Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1886-10-15

shook his Jared finger, and said:
Let me try the unlocking"
followed the directions as well as
could and nearly broke my fingers, bu
the key wouldn't turn. am afraid tn
magic words said were not the ''opel
sesame" that was required.
7 am very sorry, ladies'" said tn
officer, "but shall have to break the
lock.n
The ladies were very sorry too, bu
they made no objection and the office
departed and returned with a hatchet.
ms he placed under the obnoxiou
catch and tried to pry it open. But tn,
lock was built very strongly and i
wouldn't give way. The hatchct slip
ped and the officer cut his finger.
Can't you stretch the law a little. >
sad "and let that trunk pass. The
laoies are not going to stay in England,
ou' are going directly to France. am
sure you would find nothing dutiable in
the trunk or they would have made
some objection to your breaking tn,
lock-"
1t was now after 10 o'clock. Most of
the people had claimed their baggage.
haa it examined and departed for theil
hotels.
well" said the officer, 81 ought not
70 DO IT. you know, but l will chance il, -
and with that he put on the requisite
mark that would enable it to pass out.
Inc owner was very grateful indeed, and
whlle he was stamping the trunk she
said to me:
Il would like very much to give him
something. How much do you think !
should offer him2o
"Well, replied, ''as a general thing
IN England it's safe enough to give tip
where service is done, but the penalty
mere seems to be very high. l don't
tnnk | would risk it. Yet don't sup
pose he would object to a shil-
ing if it could be given him so that no
one could see it,"
4 will give him half a crown" she
said, ''if he will take it."
'All right" l cautioned, "but don't
do It very publicly"
The lady approached and said in her
kindcst voice
lam very sorry you have hurt your
finger"
"oh," said the officer, 'it don't mat
ter in the least, assure you mere
scratch"
Well, am very much obliged, in
de1d,0 she whispered, II hopo you will
Ie1no give you this, not asa compensa-
u, 5.sosvss
- miss, he returned, smiling and
bpvng very low to her. ''glad to have
lee Of any service to you, but really,
wege not allowed to take anything;
itiagainst the rules" and he waved
hishands up and down as he said this.
But" persisted the lady, 'it is only
a very little, and don't at all come under
thehead of bribc."
q assure you, miss" he said, "you
are not indebted to me for anything, and
as said before, l am only too happy to
have been of any service. You see,
miss, he said, as we walked away after
the porter who had shouldercd the trunk,
Officers of the customs are never allowed
to take anything, no matter how small,
under any circumstances whatever. :"
And with that he again bowed very low
to US, and walked with the ladies out
to their carriage.
"Well," said I, cit is refreshing to
see customs officer that will not take a
bribe!
The young lady laughed merrily.
81 am glad to hear you say so, she
said, ''for know now we did it very
cleyerly."
"Why, you don't mean to say that you
gaze him the money"
She held up her hands. They were
empty.
u slipped half crown into his hand
the first time spoke to him, and he con-
cealed it with a deftness that convinced
me he had done the like before"
Then you urged him to take it after
ne had it in his hand, and he refused it
with such Chesterfcldian air while he
was really in possession of itl"
Exactly" she said. "Wasn't it neat
ly done on both sides3"
NEATLY done7 Well, should say so.
But what pair of hypocrites both of
you are l"-Detroit Free Press.