The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-03-08
CHAPTER XXI. Malvern Has a Holiday |.

Very early the next morning Malvern aroused itself to the fact that the firemen and the police, and a very large crowd of the rag, tag and bobtail that hangs on the edge of all holiday occasions, were out for a frolic. A band was piaying' and the old fashioned apparatus was showing the amazed and amused crown how to put an imaginary confasra- ton.
 But what did it all mean? It was some kind of a celebration, of course, put why then did The Malvern Recorder, one or the most enterprising newspapers Tn tne State. why did The Recorder fail to make an appropriate announcement of an event so interesting and important?
 After awhile there was Hull In the display The chief received authoritative information that the train from Savan- nah was approaching He waved ms trumpet. and the firemen formed them selves into procession, and passed twice in review and then halted. with their hose reels, and their hook and ladder wagons almost blocking up the entrance to the station. The crowd had followed them, but the police managed to keep the street clear so that vehicles might effect a passage.
 It was well that the officers of the law had been thus thoughtful, otherwise countryman who chanced to be coming along just then would have found 1t diff fcuIt to drive his team even half way through the jam. He was typical Geor- gia farmer. He wore a wide straw hat, a homespun shirt and jeans trousers, the latter being held in place by a dirty pair of homemade suspenders. He drove what is called spike team, two oxen at a lead. day was warm, but he was warmer. The crowd had Hurried him and he was in- clined to use heated language The team managed to fight its way to a point op posite where the chief officials of the po- lice and fire department were standing. The wagon to which the team was at- tached was a ramshackle affairs appar- ently. but was strong enough neverthe- less to sustain the weight of three bales of cotton, one of the bales being some what larger than the others.
 My friend" said the chief of police, elevating his voice so that the country man could hear him distinctly, this Is not a warehouse. If you want to sell your cotton, carry it around the corner wonder, and there you'll find the ware house of Vardeman & Stark
 of I want to sell cotton? Well, you don treckon I want to give 1t away, do you? They told me that the cotton ware house was down here somers, an that it was made of brick. This shebang is down wander, an it's made of brick. How fur t'other place?"
 Right around the corner" said one in the crowd.
 ''Humph-yes, that's the way wi ever'- thing in this blamed town; it's uther down wander, or around the corner. But eff 1t was right kright. how could I git to 1t? Deliver me from places wnaF they celebrate Christmas in the hottest part of June! Elf I ever git out'n the town you'll never ketch me here ag'in."
 Inside the station another scene was in the full swing of action. Certain we'll known citizens of Halcyondale had been pacing up and down the planked floor Of the station apparently awaiting with some impatience for the moment to come when the train for Atlanta would be ready to leave. But the train itself seemed to be in no particular hurry. The locomotive stood In its place with the blue smoke curling peacefully from It's black chim- ney. Presently an access of energy among the employees of the station gave notice that the train from Savannah was crossing the "Y."
 Mir. Tidwell of Shady Dale. who was also among those who were apparently anxious to take the train for Atlanta, ceased his restless walking, and stood leaning against one of the brick pillars supporting the rear end of the structure. Major Tomlin Perdue, on the other hand. leaned confidently on the counter of the little restaurant The Major was ac- quatnted with the man at the counter and he informed him confidentially that he was simply waiting fair opportunity Iy,Ho of the person at the far end of the sta tIon, who was no other than Mir. Tidwell.
 "Is that so?" asked the clerk breath lessly "WelI. I don't mind telling you that he has been having some of the