"I have," said Fitz, turning to the colonel, "somewhat modified your rough draft, to meet the requirements of our market; but not materially. Of course I cannot commit myself to any fixed earning capacity until I go over the ground, which we will do together shortly. But"--raising the candle to the level of his nose--"this is as near as I can come to your ideas with any hopes of putting the loan through here. I have, as you will see, left the title of the bond as you wished, although the issue is a novel one to our Exchange." Then turning to me: "This of course is only a preliminary announcement." THE CARTERSVILLE AND WARRENTOWN AIR LINE RAILROAD. THE GARDEN SPOT OF VIRGINIA SEEKS AN OUTLET TO THE SEA. CAPITAL ONE MILLION OF DOLLARS, DIVIDED INTO 50,000 Founders' shares at .... $1000. each 5,000 Ordinary " " .... 100.00 " BONDED DEBT FOR PURPOSES OF CONSTRUCTION ONLY. ONE MILLION OF DOLLARS IN 1,000 FIRST MORTGAGE BONDS OF $1000.00 EACH. FULL PROTECTION GUARANTEED. The undersigned, Messrs. . . . . offer for sale $500,000.00 of the 6% Deferred Debenture Bonds of the C.& W. Air Line Railroad at par and accrued interest, together with a limited amount of the ordinary shares at 50%. Subscription books close. . . . . Promoters reserve the right to advance prices without further notice. "There, Major, is a prospectus that caarries conviction on its vehy face," said the colonel, reaching for the document. I complimented the eminent financier on his skill, and was about to ask him what it all meant, when the colonel, who had been studying it carefully, broke in with:-- "Fitz, there is one thing you left out." "Yes, I know, the name of the banker; I haven't found him yet." "No, Fitz; but the words, '_Subscriptions opened Simultaneously in New York, London, Richmond_,' and"-- "Cartersville?" suggested Fitz. "Certainly, suh." "Any money in Cartersville?" "No, suh, not much; but we can _subscribe_, can't we? The name and influence of our leadin' citizens would give tone and dignity to any subscription list. Think of this, suh!" and the colonel traced imaginary inscriptions on the back of Fitz's prospectus with his forefinger, voicing them as he went on:-- The Hon. JOHN PAGE LOWNES, Member of the State Legislature.. 1,000 shares The Hon. I.B. KERFOOT, Jedge of the District Court of Fairfax County....... 1,000 shares Major THOMAS C. YANCEY, Late of the Confederate Army... 500 shares "These gentlemen are my friends, suh, and would do anythin' to oblige me." Fitz sharpened a lead pencil and without a word inserted the desired amendment. The colonel studied the document for another brief moment and struck another snag. "And, Fitz, what do you mean, by 'full protection guaranteed'?" "To the bondholder, of course,--the man who pays the money." "What kind of protection?"