Sierra County advocate. [volume] (Kingston, N.M.) 1884-1960, 1886-10-16


comparative Indifference, enjoying the
strange and bustling appearance OF
the place. was able to give some as
sistance here and there to companions
of the voyage, and rather put ON airs
as being an old traveller with some cx
perience of that sort of thing, don'tyou
know, and plumed myself on having
my baggage examined long ago.
At the further end of the room were
q couple of ladies who were travelling
alone. One of them had large trunk
and the trunk had a new-fangled lock
the latest of American patents. A Gus
tom officer was vainly trying to unlock
this trunk, and the owner was looking
o. with much concern. his ineffect-
ual attempts. She had tried herself, il
seemed, and had been unable to open
it.
"You are not doing it rightly" said
tn second young lady. "You have to
p sh this clasp that way, then turn the
~ey half way around, push the clasp
back and give the key another turn
and then it will unlock"
The officer looked up, smiled and
shook his Jared finger, and | said:
"Let me try the unlocking"
followed the directions as well as
could and nearly broke my fingers, but
the key wouldn't turn. | am afraid
the magic words | said were not the
"open sesame that was required.
al am very sorry, ladies'" said the
officer, "but | shall have to break the
lock-"
The ladies were very sorry too, but
they made no objection and the officer
departed and returned with a hatchet.
This he placed under the obnoxious
catch and tried to pry it open. But
the lock was built very strongly and it
wouldn't give way. The hatchet
Slipped and the officer cut his finger
Can'tyou stretch the law a little, y
said /, land let the trunk pass. The
ladies are not going to stay in England,
but are going directly to France. |
am sure you would find nothing dutia-
BILE in the trunk or they would have
made some objection to your breaking
the lock. y
1t was now after twelve o'clock.
Most of the people had claimed their
baggage, had it examined and departed
for their hotels
"Well," said the officer, II ought
not to do it, you know, but l will
chance it" and with that he put on
the requisite mark that would enable
it to pass out. The owner was very
sgrateful indeed, and while he was
stamping the trunk she said to me.
Y II would like very much to give
him something. How much do you
Think ! should offer himP" ,
"Well," | replied. las general
thing in England it's safe enough 20
give tip where II service is done, but
the penalty here seems TO be very high.
| don't think | would risk it. Yet
don't suppose he would object to a
shilling if it could be given him so that
no one could see it. !"
81 will give him half a CROWN" she
said, "if he will take it,.
"All right" cautioned, "but don't
do it very publicly"
The lady approached and said in her
kindest voice:
a am very sorry you have hurt your
finger"
"Oh," said the officer, sit don't
matter IN the least assure you; a
mere scratch.
well, | am very much Obliged in
deed, she whispered, u nope you
will let me give you this, not as com
pensatlon, you know,
"Ah! miss, he returned, smiling
and bowing very low to her, glad to
have been of any service to you, but,
really, we are not allowed to take any
thing; it is against the rules" " and he
waved his hands up ana down as he
said this.
But, " persisted the lady. "it is only
very little and don at all come un-
der the head OF brlbe,
Il assure you, miss, he SAID, you
are not indebted to me for any thing
and, as | said before, ! am only too
happy to have been OF any service. You
see, miss. he said, as we walked away
after the porter who had shouldered
the trunk, "oflicers OF the customs are
never allowed to take any thing no
matter how small, under any clrcum-
stances whatever. And with that ne
AGAIN boWed very 10" 10 VS. ana 1
riage.
well, said |, 'it is refreshing to
IN. hot - t,1~