The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1907-10-03
MISSED A TREAT.
Too Late the Sleepy One Learned
Who His Companion Was.

\ Denver mining nan who was an
old time Californian tells the FOLLOW
luz rather interesting narrative: Some
thirty years ago | was a traveller IN a
stagcoach On a trip into the Sierrhs
There was but one other paSseu ger.
and he knew how t. talk | could see
that he was no ordinary pilgrim, bul
was tired. | had had little or no sleep
for three nights. | took II for grant
cd that we would he together the next
day. and resolved that | would show
him then that | could listen. He seem
ell quite inclined. however. to be com
municative | fell asleep in the midst
of several stories which | knew We're
away out of the ordinary stagcroach
tales. But in spite of this when |
would rouse myself my fellow traveller
would start on another story. While
wondering how the previous one had
ended | fell asleep in each succeed
ing story
Somewhere on the mountain road
don't know which, | remembered |
looked out aud saw the stars | look
ed UP and saw the snow was glinting
on the mountain tops. Then | motto
ed that my companion was gone In
his place was another passenger. |
recognized him ut once as the driver,
or he who was on the box when i've
left earlier in the evening. He seem
ed to be asleep. but | WAS now wide
awake. | shook him. 1t required
some effort to bring him out Of his
stupor What are YOU doing in hcrf%
| asked. He replied that he WAS try
ing to sleep and did not know why he
should not be permitted t" do SO.
Where is the passenger who got in
here with me?' | inquired Driviu'
up there. He knows the road was
the answer | got
docs the company allow its driv-
crs to turn over the rcins to any pas
senger who comes along. and does II
permit it's drivers to ride in the coach
esq | asked somewhat Indignantly.
To the mischief with the company.
he replied The man that's out there
on the box knows more about this
country than The whole stage company.
He's human, and that sorts skaSe,
Understand? When we stopped back
yonder to tighten II nut he got ont and
gimme hand. We'd been thar sit
but fer him. Then he fell to a-Iups-
tonin' me. and when he finds out !
amt had no lay off in purity nigh fifty
hours he SAYS to me, cit inside thar
and III see that we git thar he says.
600 ill.," he says. cor I'll leave you ON
the road" SO | got in. He got ilp
That's all there is to it. How do YOU
like it? Amt skecred are youT
made no reply. | crouched down in
my corner and closed my eyes
ct was daylight in the mountains
when | awoke. The SUBMITS wtr.
| aglow with sunshine. was alone
| Then we pulled into another wooden
| town, similar to the one we had left
| the night before | got out and shbob
myself while the relay was being
made. Where's your partner WIN
| drove for your | asked the driver
| who was biting off a section Of long
plug lie left me some miles back,
was the reply. Said he had to dc
some business for the state. Said tC
give you his-I don't just rememhe1
what it was 'Complimcnts| | in
CURED That sounds somethin' like
| it. Reckon it was. Said for me t
give you this when you woke up. if 70,
ever did He handed me Il card as h'
spoke | did not recognize the name
then, but :! put the card away as {
souvenir of the journey. Some year.
| later in looking over bundle of pa
pers it turned up. The signature wa
trife dim. but there it was WRITER
diagonaly, francis Bret Harte.' Th'
card is under a glass paperweight OF
my desk in my Office. Money coufdn'
buy it. But think of what | missed il
not staying awake"-Denver Field ant
| J'arr,