The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-09-19
My Travelling
Friend
By ETHEL HOLMES

waiting at a 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 We're
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
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 l was
sightseeing she was usually engaged
In purchasing, though sometimes she
would visit places of interest with me-
Two or three times limited that
should be pleased to accompany her on
one Of her shopping tours, but she did
not invite me, and once when l openly
suggested that l should like to go
through the stores with her that day
she complained Of headache and said
oue Woulu uOI ~ Out.
When | went to my stateroom on
the steamer and looked over my hand
baggage that had been carried there by
a steward l noticed among the pieces
shawl, rolled and strapped, that did
not belong to me. What to do with It
did not know, so concluded to wait
for the owner to claim 1t. But when
couple of days passed and it was not
claimed, thinking it might contain
something to indicate to whom 1t 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. had
purchased a few things abroad, but l
was careful to put them In my trunk
under lock and key. Having come to
rely on Miss Scarsdale, went to her
with my story and asked her what
had better do. She said she did not see
that l could do anything and advised
me to leave the property rolled and
strapped as I had found 1t, trusting to
the owner to find 1t.
This did, but I confess I felt un
easy at having in my possession prop
erty belonging to another. Might I MOI
be liable to charge Of theft? l put
this view Of the case to Miss Scarsdale
and she poohpoohed my fears. Suci
mistakes were constantly being made
on liners, and / was not responsible,
for another persons baggage being pu
in my room. Quite likely some Amer
lean millionaire to whom money o
property Of value was no great Objec
had bought the lace and had not beer
sufficiently concerned about It to TAX
proper care of it Probably when W.
reached port the owner would take &C
count Of his belongings and, MISSING
this item, would have it hunted VI
which she might be able to do through
the steward or porter who left it in m
room.
All this sounded very reasonable t
, me, but it did not satisfy me. SO / wen
to the purser and reported my find, sin
ply saying that a piece Of hand bag
gage had been placed in my room tina
, did not belong to me, which the owne
might have by proving ownership.
Nothing came of this, and we sale
On to the port of New York withou
my being relieved OF my burden. b
fore landing ! again consulted Mis-
Scarsdale, telling her that l did NJ
wish to declare" and pay duty o
property that did not belong to m
e and l did not care to be placed in tn
!, position Of smuggler. My frien'
after some thought, said to me:
"My advice to you is simply to carr
: the property ashore with you. Gu
toms men can't and don't try to loo
n into every bit Of hand baggage carrie
s ashore. They rely ordinarily on tt
q declaration of the passengers. Reg
lar smugglers become known and al
watched. Usually information col
y corning them comes from the port fro
q which they sail. But IL through an
o chance struggled goods should be di
covered on you you can tell the stol
b of how they came into your possessio
;. They will relieve you Of the propert
but they will not trouble you further
i Naturally prone to rely on anothe
n I took this advice. Miss Scarsdale al
= |. after exchanging addresses. we
n ashore at different times.
I carried satchel In one hand al
the shawl strap In the other. l wo
: der that the customs men passed n
l. as they did, for I am sure 1 look
d guilty. When I entered taxicab al
C. was driven out on to the street
breathed sigh of relief.
The next morning man called up'
me with a note stating that the write
who had just arrived from Genoa, hi
missed an article of hand baggage al
upon questioning the porter had lear
ed that it had been left In my stat
10 room. Would please deliver 1t to {
n bearer who would receipt for 1t?
9, Since minute description Of t
m property to a quarter of yard W
o. given turned it over to the man
n. exchange for the receipt
no Miss Scarsdale evidently did
"a deem it worth while to continue
acquaintance, for / never heard fire.
RI her In any way directly, but yes
M later | heard of her indirectly. | 81
cr mention In a newspaper Of a WON
onsuar,no her description exactly w