The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1916-07-27
My travelling
Friend
By ETHEL HOLMES

| A woman travelling alone is very apt
TO take up with some one Of her own
sex for companionship. In Milan
fell in with an attractive woman while
waiting at railway station and open
ed conversation with her. She was
travelling alone, as | was, and, both be-
ing Americans, we soon became quite
chummy. We learned that we were
to sail from Genoa on the same steam
er and on the same date.
My new found friend, Miss Scars
dale, was about thirty years Of age
and quite used to going about alone.
Indeed, she told me that she was a
business woman and was abroad for
the purpose Of buying goods for New
York importing house When l asked
her what kind of goods she said diff
ferent kinds for women. While | was
sightseeing she was usually engaged
In purchasing, though sometimes she
would visit places of interest with me.
Two or three times l limited that
should be pleased TO accompany her on
one of her shopping tours, but she did
suggested that l should like to go
through the stores with her that day
she complained of headache and said
she would not go out
When | went to my stateroom on
the steamer and looked over my hand
baggage that had been carried there by
a steward | noticed among the pieces
a shawl. rolled and strapped, that did
not belong to me. What to do with 1t
l did not know, so / concluded to wait
for the owner to claim 1t. But when
a couple Of days passed and it was not
thinking it might contain
TO Indicate to whom 1t be-
longed, ! opened 1t, revealing bundle
bf valuable lace.
| could not understand how any one
could place goods worth considerable |
money In such an unsafe place. | had |
purchased a few things abroad, but | |
was careful to put them in my trunk |
lnder lock and key. Having come to |
ely on Miss Scarsdale. went to her
with my story and asked her what /
lad better do. She said she did not see
hat l could do anything and advised
ne to leave the property rolled and
strapped as l had found it, trusting to
he owner TO find it.
This | did, but l confess 1 felt I'M
asy at having in my possession prop
rty belonging to another Might I not
'e liable to a charge of theft? l put
his view of the case to Miss Scarsdale.
nd she poohpoohed my fears. Such
Mistakes were constantly being made
n liners, and / was not responsible
Or another persons baggage being put
/ my room. Quite likely some Amer
AN millionaire to whom money or
roperty of value was no great object |
ad bought the lace and had not been
concerned about it TO take
roper care of Il. Probably when we
cached port the owner would take ac
)unt of his belongings and, missing
lis item, would have it hunted up,
hich she might be able TO do through
he steward or porter who left it in my
,om.
All this sounded very reasonable TO
e. but It did not satisfy me, so | went
the purser and reported my find, sim
V saying that a piece of hand bag
lge had been placed in my room that
d not belong to me. which the owner
light have by proving ownership.
came of this. and we sailed
to the port OF New York without
= being relieved Of my burden. Be
re landing again consulted Miss
arsdale telling her that | did not
sh to declare" and pay duty on
operty that did not belong to me
d | did not care to be placed in the
sition of a smuggler. Ny friend.
ter some thought. said to me:
My advice to you is simply to carry
e property ashore with You. Gus a
ms men can't and don't try TO look 8
o every bit OF hand baggage carried a
bore. They rely ordinarily on the 4
elaration Of the passengers. Regu- Z
smugglers become known and are
tched- Usually information con
ming them comes from the port from
ieh they sail But If through any q
nee snuS.led goods should be dis q,