yo' go right up to de office over dar and gin it
to the clerk. He see Cap'n Gary gits um."

"But--but I have to see the captain myself," urged Ralph.

"What yo' reckon a gen'lemun like he wanter sech a boy as you? Huh?"

Ralph felt that his clothes were against him, but he did not propose to
be bullied by a servant and a negro at that.

"Look here," said he. "I want to see Captain Gary and I'm going to see
him, too. I've got business with him--d'ye understand?"

"Well den," replied the porter insolently, "s'posen yo' find where he
is yo'self."

Ralph, without another word, marched straight to the clerk's desk.

CHAPTER X.

The Captain Talks With Ralph.

Ralph's previous diffidence disappeared under the flush of anger
aroused by the porter's words.

"Mister," said he addressing the stylish looking clerk, who at first
barely glanced at the lad, "I was sent here from Columbia to see a man
who stops here called Captain Gary. That nigger over there, when I
asked him where the man was, told me to hunt him up myself. I never
was in your tavern before. How can I find him, I'd like to know?"

Before Ralph had concluded, the clerk was inspecting his person
curiously. Ralph again thought of his clothes.

"I don't look very stylish," said he, "and I know it; but I've got
business with Captain Gary all the same."

"Front!" called the clerk, without addressing Ralph.

A smart mulatto boy, uniformed in blue and red, sprang from a bench
where several others similarly clad were seated.

"Show this--this person to forty nine," directed the clerk, then turned
to another inquirer as if he had already forgotten Ralph's existence.

"There's one thing certain," thought the lad, as he followed the call
boy down a long hall, up one flight of stairs and into a rich