Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-11-10

ticed a buxom young woman, with a
w~ell-tanned face and a clear, bright
complexion, who seemed to be in trouble
about something.
After one or two glances at me, as
though she would like to speak to me, all
of which 1 in the most een-
couraging way I could, she slid herself
along by my side and holding out a print
ed slip for my inspection, asked me to
please tell her if there was anything on
The paper calling for the payment OF
charges. She spoke in a pleasant, we'll
modulated voice, and with an accent
which was so full of br-r-rs that I took
it for granted that the highlands Of
Scotland were her native hills.
The slip turned out to be a receipt
from a transfer company for two pieces
of baggage, but the only reference to
to money that I could find was that
which declared that the company would
not be responsible for more than $50
damages to any one piece unless the val
lie la been previously declared by the
owner. When 1 had enlightened her to
thise effect the girl went on to tell me that
the two pieces of baggage referred to
We're a bundle and a valise, both of
'"' PSAANSSAy "oiS W SolAy
without anybody"s aid and she looked
lit.
A JEALOUS AGENT.
Now they wan me to pay thirty-fve
cents apiece for Them" said the girl,
plaintively, land Heavens knows 1 lave
not the money ito spare. Why didn't they
tell me on the vessel that there were
charges?
" ), +ooIr %L.,a ,o.~ 49, ox-J -o,,~
me this little piece of brass, saying not
to lose ut, and then I was put aboard the
boat and taken to the island, without
ever seeing them again."
The %transfer company's agent at the
steamer had evident ;ly been over-zeal-
GUS in his employers interests in not ex-
planning to the girl that if her things
were checked they would be charged for.
She a passed her examination
promptly at Ellis Island, she said, and
had that morning come over to the bag
gage-room at the Barge Office and
claimed her baggage, as she had been
instructed to do, but rather thar pay the
to her-large sum of seventy cents
without a protest, she was on her way
back to the Island. with the rather va
que idea of presenting the case to some
one in authority.
Now, if there is anything I ann fonder
Of thar another it is to right the wrongs
of people who are poor. and without in
%fuence, SO l instantly arrayed myself on
the side of the immigrant girl.
BY this time we were at the island and
as we disembarsed I told the girl. who
was profusa in her thanks, to follow me
and fear nothing"
Down a long platform divided by a
high picket fence we walked until we
reached the main building, which occu-
pies. l should say, at least an acre Of
ground. Surrounding it We're a number
of smaller buildings and offices, all built
prettily, and occupied as restaurants, Of
fees and homes for the officials and em-
ployes.
1 tried my best to settle my fair pro-
tege's ENHANCEMENT with the express
man, but he was obdurate and demanded
the money.
Plainly there was nothing more to be
done. and while I was exceedingly sorry
for the girl, I was obliged to advise her
to go back ITO the baggage office and pay
them what they demanded.
just beyond the iron door there were
two big wooden doors standing slightly
ajar, and so, by peeking through the
crack, l could see that there was no one
on guard. l pushed them open slightly
and quietly stepped into a large room
which led into another room, which in
turn led into a hall. After stopping a
moment to look around I was approached
by a guard who questioned me concern
ing my mission there. Finding that it
was no more or less than an effort to find
my way back to the boat, he escorted me
to the right path, and 1 strobe boldly
down to THE steamer without anyone's
suspecting my identity.