The Washington times., 1902-08-03
bob" BOARDMAH'S
VIGILANHS ON DUTY
Plain Clothes Men Who
Watch for Evildoers.
Spend Their Time Where People Con
gregate-Branch of Police Force
Always Busy.

Unknown to the average citizen there
are always on duty in the crowded
thoroughfares of the city and in places
where the public are wont to congregate,
number of clear-headed fellows, whose
duty it Is to see everything and to avoid
making themselves unduly prominent.
They.are invaria bly, unassuming in their
carriage and dress, anG would be the
last to be looked upon as other thar
jolly good fellows. They constitute
what have come TO be known as Bob
Boardman's vigilants." because of their
untiring energy In the pursuit of crimi- :
nails and the solving of crimes and mys-
teries. Bob Poardman is even less
known to tie general public, al.houE
he is the second il command of the
Police Department, Major Sylvester S
right hand man, and the chief of one
of the most successful detective forces
in the country. Captain Boardman, as
he is officially known. is a great believer
in the efficiency of the newspapers, and
is continually calling upon them to as
sist him In one way or another, in the
finding of lost people. the solving OF
mysteries, and the frustrating of crimi-
rails. Furthermore, Captain Boardman
believes that an ounce OF prevention is
worth a pound of cure, and with this In
view keeps his men constantly mixing
with the crowd in search for the evil
disposed. One of "Bob's vigilants" was
found standing upon prominent cor
ner the other day surveying crowd Of
a. ,DI 1-- x.s
the least occupied persons IN the ";
cinity. He had his eye out for pick
pockets, however, who might choose to
profit by the carelessness of the many
women who seemed to tempt theft by
the display of purses and jewelry.
Studying styles" was asked of the
plain clothes man.
Yes; and a tough job 1t is, too. The
styles are changing about SO fast that
it is all that / can do to keep track
of them
Meaning the latest cut of the skirts.
which permits of the best display of the
beautiful outlines of the tigure7"
mo. Meaning the crooks"
Crooks? Why styles In crooks don't
change much. do they?"
They are thhe quickest change art
lists in the business, barring none
Bob's keen-eyed officer took a long
breath as he watched uniformed man
dispensing a crowd that had gathered.
because of temporary congestion of
traffic in the street, and then irrele-
vanity askedN Has your bicycle been
stolen this year?"
Most certainly not" was the prompt
reply. who on earth would want to
steal bicycle now?"
That's Just the steer l was trying
TO give you. Styles with crooks change
Just like everything else. You could
not hire half way self-respecting thief
to lift bike now. But they have to
steal something. and that's just what
keeps me guessing all the time"
What is the particular style in
thievery just now." was asked.
The plain clothes man" gloomed up
a little at the question, and thought
the answer out carefully. 1T isn't any
thing in particular just now. It's only
dogs. When crooks, that is the ordinary
stealing kind, are passing through from
one kind of thievery to another they
fill in the gap with dogs. The majors
dog was stolen a short while ago. and
every day or so we have had one or
more mhising. What is disturbing me
just now is what their next graft will
he -