The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-12-14
TWO CHRISTMASES
By w. w. SCREWS, Jr.

There was great commotion among the men along the line of the F. and c. Railroad The President with his Gen. eral Manager was making an inspection trip. The first in the history of the road. Several months before this Major Haw- kins had bought the F. and c. The Major was one of the wealthiest of the wealthy financiers of New York. He was interested in several important lines of railroads, head of a big banking house and a decdoed factor in the uncertain transactions of the most powerful nnan- cial and commercial center on this side of the Big Pond-Wall Street.
 There was really no material need Of t.le F. and c. in the plans of the Major. It was a little railroad, sevsnty-six miles long, beginning at an obscure town. wan dertng aimlessly through struggling vil- lages, still more obscure, and losing itself ! in front of a small town that to all in- tents and purposes was off the map. The \littie founding, however was the per konal property of the Major. There were no stockholders, no directors, no factions and petty quarrels His mandates were law on the F. and c. What he said went and development of the little piece of property was his hobby.
 It was the 17th of December when the inspection trip that caused such intense
 
 and c. was being made. Doc" Rowlin. the oldest engineer on the road, with his pride, engine 2S. glistening in the glory of new paint from cylinder head to end of the tank, and Conductor Howell, had charge of the special train.
 With altogether unnecessary whistling of air brakes and escape of steam. Row lin pulled up at the little station of "G, v the two officials climbing down from the 4a nd room used as combination station agents office and telegraph office. A bunch of natives dangling their long legs over the edge of the platform were so greatly awed by the arrival of the ''big men" that for tho first time within the accur- ate memory of the oldest inhabitant-one of which c. boasted-they actually de- sisted from all absorbing occupation of whiting sticks, splitting at cracks and eiecting the next President of the United States.
 young man busily engaged in one corner of the room was in the midst of the very abstruse problem of trying to extricate himself from a tangled snarl of perverse figures. In answer to the knock he opened the little ticket window in the door with What is it, gentle menf'
 we would like to see the agent" said one of the gentlemen.
 ''Hs is not in at present" said the young man at the ticket window, but I am his assistant and will be glad to be of any service to you"
 This" said the spokesman, waving his hand towards the other gentlemen, lis President Hawkins, and l am General Manager Sistrunk.
 The gieam of amusement which had been kindling in the kindly eyes of the Major dled away as the young man. flushing in an embarrassed manner, open ed the door.
 'T hope you don't think that l mean any disrespect" said he, but the rule is that no one, not having business, shall bs admitted inside the office. and as I have not been here very long of course was not aware of the identity of my visitors"
 And you are quite right, sir" said Major Hawkins, quickly trying to put the young fellow at ease. "I am a business man myself. and nothing pleases me more than to saa sh"se qualities in a young nan