The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1907-12-29

| The Absentminded Stranger.
fOriSinall

ding was at hand, and after an alb
sence of two months | was going
home to enjoy it with my VIE. The
dav before | started l visited several
ievelry stores in search of 4 IeHttjng
Gift and finally settled on cross Of
ten diamonds, for which | paid $500.
It was an expensive present. but il
tbe nine previous anniversaries all told
I had not given my Ursula the value
of Il hundred dollars in such offerings.
I resolved on this occasion to give Eor
a treat.
| put the crtss in my pocket ans,
taking up my suit case. got into the
smoking compartment of parIor car,
where I transferred the gilt Ia the
suit case. The train was barely Start
ed when Il gentleman entered, also
with a suit case, which lie put down
In Il corner. and took seat. Then,
apparently thinking it too far from
him. he got up and placed it on the
seat beside him. l looked at him some
WtlHI lIflIt leu, W IL liz Niitts>tit
1 would steal his property.
Excuse me, sir he said. noticing
nv expression. Il am very absent
minded. Unless 1 keep my hand on
nv belongings I am liable to go away
without them"
We fell into conversation. and /
found him Il very pleasant travelling
companion. He had story for every
country in the world. His power Of
description was marvellous. He de-
scribed the battle of Las Guisamas in
the late Cuban-American war so vivid
" that | seemed to have been there
myself. When I asked him in what
capacity he was in Cuba, for he made
no mention of himself in his descrip-
ton. he took out card and handed
it to me. 1t bore the name of an Off
Ger of the volunteer service whose
name remembered to have seen men
toned for conspicuous bravery after
this very battle.
We each had half Il days journey
before Us. which we spent getting bet
ter acquainted. At noon the gentle
man opened his suit case, from one
side removing flask: then, after par
TALLY lifting the lid of the other side
and taking Il peep within, he shut the
case and turned the key, taking care
that the case was locked. We drank
together from his flask, after which he
put it in his pocket.
Il don't like to open my suit case
too often,'' he said Il have some val
liable property in it, and since wound
in the head | received while in Cuba
am liable to become confused. The
truth is | have no business to be trav-
cling with yaluables. l would feel
easier If you would kindly keep an
eye on me when l leave the train to
see that have my case with me-"
I answered the war Scared veteran
that l would gladly do so. Indeed,
there is no one that will excite our
so much as a man who suf-
fers for bravery in battle. What
pity that so delightful a man should
have had his mental faculties impaired
IN the service of his country.
Approaching a station just outside
The limits of the city to which we were
Doth going. the train stopped. Sud
lenly my friend jumped up, exclaim-
NC, 'W-hy. this is my stationr' and,
grasping my hand, dashed out
If the car He had no sooner reached
he platform than noticed that be had
eft his suit case. | was about to seize
t to take it to him when it occurred
o me that in my haste I might get
lold Of the wrong case. | had no mind
o appropriate his valuables, so
bounded through the door in time to
ee him walking deliberately away and
ave sharp Hi He turned and.
eeing ne. came back
When told him that he had left his
reasure his face at once changed from
erenlty to terror. Ddshing past me,
e rushed back into. the car and in Il
noment reappeared with his hand bag
age, and at that very moment the train
ulled out l stood on the platform
waving to him, he taking off his hat
nd shouting his thanks. | returned to
~ seat, feeling that satisfaction one
Experiences at having saved a fellow
eng from a great loss, especially
elightful companion whose mental
reakdown has been brought about i'll
ne service of his country. l was SO
lied with pleasant emotions that did
OF notice we were even near the ter
linus till we rolled into the station.
When | got home and in my own
omfortable bedroom l went to nv
lit case. servant having brought it
p. to take out some linen. l was as
'nlshed to find that my key did not
the lock. l turned the suit case
bout, examining it ON every side. and
'on saw that it was not mine.
Great heavens, The stranger had
ken my case instead of his own.
What an unfortunate biunder, | WAS
mus my wedding present for the
orroW, he his valuables.
My wife came in. and I told her
hat had happened.
You had better open the case" she