Democratic Sentinel, Volume 21, Number 34, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 August 1897 — SHE STOOD IN X RAYS, [ARTICLE]

SHE STOOD IN X RAYS,

And Thus Delayed the New Scheme of Inspecting Baggage. They had just got the new scheme for inspecting baggage by X rays in operation and the haughty young woman who had just got off the steamer was waiting to have hers inspected. Furthermore, she thought there had been more delay than was necessary and she was somewhat provoked. Consequently when one of the officials motioned her to step a little to one aide she declined to move. There was a short consultation among the officials and one of them finally advanced toward her. “If madam would kindly—he begun. “Sir!” she interrupted, haughtily. “It would be a great favor if you would move a little,” he said, rather diffidently. “Why should I?” she demanded. “It it decidedly presumptuous In you to speak to me at all. I’ve been waiting here fifteen minutes for my baggage, and during that time you haven’t done a thing but stand there and look at me and talk to the other inspectors.” “The. fact is,” explained the man in the same diffident way, as if something worried him, “that you are in the way.” “Of what?” she asked. “It seems to me that you are the most impudent set of officials that I ever knew. The idea of asking me to move as a mere matter of convenience to you! There's plenty of room to inspect the baggage without annoying me, and you ought to be at work at it now.” “But we can’t,” protested the man. “You see we don't open the trunks any more. We just put them under the X rays and inspect them that way.” “Well, why don’t you do it?” she demanded, irritably. “Because, madam—because ” The inspector fidgeted about nervously. “Because,” he continued at last, “you're standing right in the rays now, where we want to put the trunks.” There was a scream and the place was vacant.