The Daily Missoulian., 1910-12-04
BIG Town PREPARES
FOR Christmas
NEW Work pEcoRArEs SHOP
WINDOWS FOR HOLIDAY
rRApE-coTttAM NOTES.

New York, Dec. Sin anticipation Of |
four weeks of the most strenuous
shopping that has preceded Christmas
here in many years, thousands of
show windows are today prepared for
holiday displays that in the aggregate
will cost the merchants of this town
many millions. Expert window Dress
ers, who draw pay that the painters
of many masterpiece might envy, are
already setting behind their plate
glass frames elaborate backgrounds
for these lavish works OF the adver-
tisers art. From end to end OF
broadway and the side streets of the
shopping section, as well as up ana
down the stretch of shops on F1fth
avenue, every show front has now be-
gun to blossom out in ornate designs
that are catching the eye of the crowd,
that is already turning into the usual
Christmas crush. AS each window
picture is calculated to cost at least
$1,000 on an average, this years un-
usual display is regarded as a daring
discount of big holiday buying
Catching Crooks.
For the first time since the good
old days of the reign of Inspector
Byrnes real crook catching Is today IN.
progress all about town under thu
iron hand OF new king Of sleuths.
Reorganized into a. system not unlike
that Of the famous Scotland Yard de-
tectives disguised SO everyone cannot
spot them on sight are now running
crime to cover under regular, rou-
tine from every police station. Here
tofore the square toes. ssweeping
moustaches and florid faces Of the
fattened favorites who occupied easy
berths in the central detective bureau
have always made them marks for the
clever criminals they strolled ont to
seek. New York city had Of late b.
come the happy hunting ground Of all
workers in the underworld Of the
country. but this new secret service
bids fair to soon sveep. back the surf
of towering crime waves.
croksr's Counsel.
Looking just as rugged and alert
but a bit more bent than he did in the
days when he trained the Tammany
tiger, Dick Croker has today left
here for winter in the south after
a few days reunion with those of his
old guard who are still alive and
, loyal. For all his gray hairs and
broken political power, the ruling
chieftains of Croker's old tribe hold
ut h to- nd
now known that much counsel was
taken with him upon the state sit
uation. In his day the old chief
longed to become q factor in state
rule; but chance always crowded him
out of the prominent part he was arr1-
bilious to take in affairs above the
Bronx. Times and political misfor-
tune are known to have modified Dick
Croker's ideas. however, and It is be-
ing whispered today that he has urged
the braves of Tammany to stick to
their metropolitan reservation and be-
ware the perils of an upstate expedi-
tion.
Funny Frauds.
In banana Anna" who is awaiting
trial in the Tombs prison. the police
are today asserting they have at last
found one Of great gang Of the most
curious and clever swindlers ever dis
covered here. BY taking falls on
banana peels,N which she constantly
carries about her person. this talented
lady is recorded as having collected
many thousands Of dollars from the
transportation companies here. Though
thousands OF such professional acci-
dent fakirs have been frequently
brought to Justice in this city as well
as all over the state, 1t Is rarely that
the authorities have been able to prove
as plain a case of fraud as that to
which Banana Anna" has already
confessed. The extent to which this
clan operates is outlined in recent re-
ports Of the public service commission
which show that third of one cent In
every nickle taken in by the trolley
companies of the empire state must
be devoted to payment of accident
claims and legal expenses.
Grateful oourmands.
Fare bones are all that are lef
today OF the 5000 plump turkeys thai
were delivered juicy and tender, to thu
cops aof this island on the eve q
Thanksgiving day. Coming out Of I
clear sky and without any clue tosths
giver, these big hulging bundlep o
festive meat have been most thankful
ly placed beneath the belt of ever!
member Of the force. as well as un
der the wristbands of an army o
their immediate families. The blue
coats Of Gotham are among the mos
accomplished trenchermen hereabout
and all indications now point to rec
ord consumption Of this goodly gobble
n consignment.
MONTANA NATIONAL BANKS.
Washington. Dec. 3.-(Special )-Th