Connecticut western news., 1886-10-13

shook hls Jarred finger, and said:
 'Let me try the unlocking"
 I followed the directions as we'll as l could and nearly broke my fingers, but the key wouldn't turn. am afraid the magic words I said were not the "open sesame" that was required.
 q 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 hatchct slip ped and the officer cut his finger.
 ''Can't you stretch, the law little, ," said I, 't;lnd let that trunk pass. The ladies are not going to stay in England, but 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 the lock"
 It was now after 12 o'clock. Most of the people had claimed their baggage, had it examined and departed for their hotels.
 "Well," said the officer, 'T ought not to do it, you know, but 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:
 q would like very much to give him something. How much do you think should offer him?"
 "Well," I replied, ''as general thing in England it's safe enough to give tip where service is done, but the penalty here seems to be very high. I don't think I would risk it. Yet don't SUD- pose he would object to shil- ling if it could be given him so that no one could sec it."
 'I will give him half crown" she said, eff he will take it.
 "All right" cautioned, "but don't do it very publicly"
 The lady approached and said in her kindest voice
 q am very sorry you have hurt your finger"
 s'Oh," said the officer, Git don't mat ter in the least, assure you a mere scratch."
 "Well, I am very much obliged, in- decd," she whispered, s1 hope you will let me give you this, not as a compensa- tion, you know.''
 s'A miss" he returned, smiling and lowing very low to her, ''glad to have been of any service to you, but really, we arc 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, 'it is only a very little, and don't at all come under the head of bribe." 'I assure you, miss," he said, "you are not indebted to me for anything, and as said before, I 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, "officers of the customs are never allowed to take anything, no matter how small, | nodor opv oiroup,stonce, whatavor ], And with that he again bowed very low to us, and I walked with the ladies out to their carriage.
 "Well," said l, 'it is refreshing te see customs officer that will not take { briber'
 The young lady laughed merrily.
 sI am glad to hear you say SO" she said, 'for I know now we did it very cleverly."
 ''Why, you don't mean to say that yo' gace him the money2"
 She held up her hands. They wer empty.
 'I slipped half a crown into his hand the first time I spoke to him, and he con cealed it with deftness that convinced me he had done the like before." 'Then you urged him to take it afte he had it in his hand, and he refused with such Chesterfeldian air while h was really in possession of it!"
 Exactly" she said. ''Wasn't it neat , ly done on both sidesW '.Neatly done2 We'll, should say SC But what a pair of hypocrites both ( you are l'-Detroit Free Press.