Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-01-21
In SPECIAL ROLE
Detective Extraordinary to the
Mayor and His Es-
capades.
AFTER ALL THE BURGLARS
One Citizens Experience With the
Energetic Indi-
vidual.
AFTER ALL THE BURGLARS

Have you run across Mayor KnoX's
special detective yet? If not, you are
likely to at any time after dark, and
then be prepared to make eXplana
tions as to who you are and why you
are; likewise whence and whittier.
Numerous citizens CHANGING to be on
the public thoroughfares after the
fail of the shades of evening have
been interviewed by this bright indi-
Nidual, who, be it said by way of eX-
PLANTATION, has. it is understood, been
engaged by Rock Islands enterpris-
ing executive to run to earth the per-
petratorS of the frequent burglaries
and robberies that have been
committed in the city of
late. His honor has, accord
ing to the information that comes
from scmi-officiaI sources, again tax
en- matters out of the hands of his
chief of police. In other words, he
has taken up the burglary and rob
berry question with the police direct.
and he is planning to run down in
short order the lawless element that
has been so cOnspicuously infcsting
the city.
To the end sought the mayor has.
the story goes. secured a detective.
That is to say. he has assigned to one
of his chosen admirers the task of
impersOnating Sherlock Holmes in
Rock Island. This individual. who has
strong political pull. as he has an
abundance of nerve. iS now out on
the highways and byways after night
hunting for the burglars. and they
viii not escape nim-if he sees them
first
Every citizen, whom this represen-
tative of the mayor in the police de-
partment discovers. is liable to be
Swallowed. and may be obliged To
submit to giving satisfactory ac-
count of himself into the bargain.
One Citizens Experience.
The other night an uptown citizen
who was hurrying home noticed
someone skulking along in the shad-
ows Il short distance behind him. and
being within half block o. home,
FASTENED his steps. He was some
what alarmed when he observed the in
dividual who had been shadowing
him. start after him on a dead run.
The citizen was near enough home to
get in before his Pursuer overlook
him. and had just closed the door
when the man who had been follow
ing him rushed up the steps and
pounded Violently on the door. Open
ing il, the citizen. now thoroughly
aroused and indignant, demanded eN-
PLANTATION of the intrusion.
You've got Il burglar in your
house" declared the stranger be-
tween breaths.
How do YOU know | have? de-
mandcd the citizen.
because | have followed him for
blocks, and he finally ran away from
me and came i'm here. Let me have
him, quick, | am Mayor knoNs spe-
cial detective, and | expect to catch
a half dozen more burglars tonight
yet. That is the reason | started out
early and got after the first one |
saw. Give me him, quick. so | can
take him in.
Nhereat Mayor KnoX's private de-
tective rolled back his coat collar
and exhibited Il star as big as a pie
pan. as his badge of authority.
The citizen, although at first angry
enough to fight. was now
thoroughly enjoying the expert
ence. and he proceeded to put his
visitor through his catechism. He
learned from the story that was re-
lated that the detective had been hir-
ed to bring the active head of the
police department to shame for the
generally neglected condition of the
city. and that me new acquisition had
started out to make Il record by
catching burglars by the wholesale.
Came Back for His Burglar
After being thus entertained by his
strange visitor for half an hour. the
citizen bade him good night. and re-
tired. But he had scarcely placed his
head on the pillow when there was
an energetic ringing of the door bell.
Going down to see what was the mat
ter he found the same Individual
there.
We'll what is it now?" enquircd
the citizen.
Il forgot my burglar. and came
back for him. was the response. and
the detective 90 was just about
to disclose his star again, when the
citizen. with the suggestion that the
burglar had gone through the Chin
ney. closed the door.
And the citizen is now looking for a
summons to appear in the police
court under the charge of concealing
n burglar.