New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-04-29
10 Use an EXPRESSIVE
Melegancy of the Police
Department. the Hotel,
Haze Added to Their
Detecive Stats TIN" Lady
Fly-Mug." Hoe She Fits
Into the Days Work Is
Here Told in Detail

was realized by pawning some family
heirloom and an ambition to lust show
the folks back home" that she possesses
the markings of photoplay star. The
story is as old as the picture screen. and
it has few variations. The experienced
woman sleuth recognizes it the moment
its introductory paragraphs are unfold
ed before her, and she automatically
falls into her role.
Usually the would-be star trips into
the lobby of a hotel from New JERSEY
Connecticut or some upstate village on
the afternoon train that left home short.
ly after high school was dismissed. In
nine cases out of ten she may be recog
nized by a Mary Pickford curl, which
strays over the right shoulder, where It
may be readily recognized by such pict-
ure directors as would be found loafng
around Grand Central Terminal await
ing just such arrivals.
Going to be with us long," asks the
feminine detective by way of an opener.
"Why-er-yes. | think | shall make
my home in New York" is the custom
airy reply.
"You have folks here, probably"
ooh, no; I'm going into the movies.
I'm going to phone the different studios
tomorrow and arrange about con-
tract"
81 don't believe got your name" sug-
gests the detective.
Flora De Vere," comes the reply, az
ter a slight hesitation.
''But that isn't your real name?" per.
ssts the interviewer, her eyes upon
locket bearing a monogram that might
represent the more homely name Of
Mary Smith.
ooh, to be sure. III make use Of my
stage name here. Besides, don't expect
to let mother know where am until M
contract is all provided for"
The detective smiles an understand.
ing smile and her youthful discovery re.
tires to her room to dream of future tn
umphs in the world that is peopled only
by motion picture stars. Meanwhile, the
bits of information she has let fall are
being used to save her from fate she
has unwittingly sought. Possessed Of
the girls initials and the time Of her
train arrival, the ingenious woman de-
tective has little trouble in learning at
what station she boarded the New York
train. Having this knowledge in hand
learning her real identity and the name
and address of her parents is the very
A B C of city detective work. The net
result of these efforts usually is that
worried father or mother is on hand TO
greet a sobbing daughter at breakfast
the next morning. After all explana'
lions have been made the one mystery
that still puzzles the girl concerns the
question of how her parents found out
where she was.
Unlike the male detective, who IS
hired because of physical strength
rather than the possession of abnormal
mental development, the woman detec-
tive is expected to have brains and edi'
cation. 1t would astound the average
guest of New York hotel, possessing
the conventional idea of the modern
Sherlock Holmes, to learn that most oil
the women who guard them from sirens
of the city are college graduates.
There is a certain graduate of Vassar
who may be found about the lobby OF
one of New York's most pretentious
hotels, any afternoon about dansante
time, chatting with other guests VINO
are convinced that she is one OF them.
Eyes, | really enjoy these little AFTER.
noon affairs very much" she remarked
to friend.
"And nobody who comes here ever
would imagine after talking to you tha'
they had been conversing with gen.
uine detective" was the reply.
mo, but once let me get one OF these
wrist-watch Johnnies on the hip, ana !
start him for the booby-hatch so Quics
he don't know whether he's in the biacA