The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1916-08-18
My Travelling
Friend
3, ETHEL HOLMES

A woman travelling alone is very apt
to take up with some one Of ner WI
sex for companionship. In Milan l
fell in with an attractive woman while
waiting at a railway station and open
ed conversation with her. She was
travelling alone, as I was. and, both DE-
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.
NV 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 Tor
the purpose Of buying goods for a New
York importing house. When l asked
her what kind of goods she said dif-
ferent kinds for women. While l was
sightseeing she was usually engaged
in purchasing, though sometimes she
would visit places Of interest with me.
Two or three times I limited that l
should be pleased to accompany her on
one Of her shopping tours, but she did
not invite me. and once when I openly
suggested that I should like to go
through the stores with her that day
she complained of a headache and SAID
she would not go out.
When I went to my stateroom on
the steamer and looked over my hand
baggage that had been carried there by
a steward 1 noticed among the pieces
a shawl. rolled and strapped, that did
not belong to me. What to do with 1t
1 did not know, so I concluded to wait
for the owner to claim 1t. But when
a couple of days passed and 1t was not
claimed, thinking 1t might contain,
something to indicate to whom it be-
longed, l opened 1t, revealing a bundle
Of valuable lace.
could not understand how any one
could place goods worth considerable
money in such an unsafe place. 1 had
purchased a few things abroad, but I
was careful to put them in my trunk
under lock and key. Having come to
rely on Miss Scarsdale, I went to her
with my story and asked her what I
had better do. She said she did not see
that I could do anything and advised
me to leave the property rolled and
strapped as I had found 1t, trusting to
the owner to find it.
This I did, but I confess I felt I'M
easy at having in my possession prop
erty belonging to another. Might I not
be liable to a charge of theft2 I put
this view Of the case to Miss Scarsdale,
and she poohpoohed my fears. Such
mistakes were constantly being made
on liners, and I was not responsible
for another persons baggage being put
in my room. Quite likely some Amer
lean millionaire to whom money or
property OF, value was no great object
had bought the lace and had not been
sufficiently concerned about It to take
proper care of 1t. Probably when we
reached port the owner would take &C.
count Of his belongings and, missing
this item, would have it hunted up.
which she might be able to do through
the steward OF porter who left 1t in my
room.
All this sounded very reasonable to
me, but it did not satisfy me. so I went
to the purser and reported my find, sim
ply saying that a piece Of hand bag
gage had been placed in my room that
did not belong to me, which the owner
might have by proving ownership.
Nothing came Of this, and we sailed
on to the port of New York without
my being relieved Of my burden. Be
fore landing I again consulted Miss
S%carsdale, telling her that I did not
wish to declare" and pay duty on
property that did not belong to me
and l did not care to be placed In the
position Of a smuggler. Ny friend.
after some thought, said to me:
my advice to you is simply to carry
the property ashore with you. Gus
toms men can't and don't try to look
into every bit of hand baggage carried
ashore. They rely ordinarily ON the
declaration of the passengers. Regu-
lar smugglers become known and are
watched. Usually information CON
corning them comes from the port from
which they sail. But If through any
chance struggled goods should be dis
covered on you you can tell the story
Of how they came into your possession.
They will relieve you of the property,
but they will not trouble you further"
Naturally prone to rely on another.
I took this advice. Miss Scarsdale and
I, after exchanging addresses, went
ashore at different times.
I carried a satchel in one hand and
the shawl strap in the other. I won
der that the customs men passed me
as they did. for I am sure I looked
guilty. When I entered a taxicab and
was driven out on to the street I
breathed a sigh Of relief.
The next morning a man called upon
me with a note stating that the writer,
who had just arrived from Genoa, had
missed an article Of hand baggage and
upon questioning the porter had learn
ed that 1t had been left in my state
room. Would l please deliver it to the
bearer. who would receipt for It?
Since a minute description of the
property to a quarter Of a yard was
given I turned It over to the man in
exchange for the receipt.