The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1886-12-14

dtlciuptS. one uau trlcu ncrSclt, 1t
seemed, and had been unable to open it.
"You arc not doing it rightly" said
the second young lady. "You have to
push this clasp Mat way, hen turn tho
key 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 I said:
"Let me try the unlocking."
l followed the directions as we'll as !
could and nearly broke my fingers, but
the key wouldn't turn. am afraid the
magic words 1 said were not the ''opcn
sesame" that was required.
II am very sorry, ladies'" said the
officer, ''but 1 shall have to break tho
lock-"
Inc ladies were very sorry too, but
they made no objection and the officer
departed and returned with a hatchct.
This he placed under the obnoxious
catch and tried to py it open. But the
lock was built very strongly und it
wouldn't give way. The Ratchet slip
ped and the officer cut his finger.
"Can't you stretch tho law a little"
said l, sand let that trunk pass. The
ladies arc not going to stay in England,
out arc going directly to France. lam
sure you would find nothing dutiablc in
the trunk or they would have made
some objection to your breaking tho
lock-"
1t was now after 10 o'clock. Most of
the people had claimed their baggage,
had it examined and departed for their
hotels.
"Wcl1," said the officer, 81 ought not
to do it, you know, but I will chance it,"
and with that he put on the requisite
mark that would enable it to pass out.
The owner was very grateful indeed, and
while he was stamping the trunk she
said to me:
Il would like very much to give him
something. low much do you think
should offer him2"
"Well," 1 replied, ';as a general thing
in England it's safe enough to give a tip
where a service is done, but the penalty
here seems to be very high. I don't
think I would risk it. Yet I don't sup
pose he would object to a shil-
ling if it could be given him so that no
one could sec it,"
II will give him half a crown" sho
said, '.if he will take it."
"All right" 1 cautioned, "but don't
do it very publicly"
The lady approached and said in her
kindest voice :
~ am very sorry you have hurt your
finger"
''Oh," said the officer, ''it don't mat
ter in the least, I assure you {; n mere
Scratch" sr,- A..
"Wcll, / am very much obliged, in
decd" she. whispered, 81 hope you will
let Me give you this, not as n compensa.
ton, you know"
"a ! MISS" he returned, smiling and
bowling very low to her, 'glad to have
been of any service to you, but really,
we are not allowed to take anything;
it is against the rules" and he waved
his hands up and down as he said this.
"But," persisted the lady, ait is only
n very little, and don't at all come under
the head of a BRIDE"
II assure you, MISS" he said, "you
are not indebted to me for anything, and
as 1 said before, I am only too happy to
have been of any service. You sec,
miss" he said, as we walked away after
tho porter who had shouldered the trunk,
''oficcrs of the customs are never allowed
to take anything, no matter how small,
under my circumstances whatever"
And with that he again bowed very low
to us, and ! walked with the ladies out
to their carriage.
"Well," said I, 'it is refreshing to
see a customs officer that will not take a
briber'
The young lady laughed merrily.
II am glad to hear you say So, she
said, '.for I know new we did it very
clevcrly."
"Why, you don't mean to say that you
gaDe him the moneyq
She held up her hands. They were
empty.
81 slipped half a crown into his hand
the first time I spoke to him, and he con
cealcd it with a defines that convinced
me he had done the like before"
= IL 1911 L. Il.