Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1886-01-19

Victoria ru. !

Nicto.Is re.
Whist good chance you would
have 20 smgsgle." was observed the
other day 70 8 gentleman Who resides
10 Victoria but does business on the
SUuud. and Crosses the Straits three
or four times per month
"Ah," xas bis dry and noncou-
DitfAl exclamation.
"Aren't You sometimes tempted
No, sir. Al least not nov.
Then you were once:
see here, III tell you a story 90
get nd OF you Years ago, l did
smgggle ten ysris Of silk scross- Ny
wife ~anie a shade we couldn't tud
il Victoria, and consented to snug
gle il over. Whea | got ready 10
slsrt for Victoria the silk was under
nv sQspenders, with Vest and coat
buttoned ever it, | knew all the Gus
toms officers we'll. and there wasn't
one chance in million OF ny being
detected
Ana YOU weren't afraid then:
Not until | reached the wharf.
The officials on the other side had
nothing TO do with the matter, Of
course. but my guilty conscience WAS
on the alert One of them called TO
me and detained me ten minutes
while he related the Particulars OF
man being trapped for smuggling
shawl / felt myself turn ali sorts
Of colors. and | declare thst my
knees seemed 10 give out p"
Yes, I've been there"
'Oa the boat | saw a stranger
watching We very closely, and | made
up my mind he was spoiter. I'd have
thrown The silk away then, bal there
was not an opportunity. When !
reached Victoria | felt like prisoner
about 10 b. sentenced. | didn't know
whether TO land at once and hurry
off, or lake my time and affect cool
ness | was mighty far from feeling"
Exactly. | have felt the same
way"
"Well. the Customs officer came
up and slapped me on the back and
called out:
80 Hello, jim. got anything on you
that ought 10 pay duty:
He was IN fun, of course, but
my heart jumped into my mouth
and choked uie, and | came near
willing. l managed TO fish up ci-
gar. and hand ii over with forced
laugh, but I'd have given $40, 600 to
have been a mile away"
- What's the manter, old boy?'
be asked as he saw how perturbed |
was"
'N-nothing.'
Come now, you don't feel well.
"Oh, yves, l DIDO. except that !
am little sea-s-sick."
Come with mel" he ordered, and
he put one hand on my back, exactly
over that silk, and led me off that
boat. | had no other idea out was
caught. Visions of courts, fines.
news paper articles and a. weeping
wife rose up before me, and / was
about to throw myself on his mercy
and offer 10 pay any sum he migl
name. when be steered me into
saloon and called out:
Here-give Jim brandy to
brace his stomach"
With that he went out, and Just
sank down into the first handy chair
and came very near fainting away
When | had put a mile between me
me aud the wharf, | came to a halt
and said 10 myself:
- Jim, you are COMPOUNDED
idiot
a. You bet!' Jim replied.
- Don't you never try that again.
- never wIll-never,
a. You'd better pay SO per yard
for silk in Victoria than to pay IS
cents on the other SIDE
- You're shouting. old boy
| Take this silk home and tell
your wife that you sent 10 San Fran
cisco for il. and never let anybody
know what u fool you've made of
yourself
- I'll do it,
And | did 1t; and if | had the
safest opportunity ia the world to
make hundred dollars per day hy
smuggling. Id never bring over d
single brass pin"