Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1912-11-08


from Baltimore, Women Of question
able character were quite numerous
among the passengers, and as it was
delicate matter to search baggage
there was nothing TO do but watch
and wait. Whisky kept coming, of
this we were assured, but in less
quantities than under the -four
barrel and kerosene system. Still we
had faith that solution Of the mys-
terry would be found, and 1t came
sooner than expected in the most sur
prising manner.
WOMAN sMUGGLER's uNDoING.
A stiff gale had blown up the river
all night and the water was unusually
high when the steamer landed. The
gang plank was steep and passengers
had difficult work in reaching the
wharf Alien and his guard were on
hand and rendered assistance. A
woman started down the plank as the
steamer rolled slightly. She screamed
and seemed as If she would fall into
the water. Allen bounded up the
plank and caught her, when she al
most collapsed in his arms In a
hasty effort to regain his footing he
put his arm around the woman's
waist, and she screamed In dead
earnest, grasping Allen around the
neck. This was her undoing, for from
re 1rnnnoH hiy
circular tin can, which rolled into the
river. She cried out in despair, MY
cod liver OIL" and almost tainted.
The woman was put into hack and
| sent to her destination and negro
boatman picked up the floating can of
oil after it had drifted clear Of the
steamer and handed it to Allen, who
from its singular appearance and wax
covered cork, had a vagues suspicion
that the cod liver oil was crooked.
He brought it up to my office and
we examined the oil can. 1t was cir
cular in shape and had two lugs from
which bits of broken suspender straps
hung.
! The cork was removed and the con-
tents proved to be superior quality
of Baltimore corn whisky. "That
beats a sutler," said Allen. Then
he detailed his encounter on the gang
plank and suddenly realized that the
woman had another kind of can un-
der her pettlcoats. "When l seized
her around the waist l encountered a
harder hustle than | supposed a
woman ever wore," said Allen, but
Allen was unmarried. Women in
those days wore bulging hoopskirts
and it was difficult to say how much
contraband a woman could carry und-
er her spreading wires.
THE BUsTLE YIELDS IT'S SECRET.
To properly solve the question !
directed Sergeant Allen to find the
woman and arrest the hustle. In due
time Allen returned to headquarters
with the woman and her buStle, the
! latter rolled up in a shawl. The
woman was given a seat in the pri
vate office while we examined hel
j bustle The bustle was somewhat
/ flat and circular shaped and made oi
| tin. 1t had leather straps which
buckled in front and when place.
under woman'ss skirt it made {
rather stunning appearance, for the
woman put it on for our benefit thai
we might recognize the shape II
| IL yuho ,
found but the smell spoke eloquentl.
of more 'scod liver OIL" She deniet
the soft i'm impeachment when charged
with carrying 'soldiers joy contrar.
to military orders. She was ready t
| take the oath that the bustle contain
, ed no whisky---"it was bay rum,' sh
said. Bring in the cod liver oil. Allen
1 ordered, quietly, watching tn
woman carefully to note the etfec,
+ EShe bit her lips, but was otherwis
2 unmoved. Allen brought in the c.
, O. and awaited events.
"That is the can you dropped Il
. day from the gang plank and 1T col
4 tains whisky. You know the penalt.
i Would you rather confess or stan
/. trial?''
s First she was furious and denouu
q ed the Yankee vandals for interferir
y with her, and then came a sob an
y silence.
< Explain the system and extent
j. the traffic and you can go free,
y said to her mpathetically.
III Then she told of a regular organic
l. system in Baltimore, confined entire
l. to women of questionable morale
e who came to Norfolk or Portsmouth
that in order to pay their fare al
j. expenses on the trib they were indu
y ed to carry liquor for the hous
.e where they expected to stop, gettiI
,e big price for the stuff and hear
=, welcome. She said the hustle &C
n. tanned one gallon OF whisky as d
ID each of two circular cans she carri
ut suspended from the shoulders
at straps 1.-THE hasty action Of 20
lg guard on the gang plank today bro
of one of the straps and you known
lis rest. Now can go?"!
I'd With promise never to violate